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Issue 437 October 2021

Part of the Fast Car Entertainment Family

www.fastcar.co.uk Fast Car Magazine Kelsey Media The Granary, Downs Court, Yalding Hill, Yalding, Maidstone, Kent, ME18 6AL

EDITORIAL Editor: Dan Sherwood Email: dan.sherwood@kelsey.co.uk Art Editor: Graham Morecroft Email: graham.morecroft@kelsey.co.uk Web Editor: Matthew Bell Email: matthew.bell@kelsey.co.uk Contributors: Adrian Brannan, Daniel Bevis, Ollie Wildsmith, Chuff Media, Henry Phull, Jamie King ADVERTISEMENT SALES & PRODUCTION Director: David Lerpiniere David.lerpiniere@talkmediasales.co.uk Tel: 01732 445326 Sales manager: Russell Bedford russell.bedford@talkmediasales.co.uk Tel: 01732 445328 Ad Production: Talk Media: 01732 445325 MANAGEMENT Chief Executive: Steve Wright Chief Operating Officer: Phil Weeden Subscription Marketing Director: Gill Lambert Retail Director: Steve Brown Print Production Manager: Georgina Harris Print Production Controllers: Kelly Orriss and Hayley Brown Subs Marketing Executives: Dave Sage and Claire Aspinall Affiliate Marketing: Kate Chamberlain SUBSCRIPTIONS 12 issues of Fast Car are published per annum UK annual subscription price: £77.87 Europe annual subscription price: £90.00 USA annual subscription price: £90.00 Rest of World annual subscription price: £96.00 CONTACT US UK subscription and back issue orderline: 0845 241 5159 Overseas subscription orderline: 0044 (0) 1959 543 747 Toll free USA subscription orderline: 1-888-777-0275 UK customer service team: 01959 543 747 For customer service support, please visit: help.kelsey.co.uk Customer service and subscription postal address: Fast Car Customer Service Team Kelsey Media 5 Yalding Hill, Downs Court, Yalding, Maidstone,Kent ME18 6AL United Kingdom WEBSITE Find current subscription offers on our website: shop.kelsey.co.uk/FTC ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER? Manage your subscription online at shop.kelsey.co.uk/myaccount DISTRIBUTION Distribution in Great Britain Marketforce (UK) Ltd, 3rd Floor, 161 Marsh Wall, London, E14 9AP Tel: 0330 3906555 Distribution in Northern Ireland and the Republic Of Ireland Newspread: Tel: +353 23 886 3850 PRINTING William Gibbons & Sons Ltd Kelsey Media 2021 © all rights reserved. Kelsey Media is a trading name of Kelsey Publishing Ltd. Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden except with permission in writing from the publishers. Note to contributors: articles submitted for consideration by the editor must be the original work of the author and not previously published. Where photographs are included, which are not the property of the contributor,permission to reproduce them must have been obtained from the owner of the copyright. The editor cannot guarantee a personal response to all letters and emails received. The views expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of the Editor or the Publisher. Kelsey Publishing Ltd accepts no liability for products and services offeredby third parties.

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It’s said that the distance between your dreams and reality is nothing more than action.Without the proper motivation to act on what you want, your dreams will remain just that, an intangible ideal that only exists in your mind.

But get busy putting in the work to achieving that seemingly unreachable goal, and sooner or later you’ll realise that maybe it wasn’t so far out of reach after all. And it’s the same with cars. If you’ve always had aspirations to own a neck-snapping modified ride that pushes the boundaries of the show scene, or can put in the kind of lap times that’d put the frighteners up Time Attack’s elite, then it all starts with that first step of putting your plan into action.

One man who knows all about pursuing his dreams is Lewis Brown, the owner of the wild and wide GT86 on this month’s cover. When a Toyota garage wouldn’t even give him a test drive, he didn’t allow his dream to fade, but pushed on, acquired a car and didn’t let up until he’d created the turbocharged, Pandem-kitted vision in his head. You can read all about his journey to show car super-stardom starting on page 12.

But Lewis is far from the only person in this issue to have gone all out in the pursuit of achieving his dreams, as each of our feature car owners this month have put in the effort to make their own dream builds a reality. From Andy Cowley’s BTCC-inspired Skoda Octavia estate to Jack Gibson’s rat rodded classic Ford F-1 pickup truck, all have taken that first step and not looked back. And you can do it too. Who knows, maybe your car be the next to star on our cover?

As well as a host of inspiring feature cars, we’ve also got our top tech guide to tyres, an indepth look at all you need to know about oil and fuel additives, a buying guide for Ford’s Mk2 Focus ST and a tuning guide for extracting maximum fun out of BMW’s biggest performance bargain, the 335i. Add in the usual mix of news, product reviews and staff car shenanigans and you’ve got another action packed issue.

Enjoy!

Dan

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RUBBER UP! ALL ABOUT… TYRES

FEATURE OF THE MONTH RUBBER UP!

Tyres are the most crucial part of your car and should not be overlooked. On page 60, you’ll find our top tyre tech to give you the lowdown on everything you need to know about your car’s rubber so you can make the right decision when it comes to buying your next set of hoops.

Next Issue 438 on sale 22 • 10 • 2021

Without tyres our cars would be useless, so getting the right rubber for a fast road car is crucial. Here’s what you should be looking out for when buying your ride’s next set of boots…

Never underestimate the importance of good quality tyres.

The rubber you choose will affect the acceleration, braking, and cornering performance of your car, so you need to choose wisely.

There’s no point increasing your car’s power output, improving the suspension setup, or beefing up the brakes if all that work is going to be undermined by the tyres you’ve fitted. As the only part of the car in contact with the road, your tyres have a direct impact on all areas of its performance, so you need to give them some serious thought and consideration. That’s why over the next few pages we’re going to show you what you should be looking for when you buy your next set…

HOW ARE TYRES MADE? In order to understand what makes a tyre do what it does, let’s go back to basics and look at how one is actually put together. Almost all radial road tyres are constructed in more or less the same way, with the only major differences being the exact compounds of rubbers used and the final tread pattern design.

The process of building a tyre starts with the steel beads. These are then encapsulated in rubber and form the tyre bead as we know it, and provides the starting point for the rest of the tyre to build upon. The next step is the tyre liner, which is a non-porous nylon-reinforced rubber used to form the basic shape of the tyre. This creates an airtight seal between the steel beads so the tyres can be inflated – hence needing to be made from a nonporous material to prevent moisture in the air escaping and thus deflating the tyre.

There’s a lot more to a tyre than just the outer tread cap layer

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On top of the liner the tyre body plies are added. These are made from nylonreinforced rubber and help give the tyre its shape. The number of body plies depends on the application of the tyre, but a typical road tyre will feature two or three of these nylon plies.

Next come the steel belts. These are steel reinforced sheets of rubber that or three layers in most road tyres. are added to give the tyre strength and two blend of plies and steel belts is then durability. The number and type of steel The capped off with a final layer of nylonbelts used will help determine the finished reinforced rubber, before the tread cap is tyre’s load and speed ratings. Again the applied.

The tread cap is the final, thicker number of steel belts used depends on of rubber that eventually forms the the application, but typically you will find layer tread pattern of the finished tyre. The compounds of the rubbers used in the tread cap will alter depending on the intended purpose (ultimate grip race tyre or long-lasting road tyre, for example) and manufacturer’s specifications.

At this stage the tyre is still ‘green’, and the layers of soft, sticky, pliable rubber need to be cured before they can be used on the road. The curing process involves applying both heat and pressure to the tyres in a specific tyre curing press. This causes all the layers to bind together to create what is effectively a rubber laminate, and cures and hardens the rubber to give the desired characteristics. The curing press also indents the tread pattern design into the outer tread cap layer, as well as all the required sidewall markings and tyre information.

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FEATURE CARS

REGULAR FEATURES

Romeo Done 012 Pandem-kitted and turbocharged, this yellow GT86 is anything but mellow

020

Front End 008 Lamborghini Countach returns, Hot Wheels competition, Tom Vs Dale results

044

Unfinished Business 020 Touring car fan builds his Skoda Octavia estate into a BTCC-inspired monster

For Truck’s Sake!

044 Classic Ford F-1 pickup gets rescued from 025 scrap and turned into a coal-rolling rat rod

052

067

Mk2 Focus ST Buying Guide 067 What to look out for when looking to bag a bargain five-cylinder Ford flier

028

Augmented Reality 052 The Tuning Shop bring Europe’s first LTOkitted BMW E30 from virtual to reality

072

Rampant Rabbit 028 Playboy themed and wrapped in chrome pink vinyl this wide Audi A5 is stunning!

036

Because Racecar 036 Show-winning Integra DC5 cuts the compromises to become a circuit slayer

PRODUCTS

The hottest gear this month Keep up to date with TeamFC on…www.fastcar.co.uk, Facebook, Twitter & Instagram

BMW 335i Tuning Guide 072 Fast Car’s top tips for tuning this ballistic turbocharged BMW Staff Rides 087 More modified shenanigans with the motors from the Fast Car fleet Classifieds 096 079 Web Could your next car be lurking on these pages? Have a look and find out Next Month 098 Check out what we have in store for you in the next awesome edition defining car culture 007

UP FRONT Tuning news from around the world

COUNTACH IS BACK! LAMBORGHINI RE-RELEASES THE ULTIMATE ‘70S AND ‘80S BEDROOM WALL ICON WITH A HARD-HITTING HYBRID V12

If you were a petrolhead growing up in the ‘70s or ‘80s there is a strong chance that you had a certain angular supercar plastered in poster form over your bedroom wall. There were numerous ground-breaking cars that were on the scene at the time, namely the Porsche 911 turbo, the Lancia Stratos, the Ferrari 308 and the BMW M1, but there was one car that seemed to eclipse the lot when it came to what a supercar should be, and that car was the Lamborghini Countach.

A totally bonkers piece of Italian exotica, it was reportedly a nightmare to drive, was completely impractical but with that wedge-shaped body, a mid-mounted 4.0-litre V12 and scissor doors, it was every car fans’ wet dream. Over the years Lamborghini has retained that air of untamed supercar style, even when Audi came along and made them all reliable too

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- something that was practically unheard of in Italian supercar circles beforehand.

And now, the brand has revived its most iconic name with a new model for 2022, the Countach LPI 800-4.

Just 112 examples of this ultra-exclusive model will be built, each combining the latest, most advanced tech packaged in a body that pays homage to the ‘70s legend. The steeply raked screen and shallow windows are an obvious nod to the original, as are the black NACA ducts along the flanks.

Of course, as is expected of any flagship Lambo, a mid-mounted V12 will be nestled in the engine bay. This one, which has been lifted from the equally insane Sian hypercar, is packing 6.5-litres of displacement and produces 769bhp, while an additional 48-volt electric motor kicks in an additional 34bhp to bump up

the total output to 803bhp and further sharpen throttle response. Obviously!

This gargantuan power is delivered to all four wheels via a seven-speed singleclutch gearbox, which combined with the lightweight carbon-fibre monocoque chassis and body panels, allows the Countach to complete the 0-62mph sprint in just 2.8 seconds and top out at 221mph.

Hauling the lairy Lambo up from such stratospheric speeds is a set of carbonceramic brakes which live behind the huge ‘telephone dial’ wheels shod in Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres.

The car’s interior is equally outlandish with bespoke seats, 3D printed air vents and a trick photochromatic glass roof, which can turn from transparent to opaque at the touch of a button. All completely crazy and all completely Lamborghini. We want one!

The new Countach and its grandad from the ‘70s. Which would you choose?

“The 803bhp Countach will complete the 0-62mph sprint in just 2.8 seconds and top out at 221mph”

WIN YOUR CAR AS A HOT WHEELS

The opportunity to have your car immortalised as a Hot Wheels die-cast is being offered to one lucky enthusiast in the UK. The toy car producer is asking classic, modified and race car owners to submit their builds for judging at its virtual Hot Wheels Legends event on 14 October 2021. The vehicle that best embodies Hot Wheels’ high standards of performance, authenticity and ‘garage spirit’ will then go head-to-head with winners from the US, Japan, Mexico and Germany. The global winner will then be faithfully reproduced in 1:64 scale for children and collectors to cherish, or

simply blast around that most challenging racetrack; the living room floor.

To enter, simply submit a video of your car at www.hotwheelsuklegendstour.co.uk before the 1 October. A judging panel, which includes car designer Ian Callum CBE, will pick the car that best captures the Hot Wheels spirit. The judging will be broadcast live on 14 October on Car Throttle’s YouTube channel.

Last year’s UK finalist was James Williams awesome Hillman Imp (pictured above). Will yours be next?

defining car culture 009

UP FRONT Tom Vs Dale - the results are in!

TOM TRUMPS! It’s been another epic competition, but in the end there could only be one winner. In the 2020/21 Meguiar’s Tom Vs Dale project car build-off the votes have been cast and counted and it’s Tom’s super Swede that has come out on top.

With over 3500 votes cast through the Fast Car Facebook page Tom’s bagged and turbocharged Volvo Amazon was the resounding winner with 66.5% of the votes.

It may have taken him twice as long to put together and get running than Dale did with his manual gearbox-converted Jaguar S Type

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R, but the extra effort and skinned knuckles was obviously worth it to ensure the light green machine came out on top.

This was the second build-off that the detailing duo had taken part in, the first begin back in 2019 when Tom’s Prima Racing wide arched Renault 5 GT Turbo took on Dale’s low-rider-styled Mercedes W114.

Unfortunately for Dale, it was Tom who came up as top dog then as well, with Fast Car fans voting the fast 5 as their fave. That’s a two nil lead for the hairy one. Can Dale pull one back with the next project? Watch this space!

Two awesome green machines, but only one winner - and that’s Tom’s turbocharged Amazon

HOT RIDE

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Romeo Done?

TOYOTA GT86

In a fantasy project of Shakespearean magnitude, Lewis Brown has reimagined his GT86 as a wide-body show-stopper with deep swells of turbocharged thrust. But despite the looks and the power, he still has unfinished business…

Words Daniel Bevis Photography Ollie Wildsmith

Defining car culture 013

HOT RIDE

Received wisdom is a tricky thing. It’s a commonly held view that Romeo and Juliet, the classic tale of star-cross’d lovers, is the ultimate lyrical representation of love and romance. In reality, if you’ve actually read it, you’ll know that it’s a horrifying story of a relationship that lasts for three days and results in the deaths of six people. What we know and what we think we know are often two very different things.

Perhaps this strain of logic might have been helpful to the Toyota dealer who refused to allow Lewis Brown to test-drive a GT86 a few years back, on the grounds that he was too young to handle it.

Given the evidence before us today, it’s clear that not only is Lewis more than capable of handling such a machine, he was indeed destined to own one in order to remix it as the startling yellow wide-body creation it is now. Because this isn’t just any modified car – this is one that ought to be held up as the gold standard of how things should be done: no stone has been left unturned, all the decisions have been carefully considered, the work executed flawlessly, and the result is something that future generations will look back on as how cars were modified to the maximum in 2021. Lewis (now 23) and the GT86 are star-cross’d lovers for sure, but the crucial difference here is that nobody got hurt.

“I love cars that can easily scare you when you drive them,” he deadpans, and that’s a pretty baller way to set out one’s stall. He cites his dream cars as the McLaren P1 and the Ford GT MkII, both machines designed to tear out your soul and cast it into the fiery abyss, and what’s particularly interesting to note is that prior to this particular JDM tuning odyssey, Lewis had always been a Ford man. His first

Lewis had the arches customised with these cool louvres car was a 1.2-litre Mk6 Fiesta, something upon which he bestowed a few choice alterations that acted as a gateway drug to a full-on modding addiction; the next car was a Mk2 Focus 1.6 that transmuted into a faithful RS replica with all the right aesthetic bits… but it was hella slow and this paucity of grunt was really a turning point. What followed was a Mk7 Fiesta ST, and we all know what a tuneable thing that is. Lewis was an early adopter of the platform’s aftermarket hybrid turbo conversions, winding his ST up to a spicy 265bhp (a very impressive figure at the time), and the new-found hunger for boost is what ultimately led him to the acquisition of this tidy Toyota GT86.

Now, we know what you’re thinking – the new-wave hachi-roku has always been a naturallyMetallic snail has found its home in the front of the GT86’s engine bay

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“I thought I could have more fun in a RWD car compared to my previous FWD projects, and I just wanted to see how far I could go with it”

aspirated thing. And you’re right, that’s true, but having retro-fitted a turbo to a nat-asp Fiesta, our man was keen to repeat the formula with the Toyota because, as his enthusiasm for fast-road driving grew, so did his keenness for a balls-to-the-wall rearwheel-drive chassis.

“I wanted something that would get the adrenaline pumping,” he grins. “I thought I could have more fun in a RWD car compared to my previous FWD projects, and I just wanted to see how far I could go with it. So back in November 2017 I went to a Toyota garage to test-drive one, but they wouldn’t let me because they said I was too young!

So I quickly left that place. The following week I went to view a low-mileage GT86 that was being privately sold; it was in nice condition, a 2012 model with a few little dents but that didn’t bother me because I knew it would be an easy fix once the bodykit started to go on.”

That’s right, the wide-body vibe had been in mind from the get-go, even before he’d actually bought the car. Lewis had always intended to create something unique, based on a platform that’s relatively overlooked by the modifying community (and while we have seen some stellar ’86s in recent years, they’re not exactly commonplace), and the fresh V3 evolution of Rocket Bunny’s Pandem widebody kit was what he really had his sights set on.

“I initially tried to find a GT86 that had the bodykit already fitted, and even tried importing one from Japan,” he recalls, “but I just couldn’t find any that were good enough. The main worry was that it wouldn’t be finished to the standards and quality

TOYOTA GT86

PACIFIC RIMS

“Big Bear and I had a lot of talks about going with 19in wheels,” says Lewis. “We were concerned that they wouldn’t fit without some serious rubbing, and most Pandem kits in the US run 18in wheels… but in the end I’m so glad we put the work in and went with the 19s, as they fill the arches so well – and with Chris at Big Bear working his magic, there’s no rubbing at all. They’ve got WORK Emotion centre caps, and the wheels got delivered with silver valves which really didn’t suit the car; apparently black ones don’t exist, but Chris somehow had some genuine black WORK valves and let me swap them for the silver!”

Defining car culture 015

HOT RIDE

specialists Tuning Developments, who fitted a turbo kit with a Precision 5558 turbo on a UEL manifold, along with a TiAL MVR 44mm external wastegate, screamer pipe and Mishimoto intercooler. A resonated cat-back exhaust system with secondary decat ensures that the boxer rumble is still present and correct, and all of this really helped Lewis to get a taste for power… before too long, he was back at Tuning Developments for a Stage 2 upgrade.

With uprated fuelling, assorted tweaks and a serious mapping session, the result was a thoroughly healthy 337.1bhp. The stock brakes are pretty strong, but these were upgraded with EBC Yellow Stuff pads and braided lines to help rein in the 71% power increase, while an Exedy Stage 1 organic clutch and ultra-lightweight flywheel were subbed in to suit.

Imagine seeing this is And with the power where Lewis wanted it, it was your rear view mirror... time to pay a visit to Big Bear Kustoms.

“I needed to have something bespoke, something that I’ve made all the decisions on to I required, so I gave up looking for one that was already done and decided to go all-in and build one make it perfect for me,” he enthuses. “From the little things like what colour to make the badges, to the way I wanted.” deciding if we wanted to custom-install vents in the The Toyota was always destined to look this way once Lewis had drawn it into his embrace, but front arches – all the way to the big things like what colour the whole car should be and what style, size before any of that could happen there was some unfinished business to take care of when it came to and offsets the wheels should be. I had an image in the performance. You see, while the Pandem kit was my head of how I thought it would look at this stage on the cards from day one, so was the turbo – and of the build, however the reality now has surprised me as it looks so much better than I ever thought it since this was to be first-and-foremost a driver’s would! It really is a car that I’ve designed to be just car, the engine work was the primary area to be for me.” addressed. “I quickly came to the conclusion that With the Pandem bodykit ordered, Lewis worked the engine power wasn’t anywhere near enough for closely with Big Bear to ensure that the kit was fitted my liking,” he laughs. “The handling was great, it felt so planted and lively around the corners, it just and finished in exactly the way he wanted – because needed the power to match – hence why I ended up anyone can buy a bodykit off-the-shelf and have it installed, but this needed to be a one-off. And turbocharging it.” the closer you look, the more you find that unique The car was duly dropped off at marque

“I gave up looking for one that was already done and decided to go all-in and build one the way I wanted”

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Rear rollcage doubles as a handy steering wheel storage area

TOYOTA GT86

Yellow accents in the cockpit tie in with the exterior vibe

Defining car culture 017

HOT RIDE

details abound throughout; the vents in the front arches, for example, which were acquired for a tenner from eBay and seamlessly integrated to look like Rocket Bunny intended them to be there. The colour choice is another example; it’s Lamborghini’s New Giallo Orion, but here the guys have added an extra couple of coats of pearl to really make it pop in the light. Lewis was keen to pick out lots of black details in the yellow, so the roof and front arch vents have been finished in peelable P1 black paint, while the whole body is coated in self-healing P1 clearcoat protection to ensure that any stonechips and scuffs will simply melt away. The vast custom WORK wheels are works of art, the Air Lift suspension tucking them neatly into the cavernous arches, and the attention paid to the interior is every bit as meticulous. That air-ride system sports a fancy custom install, thanks to the artisans at Plush, and the cabin positively bristles with carbon-fibre and Alcantara details, FIA-approved buckets and harnesses, plus enough audio to ensure that if the exhaust rumble doesn’t get you, the bass will. It’s all about the details, as with every element of the car.

See that custom rear rollcage? It’s colour-matched to the body, and it also has little diamonds in the topcoat. But of course.

This really is the full package, then – it’s got the looks, the power, the usability, the poise. Job done?

No, these things are never finished. “I’m planning a big brake kit,” says Lewis, “plus an electronic exhaust valve to regulate the noise levels.” Why? To take it to the track, of course! This GT86 may have show-winning style and a million custom details, but it’s been built to be driven and that’s precisely what Lewis does. Forget all of that received wisdom about show cars being trailer queens. These star-cross’d lovers are ready to tear it up at a moment’s notice. 

TECH SPEC: TOYOTA GT86

ENGINE: 2.0-litre D-4S flat-four, Stage 2 turbo kit with Precision 5558 turbo, UEL manifold, TiAL MVR 44mm external wastegate, screamer pipe, upgraded Omni Power FA20 MAP sensor, 3-port electronic boost control kit, 320lph Tuning Developments in-tank fuel pump kit, 850cc Injector Dynamics port injector set, Mishimoto intercooler, secondary decat, resonated cat-back Tuning Developments exhaust system, oil cooler, oil baffle plate, Blitz sandwich plate, 337.1bhp, 258lb.ft TRANSMISSION: 6-speed manual, Exedy Stage 1 organic clutch, ultra-lightweight flywheel, Mtec spring and gearbox insert SUSPENSION: Air Lift Performance air-ride, AccuAir e-Level management BRAKES: EBC Yellow Stuff pads, braided lines WHEELS: 10x19in ET-20 (front) and 11.5x19in ET-47 (rear) WORK Emotion CR-2P wheels in Charcoal Anthracite, 245/35 Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres (f), 285/30 Michelin Pilot Sport 2 tyres (r), Michelin tyre stickers INTERIOR: Mirco GT 3D-fabric FIA bucket seats with custom embroidered logos, M2 subframes, Schroth Clubman II ASM 4-point FIA harnesses, custom Alcantara panels with yellow stitching, custom rear rollcage – colour-matched with diamonds in topcoat, suede Momo Deep-Dish Model 08 steering wheel, NRG short hub, Driftworks Race Paddle quick-release, carbon-fibre covers for all interior plastic trim, Airvent 60mm gauge pod, DEPO 4-in-1 gauge (boost, volts, oil pressure and oil temp), Billetworkz Rick & Morty gearstick, Xtrons IN70HGTL 7in head unit, Pioneer GM-D8701 amp, Pioneer TS-A3000LB 1500w 12in shallow subwoofer, Focal IS165TOY component speakers, hidden boot install with twin compressors by Plush Automotive EXTERIOR: Rocket Bunny / Pandem V3 wide-body kit inc. ducktail, GT wing, front, side and rear canards, splitter, rear diffuser and grilles, three-stage Lamborghini New Giallo Orion paint (with two coats of pearl), moulded front arch vents, roof and front arch vents finished in peelable P1 black paint, P1 self-healing clearcoat protection, smoked Valenti taillights, Vland sequential headlights, 5500k HID kit, chaser underglow neons THANKS: “A massive thank-you to Chris at Big Bear Kustoms who has helped me with the technical details from the beginning and helping with all his knowledge. And of course for doing such a good job of installing (cutting, welding, making sure the wheels don’t rub, custom supports for bumpers/arches) and painting the car… and dealing with all my custom requests. Thank you to Charlotte, my girlfriend – for putting up with all the time that’s been spent on the car and for supporting and helping me with ideas, as well as the countless hours driving me to see the car and picking me up when I was getting it worked on. Thank you to Mike at Tuning Developments for installing the turbo kit that gave it the power it needed, and for answering many questions. I think I would be going mad if I didn’t have boost in my life! And finally, GSM Performance for helping me pick and choose nearly all of my interior.”

It takes a brave man to drive with ride height this low!

