World’s first ecofriendly, super-elite muscle car to unveil at MotorEx 12

Car constructor and green homes builder Mick Fabar plans to stun car enthusiasts, politicians and environmentalists alike at Meguiar’s MotorEx 2012 in Sydney’s Olympic Park Dome on 21 July, when he unveils ZERO’D, a 600 horsepower, turbocharged, biodiesel V8-powered sedan built with a ‘zero carbon footprint’ approach.

ZERO’D is based on a 1967 model XR Falcon sedan that features numerous waste materials and recycled junkyard components in its construction.

The innovative, ecofriendly build plan is designed to minimise carbon footprints and try to sidestep the increased costs of new parts and materials that will be passed on by industry when the national carbon tax scheme starts on 1 July. The cost reductions achieved in the car’s construction also represent a head-on challenge to political and public opposition to ‘green’ initiatives, based on widely held beliefs that such schemes always result in increased costs.

ZERO’D is powered by a huge 7.3 L Ford Powerstroke turbocharged V8 diesel truck engine that is also equipped with special fuel, inlet and exhaust systems that allow it to run on ecofriendly biodiesel fuel blends.

According to Fabar, use of commercially available B20 (20% bio, 80% petrol) biofuel, straight from the bowser, will reduce harmful exhaust emissions by up to 70%, while producing more than 450 kW (600 horsepower) and potentially more than 1000 Nm (738 ft/lb) of torque.

Fabar is twice winner of the prestigious Motorex Superstars award for his ‘Best of Breed’ Hot Rods in 2006 (SWUOOP - Ford Model A pickup) and 2011 (RAWR - ’34 Ford Coupe).

Based at Orange in regional NSW, he also heads multiaward-winning construction company Green Homes Australia, which specialises in the design and construction of ecofriendly sustainable homes. By using thermally efficient construction materials in designs that make best use of natural lighting, heating, cooling and power generation, these homes greatly reduce living costs due to big cuts in energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions.

According to Fabar, the ecofriendly principles evident in all of his green home designs were the inspiration for ZERO’D.

“I wanted to integrate those two themes; a street machine with, ideally, a zero effect on the environment in design, construction and when being driven,” he said.

“I’d been looking into the future and trying to figure out what kind of car my son would be building when he was 16. I thought it won’t be nitro-sucking street machines anymore and it won’t be electric cars either, because they’re pretty emotionless.

“The challenge sort of evolved from there. Could we build a super elite, super tough-looking Pro Touring car with a zero carbon footprint? Or something close to it?

“So I did some research into biodiesel fuels and figured we should put that into a car and see what horsepower we could get. It really didn’t cost any more to build this car; it just required applying some basic principles.”

Fabar said he chose the classic XR Falcon because he wanted something unique to Australian motoring history and an iconic model which he believed all Aussies could appreciate, regardless of their brand loyalties.

Fabar said ZERO’D is an aspirational name for the project - a desire to ‘zero’ the car’s environmental impact across the board.

Every external body panel is second-hand, sourced from either a wrecking yard or leftovers that were just lying around, to ensure that no new steel has been used.

The turbocharged V8 diesel engine and its Allison four-speed automatic transmission were sourced from a second-hand F-series truck with 170,000 km on the clock. However, both are healthy and robust units that did not require rebuilding, so they have also effectively been ‘recycled’.

The hand-stitched black leather interior trim is made entirely from hide off-cuts and ‘seconds’ that would normally be thrown away. This not only reduced waste and trimming costs, but also produced a unique textured appearance with no attempt to match different grains.

ZERO’D has been painted using the latest ecofriendly products by House of Kolor, which meet California’s strict environmental protection laws - renowned as being amongst the toughest in the world.

There is no chrome-plating, to avoid use of harsh chemicals. It features only polished metals and alloys. The front and rear bumper bars are painted and flush fitted.

The car’s battery system features an auxiliary charge from two solar panels mounted on the rear parcel shelf.

ZERO’D’s low impact even extends to the equipment used during its creation, with ecofriendly gas used in the welding equipment and its workshop powered by renewable green energy from wind- and solar-powered resources.

ZERO’D will make its public debut at the House of Kolor Inauguration ceremony at MotorEx 12 held in the Sydney Olympic Dome on 21 July 2012.