If you want to get a reaction from the crowd, tear your car apart and start over. This article on Leisa and Shane’s 1986 Ford XF Falcon PSYCHO was initially published in the November 2011 issue of Street Machine
If there was ever a car to stop you in your tracks and make you question everything you thought you knew about Aussie metal, it’s this one. Leisa and Shane Chinnock’s 1986 Ford XF Falcon, dubbed PSYCHO, is more than just a build – it’s a rebirth. What started as a humble company car Leisa bought off her employer ended up evolving into a showstopper that redefines the custom game.
You may have caught an earlier version of it at Summernats 13 or in the May 2000 issue of Street Machine. Back then it was pink, neatly worked over, and impressive enough to claim a spot in the Top 20. But for Leisa and Shane, it just wasn’t enough. They wanted a true statement – a chop top, suicide doors, and bodywork that would blow the minds of showgoers. And so began a seven-year saga.
Enter Greg Maskell of Maskell’s Customs & Classics, a man known for sculpting automotive masterpieces. The Chinnocks first met Greg during Summernats 2000, struck up a friendship, and the seed for PSYCHO’s transformation was planted. Passion Pearl purple – the paint used on Trent Brennan’s Capri – became the target hue early on, though delays meant the journey would span a few fabricators. After a shaky start and four years of stagnation, Anthony Wilkins picked up the torch and reworked the chassis, chopped the top, converted it to two doors and built those iconic suicide hinges. Then it was shipped from Tasmania to Shepparton, Victoria, where Greg and his crew would bring it home.
The scale of customisation is wild. Nothing was left untouched. Every panel has been reimagined to keep the spirit of the XF intact while dragging it into an entirely new design realm. The grille is custom, bumpers are now steel, and the tail panel is a one-piece steel slab. The reverse-opening bonnet and boot operate via linear actuators, controlled by a bespoke touchscreen system more at home in a luxury yacht than a mid-80s Ford. You won’t find traditional switches here – doors, bonnet, boot, airbags, ignition, fans and wipers are all managed digitally. It even has wireless connectivity and diagnostic capabilities.
Under the bonnet sits a blown 351ci Cleveland, force-fed by a BDS 8/71 supercharger and Enderle injection. Power is a respectable 605hp at 5000rpm on just 7psi – more than enough for what is essentially a show weapon with street manners. Built by Dennis Cooper in Hobart, the motor is all Ford – heads, pistons, cam and crank are purpose-built for reliability and presence, not bragging rights.
The interior? Let’s just say it’s first class all the way. Michael Carter, a rising star in the trim game, crafted an interior that looks like it belongs on a private jet. German leather, custom seats with integrated aviation belts, and perfect fit and finish. Everything flows with the body lines and chopped roofline, perfectly proportioned for drama without bulk.
The wheels are Billet Specialties Psycho – 17x8s up front and 17x13s out back – wrapped in fat Pirelli P Zeros, and backed by Wilwood brakes all round. The chassis is suspended via tubular stainless arms up front and a four-link setup out back, with Air Ride Shockwaves giving it that show stance and real-world usability.
When MotorEx rolled around, it was time to reveal the beast – and the reaction was explosive. Gold for the interior, Bronze for the bodywork, and a whole lot of jaws on the floor. PSYCHO didn’t just meet expectations – it rewrote them. As Leisa puts it: “We said we wanted the wow factor – and that’s what we got.”