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PROLITE

TORINO

Wolfrace TrackReady Gloss Black Gloss Black 6.5x16” 7.5x17” 7.5x17” 8.0x18” 9.0x17” 8.0x18” 8.0x19”

ASSASSIN GT2

Gloss Black / Polished 8.5x18” 8.5x20”

GTP

Gloss Black / Polished 9.0x20” 9.5x22”

AERO

Matt Black & Gloss Black / Polished 8.5x18” 8.5x19” 8.5x20”

onze,

WOLFSBURG

Gloss Black / Polished & Gloss Black Gloss Black / Polished, Gloss Black 8.0x18” 8.5x19” 8.5x20” 8.5x18” 8.5x19” 8.5x20” Gunmetal / Polished 8.0x18” 8.5x20” Matt Bronze 8.5x20”

Gloss Black / Polished Lip & Gunmetal 8.0x18” 8.0x19” 8.5x20” 9.0x20” 9.5x21”

KODIAK

Polar Silver & Gunmetal 5.0x14” 5.5x14” 5.5x15” 6.0x15” 6.0x16” 6.5x16” 7.0x16” 7.0x17” 7.5x17” 7.5x18” 8.0x18” 8.0x19”

MILANO

Titanium 5.5x14” 6.0x15” 6.5x15” 6.5x16” 7.0x17” 7.5x18”

LUCCA

Gloss Black / Polished, Gloss Black & Polar Silver 6.5x16” 6.5x17” 7.5x17” 8.0x18” 8.0x19” 8.0x20”

VISIT YOUR NEAREST DEALER TUV CERTIFICATION German TUV certification on selected wheels

GO ONLINE Please visit your nearest dealer to view or purchase Wolfrace wheels or go online at www.wolfrace.com

MADE IN EUROPE All TUV certificated wheels are made in Europe.

UP TO 5 YEAR WARRANTY On selected wheels when you register online

HUGE RANGE AVAILABLE Huge range of wheels available, see www.wolfrace.com for the full range

INTERACTIVE GUIDE Use our interactive fitment guide at www.wolfrace.com

HOT RIDE

020 www.fastcar.co.uk

SKODA OCTAVIA Words Dan Sherwood Photography Chuff Media

When a man in a van wrote off his original Skoda estate, Andy Cowley was determined not to let it derail his plans for a BTCC-inspired load lugger and pulled out all the stops for his super fresh build

Defining car culture 021

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Dahlback WRC-style inlet manifold dominates the detailed bay

“People look at the car and presume that I’m some sort of Skoda enthusiast,” laughs 37-year-old Andy Cowley when we meet up with him and his awesome Octavia estate at Birmingham’s Wheels Raceway. “But the truth is, I only originally bought a Skoda because it was a cheaper alternative to the Mk4 Golf that I actually wanted. There was no major passion for the Czech brand, it was just a cheap diesel daily to run around in and carry my work gear.”

But being the true petrolhead he is, Andy couldn’t resist treating his oil-burning workhorse to a few choice modifications, and soon it was looking pretty decent. He also had a garage full of additional mods that he’d acquired that were patiently waiting their turn in the limelight in his increasingly cluttered garage.

“To be honest, I really grew to like my original Octavia; especially when I could see what was possible with it after some tuning and modifications were added,” Andy remembers. “In fact, I was actually proper gutted when a van driver crashed into me on the M42 and wrote it off.”

With the estate a mangled mess and he insurance company ready to dish the dosh, Andy was finally in a position to get the Golf he had always dreamed of, but something was holding him back…

Side exit exhaust system screams BTCC racer 022 www.fastcar.co.uk

“I just felt like I had unfinished business with the Octavia as I hadn’t fulfilled my vision for it yet,” he says with a steely look in his eye. “So instead of jumping ship, I decided to buy back the crashed Octavia, strip it of all the upgrades that remained intact and, along with the unfitted parts that were piled up in the garage, I would go all out and build a proper 1.8 20v turbo model that had the speed and power to match the look that I had for the car in my head.”

Being the son of a motorsport mad dad meant that Andy grew up with the heady aroma of high octane fuel and vapourised rubber. He would regularly attend a whole host of different race series to spectate the action with his dad, Big Trev. The pair’s main love was originally watching the mud plugging antics of the rallying fraternity, but come the ‘90s and the duo had caught the Touring Car bug and could regularly be found at Donington Park, cheering on the boys of the BTCC. “Big Trev preferred the more subtle look of the early cars, but for me it was always the Super Touring era that got my juices flowing,” he laughs. “Skimming the ground with huge wheels tucked up inside the arches, slathered in aero parts and with wild liveries. The Volvo 850 estate driven by Rickard Rydell was my favourite. I was obsessed with its long, boxy silhouette – it was just so cool.”

So rather than an Octavia obsession, what we’re really looking at here is an infatuation for estates, mixed up with no small amount of motorsport madness.

“I knew exactly what I wanted to do, I just needed to find a suitable car that could be the basis for my Super Touring homage,” he laughs. “Luckily it didn’t take long and soon a very clean car, with just a few basic engine mods appeared on my driveway ready for the transformation to begin.”

The Octavia sat there patiently waiting for its overhaul until early 2019, when Andy decided the time was right to get stuck in, and the first thing he insisted on doing was a modification that all touring cars need; a side-exit exhaust.

“I didn’t want it to hang too low and look out of place, so took it to my mate John, AKA SumpScuffers, who fabricated a tunnel through the near side sill, to tuck a side-exit system right up into the chassis,” Andy explains. “He also did a chassis notch for my driveshaft whilst it

SKODA OCTAVIA

“Slathered in aero parts and with wild liveries, the Volvo 850 estate was my favourite. I was obsessed with its long, boxy silhouette” addressing the Octavia’s bodywork. Obsessed with running 19in rims, but with heavy tuck all round when dropped on AirLift V2 air ride, the estate’s arches were the first port of call. But this wouldn’t be a simple case of slapping on a set of swollen aftermarket flares, as it was crucial to Andy that the car retained the factory arch lines.

Getting the required space for such large rolling stock wasn’t an easy task, so Andy wisely subbed out the task to his mate Daz, who spent many hours cutting, rolling, beating, stretching, pulling and welding the Skoda’s arches to gain around 20mm of additional clearance.

“It was a lot of work for something you don’t even really notice, but the result is that the 19in Team Dynamics Pro Race 1.3 wheels fit perfectly and can tuck nicely up into the arches without any scrubbing, was there, as I knew it would need it if I was to achieve the sill-scraping lows that are essential for achieving an authentic Super Touring look.”

With the car now suitably piped, Andy took advantage of his Dad’s driveway to use as a makeshift workshop, where he wasted no time in getting the car up on axle stands before stripping it to a bare shell, coating the underside and rebuilding or replacing every part of the suspension with either new OEM or uprated parts including all new VW nuts, bolts and fixings.

“I tend to get a bit OCD when it comes to my cars,” Andy chuckles, “so once I started refreshing the underside, I had to go the whole way and get everything sorted, or I just wouldn’t be happy with it.”

Continuing with the driveway build vibes, he then moved on to

The custom cut outs in the bonnet are an unique touch Defining car culture 023

HOT RIDE

Bolt in rear cage has integrated harness bars

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so in my eyes it was well worth it, as the whole theme of the car really centres around the wheels and the low ride height.”

With the stance sorted, Andy was keen to strengthen the Octavia’s aero game, unfortunately, when it comes to body upgrades for the Czech chariot, there really wasn’t much available. So Andy did the only thing he could and built his own.

“For the front bumper I blanked off the fog light grilles to keep the basic silhouette shape, then cut out the centre for the intercooler and added some side vent extensions with sections from a Honda Civic bumper,” Andy highlights.

Obviously, a huge splitter was a BTCC necessity, and this one is a home brew special which Andy made from plywood before skinning in fibreglass for shape. The side skirts are modified items that he found in a scrap pile and the rear bumper has been extended, vented and equipped with an alloy rear diffuser. The custom-made BYC wing finishing off the motorsport look was carried over from his previous wagon. But the one modification we can’t remember seeing doing the rounds of the UK’s top tracks aboard any of the BTCC’s finest is the cut out bonnet…

“The bonnet was fuelled by Covid boredom!” Andy shrugs. “But I hate skeleton style ones that just have the top skin taken off, while other cut outs often leave an obvious gap between the skins, so again my OCD made me smooth the gaps for a cleaner look.”

The messy work complete, Andy had the whole car painted in Porsche Chalk Grey – not Nardo grey as people often presume – before shipping the build off to Sam at Wrapstarzprouk for a BTCCinspired livery to be applied.

“I wanted a classic touring car livery, but there was nothing in the BTCC that I liked, so Sam and I started looking at the German DTM series for ideas,” Andy recalls. “In the end we settled upon the complex Tic Tac livery from an E30 BMW. We changed the branding on it to reflect the mods on my car, but we generally tried to keep fairly close to the original livery.”

Now looking every inch the Touring Car star, Andy was keen to give the Octavia the go to match the show, but that cut out bonnet

SKODA OCTAVIA

JP Audio subs give this race rep some serious cruise cred

Flocked dash suits the look perfectly

meant that the engine itself also needed to look the part, a job that he entrusted to Andy Pallister of ADP Fabrication.

“Originally I wanted to go fully black on black, but Andy P is a polishing master so got me to add some shine,” he laughs. “We took the front end off, and did it all in one go, including adding the custom air box, tanks and boost pipework that was needed due to my Dahlback WRC-style inlet manifold, which also required the slam panel to be modified in order for the bonnet to shut properly!”

Interior wise, it’s a race car, so a flocked dash was the only sensible choice, and Andy complemented it by having all the other plastic pieces of trim in the cabin treated with the same fibrous coating, a task that was carried out by Flocking Fantastic. A suede Momo steering wheel and half rollcage added yet more race car chic, while a Coolerworx quick shift setup was installed to ensure the cogs could be swapped with suitably lightning pace.

Coolerworx shifter adds a real track car vibe to the interior

You can’t have a BTCC replica without some suitable wild wraparound buckets!

Defining car culture 025

HOT RIDE

“The seats were a bargain!” enthuses Andy. “I’d seen them go up for sale around six months earlier but couldn’t afford them at the time, but then they popped up again at a price I couldn’t resist! Like everything I buy, they were at the other end of the country though!”

The trip was definitely worth it, as the wraparound Corbeau Revenge full carbon-fibre bucket seats with TRS harnesses are pure race car, just with an added show-worthy twist of custom purple trim.

Another element to Andy’s build that pays no lip-service to motorsport and is all about that old school cruise feel is the full audio build. A set of Alpine 6.5in components sit up front in custom fibreglass door pods, while the deleted rear seat has been replaced with a boot build that features the twin air tanks and a pair of heavy hitting JL Audio 12in subwoofers, all controlled by a Kenwood double din headunit and powered by beefy Vibe amplifiers.

So is Andy satisfied that he has now fulfilled the full Super Touring vision that he always had for the Skoda?

“Yeah, I think I’ve finally got to a point where I’ve achieved everything I wanted for the first car, I don’t think there’s much more I could do along the BTCC theme,” he reckons. “Although I’ve always fancied doing a WRC build, so maybe you’ll see this jacked up with swollen WRC arches in the future, who knows?”

But whatever the future holds for Andy’s wonder wagon, it’s sure to be doing the business of snapping necks and blowing minds wherever it goes. 

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TECH SPEC: SKODA OCTAVIA

ENGINE 1.8-litre, 4-cyl, 20v turbo AUQ engine, full black silicone hoses throughout, oversized turbo intake pipe, custom air box housing with large K&N filter, alloy radiator, front mount intercooler, custom alloy coolant, washer fluid, and oil catch tanks, AGN cam cover conversion, BAM boost pipe layout conversion, Dahlback WRC-style inlet manifold, polished charge pipe, throttle body, coil pack cover and fuel rail, cold side DV relocation with polished Forge BOV, injector wiring loom tuck, smooth polished alloy caps throughout, powdercoated parts in crackle black, uprated alternator, DW65 fuel pump, 3in downpipe, custom side-exit 2.5in system with oval tailpipe through sill and sideskirt, 15mm engine raiser blocks TRANSMISSION Rebuilt 02J gearbox, Quaiffe ATB diff with ARP bolts, G60 solid flywheel and VR6 clutch conversion SUSPENSION Airlift V2 bags, OCD Performance front struts, IDF rear plates with 3 degrees of camber, Bilstein rear shocks, converted to Cupra R front subframe, cast arms, TT quick rack, TT hubs, Powerflex polybushes throughout, rebuilt rear beam, underside fully stripped, painted body colour, and fully powder coated, stud and nut hub conversion BRAKES Brembo 18z front brake calipers with 334mm disc conversion, HEL braided brake hoses WHEELS & TYRES 8.5x19in Team Dynamics Pro Race 1.3 wheels in light anthracite with Nankang NS-2 tyres EXTERIOR Full respray in Porsche Chalk grey, custom Tic Tac vinyl livery, BYC alloy rear wing mount system, alloy rear diffuser, custom extended rear bumper, smoothed tailgate, custom side skirts, custom fabricated rear arches extended 20mm, front wings rolled and pulled, debadged front grille, custom front bumper, front splitter, DTM mirrors on custom base mounts, cut out vented show bonnet, headlight air duct INTERIOR Corbeau Revenge carbon bucket seats in custom purple trim, TRS 3inch harnesses in turquoise, dash, doorcards and all interior plastics refinished in grey and purple flock, 4-point bolt-in rear cage with double diagonal and harness bars, Momo 350mm suede steering wheel with NRG short hub and snap-off kit, Coolerworx quick shifter, Race Diagnostics liquid gauge in drivers side vent, V2 controller in centre vent mount

ICE Kenwood double DIN headunit, custom fibreglass front door builds with 6.5in Alpine components, rear seat delete with 2x 12in JL audio subs, and centre build housing 6.5inch alpine components, twin air tanks, boot build housing full sized spare wheel on show frame, 3x Vibe amps, Optima battery relocated to boot THANKS Big thanks to my Dad, Big Trev for always helping with stuff I break, plus letting me use his brand new driveway to build the car on, Andy Pallister at ADP Fabrications for all his engine bay genius, Sam Wrapstarzprouk for the livery, Daz for all the hours on the drive doing bodywork with me, Birmingham Wheels Raceway for the use of the track for the shoot

WWW.AUTOFINESSE.CO.UK

HOT RIDE

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AUDI A5

Rampant Rabbit Words Daniel Bevis Photography Chuff Media

With Playboy bunnies all over and a chrome pink finish, you might be forgiven for thinking that this wide-body A5 is a case of style-over-substance. But you’ll soon change your mind if you come up alongside Sophie Skinner on the dragstrip…

Defining car culture 029

HOT RIDE It’s easy to knock the Playboy culture. After all, if Hugh Hefner’s sole aim in life was to accrue sufficient wealth to enable him to live out his days in a dressing-gown, smoking a pipe and surrounded by scantily-clad ladies a fraction of his age, isn’t that all just a bit tacky?

Well, if you look at it in such over-arching terms, perhaps – but it’s always important to dig a little deeper, and Hef’s endeavours over the years were intriguingly multi-faceted. In the 1950s, for instance, he used Playboy magazine’s editorials to question contemporary prejudices toward homosexuality. He opened racially diverse clubs in the 1960s and vocally supported the civil rights movement. In the ’70s he held high-profile fundraisers to restore the Hollywood sign.

The point is, more and more unexpected details emerge as you dig deeper into the story.

The vividly pink Audi A5 you see here is similarly multi-faceted and intriguing, which makes the use of the iconic Playboy bunnies throughout the car entirely appropriate. First impressions… well, they’re pretty bloody devastating, aren’t they? Proportions amplified and exaggerated by that wide-body kit, unique wheels the likes of which you’ve never seen before, and of course that shockingly bright chrome pink finish. But this is far more than surface glitter. The promise of Marilyn Monroe’s shirt-potatoes on the front cover may draw you in, but leafing through reveals insights into scientific breakthroughs and cultural movements; beneath the lipstick shimmer of this Audi we find intelligent engineering and offbeat thinking. It talks the talk, but it also

very much walks the walk.

Sophie Skinner is the proud owner in the driving seat, and she’s reimagined the sleek coupe in her own image. “This car was originally owned by my boss, Corey England at Wrap Capital,” she explains.

“When he told me that he was selling the A5, I just couldn’t let it go to anyone else as I’ve always loved it. Corey had bought the car fully standard and started modifying it straight away; he had an uprated front-mount intercooler fitted along with a custom 3in straight-through exhaust, and sent it off to Bevo Tuning where it was mapped; the car is now Stage 2, running 330bhp and just shy of 600lb ft.”

The work had already begun in earnest, but Sophie isn’t the sort of person to take on someone else’s project car and just keep it as it is. She had plenty of ideas right from the get-go, and the fact that the Audi was running coilovers and wrapped in Hexis turquoise mirror chrome gave her two immediate starting points. The wrap was duly ripped off, and Sophie began the process of working through the todo list that she’d been building up for some time.

“I knew I had to put it on air,” she grins. “The car was taken down to Sub 7 Auto Work in Newton Abbot, where Aaron was given the task of fitting the D2 Performance USA Diamond air-ride system. He stripped out the coilovers, changed the bushes, and fitted new lower arms. Once the air-ride was on, he had the challenge of setting up the ride level sensors to ensure the car had a safe ride height and wouldn’t catch while driving.”

“I like to use the A5 on drag days too – with it being diesel and high in torque, as well as AWD, it gets amazing results down the strip”

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AUDI A5

Defining car culture 031

HOT RIDE Sub 7 ended up taking a pretty holistic approach with the build, not just reworking the suspension but also giving the car a full service and check-over before moving on to the creation of a one-off custom boot build. Sophie was keen for this to sit in the wheel well, which immediately caused a problem because of the position of the battery; this had to be re-sited further back to allow room for the air-ride management and compressor, but with this done the team had the freedom to really get creative with the reconfigured space. The cables and air lines were all hidden neatly under the floor, and a large Playboy bunny was cut out with a Perspex sheet fitted, creating a viewing window to the build below. Pink neon lights were installed inside the build, and also in the upper edge of the boot, and the air tank was wrapped in glitter black with a chrome pink Playboy logo.

“As well as D2 Performance USA supplying the Diamond air suspension, they also created my custom dished heart wheels,” Sophie continues. “We had to work out exactly what size wheels we needed – the offset, width, dishes and so on – and this was a very timeconsuming job but we got there in the end! Once the measurements and design were agreed, D2 started the process of making them… but the complexity didn’t end there. When they had made one wheel, they then had to go through a number of rigorous checks to ensure they were going to be safe on the road; as the results came back, we had to adjust the thickness of the hearts until we were all happy. And with everything tested, modified and perfected, a full set of wheels

The unique wheels with heart-shaped spokes were custom made to Sophie’s own design

was made and they were shipped over to the UK.” With great rims comes great responsibility, of course, and this was never going to be a case of bolting a set of intricate bespoke wheels to a stock-looking A5 and leaving it at that. All of those fastidious measurements had been carried out with significant extra girth in mind, and that’s precisely what happened next.

Working at Wrap Capital in Devon, Sophie was in the fortunate position of having most of the mods carried out on the car at her place of work, and the next stage really was transformative. She sourced a wide-body kit from Xenonz UK, carefully selecting from a choice of diffusers to achieve the desired look, and opting to swap the front bumper for a more aggressive S5 item. It’s a serious undertaking to fit this kit, as it involves cutting out the stock arches (the inner skins then welded to properly seal them and prevent future corrosion), before drilling into the car to fit the wider arches. As you might imagine, this requires a hell of a lot of measuring and re-measuring, and the team took their time to ensure all the fitment was totally spot-on.

“The rear window was taken out so we could make sure the vinyl was fully tucked in, leaving no silver behind,” Sophie explains. “This isn’t the normal process; however, when using chrome it makes the lads’ jobs easier. The bumpers and lights were removed, and the wrapping process started. Playboy bunnies were cut out and applied to the

WHEEL UNIQUE

The creation of a bespoke steering wheel for Sophie’s project was handled by Control Customs UK. “The idea we had was something they’d never done before,” she explains. “Originally the wheel was going to be grey-and-black leopard print – however, they’d never used vinyl with a wheel before so it was a learning curve for us all. We wrapped the steering wheel and sent it off for its resin top-coat, and it was a disaster! The clearcoat unfortunately took away the leopard print detail, so we were back to square one. The second time, we decided to do a gloss black background and use some of the vinyl from the car to create a pink leopard print finish; again, we wrapped the wheel and sent it off for its resin top-coat, and it worked brilliantly. The pink really stood out, and matched the colour scheme of the car perfectly.”

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Custom steering wheel continues the pink theme

Wide as an overweight wildebeast and pinker than a cat’s mouth

wings before wrapping, which allowed me to have them embossed under the vinyl for the added detail. From here, the Audi was fully wrapped in Hexis mirror chrome pink, and after that we decided to apply PPF over the top to protect the chrome and stop any scratches and stone-chips. The full wrap process took two weeks to complete, after which time the arches were fitted, then the wheels, and the rear window was put back into place.”

The door shuts were also wrapped to hide any remaining silver, the black and grey dazzle-camo pattern leading into an interior that’s studded with further pink-wrapped details. The steering wheel is also custom [see boxout], as are the seatbelts which were sent off to Kolour Koncept to be stripped and re-belted in pink.

“I don’t daily this car due to it being so wide, and I also don’t want to damage it,” she laughs. “I use it as a show car, and apply for shows all over the UK. At the latest one I was approached by Auto Finesse for a sponsorship deal, and of course I jumped at the chance! I do like to use the A5 on drag days too – with it being diesel and high in torque, as well as AWD, it gets amazing results down the strip.”

So you see, this is way more than just a pink build with Playboy bunnies on it, this is a true polymath: a thoughtful and considered engineering project that’s just as happy on the showground as it is tearing up the dragstrip. And Sophie’s got plenty more plans for it: “I have neon lights to go underneath, and also neo-chrome heart exhaust tips,” she says. “I also want to refine the spaced-out rear arches and work out how we can go about this; we’ve thought about

AUDI A5

Even the seat belts are now pretty in pink!

Defining car culture 033

HOT RIDE

Playboy bunnies are a mild theme throughout the build...

cutting them up but I’m against that… having spoken to a couple of bodyshops, one idea is to make some fibreglass extensions to hide the gap at the back.”

Whichever solution is sought, you can be sure that it’ll all be thoroughly thought through with considered methodology and a measure-twice-cut-once approach. This car is about way more than eye-catching style – it’s all underpinned by substance and integrity. 

TECH SPEC: AUDI A5

ENGINE: 3.0-litre V6 TDI, uprated front-mount intercooler, Bevo Tuning Stage 2 remap, custom 3in straight-through exhaust system TRANSMISSION: 7-speed S-Tronic SUSPENSION: D2 Performance USA Diamond air-ride, new bushes throughout, new lower arms BRAKES: OEM WHEELS: 11x20in D2 Performance USA one-off dished heart wheels, 275/30/20 tyres INTERIOR: Control Customs UK steering wheel, custom Kolour Koncept pink seatbelts, custom tablet dash with Apple CarPlay, various parts wrapped in chrome pink, custom boot build – battery relocated to make room for airride management and compressor, Playboy bunny Perspex viewing window, pink neon lights inside boot build and upper boot, air tank wrapped in glitter black with Playboy bunny EXTERIOR: Wrapped in Hexis mirror chrome pink (with embossed Playboy bunnies), door shuts wrapped in grey/ black Aztek-print vinyl, Xenonz UK widebody kit, S5 front bumper, front splitter, rear diffuser, sideskirt extensions

Who needs to build sandcastles when you can build a wild widearched Audi A5?

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HOT RIDE

BECAUSE R

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RACECAR

HONDA INTEGRA DC5

Words Dan Sherwood Photography Adrian Brannan

Nathan Nash had an itch for a trackprepared Honda that he just had to scratch, and this stripped and supercharged stunner of a DC5 is the result!

All cars come with compromises. That’s just an undisputable truth. Even the most expensive, exotic and outrageous cars made by the best automotive manufacturers on the planet have some form of compromise inherent in their DNA. In fact, it’s the very reason why we modify them in the way we do.

By selecting different parts than those that came fitted from the factory, we can tailor or eliminate certain compromises to better fit with what we want from our car. But that doesn’t mean that modifying can somehow magically eradicate all of a car’s compromises, it merely trades the ones we don’t want for ones we are willing to accept as part and parcel of the deal. Take suspension for example. A manufacturer has to take into account things like a usable ground clearance, comfortable ride and an acceptable level of noise, vibration and harshness. But those that want to primarily use their cars on track, or are simply after the ultimate in sill-scraping lows for nothing more than their five minutes of Insta-fame, don’t need to worry about any of those factors. They simply trade the soft, wallowy ride and ability to negotiate pot holes and speed bumps for a bone-jarringly hard ride, that corners like it’s on rails. And for them it’s a compromise well worth making.

One man that knows all about trading automotive compromises is 27-year-old petrolhead Nathan Nash. As an MOT tester by trade, he knows a thing or two about cars and the way they are designed to behave from the factory, but as well as that, his love of modifying, which began just minutes after he’d passed his driving test, means he’s also well versed in trading off those traits to fit his own very specific needs.

“The complete Plastics 4 Performance polycarbonate window set in the DC5 shaves a hell of a lot of weight off the car when compared to the stock glass windows,” explains the South Wales based car nut. “It’s also weight which sits high up in the car, so a reduction here also benefits both handling and braking too. But the small window sliders are a bloody nightmare on a hot day, and you can forget about fitting a box of 20 McNuggets in there. It’s just not possible!”

