Inside Zagari Engineering

Photos by Jim Skouras

Behind most great cars is the workmanship of a great workshop and after seeing yet another killer car go straight from Zagari Engineering into Street Fords magazine, we decided to head to the source. That meant heading to South Australia to catch up with Frank Zagari and his small team of extremely talented fabricators.

Frank (right) has been in the metal fabrication business for over 10 years. It all originally started as a part-time interest in a small workshop, quickly developing into a full time business which now occupies a 2000sq.ft space.

Frank is a fully qualified boilermaker/welder with tickets in all facets of welding. He has over 16 years experience in many areas of his trade varying from structural steel, sheet metal, marine, light aircraft and extensive experience in pipe and tube fabrication.

His ultimate interest and love lies with drag racing and the diversity and challenge that each new job brings. With many street and strip cars under his belt he has the runs on the board so to speak, and has proven himself to be one of Australia’s best race car fabricators.

On the day we visited, Frank had a few killer cars in the build including this very tough looking Fastback Mustang.

It had the usual tubs and a cage but what we were really interested in was the custom front A-arm suspension. The entire front clip had been designed by Frank in CAD, incorporating engine mounts for the 800hp 460ci big-block that would power the pony.

It really was a work of art and the quality of the welds were out of this world!

An XT Falcon was also receiving the Zagari treatment in the form of a flat boot floor and some mini tubs.

Up front it will be a copping a 351ci Cleveland that should put out somewhere around 500hp.

Although the workshop seemed to be Ford dominated, Frank assured us that he is happy to take on whatever can be thrown at him and doesn’t just stick to the blue oval. Above you can see a pair of custom fuel cells while below sits a rack of diffs ready to be shortened, customised and offered as a full diff and brake package.

Frank and his team are always down for a challenge so if you’re about to take on a project, check out the Zagari Engineering website or give them a call on (08) 8369 1888.