Under the Hood: Rockynats 05 - Nicole Jaggs

Published on 04 April 2025

Nicole Jaggs
Brisbane, QLD
1975 Holden LH Torana Sedan – ‘S7OKA’

We met Nicole Jaggs inside the buzzing scrutineering shed, where almost 1,800 cars are checked and cleared for  Rare Spares Rockynats 05. The air was electric - all engine hum and anticipation - and right in the middle of it was Nicole’s bright tangerine 1975 Holden LH Torana Sedan. The number plate reads S7OKA, a cheeky nod to "stock," though this car is anything but.

Selected for the Lawrences Motors Elite Pavilion, Nicole’s Torana is built to impress. But for her, the pride isn’t just in the polish, it’s in the journey. “This is the fourth Rockynats I’ve been to. I love seeing the entire car community come together, whether it’s someone’s pristine build or a sentimental piece passed down through generations.”

Her love for cars began young. “My dad’s a mechanic, a drag racer. I was always surrounded by cars,” she says. Her husband (also a car nut) helped bring this dream build to life in just 12 months, from bare metal to a show-stopper.

Nicole's biggest challenge? “Not conforming. As a woman in this scene, people have expectations - what it should look like, how it should be done. But I knew what I wanted. I picked the colour. I picked every part. And I can tell you every bolt in that engine bay.”

Speaking of colour, the tangerine orange was a chance encounter. “I saw a total strangers car parked outside Dad’s workshop one day. That was the orange. Deep, bright, and bold. I hunted it down and used it.”

Inside, it’s all clean white boat vinyl (kept gleaming with denture cleaner, thank you very much). No music, no air con - just windows down, engine purring, and the wind doing its thing. “I built this car to enjoy the drive, the noise, the feel.”

And the personality of her Torana? “She’s definitely a she! Sassy, a bit of a princess, but super reliable. Like all good women,” Nicole laughs.

The LS engine under the hood is a stroked 408 with a carby and distributor, a rare touch, and that ironic plate? “Cops have pulled me over to check if it’s really ‘stock.’ It’s definitely not. It’s a bit of fun.”

For Nicole, Rockynats isn’t just about cars – it’s about community, creativity, and carving your own lane.

You can check out Nicole’s Torana (and all its tangerine glory) in the Lawrences Motors Elite Pavilion at the FMX Kaos Showgrounds Precinct all weekend. From Friday afternoon, the Elite Hall becomes a shrine to custom craftsmanship and high-performance pride, and Nicole’s one-of-a-kind build is right at home among the best of the best.