See? Trade offs. What Nathan has gained in performance, he’s lost in juicy reformed chickeny goodness. The handy addition of an in-car sauna is also

Defining car culture 037

HONDA INTEGRA DC5

“There’s always trade-offs when building a car, the key is to know what you want to achieve at the start”

a neat side-effect.

“Yeah, there’s always trade-offs when building a car, the key is to know what you want from the build at the start and prepare yourself for what’s coming,” he laughs.

“I’d always fancied a hot Honda track weapon, and I knew exactly what I’d be giving up in order to fulfil my dream build, and it’s been more than worth it!”

Nathan’s modifying journey began with a VW Polo 9N, which was the car that got him bitten by the bug.

This was followed soon after by a Corsa VXR, an EG Honda Civic, a Mk6 Golf estate and a slew of sleek EK Civics, one of which he started transforming into a dedicated track tool.

“It was a bit of a half arsed attempt really and unfortunately I never actually finished it,” he shrugs.

“But that was all about to change when I bought my Integra DC5.”

Nathan’s love-affair with the model started long before he could even drive when he would lust over the curvy coupe while playing early versions of Forza Motorsport on his games console. So when the time came that he

Tidy engine bay hides a supercharged secret and 420bhp

could afford to get behind the wheel of one for real, he was only too keen to pull the trigger, but after weeks of looking at Championship White DC5s, he just wasn’t feeling it, and wondered if the right car would ever turn up. That was until he stumbled across a Nighthawk black example, which instantly ignited his inner Sith and drew him squarely to the dark side.

“After seeing all the virgin white ones, the black one just looked so much meaner,” he beams proudly. “I had to have it, and I knew there and then that this would become the track car I had always wanted.”

Starting off with a clean, standard example, Nathan began the process of transforming the DC5 from mild to wild with an AEM air intake, a Skunk2 Mega Power R exhaust system, Rota Torque wheels and a damn good Defining car culture 039

Weld-in rollcage has stiffened up the chassis a treat and added safety if the worst happens

detail. This satisfied him for a while, but after owning it for around a year he decided it needed a more purposeful wheel and tyre setup, a feat he achieved when he stumbled across a set of Enkei NT03 gen 1 wheels. They fitted the bill for the aggressive track style he was after perfectly, but were in serious need of refurbishment, so he sent them off to get a new lease of life before bolting them on to his ever-evolving steed. But racey wheels with standard suspension is not a good look, not to mention only half of the equation when it comes to improving your car’s handling, so Nathan wisely invested in a set of coilovers to complete the job.

“I bought a set of adjustable BC Racing coilovers as they have always been my go-to brand for nearly all my

Stripped and caged interior spares no thought for luxuries, or drive throughs...

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cars,” says Nathan. “They offer excellent performance and you can tailor the handling to your own liking.”

To complement the coilovers, Nathan also fitted a set of Tegiwa rear upper adjustable camber arms, which allowed him to dial in extra camber to achieve his ideal geometry settings, and this combination totally changed the way the car drove.

Around this time, Nathan also began craving what every good track car needs: a hit of the lightweight weave, and soon an OEM-style Seibon carbon spoiler and a carbon fuel cap found their way onto the rear of the hot Honda.

A host of interior tweaks such as a pair of Corbeau Revenge seats, Takata harnesses, a K-Tuned billet shifter

HONDA INTEGRA DC5

“It was always meant to be a balls-to-the-wall track car, not for winning show ‘n’ shine trophies”

and an SW Motorsport bolt-in cage gradually moved Nathan’s ride away from its road roots, to a more circuit specification, but it was still more of an aesthetic than a true motorsport machine.

“I used the car more for shows than any serious track abuse, and it was after the car started winning trophies at a few shows that I decided this wasn’t the reason I bought it in the first place,” he reveals. “It was always meant to be a balls-to-the-wall track car, that I could use hard and get my kicks on the circuit, not just polishing it for a show ‘n’ shine trophy.”

So, after the event, Nathan took the car home and made the drastic step of stripping it back to a bare shell in order for its true transformation to begin.

“I constructed a homemade spit that enabled me to turn the shell upside down so I could strip all the factory under seal off and allow me to stitch-weld the chassis, body panels and engine bay for extra strength. Then when that job was done I reapplied fresh underseal and repainted it all.”

Next on his list was to send the car off to ARC Autosport in Doncaster to have the bolt-in cage removed and replaced with a full weld-in custom cage.

“The new cage is a work of art and has made the chassis super stiff and perfect for track driving,” Nathan says proudly. “Once it was complete I got the car back home and painted the whole of the inside and engine bay in a small booth in my home garage.”

With things now suitably serious on the chassis front, it was finally time to add some serious ponies to the equation, so Nathan started the process of stockpiling his wish list of power parts that would endow his ride with the requisite fire-power to match the rest of the increasingly potent build.

“I started the engine work over the winter,” Nathan says. “I just locked myself in my garage and got busy

with the spanners. I like to try and do as much as I can myself, as not only is it less expensive that way, but you also get a greater level of satisfaction from the finished result.”

The end product of all of Nathan’s fettling is an engine that is equipped with a dream spec of circuit-slaying parts, all contributing to produce prodigious linear power perfect for reducing lap times.

“I went for a TTS Performance Rotrex C30-94

Takata harnesses are the go-to safety device of true Japanese car fans Defining car culture 041

HOT RIDE

supercharger kit as it’s the perfect power adder for a track car,” says Nathan. “The kit is so well engineered and can easily double the stock horsepower, but delivers it in an extremely linear way without some of the heat and driveability issues of a turbo.”

As well as the charger kit itself, Nathan’s equipped the screaming K20 with a Skunk2 Ultra Street intake manifold and fuel rail, a set of Deatschwerks injectors, a high-flow Walbro fuel pump and swapped the old exhaust for a Solid Fabrications 3in Super Silent system with a 4in pie-cut titanium tip.

“After the oily bits were complete I sent the car off to Racing Circuits for a full custom wiring loom to be made and installed,” says Nathan. “I’d had a go at sorting the loom myself, but had lost patience with it, so sent it off to the pros instead. They did an awesome job.”

As well as the new wiring, the K20 motor now runs off a later-spec ECU from an FN2 Civic Type R running EcuTek software. This has allowed a host of trick functions to be added such as drive-by-wire, flat shifting and launch control to name a few.

The car now makes a blistering 420bhp, which in a stripped out track terrorist like this is more than enough to shame some seriously exotic machinery and put in some scorching lap times to boot.

The final piece of the puzzle to add that splash of motorsport-chic was to add the livery, a job that Nathan left to vinyl wizards E11evens.

“With the wrap, big brake kit behind the wheel spokes and seeing the wild cage through the Perpex windows the car has turned out even better than I planned it,” Nathan beams proudly. “It’s gone from a smart, circuit-inspired show car to a real deal track car that I can use as hard as I dare and it just keeps begging for more. It’s just awesome!”

And we couldn’t agree with him more! 

042 www.fastcar.co.uk

TECH SPEC: HONDA INTEGRA DC5

ENGINE 2.0-litre, 4-cyl, 20v turbo engine, Skunk2 Ultra Street intake manifold, Fly-by-wire throttle body, Skunk2 throttle body adaptor, Skunk2 fuel rail, Deatsch werks injectors, Rotrex C30-94 supercharger, billet CNC supercharger mounting bracket, Walbro fuel pump, Billet blow-off valve, 4 bar map sensor, TTS Performance race spec radiator, TTS Performance race spec intercooler, custom aluminium boost pipes, Clockwise motion drop in sump baffle, Innovative engine mounts, Mocal oil cooler kit, Mishimoto oil sandwich plate adaptor, Torques oil sandwich plate housing, Torques fuel system fittings, Torques oil system fittings, Torques fuel lines, Torques oil lines, Motamec oil catch tank, K-tuned upper coolant housing including built in filler neck, aftermarket upper coolant hose, Skunk2 Alpha manifold, Solid Fabrications 3in super silent with 4in titanium pie cut turn-down tip, Racing Circuits custom looms and fuse boxes, Kit Car Electronics wireless steering wheel control, Aim MXG Strada digital dash, custom switch panel, Honda FN2 ECU with EcuTek, Odyssey battery, 420bhp TRANSMISSION 6-speed manual gearbox, Kaaz 1.5way plated limited-slip differential, refreshed bearings and gears, Competition Clutch stage 4 clutch, Hel braided clutch line SUSPENSION BC Racing BR adjustable coilovers, Tegiwa rear upper adjustable camber arms, Hardrace rear lower control arms, SuperPro caster adjusters, Polybush front arms, SuperPro anti-roll bar bushes front and rear, Buddyclub P1 roll-centre ball joints, Spoon sports front strut brace, adjustable rack ends BRAKES KSport front BBK with 330mm discs and 8-pot calipers and Project MU front pads, OEM rear refurbished calipers with PBS rear pads, Wilwood brake bias valve, Proline Motorsport front braided brake line kit, Hel rear brake lines WHEELS & TYRES 9x17in ET35 (front) and 8x17in ET35 (rear) Enkei NT03 wheels with 255/45/17 (front) and 225/45/17 (rear) Federal 595 RSR tyres EXTERIOR Plastic 4 performance complete polycarbonate window set, Fiberworx custom wider front wings, aftermarket carbon spoiler, Aerocatch bonnet catches, underbody and inner arches sealed and painted, engine bay painted, vinyl wrap carried out

by E11evens, full chassis, shell and engine bay stitch welded for strength INTERIOR ARC Autosport custom rollcage, Corbeau Revenge bucket seats with custom stitching, Takata 4 point harnesses, Sparco 368 semi-dished steering wheel, Lifeline snap-off steering wheel boss, K-tuned billet shifter, T7 Designs 5kw midi heater box, custom floor foot plate, Lifeline fire extinguisher kit, Kap industries hand held extinguisher and mount

THANKS First off I would like to say a massive thank you to my fiancée Lily Edmunds for putting up with all the hours spent on the car and travelling the country for parts and transporting the car, big thank you to all the friends that have given plenty of time and all-nighters working on the car, thank you to all the companies that I’ve dealt with… Racing Circuits, ARC Autosport, TWP Engineering, J.Cal ECU calibrations, e11evens, RHD Performance, Tegiwa, Rival Motorsport and I’m sure there is many more to thank for helping me along my journey.

HOT RIDE Words Daniel Bevis Photography Dan Sherwood

Purists look away: Jack Gibson’s ’52 Ford F-1 is packing a Mercedes diesel motor and a whole host of sacrilegious mods. But he’s not worried about the haters, he’s too busy slaying tyres…

Jack and his truck doing what they do best... vapourising the rear rubber!

044 www.fastcar.co.uk

FORD F-1 You love to see it. Modifiers who start young, building excellent and mould-breaking cars, and grow up into proper offbeat thinkers with hardcore skills and imagination for days. Jack Gibson is one such person. Back in 2014, readers of our sister magazine Classic Ford were treated to the sight of his Mk1 Escort estate – a car he bought at the age of 22 simply because a childhood spent going to car shows with his dad meant that shows were in his blood, and a classic with a lot of boot space would give him plenty of room for camping gear. Following his own unique path he then set about upsetting the purists and shaking up the establishment by fitting the longroof with a home-made air-ride setup and Piaggio orange side-stripes. Setting out his stall with this fledgling project, Jack’s been putting purists’ noses out of joint ever since, his personal skillset growing to astonishing proportions as he continues to plough his own furrow in the automotive scene.

Fast-forward to 2021, and we find him in the boss’s chair at Jack’s Shack, his custom campervan and hot rod shop in Leicester. Alongside the everyday bread-and-butter of applying his extensive skills to the creation of bespoke VW campers, the business has always had a dark side, existing to quench a thirst for malevolent modification.

The sign may say ‘Established 2017’, but the thread of this really runs back through his childhood. “I started building cars at sixteen, when I bought a classic Mini,” Jack recalls. “I fitted a Zetec twin-cam engine and made it RWD! Next up was the Mk1 Escort estate that I fully restored and customised, and after that I found my love for classic

American trucks – which just snowballed to where I am today!”

The truck we have here has actually been in Jack’s life for many years, in one form or another. He’d first spotted it rotting away in a local field when he was fifteen, and had always fancied getting hold of it someday. That day eventually came when he was 23, five years ago, and he jumped at the chance to finally make the dream come true.

The dream of buying a fully knackered old pickup that had been trying really hard to dissolve for as long as he could remember.

This, of course, is no ordinary truck. And we’re not talking about the extreme modifications – we’ll get to that – but the fact that it’s a true genesis model. Naturally the cult of the pickup truck is an all-pervading thing in America; they’re a way of life for so many, and such a stalwart of the custom scene that pretty much everything has been done to them over the years. Ford’s F-Series is a particular success story, having been in constant production since 1948 across fourteen generations.

It’s consistently been the best-selling pickup in the USA since 1977, and the best-selling vehicle overall since 1981… so you can understand why enthusiasts might see the original model as untouchable. The firstgeneration Ford F-1, built from 1948-1952, is where it all started. And Jack’s truck, being a ’52 model, has irreplaceable trucking heritage baked right into the formula.

They’re just things though, aren’t they? And while Jack isn’t deliberately trying to annoy people with his sacrilegious modifications, it’s fair to say that he hasn’t exactly followed the concours route here.

“Once I accepted it was going to be a complete restoration, I had a clear image of where I wanted it to go”

Defining car culture 045

HOT RIDE

Transplanting a Mercedes-Benz diesel engine would probably be enough to have people taking pot-shots at you in Texas or Alabama, but in the damp wilds of Leicester it makes a lot of sense. After all, someone else had already buggered about with the truck anyway, and most people would have considered the rotting hulk to be well beyond saving.

“To say it was the worse for wear would be an understatement,” he recalls with a grimace. “It was running a Nissan Patrol engine and needed a complete overhaul. The original idea was start with replacing the engine and axle to get the ratios right, but after seeing some of the repairs others had attempted I felt the need to improve a few bits… at that point it just spiralled out of control, and ended up being a two-year project working nights and evenings. Once I accepted it was going to be a complete restoration, I had a clear image of where I wanted it to go.”

There’s an animalistic element at play here. The thirst for the offbeat is what’s ultimately led the truck to be nicknamed ‘The Jackal’, as it shares a number of the hunting beast’s attributes: a physique wellsuited to long-distance running, aggressively bared curved teeth, a crepuscular nature that sees it being most comfortable hunting at dawn and dusk… an angry creature of surprising agility, leaping from the shadows to devour all in its path.

With the instinctive forces of its namesake, the big Ford’s future rapidly rewrote itself. Jack’s first task was to totally tear the truck down

PINT OF THE BLACK STUFF, BARMAN

Jack’s Ford F-1 is such an imposing beast when you see it on the road - it certainly gets some attention!

to see what was what, eradicating all traces of corrosion and fully reinforcing the chassis to cope with the power mods he was planning.

Much of the one-off suspension setup was custom-fabricated in-house, incorporating a wishbone setup from a Mustang II, a power-steering rack, and a four-linked rear with an 8.8 axle. This eased the path for the new engine – and what an engine it is! Given that the Ford had already been bastardised with a Nissan derv, it was no great heartache to think even more laterally, and he opted for a Mercedes OM606 [see boxout] – a brutal turbo-diesel which, thanks to a massive Holset HX40 turbo, is now kicking out the thick end of 500bhp. The perfect setup for tyreslaying. So with the oily bits taken care of, it was time to do something similarly radical with the body.

“The cab is now the only standard bit of bodywork remaining,” says Jack, at once energised and exhausted by the sheer amount of hard graft that’s gone into the makeover. “I stretched the bed by a foot as I love the look, then scratch-built the tailgate to keep the contours of the sides. I extended the side-steps to match the new bed length, and widened the arches front and rear by 2in, because tubbing is too easy! I wanted to keep a good-sized rear bed, and I knew I wanted a

The Merc oil burner motor outputs around 500bhp thanks to that humungous Holset HX40 turbo

How’s this for an unexpected engine swap? The OM606 motor is the 3.0-litre DOHC diesel straight-six that you’d usually expect to find in a 1990s Mercedes-Benz E-Class – a bruiser of a motor with torque in spades. An interesting fact about these engines is that, prior to the official merger, AMG used to use modified OM606 crankshafts in their petrol 3.4- and 3.6-litre engines, such is their inherent strength and toughness. It’s a tuneable motor too – in stock form you’d expect a nat-asp OM606 to make around 135bhp, rising to 175bhp in intercooled turbo variants. Here, in Jack’s truck? Throw on a Holset turbo and a drainpipe exhaust and it’s knocking on the door of 500bhp. A serious coal-rolling burnout machine.

046 www.fastcar.co.uk

FORD F-1

Jack even made his own wheels, opting to simply lacquer the raw steel finish to better show off the intricate TIG welding

wide stance for the truck. For the front end, I built my own visor and added two teeth to the grille, then made the bonnet flip forwards and unbolt easily. And as you’ve probably spotted, I went a bit crazy with the dimple die all over the truck!”

It’s an astonishing amount of fabrication, all beautifully resolved and impeccably crafted, and that wider stance is crucial to the aesthetic.

Because, you see, Jack was keen to build his own wheels. That’s right, there really is nothing he won’t turn his hand to. “I custom-built my wheels to ensure they would be unique,” he says, matter-of-factly.

“They’ve been kept in bare steel, and lacquered in our bodyshop to protect them while also showing off the hours of TIG welding that went into them.”

We’d be smiling too if we had this truck!

Seats are custom made and sit on floating rails Defining car culture 047

HOT RIDE

Jack fabricated the tailgate from scratch

The final piece of the puzzle was the interior, and once again Jack’s played an absolute blinder. The alloy bomber-style seats were handmade fairly early on in the project, and over time the approach has evolved along with the truck’s changing vibes; sitting them on floating frames, he decided that weathered brown leather would be the ideal finish, and handed them over to James at AutoTrim in Leicester to do the business. While this was going on, Jack was building a stealthy hidden rollcage into the cab, and at the upper edge of this you’ll find a variety of auxiliary gauges to monitor the bonkers engine, the panel being trimmed in matching leather.

There are always ups and downs with any build, of course, and a major conceptual stumbling block came as Jack was reaching the finish line. “I gave it a full respray, and it just killed the truck,” he recalls. “I totally fell out of love with it for a few months.” But these motivational troughs are always escapable eventually, and in time he figured out a way to change the look from something he wasn’t happy with to something he adored: the simple answer was sandpaper, chewing through the new paint to create an illusion of sun-baked patina. After all those years of yearning and painstaking effort, the dream was finally realised.

Jack must be feeling pretty pleased with his achievements then?

“Well, y’know, my mum says I’m special,” he grins. “I guess there can’t be many others who started customising cars aged 16? And yeah, it’s quite rare to fit a highly-tuned diesel engine into a hot rod, especially here in the UK.” This is precisely what it’s all about – following whims and fulfilling dreams with flair. So is he done, now that he’s completed this lifelong achievement? No, actually – the truck’s up for sale. “I’ve always wanted a ’57 Chevy Bel Air, since going to all those car shows with my dad as a kid,” he says. “If I sell the truck, maybe I can buy one…”

That’s the thing about dreams – they seldom exist in isolation. But with the requisite skills and passion, we can keep on chasing them. 

048 www.fastcar.co.uk

TECH SPEC: FORD F-1

ENGINE: Mercedes-Benz OM606 3.0-litre straight-six turbo-diesel, Holset HX40 turbo with Quickspool manifold, manual diesel pump by Diesel Pump UK, custom 4in exhaust system with wing exit 500bhp (est.)

TRANSMISSION: GM TH400 3-speed auto with Ratchet shift box - built by Summit Racing (USA), 8.8 rear axle SUSPENSION: Custom air-ride system: Air Ride Technology 3-stage kit, Mustang II front end, four-linked rear BRAKES: Wilwood 4-pot calipers front and rear, drilled and vented discs, braided lines, line-lock WHEELS: 9x20in (front) and 12x20in (rear) custombuilt wheels in lacquered bare steel, 225/35/20 (f) and 295/40/20 (r) tyres INTERIOR: Custom alloy bomber seats (on floating frames) trimmed in weathered brown leather, hidden tubular rollcage, auxiliary gauges mounted to ’cage and trimmed in matching leather EXTERIOR: Arches widened 2in front and rear, load bed extended by 12in, scratch-built tailgate, extended sidesteps, custom front visor, two teeth added to front grille, flip-forward bonnet, extensive dimple-dieing throughout THANKS:“Thanks to A1 Hydraulics for supplying hoses and fittings, Diesel Pump UK for supplying my engine, Baz Gibson for help along the way, Mick for entertainment, and Graham for the tea.”

Under the elongated bed is a host of custom work for the air ride suspension

Breathe & Stop

Designed and manufactured in Italy.

Tel +44 1706 222 872 / www.tarox.com / sales@tarox.com

Photography: Ollie Wildsmith Car: Toyota GT86 Owner: Lewis Brown

HOT RIDE

AUGMENTED

052 www.fastcar.co.uk

BMW E30

REALITY

Until quite recently, The Kyza was perhaps best known for his outlandish digital renderings, turning desirable cars into outrageous virtual fantasies.

But thanks to his new brand Live To Offend, working with The Tuning Store in West London, those renders have become a reality…

Words Daniel Bevis Photography Henry Phull

Defining car culture 053

HOT RIDE Artists and creative souls have operated with one core aim in mind since the dawn of civilisation: to imagine strange and wonderful things, and attempt to spirit them into reality. Sometimes these things exist as solid objects, others as ideas or concepts or dreams, but the crucial element is the bridge between what’s inside the mind and what’s outside.

‘Love is a smoke, raised with the fume of sighs’; a line from Romeo and Juliet in which Shakespeare wasn’t trying to be lewd – at least, not overtly, although he was always up to something, wasn’t he? – but instead was encapsulating the nature of love manifested by that most deeply personal and intimate of sounds: when you emit a sigh of passion, there really is no more honest or truthful expression of your pleasure.

In the case of the outrageous widebody thug of an E30 you’re looking at here, that couldn’t be more true. But the smoke here isn’t merely the manifold sighs emitted by its mastermind, Khyzyl Saleem, nor Parm Panesar at The Tuning Store who conjured it into being, impassioned as they are by the myriad custom alterations they’ve made. No, we can throw in the crackling hydrocarbons of high-octane fuel and the whiff of scorched and atomising rubber into this heady soup of fumes – the love for these people and this car builds upon Shakespearean intimacy and takes us to a whole other realm.

We’d imagine that for the majority of readers, Khyzyl – aka The Kyza – will need no introduction.

A self-taught conceptual artist, he acts as a sort of cultural disruptor, his love-or-hate digital renderings taking recognisable automotive forms to strange new places; a Ferrari F40 converted to a bustlebacked breadvan, a bagged and gold-plated RollsRoyce Silver Cloud, a lifted all-terrain Lamborghini Miura – his online art serves to create the type of astonishingly naughty cars that nobody would ever dare to build… until now. You see, with the Live To Offend [LTO] brand, his renderings are being refined and hand-crafted into actual real-world cars.

Huge tilting rear spoiler is an homage to Group 5 racing cars

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“LTO is a company that I put together with my business partner Eric, split between the US and the UK, as a platform for me to bring my renders to life,” says Khyzyl. “I’m kinda known for doing crazy work on certain cars virtually, and I’ve always wanted to bring that to the real world as well, so LTO was the start of that. We began back in 2018 with our first black E30, and that helped me to realise that, yes,

BMW E30

“Ever since I saw the first ever LTO E30 in Las Vegas at the SEMA show, I’d made up my mind: we would build the UK’s first LTO car”

this was something that’s possible to do – so let’s see what else I can do!”

Those first tentative steps into widebody success certainly caused a stir at the SEMA show that year, and developing an evolution of the kit for a British build made the process all the more special. “This build is our first one in the UK, which is extremely exciting for us,” he continues, “given that I live here and was born here, it’s nice to have an LTO car on my home turf as opposed to it being in the US, it makes a bit more real. Compared to the previous kits, this one is a lot wider and things have been adjusted and perfected further from the early prototype version; the kit itself is race-inspired – it has a mixture of styling from the E30 M3 and also Group 5 racing cars. The tilting spoiler in particular is reminiscent of the Group 5 era. Livery-wise I wanted to do something that reflected the racing side of things; Warsteiner and Jägermeister were iconic liveries, and one I’ve always been particularly fond of is the BASF on the M1 Procar – I thought it’d be quite fitting to do a little remix of that. It’s pretty wild that’s for sure!”

Before we get too far ahead of ourselves, let’s hand the story over to Parm Panesar at The Tuning Store. A one-stop shop for car mods [see boxout], this is an outfit very well suited to this sort of one-off custom, and Parm in particular was extraordinarily keen to get the ball rolling.

“Ever since I saw the first ever LTO E30 in Las

WHAT IS THE TUNING STORE?

You’ve heard of Car Audio Security? Of course you have, we’ve featured a bunch of their previous project cars. With each one there’s absolutely no messing about, as you’d imagine given that this company is the UK’s biggest independent in-car entertainment specialist, and in recent years has become one of the biggest Air Lift Performance dealers worldwide. Every custom build is a shop window.

