1967 Ford XR Falcon: 600hp eco-friendly muscle car

Called ZERO'D, the 'green' machine is based on a 45-year-old Ford XR Falcon but employs a recycled 7.3-litre Ford Powerstroke turbocharged V8 diesel truck engine that runs on biodiesel and has been put together using waste materials and recycled components in an attempt to achieve a carbon footprint of zero.

The man behind ZERO'D, Mick Fabar, owner of Green Homes Australia, says he wanted to create a street machine with the goal of having a zero effect on the environment through its design, construction and running.

"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... The challenge sort of evolved from there.

"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."

The monster motor churns out 1000Nm of torque through an Allison four-speed automatic transmission, while running on commercially available B20 biofuel (20 per cent bio, 80 per cent petrol) straight from the petrol bowser that sees a reduction in exhaust emissions by up to 70 per cent.

Every external body panel on ZERO'D is second-hand, as are the nuts and bolts, and its hand-stitched black leather interior trim is made entirely from hide off-cuts and 'seconds' that are normally thrown out.

The only new components used on the build were new rubbers and glass, due to quality replacements not being available, and the radiator and intercooler, which were fabricated one-off items made to suit the car’s custom front end.

The car's 20-inch Federal 'Green Friendly' tyres are distillate aromatic extract oils-free and a low emission Shimrin 2 base paint was used under the House of Kolor 'Earth Green' top coat.

Even the car's build process took environmental impact into account with eco-friendly gas used when welding and the workshop itself powered by renewable green energy from wind and solar-powered resources.

ZERO'D took 11 months of planning and seven months to build, with Queensland's Bond University documenting its construction to ensure the production team maintained its zero carbon footprint.

Motor show director Russ Tyrie said, "ZERO'D is a true demonstration of Australian ingenuity and it will certainly offer inspiration and ideas for the general public and industry experts alike at the motor show."

The 2012 Australian International motor show will take place at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre in Darling Harbour between October 19 to 28.