The Tuning Store, then, is the new sister company to Car Audio Security. Their flagship showroom in West London is a true petrolhead paradise, a one-stop shop for quality car mods, with brands such as Rotiform, Kenwood, Air Lift and Momo filling the shelves and ready to be fitted to your car. UB3 3NF is the postcode you need to throw into your sat-nav to go and pay them a visit, or you can find out more at thetuningstore.co.uk

Vegas at the SEMA show, I’d made up my mind: we would build the UK’s first LTO car,” he says. “The wide stance and aggressive looks of the ’90s Touring Car-inspired bodykit had me weak at the knees! So a few months after the show I met up with Khyzyl, a plan was put in place, and the kit was placed on order. Now I just needed to find a car for the build.”

The donor BMW didn’t need to be anything particularly special; indeed, it was deemed best not to buy one that was too nice given that it was going to be chopped about, so the search began for an E30 two-door that was mechanically and structurally sound, without worrying too much about the aesthetics. By chance, a suitable car was found locally to The Tuning Store – a 1989 325i auto which was decent enough throughout and ripe for

Power Bass components provide the killer tunes

Defining car culture 055

HOT RIDE

a makeover. A key selling point for Parm was that it came equipped with original factory air-con, which is something of a rare option, and he always likes his cars to have a bit of a story behind them. Of course, the most colourful and enthralling chapter of this particular E30’s story was just about to be written…

“A large benefit of the project was that it would serve to promote our new Performance Parts store, so it was important that we did as much as we could in-house,” Parm explains. “Aside from the pre-wrap prep, which was carried out by Dips at Custom Cars, and the wrap itself which was applied by Boss Dog Graphics (both of whom did an outstanding job), everything was done by our installers here at The Tuning Store. There were a few unprecedented delays, not least Brexit and Covid, but we’ve got the team and the skills to get it done right.”

Bodywork man Jay Tailor quite literally had his

PSDesign carbon fibre short-shifter for lightning fast cog-swapping 056 www.fastcar.co.uk

work cut out: “We really had to hack the car up to get the LTO kit on,” he laughs. “We cut the front wings to allow clearance for the wheels and the kit, and cut the whole rear sides off to make room for the massive wide rims – it was all properly sealed up to keep the moisture out, and we made sure to retain the strength of the rear quarters. Both bumpers were cut and modified too, and we got the whole kit mocked up including the rear spoiler and diffuser, and inserted rivnuts everywhere so that the bodykit can come off again if needed.”

With the mock-up successful, the shell and separated kit were delivered to Dips – initially just to perfect any existing dents and dings to the body, but then the decision was made to get him to finish it all in smooth shiny black, a choice which would pay dividends when it came to wrapping.

“After the various delays and with the project properly on-track again, we set ourselves a deadline of the Players Classic to get it finished and ready to show,” says Parm. “And we did! The reaction was just overwhelming, it went mental. We must have broken the internet that weekend.”

The level of detail throughout the car really is astonishing too – these guys work efficiently, and they never cut corners. Every element must be perfect. Check out the wheels, for example, a custom commission from Rotiform with staggered widths and oodles of girth, tailor-made to slide into those broad arches as the BMW airs out on its Air Lift hardware. The interior is a masterclass in form and function, with Recaro Sportster CS seats meeting a half-cage, carbon shifter (there’s now a manual transmission, thanks to @juste30z) and super-fresh Momo Ultra steering wheel. It’s built to cruise as well, with audio taken care of by Kenwood and Power Bass, and there’s a state-of-the-art Viper alarm on sentry duty. With all of this wrapped up in what is arguably 2021’s coolest bodykit, slathered in Khyzyl’s

BMW E30

Now that’s a properly aggressive front end!

Defining car culture 057

HOT RIDE

new-wave reinterpretation of those old-school race liveries, this is a hardcore E30 on maximum attack.

“We’ll be throwing in a whole load of power over the winter,” Parm assures us with a smile. “It’s currently running the stock 2.5-litre M20 with a custom exhaust, but we’ll be giving it a full engine upgrade, probably with a turbo, shooting for 400bhp with lots of bang-bang-pop-pop.”

“It’s such an exciting project,” Khyzyl enthuses, evidently so very proud of how his visions have come to fruition. “There are a few other projects that aren’t BMWs in the pipeline too, one being the FD RX-7 kit – whether I’ll do that to my own car I’m not sure yet! We have some other cool projects that we’ll be thrilled to showcase next year too. Exciting times, it should be fun!”

And that, above all else, is why this LTO E30 exists. Fun to design, fun to develop, fun to build, and now fun to drive. The dreams of a restless and curious soul, developed by artisans into a magnificent reality. 

TECH SPEC: BMW E30

ENGINE: M20 2.5-litre straight-six, custom stainless steel exhaust system TRANSMISSION: Converted from auto to 5-speed manual by @juste30z SUSPENSION: Air Lift Performance suspension with 3H management BRAKES: OEM WHEELS: 10x17in (front) and 12.5x17in (rear) custom 3-piece forged Rotiform LHR-M wheels, with 235/40/17 (f) and 315/35/17 (r) Nankang AR-1 tyres INTERIOR: Recaro CS Sportster seats, Sparco harnesses, rear seat delete, half-rollcage with cross bar, Momo Ultra steering wheel, PSDesign carbon fibre short-shifter AUDIO & SECURITY: Kenwood KDC-X7200DAB head unit, Power Bass 2XL-63.3C - 6.5in 3-way component speakers (front), Power Bass 2XL-63C - 6.5in 2-way component speakers (rear), Viper 5204V remote-start alarm EXTERIOR: Live To Offend Stage 2 bodykit including overfenders, sideskirts, front spoiler, rear multi-level wing and rear diffuser, full custom wrap by Boss Dog Graphics with livery designed by The Kyza THANKS: Parm: “Thanks to LTO for the bodykit, Air Lift Performance for the suspension, Rotiform for the wheels, Power Bass for the speakers, Kenwood for the head unit, Clifford for the Viper alarm, Dips at Custom Cars for prewrap prep, Boss Dog Graphics for the wrap, and last but not least, Kyza for his amazing rendering skills – I’m glad we were able to bring the render to reality.”

Custom three-piece Rotiform wheels are a perfect match for the race-inspired bodywork 058 www.fastcar.co.uk

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RUBBER UP! ALL ABOUT… TYRES

Without tyres our cars would be useless, so getting the right rubber for a fast road car is crucial. Here’s what you should be looking out for when buying your ride’s next set of boots…

Never underestimate the importance of good quality tyres.

The rubber you choose will affect the acceleration, braking, and cornering performance of your car, so you need to choose wisely.

There’s no point increasing your car’s power output, improving the suspension setup, or beefing up the brakes if all that work is going to be undermined by the tyres you’ve fitted. As the only part of the car in contact with the road, your tyres have a direct impact on all areas of its performance, so you need to give them some serious thought and consideration. That’s why over the next few pages we’re going to show you what you should be looking for when you buy your next set…

HOW ARE TYRES MADE? In order to understand what makes a tyre do what it does, let’s go back to basics and look at how one is actually put together. Almost all radial road tyres are constructed in more or less the same way, with the only major differences being the exact compounds of rubbers used and the final tread pattern design.

The process of building a tyre starts with the steel beads. These are then encapsulated in rubber and form the tyre bead as we know it, and provides the starting point for the rest of the tyre to build upon. The next step is the tyre liner, which is a non-porous nylon-reinforced rubber used to form the basic shape of the tyre. This creates an airtight seal between the steel beads so the tyres can be inflated – hence needing to be made from a nonporous material to prevent moisture in the air escaping and thus deflating the tyre.

There’s a lot more to a tyre than just the outer tread cap layer

060 www.fastcar.co.uk

On top of the liner the tyre body plies are added. These are made from nylonreinforced rubber and help give the tyre its shape. The number of body plies depends on the application of the tyre, but a typical road tyre will feature two or three of these nylon plies.

Next come the steel belts. These are steel reinforced sheets of rubber that are added to give the tyre strength and durability. The number and type of steel belts used will help determine the finished tyre’s load and speed ratings. Again the number of steel belts used depends on the application, but typically you will find

two or three layers in most road tyres.

The blend of plies and steel belts is then capped off with a final layer of nylonreinforced rubber, before the tread cap is applied. The tread cap is the final, thicker layer of rubber that eventually forms the tread pattern of the finished tyre. The compounds of the rubbers used in the tread cap will alter depending on the intended purpose (ultimate grip race tyre or long-lasting road tyre, for example) and manufacturer’s specifications.

At this stage the tyre is still ‘green’, and the layers of soft, sticky, pliable rubber need to be cured before they can be used on the road. The curing process involves applying both heat and pressure to the tyres in a specific tyre curing press. This causes all the layers to bind together to create what is effectively a rubber laminate, and cures and hardens the rubber to give the desired characteristics. The curing press also indents the tread pattern design into the outer tread cap layer, as well as all the required sidewall markings and tyre information.

ALL ABOUT… TYRES

The specific compounds used for different tyres will vary dramatically.

Tyre manufacturers invest fortunes in developing different tyre compounds in order to meet specific criteria, and as such the exact ‘recipe’ for each compound is always a closely guarded secret.

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of different tyre compounds in production, and there are a vast number of different elements that go into each compound to give them their specific characteristics.

A typical road tyre will contain a number of different rubber compounds, some natural and some synthetic; each designed to do a specific job. Some will help keep the air within the tyre, others will allow the sidewall to flex, and others will help bind the nylons and steel belts together.

The compound most people refer to is the tread compound, as this is the part of the tyre in contact with the road and therefore has the greatest affect on a tyre’s performance. The tread compound itself is also made of various different elements, including complicated polymers and occasionally trace amounts of silica.

These help a tyre’s resistance to abrasion, tears, or cuts, and also prevent the tyre from loosing its integrity and going very soft and almost goo-like.

However, the tread compound consists of three main ingredients; natural and synthetic rubbers, carbons, and oils. As a general rule of thumb the greater the

rubber content the more grip the tyre will offer. But this comes at the expense of longevity, as softer, grippy tyres wear faster than harder compounds containing more carbons.

When you hear people talking about ‘hardness’ and ‘softness’ of tyres they are not referring to how hard the tyre is to the touch, but instead are talking about how rubber molecules in the tyre interact with the road.

The rubber used in tyres goes through a process called vulcanising. This is a process that converts rubbers and polymers into a more durable material by adding elements such as sulphur. The addition of sulphur creates crosslinks between the polymer chains and rubber molecules, which has the effect of making the material less sticky but more durable.

One of the main differences between harder and softer compounds is due to how the addition of sulphur affects the rubber molecules. In a softer compound (which features a greater percentage of rubber) the crosslinks caused by the vulcanisation process are fewer in number.

This means the rubber molecules and polymer chains are longer between crosslinks than in a harder compound. The longer the rubber molecules are, the more they can interact with the road surface, therefore giving grip. In a harder tyre compound the rubber molecules are more restricted, and are unable to interact with

SIDEWALL MARKINGS

5 6

The markings stamped on the tyre sidewall contain all the relevant information about that tyre, displaying details on everything from the day it was constructed through to the maximum safe speed and load ratings.

Because tyres are produced for use worldwide, there are many markings on the sidewall that aren’t applicable to the UK market, but these are the ones you should focus on...

the road surface as much, therefore giving less grip.

However, a softer tyre will wear more quickly than a harder tyre. It is the movement of the rubber molecules and the friction they generate that provide the grip we crave, but at the same time this friction causes the tyre to wear. So you need to choose a compromise between the levels of grip you want and the amount of time you want them for.

7 8

18 92Y R / 0 4 10 OUTSIDE 25/ 4

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Nankang......... Name of tyre manufacturer AR-1 ............... Tyre product name 225 ................. Width (in mm) of tyre 40 ................... Aspect ratio in %. Height of sidewall as a percentage of width, in this case 40% of 225mm 5 R ..................... R denotes tyre is radial 6 18 ................... Rim diameter (in inches) 7 92 ................... Load index. This ranges from 50 to 150 and the figure refers to the maximum load rating of the tyre. 92 indicates a load index of 630kg 8 Y ..................... Speed index. This figure ranges from N to Y and refers to the maximum speed rating of the tyre. Y is 186mph 9 E4 01234 ........ ECE mark showing tyre meets Economic Commission for Europe standards 10 OUTSIDE ....... Denotes outward facing sidewall on asymmetrical tyres 11 ROTATION ..... Shows direction of rotation on directional tyres 12 (0217)............. Date of manufacture. The first two numbers (02 show the week of the year, and the second two digits (17) refer to the year, in this case the 2nd week of 2017 1 2 3 4

3

The compounds used will have a huge impact on the tyre’s characteristics, performance ability, and wear rate

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defining car culture 061

ALL ABOUT… TYRES

TREAD PATTERN DESIGNS Aside from the compounds used, the second biggest differential in tyre design is the tread pattern. There are thousands of tread pattern designs already available, and as tyre research and development continues manufacturers are constantly producing new styles.

Arguably on smooth dry roads, slick tyres will offer the best performance because all of the tread area is in contact with the road. However, our roads are seldom totally dry, therefore the tread pattern needs to have the ability to clear water from under the tyre in wet conditions whilst still retaining as much dry performance as possible.

The different tread pattern designs available for road tyres can be easily split into three main categories; symmetrical, asymmetrical, and directional.

Symmetrical tread patters

Starting with the most simple, a symmetrical design is exactly as it says and features the same pattern across the whole tyre. This means the same tyre can be fitted the same way to any of the four wheels.

Asymmetrical tread patters

An asymmetrical tread pattern differs across the width of the tyre, meaning the design has an inside and an outside edge and needs to be fitted accordingly.

Asymmetrical tread patterns offer a couple of advantages over symmetrical designs. The first of which is the outer

edge and shoulder area of the tyre usually features larger, stiffer tread blocks to help with cornering stability. This is because the outer edge of the tyre is subjected to higher loads than the inside when cornering hard. Asymmetrical patterns also tend to have an inner edge that features more tightly packed and more aggressive grooves. This helps with water dispersion and gives better performance and grip in wet conditions. Finally, asymmetrical designs can also feature a fairly wide continuous centre rib, which aids high-speed straight line stability too.

Directional tread patterns

Directional tread patterns differ again from both symmetrical and asymmetrical designs. They are symmetrical across the width of the tyre (meaning they have no specific inside or outside egde) but have a design that only works in one direction of rotation (hence the name). This means the tyres can only be fitted to a pair of wheels (either left or right handed) and need to be turned around before fitting to the opposite pair.

Directional tyres offer different performance advantages to asymmetrical patterns, the main one being wet weather performance. The aggressive nature and number of grooves typically used on a directional pattern means it offers greater water dispersion than an asymmetrical design.

These deep directional grooves literally pick the water up from the centre of the tyre and throw it out of the sides, giving very impressive wet grip. In the dry the aggressive grooves have no water to disperse but the larger tread blocks offer a greater contact patch with the road than symmetrical tyres, therefore offering more grip.

The directional grooves used on this type of tyre also help reduce road noise and straight-line stability, when compared with an asymmetrical pattern.

It is also possible to combine both asymmetrical and directional tread patterns to have a design that has both an inner and outer edge and a direction of rotation.

These style of tread patterns usually feature a stiffer tread block on the outer edge, similar to that of an asymmetrical tyre, but the pattern tends to incorporate aggressive grooves as with a directional tyre.

Shoulder blocks Asymmetrical tyres have a design that differs across the width of the tyre 062 www.fastcar.co.uk

While talking about tread pattern designs it’s also worth noting the shoulder block area of the tyre. This is the area between the tread pattern and the sidewall, and takes the brunt of the car’s lateral forces

Symmetrical tyres are consider the ‘norm’, and are generally cheaper than asymmetrical or directional designs during cornering. As a result these tend to be fairly chunky in their design, to maximise the contact patch with the road as the tyre moves around under heavy cornering forces. The grooves between the shoulder blocks are known as sipes, and their job (as well as helping to disperse water in wet conditions) is to help keep the tyre cool. The position of these sipes determines the size of the shoulder blocks, and these are deliberately spaced to ensure the shoulder blocks are not uniformly sized. Instead, the size of the shoulder blocks differs all the way around the circumference of the tyre, as this alters the harmonics of tyre and can actually reduce road noise. If the shoulder blocks were all the same size the tyre would produce an irritating hum when driving at a steady speed.

ALL ABOUT… TYRES

TYRE HEALTHCHECK

As the only contact patch with the road, tyres are something you should take great care of to avoid premature failure and to ensure optimum performance at all times. Here’s some of the things you should be looking out for:

ABNORMAL TREAD WEAR

This is one of the most common causes of tyre failure and is usually caused by incorrect suspension geometry (especially if the car has been lowered from standard) or brake failures.

It can also be caused by simple mistakes such as under- or over-inflating the tyres.

SIDEWALLDAMAGE

Tears, cuts, bubbles, and other types of damage to the sidewall area are potentially very dangerous. If spotted you should replace the tyre immediately. Typical causes of cuts and tears are hazards in the road, while bubbles and scrapes to the sidewall can be caused by impact damage from potholes and kerbs.

Tyre separation is rare, but can cause serious damage!

TYRE SEPARATIONS

Separation of the tyre construction is not that common, thankfully, but can be a difficult one to spot. Bulges in the sidewall, tread face, or shoulder of the tyre are the usual indications a tyre has started to separate. Typical causes include excessive heat build up as a result of under- or over-inflation, or water entering the tyre carcass from a cut or tear already inflicted on the tyre.

BEAD DAMAGE

This one is quite rare, but is still one to be aware of. It’s usually caused by incorrect fitment, either to the wrong wheel for the tyre or just simply by bad fitting methods.

The metal bead can bend or in some cases actually be broken, which can then lead to sidewall damage such as tears or deformity.

Directional tread patterns are great in the wet

RUN-FLAT TYRES

Many modern cars come with run-flat tyres from the factory. Unsurprisingly, these do exactly as their name suggests, and allow the tyre to be driven for a limited amount of time with no air pressure to inflate them. This is great news if you get a puncture, as it means you can drive the car directly to the garage to have the tyre replaced without being left stricken at the roadside.

However, run-flats are not very popular among enthusiasts because they feature extremely stiff and rigid sidewalls. The sidewalls need to be strong enough to support the weight of the car when the tyre is deflated, and as a result they can prove quite uncomfortable to drive on, giving a crashy and bumpy ride. The reduced flex in the sidewall also hampers performance (remember, it’s the movement of the rubber and the way it interacts with the road that gives us grip) so are often best used on rep-mobiles covering lots of motorway miles, where the convenience of not having to replace the tyre at the roadside outweighs the performance differential.

Run-flats allow the car to be driven with a puncture, but are not ideal for optimum performance defining car culture 063

ALL ABOUT… TYRES

Winter tyres work better in colder conditions, but aren’t suitable for year-round use

EU TYRE LABELLING

Since late 2012 all new tyres have to conform to an EU-approved labelling system. This info is displayed using the same easy-to-understand standardised labelling system as used for white goods, where the tyres are graded on wet weather performance, fuel efficiency, and road noise. This does make it easy to compare tyres on a like-for-like basis, but there are a few things to consider:

FUEL EFFICIENCY

It’s labelled as fuel efficiency to sound catchy for general motorists and is part of the EU’s drive towards lowering vehicle emissions, but what the tyre is actually tested for is its rolling resistance. This is the amount of energy it takes to keep the tyre rolling. Yes, a higher rolling resistance will cause the car to burn more fuel, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing in terms of performance as it often means the tyre has more grip!

The EU grades range from A to G (with no D rating to help differentiate between the higher A-C grades, and the lower E-G grades) with A being the best performer and G being the worst performer.

WET WEATHER PERFORMANCE

The wet weather label is probably the most important one for everyday motorists to look at, showing the tyre’s performance in wet and slippery conditions. The test involves driving a car along a wet road at 50mph and measuring the braking distance to come to a complete stop. The difference between each rating is around 3m stopping distance, meaning that there’s a huge 18m difference between the best A grade and worst G grade tyres!

NOISE LEVELS

Noise pollution is a hot topic these days, so to keep an eye on things all tyres are now tested for noise levels and marked accordingly. The label shows this as a decibel figure indicating how loud the tyre is.

But there’s a second bit of information to be found in the number of sound bars next to the dB figure: one black bar (two empty) shows the tyre meets current legislation; two black bars (one empty) shows the tyre meets future noise limits; and three black bars means the tyre is at least 3dB under the future noise limits.

064 www.fastcar.co.uk

Nankang’s AR-1 and To ’ road leg

ALL ABOUT… TYRES

WINTER TYRES

Winter tyres have increased in popularity over the last few years in the UK, and are enforced in some European countries. The compounds and tread patterns used in winter tyres make them more suited to cold, slippery, and icy driving conditions. The rubber compounds tend to have increased amounts of silica in them to help the tyre to remain flexible, and therefore perform at its best, in lower temperatures. The tread patterns tend to feature larger, deeper grooves to help clear snow, ice, slush, and water more efficiently.

Winter tyres are easily identified by a ‘snowflake’ or ‘snowy mountain peak’ symbol found on the sidewall markings.

While winter tyres will generally outperform summer tyres when the temperatures are below 7deg Celsius (not just in snow and ice), they don’t work as effectively in warmer temperatures, meaning when the temperatures rise above 7 deg Celsius you’ll be better off switching back to summer tyres. Currently there is no legal requirement to use winter tyres in the UK, but many experts think this may be subject to change in the future.

One possible alternative to having two sets of tyres (winter and summer) would be the option of an ‘all season’ tyre. These generally feature higher silica contents than traditional summer tyres to help keep the rubber flexible in colder conditions, but are not as soft as winter tyres and can therefore safely be used in warmer conditions too.

Track day tyres tend to feature shallower grooves for optimum dry-weather performance

TRACK DAY TYRES

Many tyre manufacturers now offer road-legal tyres aimed for use on track days. These tend to feature a higher rubber content than traditional road tyres, and tread pattern designs with minimal grooves to ensure the largest possible contact patch with the road. The result is far superior grip, especially when up to operating temperatures. The best performing track tyre is likely to be a slick design using incredibly soft rubbers, but as these are simply no good in wet and slippery conditions they are not road legal. Tyres such as Nankang’s AR-1 and Toyo’s R888R, however, are 100% road legal and give the perfect compromise of excellent performance when on track but without affecting the car’s legality when driving on the road. The downsides to road-legal track day tyres are increased wear rates, and reduced wet weather performance when compared with traditional road tyres.

CONTACTS

www.yokohama-online.com www.toyo.co.uk www.nankangtyre.co.uk www.goodyear.eu

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MK2 FOCUS ST225

MK2 FOCUS ST225 BUYING GUIDE

Words Dan Sherwood

2005 -2011

Pound for pound the finest of all fast Fords, the Focus ST225 is a five-cylinder sledgehammer that’s as fun to drive daily as it is to blast around a track. And with prices getting lower, now’s the perfect time to buy a brilliant all-rounder When it comes to Fast Fords, there is a model for every budget from cheap and cheerful to six-figure stunners, but if you ask us, the one with the best bang for buck ratio has got to be the Mk2 Focus ST. It’s a genuinely rapid hot hatch that blends a spinetingling five-cylinder soundtrack with easy everyday practicality. And that engine doesn’t just sound

good either, as tuned properly (read expensively) has the potential to breach the 1000bhp mark, however a real world performance boost can be achieved for relatively peanuts. Throw in some lairy factory colourways and you’ve got a fast and furious show and cruise ready hatch that can be bagged for a bargain.

Defining car culture 067

FC BUYING GUIDE

In blue oval circles there are certain badges that get the faithful all hot under the collar.

These are the icons linked with circuit and rally stage success. Think Cosworth, XR, RS and ST and any model blessed to have these letters after its name seems automatically destined for cult status among those in the know.

When the first generation Focus burst onto the scene in 1998, with its angular styling, excellent handling and chassis dynamics it blew the competition away, even in base model trim. So when the first ST variant was released a few years later, Ford fans were salivating at the prospect. However, packing 170bhp, the appropriately-named ST170 wasn’t quite the rip-snorting hot hatch that was hoped for, but still proved a potent and competent luke-warm hatch, but true petrolheads were definitely left wanting.

Ford obviously knew it had dropped the ball somewhat and vowed to address the situation with the second generation of the car. The Mk2 Focus ST of 2005 was a different beast altogether, ditching the naturallyaspirated four pot motor for a brutal slice of Swedish horsepower in the form of a Volvo derived 2.5-litre turbocharged five cylinder engine packing a torquey 225bhp.

But while the powerplant was certainly the star of the show, the rest of the package had been suitably supersized to match. Built by Ford’s Team RS, it was a proper hooligan job that was the perfect accompaniment to the optional ASBO orange paint job.

068 www.fastcar.co.uk

ASBO Orange is a firm favourite in ST circles

Available in three sub-generations base STs are now rare having Recaro seats with coloured bolsters, single-disc CD player and no ESP (until the 2008 facelift). ST-2s gained a CD/MP3 head unit, two extra rear speakers, heated windscreen and xenon headlights with washers in the front bumper. ST-3s added heated leather Recaros with two-seat rear bench and six-disc CD head unit. In 2009 it also received privacy glass, keyless entry, and dual-zone climate control.

Fancy a special edition? Why not try an ST500? All were ST-3-based, in Panther Black with silver stickers, red leather upholstery,

rain-sensing wipers, auto-dimming rear-view mirror and solar-reflect windscreen.

For the third-generation Focus, the ST which came in 2012 was good without being great. Gone was that iconic engine, replaced by a 246bhp 2.0-litre unit of Ford’s own creation, which was faster and punchier but lacked character. It still handled fantastically and looked great, too. Sounds like a brilliant recipe, right? Well, while most rivals moved to limited-slip differentials to control power through the front wheels, Ford persevered with a mock set-up that just didn’t work quite so well. Fast and fantastic in corners – but if

MK2 FOCUS ST225

Tech specs

The 2.5-litre, five-cylinder engine is a peach that can take a serious amount of tuning

Model........................Focus ST (2005-2011) Engine ..................................... 2500cc, 5-cyl Max power ................. 222bhp @ 6100rpm Max torque ......236lb ft @ 1600-4000rpm Transmission ...................... 6-speed manual Max speed .......................................150mph 0-60mph.................................... 6.5 seconds you put your foot down too hard it would yank you all over the road.

The fourth and latest generation of the Focus ST was launched in 2019 and came equipped with an electronic limited-slip differential to tame the outgoing model’s torque-steer. It also uses a detuned version of the 2.3-litre engine from the RS, making a healthy 276bhp. For those that like to tweak, it got driving modes for the first time, too, meaning you can switch between sedate road driving and a more aggressive trackfocused set-up. The ultimate Focus ST? Quite possibly.

inner sills and floors feel crusty when pressed.

Ensure the plastic underbody shields are still there – the guard beneath the front bumper feeds air to the intercooler, while the underengine shield directs cold air to the turbo, so both need to be in place. Finally, remember A history check is vital to make sure any ST many STs have been stolen, crashed isn’t a ringer, write-off or subject to finance. and thrashed, so inspect every panel for Check the VIN on the log book matches the misalignment, poor paintwork or overspray. numbers on the sticker in the driver’s door shut, stamped under a notch in the carpet on the driver’s side sill (just in front of the The ST’s Volvo-based five-pot is tough – seat) and on the nearside dashboard, seen and can breeze 200,000 miles even when through the windscreen. Many ST replicas modified – but needs looking after. Oil are on the market too, but few folk fit the changes should be 5W30 yearly/every proper five-cylinder engine. Even so, ST 12,000 miles, and cambelt ideally at 60,000 owners swap trims around, so it’s best to miles/five years. check you’re getting the model you want. However, it does have a tendency to split It’s also crucial to diligently check for rust, as cylinder liners; early engines are more prone even the best looking examples can suffer but none are safe. Symptoms are similar to considerable corrosion. head gasket failure: water in the engine oil and misfiring after a cold start. The wellknown ‘block mod’ is preventative but may also be done to reduce water leakage on a knackered block – so find out who made the mod and why. Coolant loss could also be from a leaking radiator. They’re thin with weak brackets, so check if the insulation underneath the rad feels damp.

Poor performance may be due to a boost leak or blown sensor, while rough running can be caused by MAP or MAF sensor issues.

Air leaks are common, from split intercooler hoses or cheap dump valves; so check for Even on seemingly cherished examples, engine management lights. paintwork can often be poor – expect the Not all STs perform equally, but resetting front to have stone chips and flaking lacquer the timing after a new cambelt can help, especially on metallics and Electric Orange as does a remap. To check if a Focus is models. Rust is a major issue, even on low- modified, see if the boost gauge climbs up to mileage cars. Corrosion on both front and two thirds under hard acceleration. But make rear wheel arches is common, and if spotted sure it’s been done by a professional, as bad will likely mean serious corrosion at the lower mapping can lead to boost and traction edges behind the side skirts, along with troubles, and some pop/bang maps can holes in the sills, which will mean expensive wreck turbos – or even entire engines... The repairs. Look underneath too – surface rust Getrag M66 six-speed manual gearbox is on the floorpan is typical, but run away if the strong and unlikely to be showing wear. The

What to look out for

Engine & Transmission

Bodywork & Trim

stock clutch is another matter, unable to cope even with a Stage 1 remap. Test for clutch slip by driving in fifth gear at 2000rpm and accelerating; if the rev counter spins but the road speed doesn’t increase, the clutch is knackered. An RS clutch is the answer, which is reasonably cost-effective and can handle 450bhp. CV boots tend to split, and if left too long will cause driveshaft wear – requiring replacement.

Chassis

Stock ST225 handling is well-balanced but will feel soggy with wear. Tired oil-filled front wishbone bushes are the most likely cause – polyurethane replacements are the answer, even on an otherwise-stock ST. Knocking from the front could also be from broken anti-roll bar links or a snapped coil spring.

On the test drive, listen for rumbling from worn wheel bearings. Terrible tyres may also be to blame; it’s common to see neglected STs rolling on rubbish Chinese rubber, which suggests the whole car is lacking care/ maintenance. Standard size is 225/40/18, but 235/40/18s add grip.

Ensure the steering is responsive. On a pre-facelift ST, check under the bonnet for oil splashed around, caused by split power steering hoses and unions. Most were repaired under a recall.

Check underneath, and expect to see surface rust on all the suspension components. Not a big problem – it needs Defining car culture 069

FC BUYING GUIDE

sanding/blasting off and painting – but subframes may be rotten and in dire need of replacement.

Standard ST 320mm front brakes should feel great when mated to fast-road/race pads and fresh fluid but may be lacking on a 300bhp machine. If they’re not stopping an ST effectively, there’s something wrong – likely binding from seized sliders or juddering due to warped/contaminated discs/pads.

Check all the gauges work properly in the dash cluster

70,000 miles upwards. They’re expensive, so ensure the smart-charge system is working: it should charge above 14 volts with the engine running. A wiring loom that’s been messed around with could have popped out of its clips, be chafing or subjected to dodgy connections. Even an RS ECU holder causes random electrical faults and CANbus errors the loom (atop the gearbox housing) Durable plastics wear well, even after high when miles – but abuse and neglect can make the rubs through. cabin seem tatty. Recaro seats are fabulous but cloth upholstery shows grime more than leather. All get tired on the bolsters and The Mk2 ST is a tough old bird, but as with saggy in the bases, especially if owned by any hot hatch, it will only provide its best if a bulky driver. Seat runners can also snap it’s looked after properly. Ford recommends at their welds, requiring replacement or you undertake an oil change service every rewelding.

12,500 miles or once a year, whichever is Feel for damp in the footwells – which soonest, while a major service with cambelt leads to rust – and lift the carpets if possible. and coolant is every 200,000 miles or 10 A rough-looking cockpit is a warning of years, however, many specialists would overall neglect, and if you see rips, holes or suggest that this is too long to wait and tears that aren’t reflected in the mileage and could proof costly. At a specialist such as price, look for a better example.

KMS Motorsport in Wigan, you can expect to Pay attention to dashboard warning lamps, pay around £145 for an interim service, while making sure they light up with the ignition the big boy cambelt change will set you back and go out again. nearer £600.

A battery warning lamp tells you the Speaking to Jay Chadwick at KMS alternator is playing up, especially from Motorsport, it’s clear that a well maintained 2.5-litre engine is a pretty reliable unit, and you can thank years of tried and tested use in equivalent Volvos for that, but start becoming complacent and skipping servicing and it can start to get expensive. Oil filter housings are one of the casualties of poor maintenance and replacements can be upwards of £300.

“The ST’s stock clutch seems to hold up well on factory power STs, but even a basic remap can see the clutch start to slip due to the additional torque. A popular upgrade

Interior & Electrics

Servicing & Maintenance

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is to opt for the beefier RS clutch, but even that can start to struggle when power levels increase. A better option is an RTS uprated clutch kit with single mass flywheel and either a paddle or organic friction plate,” reckons Chadwick. At £1095 fitted, it can hold around 550lb ft and is suitable for all but the brawniest of tuned engines.

When it comes to braking the ST has some decent stoppers, with factory pads costing around £105 for replacements. But KMS recommend shelling out a little extra for some EBC YellowStuff items instead, as for around £30 more, they offer superior performance and less dust. “While you’re at it, it’s well worth a swap to some fresh fluid and a set of Hel braided brake lines, as it will sharpen up the pedal feel,” he says.

For track work, Chadwick recommends one of KMS’s own big brake kits. Starting at £2000 for the firm’s 356mm discs with 6-pot calipers, but with options for mega 405mm discs and 8-pot calipers, they offer the ultimate in stopping power.

Top Mods

 Bilstein B14 coilover suspension kit  Cooling upgrade  3in exhaust system downpipe and 300bhp remap  Performance Friction 348mm two-piece disc upgrade with Ferodo racing pads  Gripper limited-slip differential

Conclusion

If you can find a solid, unmolested example or even a well-maintained, tastefully modified one (both of which are become harder to do as the years go by) a Mk2 Focus ST is a great option as a hot hatch. Decent reliability, practicality and that juicy, yet potent, fivecylinder powerplant combines to put grins on faces with ease. Add in an abundance of cheap and secondhand parts, plus a wealth of tuning options and it’s not hard to see why it’s a winner. 

Contacts

www.focusstoc.comwww.ffoc.co.uk www.stownersclub.com www.stdrivers.co.uk www.collinsperformance.com www.hendyperformance.co.uk www.mountunestore.com www.autospecialists.co.uk www.pumaspeed.co.uk www.aetmotorsport.com www.kmsmotorsport.com

Prices

2006 Focus ST: £5k; 95,000 miles 2007 Focus ST: £5.5k; 94,000 miles 2008 Focus ST: £8k; 56,000 miles 2006 Focus ST: £10k; 30,000 miles

TUNING GUIDE

BMW 335i TUNING GUIDE Words:Elizabeth de Latour Photography Patrik Karlsson

With a turbocharged straight-six under the bonnet and massive modding potential, the 335i is the ultimate performance bargain.

When it comes to cheap speed, value for money, bang for your buck, there is no single BMW that even comes close to the E9x 335i. BMW’s first foray into turbocharged petrol cars was a revelation when it was launched way back in 2006 and it’s basically the German Supra and is powered by Munich’s 2JZ, the N54. With 306bhp and 295lb ft of torque straight out of the box that’s already enough to make any model in the range an incredibly rapid machine, but once the tuners got their hands on it and unlocked the potential within that remarkable engine, all hell broke loose and the N54 is the stuff of legend on the BMW tuning scene. Its successor, the N55, is less of an out-and-out powerhouse but it too has some serious modding potential and, whichever version of the 335i you end up choosing, you’re going to have a lot of fun.

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The 335i, especially in M-Sport trim is an awesome looking car straight out of the box

BMW 335i Both engine variants are super tuneable so big power gains are easy to come by

ENGINE

Whether you have the twin turbo N54 or single turbo N55 engine the gains that can be had are huge. First off you’ll want either a remap or a tuning box and there are plenty of options for both, which should release a further 60-80bhp.

A good intake kit is also worth a look;

gains with it on its own won’t be huge, but when you’re running more serious mods it comes into its own. The charge pipe on both engines is flimsy and can break even when running stock boost, so once you crank up the power, you’re going to need to strap something studier to your

SUSPENSION

If you’re on a budget then a set of lowering springs would be our first port of call and they’ll give you a much-needed drop and will sharpen up the handling, but with anything over around 70k miles on the clock the stock dampers are going to be feeling tired so we’d either choose a spring and damper combo, like the Bilstein B12 kit for around £600, or opt for some coilovers and, for the money, you really can’t beat BC Racing’s RAs, which cost under £1000. If you’re serious about sharper handling then a set of thicker anti-roll bars are worth investing in too. We’d also definitely consider looking at some poly bushes because the stock bushes are likely to be pretty worn, and they’ll make a huge difference to how the car feels and drives.

engine, so we’d look at the Renesis pipe from SSDD complete with uprated blowoff valve, or the VRSF item for your N55.

When you up the boost the stock blowoff valves can leak, so it’s always worth upgrading them. Downpipes would be next on our shopping list – you can either pick up ones with high-flow cats, which are more expensive, or de-catted ones, which are cheaper and will give you more power. The choice is yours and even with a primary de-cat you’ll still pass the MOT on emissions. With all these mods on board, we’d also want to add an upgraded intercooler from someone like Mishimoto, which will help keep intake temperatures down. An exhaust wouldn’t be needed if you’re after power as the stock system is fine and you won’t really see much in the way of gains, but you will have plenty more noise and both the N54 and N55 do sound great with an exhaust. At this point, you’re going to have somewhere in the region of 400bhp+ on an N55 and 420hp+ on an N54, which is a good amount and your 335i will be feeling very quick; you can have more, but things get seriously expensive from this point on as you’re going to have to upgrade your turbos.

A set of coilovers would sharpen up the handling

BRAKES

For brakes we would start off with the classic triple combo of discs, pads and braided hoses; any discs from a good performance brake company will be fine, whether they’re drilled or dimpled or grooved, it all helps with cooling. Pad choice is often down to personal preference, but we’ve always been happy with EBC Yellowstuff pads in the past as they offer good performance without too much dust. For hoses you can try HEL or Goodridge, both are good and you can’t go wrong with either one. If you end up running big power then you might well want a big brake kit, and here you can’t beat K-Sport for value for money, with the 330mm disc kit with eight-pot calipers costing £1100, which is a lot of brakes for the cash. defining car culture 073

TUNING GUIDE

INTERIOR

Inside, if you’ve got an auto or DCT with the weird push-pull paddles you can retrofit the M3 DCT paddles, so that’s something we’d definitely do. If you’ve got the early iDrive you can upgrade to the later CIC setup, there are plenty of companies out there that offer a retrofit service, and you can also install the E9x M3 seats if you want something that looks a bit more special and offers more support. We’d also be tempted by a vent gauge to keep an eye on our engine vitals, with the one from P3 Gauges an excellent choice, and you could also stick an M

BMW interiors are always well amde and classy and the 335i is no exception

BMW 335i

love carbon so we’d definitely have a few of those finished in the good stuff. Beyond that, some carbon mirror caps, side blades and maybe an M3-style bonnet or a CSLlook boot lid. On E92s and E93s you can’t carry out the LCI headlight swap, but you can get some custom headlights from someone like KYCS, or get some brighter, white LED bulbs for the angel eyes. It’s much easier at the rear where all the LCI rear lights will fit pre-facelift cars, though you’ll need adapters to make sure the car is happy with the LEDs.

Performance electronic steering wheel in there with the digital display, but they’re not cheap and you’ll pay around £600 for CONCLUSION a used one.

With prices at rock bottom and tuning potential that’s through the roof, the 335i is, without doubt, the ultimate BMW STYLE performance bargain of all time. Even with If you’ve got an M Sport then you don’t the potential problems that you’ll face need much because it’s a good-looking with the engines, there’s honestly nothing car, but if you have an SE we’d go for that would put us off buying one of these. an M Sport-style kit from MStyle. We’d If you want to go fast without spending a delete any chrome, so black grilles are a fortune, this is the best used BMW you can must, maybe a splitter up front, diffuser, possibly buy and it requires no thought or maybe a bigger spoiler as well and we deliberation – get one, you won’t regret it! ■

This is still one of the best looking generations of 3 series

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10 MINUTE TECH

ADDITIVES

Miracle potion, or pure snake oil? We talk to the experts at LIQUI MOLY to find out more about the wide range of additives available for your performance car

WHAT DO THEY DO?

WHAT ARE ADDITIVES?

The best way to think of additives is as vitamins for your car; it won’t work properly without them. And you’re already using them, whether you know it or not.

Even simple mineral engine oils – which no longer come close to meeting the requirements of today’s motors – contain as much as 15 per cent additives.

More modern engine oils, including fully synthetic varieties, are often as much as 30 per cent additives.

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Also, every time you fill your car up with fuel, you’re adding additives; modern fuels are packed with additives in order to increase the knock resistance of petrol, or to make diesel less sensitive to below zero temperatures.

At LIQUI MOLY we offer a range of further additives to use with oil, fuel, or coolant systems, all of which offer different characteristics to produce the desired result we want to achieve.

A good quality additive will supplement your engine’s health and can be very useful for performance and modified cars. At LIQUI MOLY, we never say our additives are miracle potions that will magically fix a broken engine – they won’t, none will. But what our additives can do, and do very well, is work alongside a healthy engine to maintain optimum performance, prevent future problems from occurring, and in some cases improve performance too.

They are fantastic chemical tools to have in your arsenal. We have products that will reduce the frictional loses of an engine, while others will rejuvenate rubber seals to prevent them drying out, perishing, and leaking.

Think of them as you would hand tools – you need to select the correct tool for the job, and LIQUI MOLY has a full range of additives available to choose from for all manner of jobs.

ADDITIVES

WHAT DIFFERENT TYPES OF ADDITIVES ARE THERE?

LIQUI MOLY produces an enormous range of additives, and we’re always developing new products too. But there are three main categories: coolant, fuel, and oil.

Our coolant additives comprise of Radiator Cleaner and Radiator Stop Leak; both are self-explanatory.

We also produce 14 different oil additives for the car market.

These range from performance and protection-enhancing products such as Cera Tec (a high-tech ceramic wear protection that helps reduce friction too), to various cleaners designed to flush the system of any old deposits and sludge during oil changes, to those specifically designed to reduce the noise of hydraulic lifters/tappets.

The biggest category, though, is fuel additives – which can be further divided into petrol, diesel, and LPG-fuelled engines. LIQUI MOLY’s fuel additives have an outstanding cleaning effect, remove deposits and protect against corrosion, and help stabilise the fuel and protect against aging and oxidation. Our product range covers everything from simple lead replacements for older vehicles, right through to full fuel system treatments for modern engines too. Oh, and we have a couple of octane boosters for those who want extra performance too.

HAVE ADDITIVES CHANGED OVER THE YEARS?

Yes, very much so. As engine technology is constantly (and rapidly) changing, so too does the need for new additives.

As we said earlier, you should think of additives as chemical tools, so if someone changes the size of the nut and bolt, we need to change the spanner we use too.

Therefore, we make sure our products are always up to date and safe to use on the latest engine technology.

On top of that, LIQUI MOLY has also developed additives specifically for new engines and the issues they might face.

Perhaps the best example of this is the new wave of hybrid cars on the market; hybrid vehicles often have very low fuel consumption – and in many cases can now run on fully electric for shorter trips too – which can result in the fuel being operated when cold, the engine is started and stopped frequently, and the fuel remains in the tank for a much longer period. We have developed additives specifically to combat this.

Another example, perhaps more pertinent to modern performance car owners, is the issue of LSPI – low speed pre-ignition. It’s a new phenomenon seen on direct-injection engines, and while the industry doesn’t fully understand what causes it yet, we do know that fuel and oil play a huge part. Therefore, LIQUI MOLY’s DFI Cleaner, which has an excellent cleaning effect in the fuel system as well as excellent piston and combustion chamber cleanliness, has been shown to considerably reduce the risk of LSPI from occurring.

WHY SHOULD I USE ADDITIVES?

Additives can protect your engine, reduce your fuel consumption and save you money. Our oil additives clean the motor from the inside, minimize friction and wear, reduce oil consumption and protect against corrosion. Our fuel additives keep the entire fuel system clean and guarantee optimum combustion and compression and can even help reduce the risk of things like LSPI too.

WHAT ADDITIVES WOULD YOU MOST RECOMMEND FOR PERFORMANCE CARS?

It all depends on what you’re looking to achieve and how you use the car, but our most popular choices for performance cars tend to be our Engine Flush and Cera Tec additives. This a great combo; the Engine Flush is used at every oil change to keep oil system clean and the pistons rings free and unclogged – the fresh oil then enters a clean engine and can deliver its full performance. Cera Tec will reduce friction in the engine, which in-turn increases the effective power output. On top of that, it protects the engine even under severe load, and greatly improves the emergency running properties in case of any oil loss.

On the fuel side of things, we’d recommend our Octane Booster (does exactly what it says on the tin) and Speed Tec, which improves combustion and delivers better acceleration, especially at partial load. They are super easy to use too, most of the time it’s simply a case of pouring it in to your car’s engine, fuel tank, or cooling system – simple as that!

Who are LIQUI MOLY?

LIQUI MOLY is a German-based company specialising in oils, lubricants and additives.

The company’s focus is strongly on quality, because it does not want to be the cheapest but strives to be the best. LIQUI MOLY produces its oils and additives exclusively in Germany and offers a huge product range: over 4000 items involving automotive chemicals as well as oils and additives. LIQUI MOLY also offers car care, underbody protection, service products such as brake cleaners and rust solvents, as well as a series of professional tools and cleaners.

For details on the full range of products, and for a handy guide to find the correct oil for your car, head to the website. www.liqui-moly.com

defining car culture 077

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NEW PRODUCTS

FRESH KIT

The latest products to empty your wallet from the big wide world of car culture...

R

PREODDHU T CT

EBC APOLLO KIT FOR HYUNDAI The Hyundai i30N is the often overlooked gem of the hot hatch crowd. But what it lacks in heritage compared to its GTi, RS and Type R badged rivals, it more than makes up for in pure performance and handling brilliance.

And with tuning companies now offering various power adding upgrades for the i30N’s potent turbocharged 2.0-litre engine, it’s a given that sooner or later the brakes are going to start feeling the heat. To address the issue and allow i30N owners to benefit from a level of braking performance commensurate with its increased level of engine potency, Northamptonshire based braking experts EBC have developed their excellent Apollo Balanced Brake Kit to work with the hot Hyundai.

Proudly engineered in the UK, each Apollo kit features lightweight-yetstrong aluminium four-piston front calipers, fully floating

two-piece 335x32mm grooved rotors, front and r Yellowstuff pads, stainless steel braided lines and all fluid, fixtures and bracketry required for fitting.

The meaty calipers can be ordered in a choice of four cool and hard wearing Tefl polyester coated colours including Stealt Shadow Blue, Luminous Yellow and Racing Red. to fit flawlessly behind the OEM 19in Hyundai wheels without t

Price: £1645 www.ebcbrakesdirect.com

defining car culture 079

MULGARI F56 JCW PERFORMANCE PACK Want to awaken the true performance potential from your F56 JCW? Of course you do, and Mulgari are here to help with their Performance Pack. Developed as part of the company’ famous ICON02 project, the kits combine Mulgari hardware (uprated engine mount,

MOUNTUNE MK8 FIESTA SPOILER EX Based on t upgrade is now and fi

AKRAPOVIČ EVOLUTION LINE EXHAUST Akrapovič has launched a brand-new Evolution to fit the Audi S3 (8Y) Sportback and Saloon. materials, the Evolution Line has an ultra l and it is finished with four newly-designed, appearance in keeping with the vehicle’s sport is claimed to give a 41% weight reduction over t The system has been produced with a single valve – own foundry – fitted outside the muffler. When instal system delivers enhanced power, with an incr of 8.8Nm at 3,900 rpm. These figures were measured against an Audi S3 with a standard exhaust and repr and a useful weight reduct Price: POA www.akrapovic.com

080 www.fastcar.co.uk

Just because you’re building a race car doesn’t mean you should be forced to choose between form and function. Rally design recognised that the humble bonnet pin, as found on many race and track cars, is a classic case in point – while the sliders are often made from stainless steel, the pin posts are usually just made from mild steel.

These can all too easily scuff-up and rust, and while not too detrimental to performance, can quickly make things look a little shoddy.

Their answer is a surprisingly simple one – make the posts from stainless steel too. And that’s exactly what they’ve done – available now, supplied with locknuts and washers and all for just over £15 nicker!

Price: £15.48 www.rallydesign.co.uk

APPAREL

FRESH KIT

ADIDAS X SOUTH PARK TOWELIE CAMPUS 80S Inspired by South Park’s Towelie, a character notorious for obtaining special powers from smoking da green, these limited edition South Park Towelie sneaks feature Club Purple terry cotton uppers, crisp white 3 stripe sign off and heel accent whilst the tongue branding is swapped out for the character’s eyes, which turn bloodshot when exposed to UV lighting.

Sneakerheads and South Park fans are going to be all over these. Get ‘em whilst you can! £85 www.wellgosh.com BC Racing are now offering their famed BR Series coilovers for the current generation of S550 Mustang. As part of the BR Series, these coilovers offer a wide range of ride height adjustment, 30-point adjustable damping settings, camber-adjustable pillowball top mounts, nitrogen-pressurised dampers, plus all the strength, reliability, and corrosion resistance associated with a street and circuit coilover. For full details, or to order, head to the BC Racing website. £899 www.bc-racing.co.ukw

M-STYLE CARBON STEERING WHEEL AND INSERT M-Style now has stocks of these super cool M-Performance carbonfibre steering wheels and inserts which will fit all BMW F-Chassis M models. The sumptuous and lightweight wheel features a genuine carbon-fibre rim with tactile Alcantara trim on the grip areas making them not just look simply stunning, but give a comfortable, luxurious and confidence inspiring grip when on the move. They also feature the neat touch of the iconic M-Performance logo at the end of the bottom spoke. Professional fitting is recommended for the steering wheel due to the necessary requirement to transfer of the car’s OEM air bag system. So why not let the professionals take the strain? Especially

STATUS ERROR SPANNER GIRL T-SHIRT Looking for an exclusive new T-shirt to rock at your next show or meet? Then look no further than this funky fresh design from Status Error. Featuring a spikey two tone design on the front with an awesome spanner wielding zombie girl on the back, this mental Tee is made to order and comes in a premium midweight stretch fabric to ensure it stays looking good for years.

Available in sizes XS to XXL.

defining car culture 081

AUDIO & TECH

FRESH KIT

Indulge your inner gee

ROAD ANGEL PURE SPEED CAMERA ALERT S a manner than contravened the UK’s robust r laws, or that involved breaching the road’ speed limits, (obviously!) there’s always those of over-exuberance that could see you sneak breaking territory, especial the wheel of a fire-breathing turbocharged to ensure you don’t fall foul to an ill-posit or r camera alert system such as the Pure fr This latest GPS-based device featur features including a new super bright, sunlight r LCD screen and access to seamless updates at t of a button from your phone with buil super-smart GPS antenna wil windscreens, whilst wireless char the Smart Mount. At £249 it’s a trick piece of kit t keep you out of trouble and your licence clean.

Price: £249 www.caraudiocentre.co.uk

But dragging your home Hoover out onto the drive and trying to cram its various fixtures and fittings into your car’s cramped interior can prove problematic. So why not try a more miniature solution?

The Flex compact vac is, as the name would lead you to believe, extremely compact and light weight yet packs the suction power of a high class hooker by virtue of its high performance turbine. The unit is powered by a FLEX 18v rechargeable battery (not included) which, when used in Eco mode, has up to 30mins of run time. More than enough time to get your interior clean as a whistle!

Price: £159.99 www.screwfix.com

082 www.fastcar.co.uk

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MOTORSP

DRIVER INTERVIEW:

DALE GENT

photography: Holbon Photography

How did you get into motorsport?

I’ve always had a passion for motorsport having grown up going racing with my dad.

My own first taste of racing started when I was 16, when I began racing bangers on the short oval circuits. After a few years of racing in various short oval championships, I made the jump to full circuit racing in 2010 after deciding to turn my Subaru Impreza, which was then a road car, in to a dedicated, fullyfledged race car.

What series do you race in, and have raced in previously?

I began my circuit racing career in the Nippon Challenge, which is a dedicated series for Japanese cars. I then moved into what was then called the QMN Saloon Championship. Following this was a move to Classic Thunder Saloons. I’m currently

competing in the Pickup Truck Racing Championship in my racing truck.

What has been your racing career highlight so far?

I would probably have to say being able to run the oval at Rockingham on its final year of service. That was a pretty special one that I won’t forget anytime soon!

What has been the low point - and how did you recover from that set back?

This season so far has probably been the lowest point so far. We’ve had a real run of bad luck, with some collisions, an auxiliary belt failure and a tough penalty decision going against us, which has all conspired to take us out of the championship running, but I’m confident for a good end to the season with some of my favourite circuits coming up, so I’m looking forward to those.

Which is your favourite circuit to race on and why?

I would have to say Castle Combe in Wiltshire. It’s such a fast and demanding circuit which really suits my driving style.

What is it like racing in the pickup championship?

Hard and fast! It’s really good fun, and the other competitors are a great bunch of guys too. Everyone is always happy and willing to help out or lend a hand when you need it and it’s always good, close racing, even if you do sometimes need to get your elbows out and be a bit ruthless! But then that’s racing! On a normal race weekend we do qualifying on a Saturday and then have two races on a Sunday with the podium finishers receiving additional ballast weight to even out the field and make the races super

CIRCUIT PROFILE: CASTLE COMBE

Each month, we’ll dissect one of the country’s top tracks to give you the edge on your next trackday Although quite short, at less than two-miles, the fast nature of Castle Combe makes it another track that demands concentration and accuracy to make the most of it.

The width of the track offers plenty of overtaking opportunities, although the lack of arrow straight stretches mean overtaking needs to be planned well in advance and staying close to the car in front is paramount to make the most of the opportunities when they arise.

A wealth of late apexes mean testing times for brakes and tyres, and the slightly domed shape means many corners have blind entries – and negative camber thrown in for good measure. Combine this with a notoriously undulating surface and you’ll soon see what we mean about accuracy and concentration…

Over the brow of Avon Rise, finding the right line into Quarry is so

084 www.fastcar.co.uk

important, as getting the exit wrong will seriously affect top-end speed on Farm Straight, and correcting this has encouraged many a death-orglory approach into the Esses. This then throws you too wide for the long sweeping Old Paddock.

Through the double-apex Tower – again late braking, diving inside hard – and you’re onto the fearsome Bobbies chicane. Many have overcooked this one due to its high-speed approach in a desperate attempt to get a run on the final straight, so smoothness is the byword for success. Onto the final corner at deceptively fast and long Camp and drift wide as the track opens out onto the start/finish straight.

Castle Combe is located to the west of Chippenham in Wiltshire and is well signposted from both junction 17 and 18 of the M4. Track time starts at £170 for a day and there are loads of dates throughout the calendar.

CIRCUIT ESSENTIALS RACE BOOTS

competitive.

Tell us a bit about your race truck?

All the trucks in the series run the same spaceframe chassis built by SHP Engineering with the only real difference being the engine.

You have a choice of either a Vauxhall red top engine or a Ford Duratec motor. I run the Ford lump in my truck.

If you could race in any car or series, what would it be?

The series I would most like to race in would

have to be Nascar.

How do prepare yourself for race day?

I’ve got an amazing team with me that prepare and look after the truck, which allows me to just stay relaxed and keep my mind on the job of racing.

What advice would you give to anyone wanting to get into racing?

Stop thinking about it and just do it! There is a series out there for most budgets, so just go and do it, you won’t regret it

safety equipment like a helmet, a dedicated pair of racing boots is a worthy investment if you plan on regularly hitting the track, or even if you just enjoy a spirited Sunday blast down your favourite B-roads.

This is because specifically designed racing boots feature grippy, thin soles, extra ankle support and additional grip areas to aid heel and toeing to allow you the best feel on the pedals for the most precise inputs. You could get a similar feel with a pair of thin-soled trainers, but there’s nothing like pulling on a set of race boots to make you feel like a pro. They also look pretty cool too!

Price: from £90 Contact: www.demon-tweeks.com

FAST FACTS

Track length: 2.3 miles (full circuit) Corners: 9 Highlight: The well-named, jinking Hammerdown that takes you Old Paddock Bend to Tower Website: castlecombecircuit.co.uk Address: Castle Combe Circuit, Chippenham, Wilts SN14 7EY Price: From £170

defining car culture 085

FAST PROJECTS

DAN’S EP3 TYPE R

P088

OLLIE’S VW UP! GTI

P092

DAN B’S HONDA FN2 TYPE R

P094

Paintwork polished and wheels refurbed - sometimes the little things can make the biggest difference START NEVER FINISHED MAIN MODS: TTS SUPERCHARGER, FORGED ENGINE, FK2 SEATS, BC COILOVERS, MFACTORY LSD

Ollie rids the Up! of its troublesome traction control system

START ALMOST FINISHED MAIN MODS: COBRA NOGARO SEATS, FORGE INDUCTION KIT, MILLTEK EXHAUST AND MORE

New 19in rims, some quality coilovers and Dan’s Civic is ready to hit the twisties!

START NEVER FINISHED MAIN MODS: GOODYEAR TYRES, EBC BRAKES, MILLTEK EXHAUST, HKS INDUCTION KIT

MISSING IN ACTION

DAN’S MAZDA RX-8

The mighty Mazda is pressed into daily duties while the Civic smartens up its act.

P000

START NEVER FINISHED MAIN MODS: RESPRAY IN BMW AUSTIN YELLOW, TAROX BBK, OHLINS COILOVERS, ROTA WHEELS

defining car culture 087

FAST PROJECTS

The Civic's paitwork is back to factory fresh

EP3 CIVIC TYPE R DAN’S With the Type R’s Milano red paint taking the full brunt of last summer’s lockdown sunshine it was looking more like Milano pink, something had to be done...

If black and white cars are a nightmare to keep clean, then red cars are a nightmare to keep red! Especially if you own a mid noughties Honda with their trademark Milano red paint.

Unlike many modern red paints, Milano red is not a two stage paint, which means it lacks a UV protective clear coat. This means that unless you are particularly anal with looking after your car’s paintwork with regular applications of protective waxes and sealants, then there’s a high chance your red will soon be turning pink.

Especially if it’s often left parked in the full glare of the midday sun. This is because the paint oxidises, and gets that milky hazy look to it that lightens the red colour and removes the shine making it look matt pink. Not a good look! And with the Type R suffering from a lack of love in lockdown it was really looking sorry for itself. I’d tried getting to grips with improving the paintwork while in the peak of 088 www.fastcar.co.uk

lockdown with some good old T-Cut, but applying it by hand was hard going, even if the results were a big improvement. However, the fading had returned and I knew what was needed was a decent machine polish to bring it back to life.

Not having much experience in machine polishing, it was a job I felt was best left to the professionals, so I called in the help of an old friend and expert detailer, Ben ‘SmartClean’ Ancliff, to do the honours. As a dedicated petrolhead and modified car fanatic – his hydro-slammed Boxster featured in the August 21 issue – Ben has been tinkering with cars for decades and his detailing business is always in high demand, whether he’s sprucing up customised show cars to scoop the silverware or maintaining the latest hypercars with that showroom shine, so I was confident that he could work his magic on the Civic.

Starting off with a decontamination wash, Ben snowfoamed the Civic before hand washing and then claying the paint to remove fallout and tar spots that were embedded in the paintwork. The wheels also received the same treatment but with a special wheel cleaner which turns red as it works and looks like your rims are bleeding.

Once decontaminated, the art of machine polishing could begin. This was a job that required completing in stages as the oxidization was pretty bad in places and needed quite an aggressive first cut with a coarse compound. This could then be followed up with finer grades of compound to refine the finish once the worst of the defects were removed.

The roof was by far the worst of the panels, but with patience and no small amount of elbow grease, Ben was able to get the paintwork back up to a brilliant deep shine. Just check out

The roof now looks like a mirror!

It does look good when the paint is clean and polished, just need to keep it this way now!

To really appreciate the level of oxidization that had occured on the roof, just look at this!

The ceramic coating not only protects the paint but also adds a hydrophobic layer to repel water

Beading for days! some of the 50/50s of the before and after correction!

To try and add some protection to the corrected paint and reduce future fading, Ben added a three-year

ceramic coating to the paintwork, which also aids maintenance washing and improves beading. Contact Ben for your own bespoke detailing package for your car. ■

CONTACT

Smart Clean ben_smartcleandetailing (Instagram) smartcleandetailing (Facebook) defining car culture 089

FAST PROJECTS

The Civic's Rota Recce wheels had been bitten by the kerbasaurus!

DAN’S EP3 CIVIC TYPE R (CONT) The Civic’s rocked matching red rims for years, but when it came time for a refurb, we decided to mix things up a bit It happens to the best of us. No matter how careful you try and be with your car, the odd stonechip or brush with a kerb can cause annoying damage to your wheels. This is bad enough if you have silver wheels, but when they're coloured the defects are that much more obvious. This is what had happen to the Civic’s red Rota Recce wheels over the years, and with the paintwork inside the barrels also starting to flake off each time the car was pressure washed, they were looking really worse for wear – an issue that was exacerbated by the recently machine polished paintwork which was now gleaming like it had just left the showroom.

Obviously, this would have been the perfect time to change up the rolling stock and go for a completely different wheel, but I just love how the Recces look on the EP3 and they are still a relatively uncommon design, so I was keen to simply give them a new lease of life with a refurb.

Luckily, there are experts in wheel refurbishing and general paint and body repairs that are local to me, so it 090 www.fastcar.co.uk

was a no-brainer to go and see them for a visit.

Ace Finish is a family run company based in Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire that cut no corners when it comes to wheel and bodywork refinishing and repairs and can also supply tyres, paint calipers and even complete full resprays.

When I swung by with the Civic, Ace’s top tech Lyndesay came out to have a gander to see what they could do. Obviously, they were more than able to complete the job, the only question was: what colour did I want them? Hmmmm...

Having had the wheels originally painted in body colour Milano red, a look that it has rocked for over five years now, I felt it was time to mix things up, and Lyndesay took me through the different colour options that were available to me.

This was a bewildering choice as Ace can mix any custom colour of water based paint that you like, so the world is your oyster when it comes to a new hue, but luckily I had already seen one that took my eye. It was a satin bronze

finish very reminiscent of the anodised finish seen on many RAYS wheels, a look that seems to suit any Japanese car down to the ground.

So with the colour picked, the Civic was left with Ace to do their thing where they stripped the tyres off and assessed the wheels for any damage before dipping them in acid to remove any traces of paint. Once stripped of paint, they can then be washed and any cracks, buckles or blemishes sorted out before a final shot blast is completed to even out the surface.

Once cleaned the rims go into the powder coating oven where they are de-gassed at 220 degrees before receiving a powder coated primer. At this stage, if the colour you choose is available as a powder coat it will be applied, or if not it will be painted with your custom paint colour, before a final hardwearing powder coat lacquer is added to seal the wheels and add an extra layer of protection. Once cured and hardened the tyres can be refitted and the wheels reinstalled on the car.

Now, I really liked the red wheels, but I’m so glad I decided to change it

The wheels are acid dipped to remove the paint

Then they receive a powder coated primer...

The finshed result is a cool matt bronze that looks like an anodised finish

The fresh bronze rims really suit the Civic and give it a completely different look

up and go for the bronze, the finish is awesome, not too bright and golden and not too dark that you lose the colour. It also makes it look like a different car and, combined with the

corrected paint, it’s really starting to look the part again. I just need to order some new wheel nuts from Rare Rims to add the finishing touch! Nice one Ace! ■

Before the powder coated colour coat is added

CONTACT

Ace Finish Car Repairs www.acefinishcarrepairs.com 01480 417112 defining car culture 091

The UP is now a true GTi!

The new button is installed in the centre console

Mission complete! Ollie can now disengage traction control

JBS have worked hard on the software for this mod

OLLIE’S VW UP! GTI The UP gets a trick traction control delete mod to allow maximum fun on road and the track!

Having owned a Volkswagen UP! GTi for quite some time, a topic that’s always been brought up is: “Is the UP GTi a true GTi model?”. Well, after putting plenty of thought into this question, based on my previous experiences with other GTi models, one disappointing factor is the UP has permanent traction control. There is simply no way to turn the TCS off without pulling a fuse, but that also disables the ABS, which is something that you would like to keep for when you really need it!

Traction control is a great function that can keep you safe on the roads, but for those wanting to feel a little more on the edge, for example when driving on a track, not being able to fully disable the car’s traction control becomes a major hindrance to performance.

And while some models traction control is hardly noticable, in the case of the UP, it’s super intrusive! The power is bogged down massively after an ounce of wheel slip. This is something that I’ve always felt takes away from the true GTi spirit. Luckily there is an aftermarket solution for this limiting issue.

JBS Auto Design are a VAG Specialist based in Chesterfield who were the first to market with a remap for the UP GTi and I’m currently running their Stage 1 remap

at 145bhp. Now they have figured out a solution to switch off the TCS all from a flick of a button inside the cockpit. Without giving any secrets away, this has taken some time for the business to nail down using their own development vehicle prior to selling this modification to the public.

What is absolutely perfect about this modification is the execution. There is a blanked space for a button on the centre console right next to the tyre pressure monitoring reset button which isn’t utilised for anything. JBS have taken the centre console apart to remove the blank and replace it with a genuine OEM traction control button from Volkswagen to enable/ disable the TCS function.

An hour later after the install I head out into the Peak District to put the TCS modification to the test. Immediately, the difference is night and day. The day had heavy rain and with the car’s Nankang semislick tyres arguably less-than-suitable for the conditions, wheel spin was inevitable and achieved all the way through the first four gears! I’ve also had the chance to experience the modification in dry conditions, and I now feel like I’m utilising the car’s full potential on the throttle. I have a trackday booked

in October where I can iron out the front wheel drive slides with some throttle, which is something I think you should be able to do in any true GTi!

THIS MONTH

Traction control mod including installation: £235 incl VAT Total ............................................................. £235

CONTACTS

JBS Auto Design www.jbsautodesigns.co.uk 01246 455 005 defining car culture 093

FAST PROJECTS

The BC's damping adjusters are mounted on the top for easy access

DAN B’S FN2 CIVIC TYPE R New wheels, new tyres, new suspension – the FN2’s chassis is very happy It was high time the Civic had a chassis makeover. There were two key things I wanted to address that had been pushing their way further up the to-do list. The first was the fact that the stock suspension is a) very stiff and crashy and b) a bit flaky and prone to making weird noises from the rear end. The second thing was more of an aesthetic point: the standard FN2 wheels, while pretty, just aren’t wide enough – the rears in particular look totally lost in the arches. And yes, I could have just thrown on a set of spacers, but I wanted to go a step further.

Job one, then, was to get on the blower to BC Racing. Having written hundreds and hundreds of mag features on modified cars, the one name that keeps on coming back over and over when it comes to suspension 094 www.fastcar.co.uk

is BC Racing – their coilovers seem to be universally loved by everyone who fits them, so I wanted a piece of that action. It turned out to be an excellent idea too. I went for the BR Series, which are adjustable for both height and damping, and they’ve just been a dream. I had them fitted by my local garage heroes, Autotest, who always work on my cars, and they reported that the suspension was super-easy to fit with no issues whatsoever. (While they were in there, they also fitted some new drop-links, because you might as well.) And I’m happy to report that the coilovers are outstanding: yes, they’re pretty stiff, but the ride is a lot better than the standard suspension, plus obviously it can be softened or hardened to taste. Top job all round.

Now, with the car sitting a bit closer

to terra firma, I needed to fill out those arches a bit. The stock Type R wheels are 7.5x18in with an offset of ET55, so I knew I wanted to go a little wider and with a slightly lower offset to get them poking out a bit more… and while I was at it, upsizing the diameter seemed like a good idea too. Because bigger is better, right?

The aftermarket for wheels is, as you know, absolutely massive, and I had a few ideas in mind. I really wanted something that I’d never seen on a Civic before, and the frontrunners were all pretty different to one another. I loved the idea of the Sparco Assetto Gara in bronze, while the 3SDM 0.09 or Rotiform SIX would look cool in gold. I thought it was decision made when I decided upon the Fifteen52 Tarmac… until they

19in wheels fit in the FN2's arches with ease

Low profile Falken tyres keep the rolling radius similar to stock told me that they only had one 19in wheel left, and they weren’t making any more. But this turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as that pushed the Rotiform BUC-M into the top slot, and I’m absolutely delighted with them. They’ve got a proper old-school Touring Car look (and the FN2 did compete in the BTCC in period, of course), with a cool modern twist.

With the new lows and increased girth, I reckon they suit the Civic – quite literally – down to the ground. Specs?

They’re 8.5x19in, ET45; I bought them through Driftworks, who offer quick delivery and source them directly from Rotiform’s UK distributor, Wheel Pros.

The final piece of the puzzle was the tyres, so I turned to my buddies at Falken. Having worked with them recently on some coverage of their

Nürburgring 24-hour exploits and done further research into their various other motorsport endeavours, it felt like a no-brainer; the amount of research and development that goes into Falken’s designs and compounds is frankly mind-blowing, and it was that level of technological innovation that I wanted wrapped around my Rotiforms.

Desiring some lo-pro rubber to go with my bigger rims (and thus maintain a broadly similar rolling radius), the guys came up trumps with a set of Azenis FK510 in 225/35 flavour. Not only do they look brilliantly rubber-band-like tucked up in the arches, the grip they offer is simply immense.

So, good news all around. Sitting pretty, looking swanky, and handling like an absolute champ. Just don’t tell Mrs B how much I spent this month…! ■

THIS MONTH

BC Racing coilovers: .........................£949.00 Falken tyres:.........................................£314.82 Rotiform BUC-M wheels:...............£1272.48 Fitting:.....................................................£632.40 Total: ....................................................£3168.70

CONTACT

BC Racing bc-racing.co.uk 01274 683633 Falken falkentyre.com Rotiform rotiform.com Driftworks driftworks.com 0121 792 2000 Autotest autotest.co.uk 0208 974 1246 defining car culture 095

MOTORFREE ADS TO ADVERTISE VISIT

WWW.MOTORFREEADS.CO.UK CURRENT LISTINGS ASTON MARTIN DB7

ASTON MARTIN DB7

1997, 52000 miles. Auction 28/29th July. DB7 3.2 Auto, Coupe, Yellow (Cat D), Petrol, Auto, 3239cc. Four previous keepers, current since 2016.

Comprehensive history file, predominantly by Chiltern Aston Martin. Subject to an insurance claim in 2006, rendering a category D. MOT until 21 October 2021.

More photos on our website and will have fresh photos taken when arrived. Please call 01233506266, South East. (T) 108753

1998, £35,995. DB7 Convertible. On the road the DB7 performs exceptionally well, the 3239cc six cylinder is super smooth, delivers excellent performance and the automatic gearbox shifts perfectly. The car is luxurious, quiet, comfortable and with air-conditioning, working electric hood, it has all the relevant modern comforts ensuring this is an ideal long distance open tourer that is ideal for UK and European trips. Please call 01944 758000, Yorkshire and the Humber.

109427

BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT

ASTON MARTIN DB7

2007, 42483 miles. Auto, Saloon 4 Door, Grey, Petrol, Auto, 5998cc. Executors sale, one owner from new but will show 2 registered keepers to remove the cherished number. Will be assigned an 07 age related plate. PDI then 8 service stamps all main dealer bar one specialist. Mulliner driving specification. £112k OTR when new. Loads more photos on the Hobbs Parker website. Please call 01233506266, South East. (T) 109344

BMW Z3

2003, £54,995. DB7 GT. On the road this GT lives up to the hype, it’s feels incredibly advanced in comparison to the early DB7’s with impressive handling and performance from the V12 engine. The 6-speed manual transmission is rare to see and adds positively to the driving experience. This is a very rare car, just 302 examples of the DB7 GT were built, and only 84 came in RHD format. Finished in Black with Black leather, the car looks stunning and will not disappoint. Please call 01944 758000, Yorkshire and the Humber.

109424

BENTLEY CONTINENTAL FLYING SPUR

2017, 50000 miles, £78,950. Continental GT V8 S with Mulliner spec. Finished in Anthracite with 21 inch diamond cut 7 spoke Black Limited Edition alloys. One owner from new with massive spec. including Linen leather interior with contrast stitching and Beluga secondary hide, with overmats and boot carpet piped in Linen, dual trimmed 3 spoke steering wheel, V8 S emblems on headrests, wi-fi hotspot and space saver spare wheel. Full main agent history.

Immaculate condition throughout, an outstanding example. Please call 02085 679729, Greater London.

110164

2000, 19584 miles, £12,995. Straight Six. Topas Blue with Black trim. Auto. 1 Previous owner. Owned from new and used as a second car. In the last 6 years the car has only covered just over a 1k miles.

Drives like new. Please call 01636812700, East Midlands.

109442

FEATURE YOUR MOTOR IN YOUR FAVOURITE MAGS!

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BMW Z4

JAGUAR XK8

PORSCHE 996

2004, 94000 miles. Auction 28/29th July. XK8 Zeemax Auto, Coupe, Red, Petrol, Auto, 4196cc.

One previous keeper, Zeemax conversion. FURTHER DETAILS TO FOLLOW. Please call 01233506266, South East. (T)

2001, 76326 miles, £20,995. Porsche 996 Carrera 4 Cabriolet. Lapis Blue, with Savannah trim. With factory hardtop. 15 Service stamps with recent service work carried out by Porsche specialists, Zentrum. Upgrades include, IMS Bearing with ceramic upgrade dual row in 2017, Air Con, Cruise Control, Media screen, Twist Cup wheels, etc. Please call 01636812700, East Midlands.

108749

2 013, 15000 miles, £21,490. Presented in Mineralgrau Metallic paint, it is obvious that this car has been very well cared for. Having only travelled fewer than 15,000 miles in the hands of just three keepers and always maintained on a strict valeting regime it truly is immaculate inside and out. As you’d expect with such low mileage the red leather is still full of colour with no signs of sagging or wear, and the exceptional paintwork has been protected with CarPro ceramic coating which does its job superbly.

Please call 07495704434, Yorkshire and the Humber.

MERCEDES-BENZ E

109254

LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER

2 010, 104000 miles, £9,750. E220 Sport CDI Convertible. Finished in unmarked Black with Beige roof and Beige interior. The wheels have just been refurbished. Outstanding condition. Please call 02085 679729, Greater London.

110162

PORSCHE 968

2013, 98000 miles, £27,250. Range Rover Vogue 3.0 TD V6. Finished in unmarked Santorini Black with Ivory leather and Burr Walnut veneers. 2 owners with only 98,000 miles with Full Service History.

Outstanding condition throughout with massive spec.

Must be seen. Please call 02085 679729, Greater London.

110161

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1994, £22,995. 968 Sport ‘Club Sport Lux’. Manual, speed yellow exterior, two door. 1 of only 306 models made. This one has had only 6 previous owners covering just over 119k miles. 6 Speed gearbox, lift out sunroof, 17 Cup wheels, electric mirrors, Cd player, Original Porsche spare wheel and pump. Comes with a very good service history with 35 stamps in the service book. Please call 01636812700, East Midlands.

108734

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2006, 39000 miles, £15,995. Boxster 987 2.7 manual. Finished in immaculate midnight blue unmarked with metropole blue leather. Only one lady owner from new. Please call 01485 541526, East of England.

109462

PORSCHE BOXSTER

2012, 66000 miles, £34,495. This Porsche Boxster S 981 series is fitted with the desirable PDK 7 speed gearbox. Finished in Rhodium Silver metallic paintwork with a contrasting black leather interior, this Boxster S presents in superb order throughout.

Appointed with a high level of standard equipment this 981 Boxster will offer its lucky new owner a specification of electrically adjustable and heated seats for driver and passenger. Please call 07577 575770, South East. (T) 110065

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004 www.fastcar.co.uk

I’ve built my fair share of project cars over the years and I’ve changed the colour on eight of them with varying success. What I’ve learnt is the most cost-effective, hassle-free and quickest way to change the colour of your car is to have it wrapped.

Back in the day, one of the limiting factors to vehicle wraps was the colour choice and finishes available, but there’s no such restriction in 2021. In fact, the options are endless with 3M™ Print Wrap Film Series IJ180mC. Not only can you have whatever design you like printed on them, but you can also have a custom colour made up in gloss and metallic finishes. That’s right readers, 3M have just taken vehicle wrapping to the next level. Gone are the days of matte black wraps being the go-to finish.

If you want to know more about the Print Wrap Film Series IJ180mC and other innovative products, keep reading this special wrap edition of Fast Car magazine as we give you the lowdown on all the important developments in the car wrapping world. We also take a look back at some of the coolest wrapped cars of all time, give you inspiration for your next project, and answer all those important questions in our What The FAQ and Printed Wrap features. Enjoy the mag, because as they say, it’s a wrap!

Big Love, Slim Jules

Nissan GT-R This isn’t your usual GT-R, this is Baggsy’s GT-R and it goes sideways more often than a crab!

Contents 038

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FEATURE CARS

Toyota GT86 038 Fast Car has featured some great GT86s over the years, but this one is up there with the very best.

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PRODUCTS

Hero Product Cool Products

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Race Car Liveries 026 Here’s a bunch of inspiring race car liveries to recreate.

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Printed Wraps 046 There’s more to printed wraps than you might think…

Directory 049 list of all those lovely 3M Authorised 007 AVehicle Wrappers.

BONUS FEATURES WILD CARD Pull-Out Posters 033 007 Vinyl wrapped Transporter T5.1 052 What The FAQ inspired rides.

We ask an industry expert from 3M There’s a lot of cool campers out there 060 at the minute and this custom wrapped to answer all those frequently asked Top 10… questions. Good times. … wrapped feature cars!

T5.1 is one of them. defining car culture 005

RAPPING

HAT THE FAQ

In association with

hinking of having your car wrapped but need to know he answers to all those frequently asked questions? ook no further…

he market to give your car a completely new look? Then car wrapping could be you. We speak to 3M, the industry leaders in car wrapping films, to put right some age old misconceptions and highlight the advantages of having your car wrapped.

Defining car culture 007

WHAT THE FAQ: VEHICLE WRAPPING

Q) So, let’s start right at the beginning.

What is vehicle wrapping?

A) Vehicle wrapping is a great way to change the look of your vehicle without the potentially expensive paint respray. Either the complete car or selected panels are covered with a vinyl film. The films can be overlayed with different colours or printed graphics for a bespoke design.

Q) What are the benefits over paint?

A) There’s a few, here are the main ones…

• To change the colour of your car quickly and cost effectively, without the need of a re-spray.

• Wraps are reversible, so if you want to go back to the way the car was, you can.

• Car wraps can even protect your original paintwork from sun damage, mild stone chips and abrasions.

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Q) How long does it take to wrap a midsized family vehicle and what are the costs involved?

A) A car wrap can cost anything from £1800 to £5,000. The price will depend on the vehicle type you would l i.e door hand will also impact on t and labour.

Q) What finishes are available, and do they differ in price?

A) Our range of wrap films include Gloss, Matte, Satin and Textured finishes.

Cost will vary depending on the level of

In association with

Q) How long does a wrap last?

A) Your wrap properly installed and properly maintained, is warranted to remain in acceptable viewing condition for three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. They are also warranted to be removable within that period.

“Car wraps can even protect your original paintwork from sun damage”

Q) Can you remove the wrap yourself?

A) Yes. When removed within the 3M warranty period, they are guaranteed to remove cleanly. If any residue remains, it is easily cleaned off. Professional removal is recommended though.

Q) Will my paint be damaged when the wrap is removed?

A) 3M car wrapping films are tested for compatibility with many of the commonly used paint systems in the automotive industry. Decades of experience show that our adhesives typically don’t chemically react with the paint. However, there are some points to consider to ensure the paint remains unaffected; • Paint must be completely dry prior to the application of graphic films.

• Improper paint repair can have low tack to the car body, meaning that some may be pulled off along with the film on removal.

Something to note however is that when your car paint is covered by a graphic film, it is better protected against UV eas. So, it may he car to bring part he Defining car culture 009

WHAT THE FAQ: VEH

Q) How do you maintain a vehicle wrap?

Does having a matte or satin wrap make a difference to the maintenance process?

A) Wash the vehicle by hand using a mild detergent with no additives such as wax.

Or take it through a brushless car wash, but don’t use the wax option. Dry thoroughly to avoid spotting. A few hints: • Wash your vehicle frequently • Don’t wash your car for the first week following application to ensure the graphic film reaches maximum adherence. You may need to wait even longer if the weather is very cold.

• Take care when using high-pressure cleaners and ensure that the water temperature is not over 60°C, spray from a distance of 50cm or more and don’t aim directly at the film edges.

Matte and structured wrap films require more care than glossy surfaces, as the roughness and structure allow fine dust to settle more easily. Cleaning these surfaces takes longer but specialised products such as 3M Matte Film Cleaner are available.

3M™ Cleaner for Matte Wrap Films

Clean The Effective Way toWrap Films and Preserve Matte • Gently removes dirt, dust and rain marks without  damagingthefilmsurface • Quick and easy to use usage • Unique formulation designed by 3M for professional •For mattefilmsonly

Q) How would I go about getting a printed wrap? Do I have to supply the design?

A) 3M Authorised Vehicle Wrappers are all experts in print film design and application so they will work with Q) Why use 3M vinyl over a competitor? you to take your ideas to a digital design, print and then apply. They work with Vinyl is vinyl, right?

A) 3M has been a leader in innovation small one-off projects to larger branded from the very beginning. The science fleet wraps. behind 3M™ Wrap Film provides superior performance, offering ease of Q) Do I have to notify the DVLA of the use to graphics installers and leading to colour change?

A) As with insurance companies, the DVLA outstanding results.

3M Wrap Films come with the most also needs to be informed for a complete comprehensive warranty in the industry, colour change. However, this is usually which offers up to seven years protection a very quick process that involves the completion of a V5C form. of vertical applications.

FOR MORE INFO HIT: WWW.3M.CO.UK/2080

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HOT RIDE

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NISSAN R35 GT-R

Epic Wrap Battle

When it came to shaking up the look of his GT-R drift weapon for 2021, Baggsy knew just what he needed: a fresh bodykit, and an epic new wrap…

Words Dan Bevis Photography SHYAM

Defining car culture 13

HOT RIDE

Baggsy’s GT-R in a rare moment of calm “Give me Goodwood on a summer’s day, and you can keep the rest.” So said racing legend Roy Salvadori, and it’s a sentiment that’s resonated across the ages.

The historic motor circuit transcended its functional roots as an RAF base to become one of the most celebrated racetracks in the post-war period; it closed in 1966, but the spirit of that mid-20th century era has been vividly rekindled by the Goodwood Revival and, more recently, the Members Meeting. And it’s among the verdant foliage of West Sussex that we find Steve Biagioni, better known as Baggsy, disturbing the peace at Goodwood’s other key event, the Festival of Speed, just up the road from the circuit at The Duke of Richmond’s country pile.

In 2021, more than ever before, we’ve needed this. The mind-warping weirdness of the last eighteen months or so hardly needs spelling out; confined to quarters and forbidden from mingling, Goodwood’s 2020 events were cancelled much like everything else on the show calendar. We were bereft, rudderless, adrift in a sea of uncertainty. So as these shows started to safely tiptoe back onto the calendar this year, there was an enthusiasm across the board to go big, make an impact, remind ourselves just what this is all about. And for Baggsy, that entailed bursting back onto the scene with a fresh new look for his brutal drift-hero R35 GT-R. But let’s rewind a bit. Back to 2017, way before the days of lockdowns and firebreaks. Baggsy was a decade or so into his professional drifting career, having won the British Drift Championship in 2009 and enjoyed all manner of motorsport success since, and found himself with a unique focus for the direction of his next pro drift car. He needed to build a show-stopping machine to feature in Monster Energy’s Battle Drift 2, a video in which he’d go head-to-head with skidding kingpin Daigo Saito… and Saito’s got a drift-spec Lamborghini Murciélago. So whatever the next car was to be, it had to bring the noise to a pretty devastating extent.

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Now, Baggsy’s got form with Nissans, so it made sense to start there. Having competed in an LS3swapped S13 (a car in which he appeared in The Grand Tour, teaching Richard Hammond to drift), there was a formula to exploit. And while the purists gasped at the idea of tearing the venerable VR38 motor out of an R35 GT-R and replacing it with some Detroit iron, that’s exactly what he had his eye on. It actually made more sense than it might at first seem, as this is no ordinary LS swap. You’ll no doubt be familiar with the LS family of Chevrolet V8s, which have been around for a fair while in a great many configurations: the LS2, for example, was the 6.0-litre unit found in various Corvettes and the Cadillac CTS-V, the LS3 was a 6.2-litre version for Corvettes and Camaros as well as the Vauxhall VXR8…

10.5x20-inch Rotiform LHRs on Accelera PHI 2 tyres

NISSAN R35 GT-R

Pigeon’s-eye-view is very pleasant Defining car culture 15

HOT RIDE so what’s an LSX? Well, it’s a full-race engine that uses the basic LS V8 architecture and irons out all of the roadcar tolerances. Based on the 427ci (7.0-litre) LS7 block, it has a meatier 7.4-litre displacement, forged pistons, lightweight rods, a lightened crank, and LSX-specific heads with hollow-stem valves and reworked ports.

With boost forced in by a colossal Garrett snail, Baggsy’s staring down the barrel of 1,200bhp+ here, and all with impeccable reliability. It’s a monster, but a logical one.

This is a highly intelligent engine build; you can park your preconceptions about Chevy motors being dumb iron at the door, as this LSX features such clever highlights as drive-by-wire throttle, a custom rear-mounted radiator setup, highly developed cam profiles, super-clever fuelling, and an HP Electronik Powerbox power distribution module that replaces all of the traditional fuse and relay systems with solidstate parts. And the intelligent developments continue throughout the powertrain: Nissan’s AWD setup and DCT transmission has been junked in favour of a Quaife

“This is a highly intelligent engine build; you can park your preconceptions about Chevy motors”

Fleet Livery Solutions have nailed the 2021 wrap

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QBE69G sequential ’box, Winters IRS quick-change rear differential, and Pro-Level axles from The Driveshaft Shop. All the rough stuff needed to get twelve-hundred rampaging horses through those fat Accelera rears with maximum impact and minimum stress.

When it comes to the chassis, you can be damn sure that’s as cunning as a sly fox too. ST Suspension is a key technical partner, and their 3-way adjustable motorsport coilovers work with a full suite of hardware from Voodoo 13 at either end. Brakes? Yeah, they’re pretty phenomenal as well – lurking behind the front Rotiforms is a rugged set of Wilwood Superlite 6-pots, complemented by 4-pots out back. The front discs are bigger than a lot of cars’ actual wheels, and it’s all corralled by pukka motorsport kit inside and underneath. Baggsy has an OBP pedal box under his feet, a massive hydro handbrake handle towering beside him, and he can keep an eye on all the vital signs via an AEM CD-7 digital dash display as he’s strapped into his custom Cobra seat.

With such mighty specs, it was inevitable that the LSX GT-R would evolve from demo car to fullon motorsport competitor. And it’s within the very essence of evolution itself to keep honing, refining, developing and transmogrifying. That’s where Fleet Vehicle Solutions came in during the summer of 2021.

With the Goodwood Festival of Speed approaching,

NISSAN R35 GT-R

Defining car culture 17

HOT RIDE

and Baggsy’s slot firmly inked into the timetable for drift runs up the hill, our man was keen to shake up the aesthetics. After all, a lot of people attending the show would have seen the car before, and he wanted to give them something new. Something fresh. Something the likes of which they’d never seen.

Job one was to alter the fundamental profile of the car; he’d originally gone for a Liberty Walk kit in 2017 because, while the Rocket Bunny Pandem option was a very cool one, lots of people were doing it and the sharper Liberty Walk vibe gave him more of an edge.

In 2021, that edge has evolved too, as the Japanese styling gods have released a V3 development of the kit: it’s got an altogether angrier aesthetic, the trailing edges of the arch extensions sporting aero flics and swoops, the back end squarer and more muscular, the nose more protruding and imposing. It’s totally altered the character of the car, and with this makeover achieved, there was a crucial finishing touch: the wrap.

In its previous guise, Baggsy’s GT-R was pretty aggressive – the blacked-out vibe artfully augmented with eye-popping Monster logos and assorted sponsor decals. What Fleet Vehicle Solutions have achieved with the new-for-2021 look is something altogether more cohesive, taking the ethos of the car to new extremes with a riot of yellow accents and pinstripes across the moody and menacing base. Expertly applied with highend 3M materials, it’s the perfect finisher for a car whose very essence revolves around fusing form and function.

The team put some serious hours into perfecting this wrap, working with those myriad angles and overcoming all the technical complexities and intricacies involved, and the results really speak for themselves.

The LSX GT-R looks badass on an unparalleled scale, perhaps even more impactful than when it originally debuted, and the roars of the Festival of Speed crowds as Baggsy pirouetted up the hill were all the validation he needed. Give him Goodwood on a summer’s day, and he’ll fill it with tyre smoke.  Those fresh boots won’t last long with Baggsy about

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NISSAN R35 GT-R MODIFICATIONS:

Engine: Chevrolet LSX 454 7.4-litre V8 – custom-built

by Chris Jeanneret Racing and SB Motorsports, Garrett GTX4718R turbo, twin Turbosmart 44mm wastegates, custom stainless exhaust manifolds and collector, 5-inch front-exit exhaust outlet, custom cams, custom Forge Motorsports intercooler with Vibrant Performance 4-inch pipework, 102mm drive-by-wire throttle body, custom intake manifold, custom Canton wet sump, ASNU 1,500cc injectors, Radium Engineering/Fuel Safe 15-gallon fuel cell, 4x Walbro 450lph pumps, Radium multi-pump FPR, custom rear-mounted Forge Motorsports radiator, OBP oil, transmission, and power steering coolers, AEM Infinity 508 management Transmission: Quaife QBE69G sequential transmission, Competition Clutch 7.25-inch triple-disc clutch, Winters IRS quick-change rear diff, The Driveshaft Shop Pro-Level axles Suspension: ST Suspension 3-way adjustable motorsport coilovers, Voodoo 13 front angle kit, SB Motorsportsmodified front subframe, Voodoo 13 rear camber, toe, and traction arms, Sikky Manufacturing rear subframe, air jacks Brakes: 6-pot Wilwood Superlite calipers with 14-inch discs (f), 4-pot Wilwood Dynapro calipers with 12.6-inch discs (r) Wheels: 10.5x20-inch Rotiform LHR wheels, Accelera PHI 2 tyres Interior: Custom-stitched Cobra bucket seats, custom 10-point chromoly rollcage, custom carbon dash, OBP billet pedal box, OBP handbrake, AEM CD-7 digital dash display, HP Electronik Powerbox power distribution module, HP9642 switch panel Exterior: Custom 3M wrap by Fleet Livery Solutions, Liberty Walk V3 wide-body kit

COOL PRODUCTS

WWW.3M.CO.UK/2080

R

3M™ SCOTCHLITE™ PRINT WRAP FILM 780MC Do you fancy taking your vehicle wrap to the next level?

Well, this might be the film you’ve been looking for! 3M’s 780mC is a wrappable reflective film that can be printed on. Take a look at the night pictures of RGVA Vehicle Graphic’s Nissan GT-R that’s used 780mC on the printed sections of the wrap.

Being 3M this film comes with all the usual benefits for efficient installation and easier removal and has been engineered with wider retro-reflective viewing angles. This white print film’s chief advancement lies in its increased conformability and heat-recovery properties. It’s excellent

PREODDHU T CT

reflectivity makes printed graphics stand out 24 hours a day, which has made it a big hit in the commercial sector, but why not benefit from the technology by having your own custom vehicle wrap designed? The possibilities are endless with this one.

Defining car culture 021

PRODUCTS

3M WRAP FILM SERIES 2080 The king of colour changes! We’ve featured more cars wearing Series 2080 wraps than any other brand of film and there’s good reason for that. Not only is it available in a massive colour range but it offers reduced surface imperfections, like hazing or scratches, on gloss films.

The new, highly conformable solution, allows for easy application and is backed by the warranty now extended to up to 8 years. The Film Series 2080 is engineered with a PFL (Protective Film Layer) positioned over the top of the film’s surface and with advanced technology allowing for PFL post-installation removal.

These long-term, dual cast wrap films are designed for solid colour vehicle detailing, decoration and full wraps without the need of additional graphic protection. These films come in high gloss colours, matte colours, brushed metal and carbon fibre looks, true textured films creating a cool and distinctive look to the vehicle.

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WWW.3M.CO.UK/2080

Defining car culture 023

PRODUCTS 3M™ PRINT WRAP FILM SERIES IJ180MC

This is 3M’s premium cast wrap, printable film that installs fast due to its solvent-based Controltac adhesive. For peace of mind 3M have also given this film an up to 8-year durability backed warranty. There are different film options within the 3M IJ180 range, suitable for a wide range of applications and surfaces but the two most suited to the modified car market are:

3M™ Print Wrap Film IJ180mC-114

This material lets you mix printed images with clear areas to create ultra-cool, never-been-done-before designs.

3M™ Print Wrap Film IJ180mC-120

The first-ever printable metallic wrap film to give vehicles a high-tech, attention-grabbing finish! That’s right, you can now print on metallic wraps!

3M SCOTCHGARD PAINT PROTECTION FILM PRO SERIES 4.0

Paint protection films, or PPF to its friends, have been big business over the last decade. If you’ve just bought a new car and want to keep the paint looking as fresh as the day you drove it out the forecourt, this is what you need!

How does it work? Well, the Pro Series 4.0 is a transparent film that protects car paintwork and sensitive areas of the vehicle from stone chips, scratches, insect damage, tar, stains from vehicle fluids and weathering, including strong UV radiation. It also features a self-healing formula that enables minor scratches to disappear by themselves. 3M clear coat technology provides exceptional stain, weather 3M KNIFELESS TAPES and abrasion resistance, helping to preserve the car’s This handy tape allows film installers to precisely and showroom quality finish for years. efficiently cut through graphic film without a knife and without surface damage to create a clean line. This product sets the new industry standard for finishing vehicle graphic installations without a blade. Knifeless tape is a flexible tape and filament engineered to easily create highly contoured designs and leave a sharp, clean edge.

Fast Facts

 Exceptional clarity  Doesn’t alter the colour or design features of cars  Tough, durable and maintenance free  Self-healing technology allows minor scratches to disappear  Easy to install and backed by a 10-year warranty  High level of protection against chips, scratches and stains 024 www.fastcar.co.uk

MAINTENANCE

WWW.3M.CO.UK/2080

There are three main finishes when it comes to vehicle wraps: matt, satin and gloss. So you need to choose the correct products to maintain the longevity of your wrap and keep it the way it was intended to look. All of 3M’s materials are durable and easy to maintain but what products should you use to keep them looking fresh? Well, this little lot will get you started…

ANER FOR MATTE WRAP FILM dust and rain marks can make difficult to maintain a matte wrap lm finish on a car. Matte wrapped need to be cleaned regularly to maintain their look. In the past, with ing cleaners, wrappers have run he risk of damaging the vinyl film surface and losing the matte look.

Cleaner for Matte Wrap Films a unique formulation developed professional users to gently and fectively clean matte films whilst still eserving the matte look.

l W any gloss te a Just mean

REMOVING BUGS If you’ve got bugs or tar stuck to your wrap, it’s quite safe to use Meguiar’s Bug & Tar Remover. Spray it on, let it soak in and then wash it all away.

PROTECTION Ultimate Fast Finish is a perfect protectant for gloss, satin and matte wraps because it’s not designed to leave a gloss finish but just a protective barrier.

Defining car culture 025

INSPIRATION: ICONIC MOTORSPORT LIVERIES

WRAP TRENDS

RACE LIVERIES One of our favourite trends that’s been emerging on the show scene in the last couple of years is the classic race livery tribute.

People have been dressing up their road cars in race-style livery for generations of course, that in itself is nothing new – but what we’re really loving right now is the individuality that’s shining through on the scene. There’s always a certain element of one-upmanship that happens when it comes to having the freshest wheels, the most aggressive stance, the shoutiest screamer pipe or what-have-you, and the penchant for offbeat paint colours these days is really emulating the 1990s passion for shockingly bright shades. There’s also a lot of brown around these days, and we’re all for that. But what’s really bubbled up to the surface recently is the offbeat design of some of the artfully weathered retro race wraps we’re seeing. It’s really cool to take inspiration from the livery of an old-school race car and redesign it slightly to fit your own project, but what’s even cooler is to design it so that it looks like your car’s fresh from the race track: scratches and

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scrapes, Armco rash, dead flies, rubber marks from wheel-to-wheel apex-hunting, it’s an incredibly eye-catching way of making your car look super-hardcore.

What we want to do now is to inspire you. To give you a few fresh ideas, pique your interest, get those creative juices flowing. You see, there are certain iconic race liveries which everyone defaults to – the ones that have always looked fantastic but, by nature of how goodlooking they are, have been done a million times before. So we’re not going to suggest you go with the blue-and-orange Gulf colours, or the black-and-gold JPS livery from old Lotus F1 cars, or the Rothmans design seen on countless rally Escorts and Porsche endurance racers.

There are no Martini stripes here. We’ve dug around in the archives for the tastiest offbeat liveries, the ones that could really make a statement.

Why not try one of these out for yourself? Or better yet, seek out something truly obscure from history, something that will ensure your car’s always a talking point? There’s a world of old race cars out there…

PENTHOUSE RIZLA

James Hunt is one of the all-time motorsport legends. We’re unlikely to see his kind again, as he represents the very antithesis of what a modern sportsman is.

Today’s racing drivers have supremely balanced diets and exercise regimes, they have early nights, they have to be careful because the sponsors are always watching.

Back in the 1970s, James Hunt liked

boozing in the pits, always had a ciggie on the go, and if you couldn’t find him it was because he was busy shagging every dolly-bird in the vicinity. So of course his team, Hesketh, had the name of a porn mag on their race car! What else would you expect? The Hesketh 308E of 1977 actually debuted two years after Hunt left and signed with McLaren, but his playboy

spirit clearly lived on; the car had the Penthouse name slathered all over it, along with images of alluringly reclining young ladies, and for good measure they slapped the Rizla name on it too.

Combining two of Hunt’s favourite things; they should have gone for the triple and called it Penthouse-Rizla-and-loadsof-Champagne.

GOLDEN WONDER

Everyone likes crisps, right? And they make an ideal in-car snack too. Cars and crisps are a pretty logical pairing.

When Ken Wood and Peter Brown turned up at the Trossachs Rally in 1985 with ‘Golden Wonder’ written all over their Metro 6R4, every single spectator immediately ran to the concessions stands to satisfy their sudden hunger for salty potato snacks. Er, possibly. And this livery is a great one to recreate today, for two reasons: firstly, the font is really jaunty. Secondly, it’s orange, so nobody will miss the startling effect of what you’ve done.

Of course, you might not necessarily want to use the name of a crisp brand – so why not rework this to incorporate your favourite contemporary pub snack? We’d love to see a bagged MINI wrapped in Mr Porky’s Pork Scratchings, or a Rocket Bunny S14 covered in Scampi Fries.

Defining car culture 027

INSPIRATION: ICONIC MOTORSPORT LIVERIES

UENO CLINIC

Self-effacing gags often make the most fun liveries. There’s a Polo on the scene right now with a mock-Golden Virginia wrap that actually reads ‘Golden Vagina’. It’s good to poke a little fun at yourself. So the Ueno Clinic might be an entertaining one to try on your current project.

This one works on two levels. Firstly, some people will recognise it as being the livery run on the McLaren F1 that won the Le Mans 24hr in 1995. This will be enough to earn you nods of respect from people in the know. But secondly, there’s a deeper level – some people know what the Ueno Clinic actually is. It’s a surgery in Tokyo that specialises in the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases, and a condition called phimosis – which we wouldn’t recommend you stick into Google Images if you’re reading this at work. The Ueno Clinic design is a really crisp black-and-white livery too, which would surely work equally well with the name of your own local STD treatment centre.

GOLD LEAF

This is one that has been done here and there – most notably by Lotus on special editions of the Elise and Exige, and numerous owners of NA MX-5s – but it’s surprisingly overlooked given how significant these colours are. You see, the Gold Leaf design was the first ever proper

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sponsor race livery; it’s the grandfather of everything else you see on these pages, and the reason why race car liveries are beautifully designed rather than just writing the names of sponsors on cars in generic fonts. The Lotus 49 F1 car had been run in British Racing Green until Colin Chapman

signed a lucrative deal with the Gold Leaf cigarette company, painting his cars in the snout brand’s now-iconic red, cream and gold for the 1968 Spanish Grand Prix. The original and perhaps the best, and a genuinely pretty colour scheme that would suit most cars, we reckon.

LISTERINE

Some of the most wicked liveries are the ones that manage to transcend the inherently uncool products they’re advertising. Much like the Kaliber Sierra RS500s (zero-alcohol lager doesn’t have the most street cred, but those cars looked awesome), the Listerine E36 BTCC racers looked outstanding, despite advertising a

product aimed at people with halitosis and iffy gums. The 318is cut quite a dash as a race car as it was, its sleek coupé form having an inherent stylishness; admittedly on paper the Listerine livery sounds like a bit of a mess – mint green body with bright yellow lower section, M-Power tricolour stripes on the rear quarters, black bonnet

with huge Listerine dragon mural – but in reality it was fantastic. With the legendary Tim Harvey at the wheel, how could it lose?

This would be a great one to try if you’re running a new-wave BMW project (or, of course, an E36), and it’d be a tip-top way to show your neighbours that you’re passionate about oral hygiene.

ALAN MANN RACING

This, in itself, isn’t a rare livery. Indeed, owing to the popularity and success of the various Alan Mann race cars over the years, you see this on quite a lot of project Mk1 Escorts and Cortinas. But our idea here is this: why not try it out on something newer that isn’t a Ford?

The history of the scheme begins with the Lotus Cortina, which was sold from the factory in Ermine White with Sherwood Green sidestripes. (That’s a nerdy fact you can memorise for your next pub quiz.)

A lot of teams raced in these stock colours and Alan Mann wanted his racers to stand out, so he stole a shade of red from Ferrari and offset it with a lovely liquidy gold for the roof and side-stripes. This paintjob was subsequently used on Escorts, GT40s, Falcons, and any Ford that AMR turned their hand to.

But with the contemporary enthusiasm for adding Ferrari wheels, Ferrari seats and what-have-you to all sorts of VAG and Euro builds these days, why not the paint too? Imagine how good the combination of Ferrari red and liquid gold would look on something big and slammed, like an Arteon or an RS6.

Defining car culture 029

INSPIRATION: ICONIC MOTORSPORT LIVERIES BASF The element of surprise is a very useful thing in motorsport, when it comes to power or setup or simply taking avant-garde lines through corners – and this extends to liveries too. The oh-so-retro BASF circles design is one of the all-time greats simply because it’s such a headache for everyone else on track. You can totally put everyone else off simply by making your car look like a cross between a Magic Eye picture and something from a kid’s Spirograph.

This startling design debuted on Hans Stuck’s BMW M1 Procar back in 1981, and it did an amazing job of making the wedge-shaped supercar look like it was all sorts of different shapes depending on which angle you looked at it from. Eagle-eyed scene kids may remember Elliott from sister-mag Performance VW wrapping his Audi A4 Avant in this livery a few years back; we reckon now’s the time to crack out this design on a smaller car, something like a Fiat 500 or an Audi A1, to really accentuate those trippy swirling circles.

GITANES

We’d never be so irresponsible as to condone smoking, but you can’t deny that tobacco liveries have always been the coolest – JPS, Marlboro, Rothmans, Benson & Hedges… back in the days when it was socially acceptable to have the name of a pack of tabs plastered all over your race car, the design teams went allout to impress. But one of our favourites, and one that you don’t see a lot of people emulating on road cars nowadays, is the classic Gitanes livery. These French fags lent themselves rather well to having their italic nomenclature signwritten on race cars.

The blue-and-white appeared on quite a few F1 cars, endurance racers and open-wheelers over the years, from Ligiers and Talbots to Alpines and Renaults, but the fact that it looked so utterly stunning on BMW E28 and Ford Capri touring cars suggests to us that this is a livery which would translate to any crisply-styled tin-top. And hey, everyone’s rocking the Marlboro and Rothmans stripes – Gitanes has a bit of continental flair, doesn’t it?

030 www.fastcar.co.uk

DUREX

Well, we couldn’t leave this one out, could we? It’s even more in-your-face than Penthouse-Rizla, and slightly less eyebrow-raising than the Ueno Clinic; in fact, it’s a big, bold statement of intent.

As you can probably imagine, this sponsorship deal caused controversy right from the start. When the Surtees Formula One team signed up Durex as a sponsor back in 1976, the BBC refused to screen the early races in that season so as not to offend viewers.

(Urgh, people have sex? Imagine that! Gross!) Thankfully sense prevailed in the end, which is just as well as the Durex livery was a very brave thing for the London Rubber Company to create: after all, it’d be pretty bad PR for a condom brand if the car its name was written on ever got a puncture, and race cars get punctures quite a lot.

Also worthy of mention here is the Viagra sponsorship on Mark Martin’s NASCAR in the early-2000s – if you want to shove your figurative wang in the viewing public’s faces, that’s a hell of a way to do it. Although it wasn’t a great livery, it just said ‘VIAGRA’ in massive letters down the sides. The Durex design, however? That’s stylish enough to spruce up any modern project car with elegance and panache. And perhaps a bit of a smirk.

Defining car culture 031

Premium Vehi c l e Wrappi n g from Kent’s Only 3M Select Gold Partner.

3M Consumer Wrap of The Year 2020.

RGVA Vehicle Wraps offers colour change vehicle wrapping services for customers who wish to change and enhance the appearance of their personal vehicle. Our vehicle wraps are fitted to the highest quality by our 3M Approved Vehicle Wrapper accredited installers and supported by industry leading warranties.

SILVER

GOLD

PLATINUM

GOLD SERVICE – FULL EXTERNAL WRAP INCLUDING DOOR SHUTS Professionally strip down car to achieve the best finish As with the Silver service, the car is stripped possible. This includes the removal and re-installation down and the doors are also removed from the car. of the front & rear bumpers, trims, front and rear lights, We recommend wrapping the door shuts when the original colour of the car is a vast contract to the wing mirrors, door handles etc. colour of the vinyl wrap.

SILVER SERVICE – FULL EXTERNAL WRAP

PLATINUM SERVICE – FULL EXTERNAL WRAP INCLUDING DOOR SHUTS AND BACKS OF DOORS As per the Gold service, the doors are removed and also the interior door trims. This is the ultimate in vehicle wrapping with only the door hinges, boot interior and under bonnet remaining with the original paint colour.

DE-CHROME

DE-CHROME SERVICE Wrapping service that covers chrome trims in material of choice. De-chroming may include window and door surrounds, gril e areas, door handles and any other chrome trims.

RGVA Unit 4, Spectrum Business Estate, Bircholt Road, Parkwood, Maidstone, Kent ME15 9YP 01622 673 797 | enquiries@rgva.co.uk | www.rgva.co.uk

a r p u S a t o y oT : r a C e g n a r O p e e D s s o l G 4 2 G - 0 8 0 2 M 3 : p a r W

Wrap: 3M 1080-SP281 Satin Flip Psychedelic Car: Audi R8

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EAST MIDLANDS’ NO.1 VEHICLE WRAPPING SPECIALIST

Car Wraps / Van Wraps / Motorsport Liveries

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Supernatural HOT RIDE

, he had his work cut out - because he hadn’t tried anything like this before. But what he’s achieved here is something mystical, defying the very laws of nature itself…

038 www.fastcar.co.uk

TOYOTA GT86

Defining car culture 039

HOT RIDE

Some people just really get this modifying stuff, don’t they? Sure, the aftermarket is sufficiently massive and foolproof that anyone can buy a bunch of off-the-shelf parts and put together a decent car, but there’s a certain special something within the chosen few that delivers real results; an intangible, indefinable quality that imbues the modding elite with an inherent and uncanny ability to build jaw-dropping, show-stopping rides. Kiran Halsey is one such person. So when we learn that this is his first crack at modifying a car, it’s necessary to have a bit of a sit down and wipe the double-takes from our eyes.

“I previously had an Audi TT TDI which I put some RS4 wheels on, but that was about the extent of it,” he grins, clearly amused by how much he’s shocked us. “This is my first modified car – but I set myself a goal to build the UK’s most outrageous GT86 and, yeah… here we are.”

But why an ’86? Well, the seed of the idea was planted a few years back on a family holiday to the States. Kiran had seen videos online of Ryan Tuerck

drifting his 2JZ-powered Scion FRS through the streets of New York (the FRS, GT86 and Subaru BRZ being essentially the same car with different badges), and he was just blown away by the drama of it all. Couple this with the fact that the FRS scene in the US has blown up and gone insane, and before long our man’s fate was sealed. He knew unequivocally what he must do. There was no doubt in his mind.

“I noticed that at the time there was next to no ’86 scene in the UK, other than the older Levins and Truenos,” he recalls. “Not one to follow the crowd, I thought ‘Why not?’, and set about planning something that would define the platform in the UK.” This car was found in the usual way, scrolling through Pistonheads for weeks on end until the right one presented itself; interestingly, this particular one was markedly more expensive than all the other examples of similar vintage, which piqued Kiran’s interest. On clicking through, he discovered that it was running a Stage 1 turbo conversion, pushing out over 300bhp instead of the factory 197bhp, and also had bucket seats, coilovers and a rollcage. He was immediately smitten and snapped it up. But of course, this would turn out to be more involved than a tale of someone browsing the classifieds and rolling someone else’s project…

“I’ve had it for four years now and at no stage has it ever been – or do I think it will ever be – finished,” he smiles. “My first modification was a set of Bola B1 wheels, which I actually bought before I picked up the car. And it just spiralled out of control from there.” One of the more noticeable elements, as you’ve probably spotted,

Kiran is running a safe map at the moment but the Fensport-built 2JZ is 1,000bhp capable

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TOYOTA GT86

The custom 3M wrap sets the standard

“This is my first modified car – but I set myself a goal to build the UK’s most outrageous GT86 and, yeah… here we are”

WHAT THE HELL IS A 2JZ ANYWAY?

Toyota firsttested the market with their new family of JZ-series engines in the later Mk3 Supras, the 1JZGTE 2.5-litre twin-turbo signalling to the world that the firm might have one or two mischievous things planned… and when the covers finally came off the Mk4 Supra, the top-of-the-range model revealed its startling 2JZ-GTE, a 3.0-litre variant, again with twin-turbos, running a six-speed manual gearbox and offering up a gentlemen’s-agreement 276bhp; actually more like 300bhp, and a real-world 326bhp in UK-spec. Which made quite a strong point.

The 2JZ went on to feature in numerous cars – in naturally-aspirated 2JZ-GE guise it could be found in the Toyota Altezza/Lexus IS300 and Toyota Aristo/Lexus GS300, the Crown, Origin and Soarer/SC300, while the twin-turbo 2JZ-GTE also appeared in the JDM-only Aristo models. So what’s the attraction of putting an old 1990s engine in a more modern car? Quite simply because the 2JZ has become a legend – it’ll happily produce 500bhp+ on stock internals, and countless tuners in the drift scene have cranked them up beyond 1,000bhp. It’s not just an engine, it’s an icon.

WORK wheels and AP stoppers. Perfection Defining car culture 041

HOT RIDE

BELOW: Simple but effective air install

BELOW: Air Lift’s 3H management

is the Rocket Bunny V1 kit. This was an early addition, and Kiran was at pains to ensure it was markedly different from every other V1 on the global scene; rather than simply bolting it on, it’s been smoothed carefully into the original bodywork, an absence of skirts or splitters keeping it clean and really accentuating the aggressive girth of the arches. Naturally you can’t have massive wide arches without the right wheels to fill them, and he’s gone über-premium here with a set of full-fat WORK Meister S1 custom splits, 9-inch wide at the front and a whopping 12x18-inch out back. And it’d look a bit mad to be rocking this epic combo without the stance being absolutely on-point, which explains the presence of Air Lift Performance suspension with 3H management. This is a fella who insists on the best, after all, and there are no half-measures here.

“There were three or four different sets of wheels before these ones,” Kiran explains, “and the car’s been painted three different times as well as being wrapped twice. The new wrap is a custom 3M job by Fleet Livery Solutions Ltd, designed by Kyle Wassmer Design. At one point there was a huge custom chassis-mount wing that I designed myself; I swapped the bonnet and bootlid for Seibon carbon fibre items, there have been so many changes. But the biggest change was the engine swap: that totalled about eighteen months of downtime altogether, and I blew the 2JZ about a month

Seibon bonnet and bootlid have been left unwrapped for cosmetic reasons

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Cobra Suzuka buckets

after having it back so it had to go straight back into the shop to be forged!”

That’s right. Kiran’s not messing about here. That early glimpse of Ryan Tuerck hurtling sideways through NYC clearly left an impression, and the idea of fitting a 2JZ straight-six was always there in the back of his mind. This is, amusingly, anathema to the purists who insist that the whole point of a GT86 is to have the low-down weight package of the boxer engine, and when we recently told the boffins at Toyota UK HQ about this project, they shook their heads in disbelief. But that is really the point.

The aim here was to build the UK’s most outrageous ’86, and whacking a 2JZ in there is a great way to do that.

As you might have deduced by now, this was never going to be a case of simply finding an old Supra motor and throwing it into the GT86 to say ‘Yeah, I’ve done that’. Kiran wanted to do this properly. And that meant not just fitting any old 2JZ, but one that would properly fulfil the overarching brief. When he tells us that it’s been built with 1,000bhp potential on pump fuel, it all starts to make sense.

Let’s take a look at this astonishing two-jay-zed then, shall we? All of the engine conversion and build work, fabrication, wiring, and tuning was carried out

by Tom Hudson at Fensport Performance, and he’s created something of a monster. The 3.0-litre straight-six, most commonly associated with running in twin-turbo guise in the Mk4 Supra, is here packing a huge single turbo – a BorgWarner S362 SXE T4 twin-scroll, with twin Turbosmart wastegates exiting their screamer pipes right through the bonnet. The all-important internal strength is provided by forged Mahle pistons and Bridgeway conrods, and it’s all governed by a Link G4+ Fury ECU – the first ’86 in the UK to do so. This means that, along

TOYOTA GT86

The E46 M3 gearbox has been mated to a CAE shifter

OWNER PROFILE:

Name: Kiran Halsey (@lord_halsey on Instagram) Age: 23 Occupation: Entrepreneur First car: My sister’s hand-me-down SEAT Ibiza Favourite mod on your car: The engine swap Favourite show: Players Classic – fantastic mix of old and new, as well as track/show cars Track day or show-and-shine? Both Lessons learned from this project: Be careful who you give your money to – some companies may seem like your friends and have your best interests at heart, but sometimes they’re aiming for a quick buck and their work is not what you thought it would be.

What’s next? I’m hoping to do a full rollcage with front and rear crash bars during the winter this year, and maybe some new wheels. defining car culture 043

HOT RIDE

with the fully tucked engine and body wiring looms and fresh custom engine loom, the car has full CANBUS integration to retain all the factory functions and keep the instrument cluster working properly. It also offers anti-lag, launch control, switchable boost, on-board lambda, e-throttle, closed-loop boost control, closed-loop fuelling on idle and cruise, the full shebang. This is, frankly, bloody clever. Brains and brawn working as one.

“The Injector Dynamics 1050x injectors use an Otaku Garage billet fuel rail, retaining the factory returnless fuel system,” he continues, “which stunningly didn’t struggle at this power at all, using a fixed 4-bar of feed pressure.”

And the ingenious solutions kept coming: a Mocal oil cooler modified to fit right up to the 2JZ, a GT86 alloy rad with the inlet and outlet modded to suit the six-shooter, ECU-controlled twin fans, a custom exhaust system made using awesome 3-inch oval tubing from Vibrant Performance… this Toyota is, without a doubt, one of the most extensively and intelligently modified cars we’ve featured.

“I have smashed arches, had huge problems with the car being painted for repairs in a different colour to what it was supposed to be, and lost my exhaust on a four-hour journey which did no favours for my ears,” says Kiran.

“But regardless of the money it’s cost and the stress it’s caused me, I love this car and it has given me friends for life. I wouldn’t change a thing. People’s reactions to it are just the best too – younger people get it, but the older generation? The look of absolute disgust is something very dear to my heart.” And that, in essence, is the purpose. This guy set out to be outrageous, and that’s exactly what he’s done. Furthermore, in the process of achieving this, he’s built a yardstick by which all cars on the GT86/BRZ/FRS platform will surely be judged. Not bad for a first-timer, huh? Some people just have a natural – or even supernatural – flair for this stuff. 

TOYOTA GT86 MODIFICATIONS:

Styling: Rocket Bunny V1 kit smoothed into body (minus skirts or splitters), full custom 3M wrap by Fleet Livery Solutions Ltd – designed by Kyle Wassmer Design (@designsbykw), Seibon carbon fibre bonnet and bootlid Tuning: 2JZ-GTE VVTi 3.0-litre straight-six, BorgWarner S362 SXE T4 twin-scroll turbo, twin 38mm Turbosmart wastegates exiting through bonnet screamers, Mahle Motorsport 86.5mm forged pistons, Bridgeway conrods with CA625+ bolts, ARP mains and head studs, HKS multi-layer steel head gasket, 8.5:1 compression ratio, Link G4+ Fury with fully tucked engine and body wiring looms, custom engine loom, full CANBUS integration to keep factory functions and instrument cluster, anti-lag, launch control, switchable boost, onboard lambda, e-throttle, closed-loop boost control, closed-loop fuelling on idle and cruise, Otaku Garage billet inlet modified to accept 82mm Bosch Motorsport e-throttle, Injector Dynamics 1050x injectors - using Otaku Garage billet fuel rail retaining factory returnless fuel system, Mocal oil cooler, modified GT86 alloy radiator to move inlet and outlet to suit 2JZ, twin ECU-controlled Spal fans, custom alloy solid water piping, intercooler pipework and intercooler mounting, 3in stainless exhaust system using Vibrant Performance oval tubing, crackle black and mirror-polished detailing throughout, Excessive Manufacturing VVTi-to-BRZ conversion mounts with custom gearbox mount, all engine conversion, fabrication, wiring, engine build and tuning carried out

by Tom Hudson at Fensport Performance, E46 M3 gearbox with CAE shifter, Xtreme twin-plate clutch, custom propshaft, uprated driveshafts, Kaaz 2-way LSD Chassis: 9x18in (front) and 12x18in (rear) WORK Meister S1 wheels, Air Lift Performance suspension with 3H management, AP Racing 8-pot front callipers, 4-piston rears, J-hook discs all round, ABS system deleted, OBP hung billet pedal box, custom stainless braided brake hosing from pedal box to calipers and clutch slave cylinder Interior: Cobra Suzuka seats, MOMO steering wheel, custom air install by Plush Automotive, Defi gauges

044 www.fastcar.co.uk

3M.co.uk/2080

PRINTED WRAPS

PRINTED WRAPS The commercial industry has been doing it for years but why not have your own, one-off wrap designed for your project? The reason we modify our cars isn’t just to improve them but to make them unique, and that’s exactly why a printed wrap could be for you! 3M have launched a bunch of innovative new products (see page 21) to take your ideas to the next level and their Authorised Vehicle Wrappers will make it a reality. All you have to do, is come up with the concept!

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Car wrapping is nothing new, but the evolution of the vinyl is, and it’s moved the goal posts…

Q&A

Here’s a quick Q and A with a 3M industry expert to distinguish the main differences between a colour change wrap and a printed wrap…

Q) Do you use a different vinyl for printed wraps?

A) 3M Vehicle Wraps are vinyl films, printed with your chosen graphics on large format printers, thus allowing for any bespoke design you wish. They’re then expertly wrapped onto the vehicle to create seamless, eyecatching graphic designs.

There are many other factors that go into film selection for a project, which is why it’s important to partner with an experienced graphics provider and film manufacturer to ensure you get the best, most costeffective solution.

From long-term films that last for several years to easily removable films for seasonal campaigns and promotions, 3M’s broad portfolio of films offers a range of options. Regardless of your branding or campaign goals, printable and pigmented films are a powerful way to get your brand noticed.

Q) Does it take longer to wrap a car with printed vinyl?

A) It depends on the scale of the wrap, partial wraps which only cover sections of the vehicle can be installed quicker than a colour change wrap which includes door shuts, intricate bodywork modifications and de-chroming work. A large fleet wrap such as a long-wheel-based van with a complex design will take longer. Our network of Authorised Vehicle Wrappers will all be able to provide a lead time for your wrap.

Q) What is the cost difference in percentage to a colour change wrap?

A) This is tricky, is depends on the scale of the wrap, type of vehicle, material chosen etc. A logo on a van will be lower than a full colour change. The best way to get an idea of pricing is to contact a 3M Authorised Vehicle Wrapper who will discuss your project, go through the various options and provide a detailed quote for the wrap.

In association with

Q) Is there any differences in after care to a regular colour change wrap?

A) Be sure to follow recommended maintenance procedures to get the most out of your graphics and keep them looking their best. Wash graphics regularly with a non-abrasive detergent. Contaminants allowed to remain on graphics maybe more difficult to remove.

If pressure washing, ensure the water pressure is kept below 200 psi at a temperature below 180°F. Keep the spray nozzle at least one (1) foot away from the graphics and soften difficult contaminants such as bug splatter and droppings by soaking with hot soapy water before removal.

Q) If you want to submit your own design, what design file would be preferable?

A)It varies depending on the installer who will complete you wrap, 3M Authorised Vehicle Wrappers all have in house designers who work hand in hand with the wrap installers to ensure that your design is translated to the vehicle in the most efficient and highest quality possible.

Q) What are your top tips for when designing a bespoke wrap?

A) Every angle, space, curve of the vehicle must be taken into consideration when designing a wrap.

Ignoring these elements will result in a car wrap design that is not easy on the eyes nor is easy to read and understand.

Before the full production of graphics, be sure to review proofs and/or prototypes of your graphics.

Determine how much prep-work will be needed for your vehicles. Prep work may include film removal, paint repair, and/or repair of any imperfections, especially if graphics are not being applied to a new vehicle. Be sure that your partners are using qualified installers to complete the job.

Defining car culture 047

PRINTED WRAPS PICK A COLOUR, ANY COLOUR…

One of the coolest aspects of a printed wrap is the fact it can ‘just’ be a colour change wrap. Confused? Don’t be.

What we’re talking about here is printing a whole sheet of wrap in your desired colour and not being limited to what’s available. That’s right, this is a bona fide game changer! Bought your dream car but it’s not in your dream colour, well

048 www.fastcar.co.uk

it can be now in a matter of days and without the need of a costly respray.

Look at the S15 and RX-7 below, these are both printed wraps in custom colours, and they were both done by Fleet Livery Designs. Of course, there’s nothing stopping you from picking a colour and having graphics too. The only limitation is your imagination.

In association with

LEAVE IT TO THE PROS…

So, you’ve seen how it works, got the inspiration, and have decided to get it done, but what’s your next move? That’s a simple question, you pick a 3M Authorised Wrapper from the following list. These guys have all been put through their paces by 3M, so you can be sure you’re dealing with the very best wrap technicians in the UK and they’ll be able to bring your vision to life.

3SIXTYWRAPS LTD.

JOYCE DESIGN

PREMIER SIGNS & DISPLAYS LTD.

APM CUSTOMS

MOBAD

RGVA

NORTHAMPTON NN4 7HR Tel.: 01604645826 SANDYCROFT CH5 2QZ Tel.: 01244679704

MAIDSTONE ME15 9YP Tel.: 01622 673797

SOUTH SHIELDS NE33 4PU Tel.: 01914563795

SOUTHAMPTON SO30 2JW Tel.: 02380 236 001

SIGN TECH

COASTLINE GRAPHICS

PARC SIGNS LTD.

SWALLOW APPLICATIONS

DERWENT VINYL'S LTD.

PAUL TURNER SIGNS

ULTIMATE WRAPS

FLEET LIVERY SOLUTIONS

POPIN VEHICLE GRAPHICS

WRAP CUBE

HG GRAPHICS

POSITIVE DESIGN LTD.

WRAP KINGS

DURHAM DH7 8RL Tel.: 01207503456

LOWERSTOFT NR32 3BE Tel.: 01502 448736

…

HAVERFORDWEST SA61 2LH Tel.: 01437 760300

COLCHESTER CO2 8HF Tel.: 01206 516611

CARMELEON CONCEPTS LTD. MONSTERWRAPS LTD.

BURY SAINT EDMUNDS IP32 7YA Tel.: 01284 717760

Did you see our iconic Race Car Liveries feature on page 26? Is it now clear on why that was there? That’s right, it was to give you a subtle hint and some inspiration for your own custom wrap. Remember to think outside the box – maybe change the sponsors’ names to make the wrap personal to you, and then why stop there?

You can have any design you like printed onto the vinyl.

Some of the best feature cars from recent years have come from looking at past styles and giving them a personal twist – and the Transporter feature that starts on page 52 is testament to that.

ESSEX CM1 3AF Tel.: 01245 283843

PONTEFRACT WF9 3AP Tel.: 01977651017

ST AUSTELL PL25 4EJ Tel.: 0172674747

LEEDS LS25 2GB Tel.: 0113 287 1386

CARDIFF CF5 5TD Tel.: 02920672824 TAMWORTH B79 7TA Tel.: 01827 66622

ST HELIER JE2 3PF Tel.: 01534 811029 BARNSLEY S73 0QP Tel.: 01226 697557 KIDDERMINSTER DY10 4JB Tel.: 01299253596

SURBITON KT6 7QD Tel.: 02089446360 HALESOWEN B63 2QB Tel.: 07891 855 354

Defining car culture 049

ADVANCED SI02 HYBRID TECHNOLOGY GIVES YOU HYBRID CERAMIC PROTECTION THAT’S SO EASY TO USE, YOU CAN ACTUALLY WAX YOUR PAINT AS YOU RINSE OFF YOUR CAR. EASY TO USE… Just spray on, rinse off and dry!

No rubbing, curing, buffing or mess. It’s that easy!

MORE THAN A WAX… Protection and durability

beyond conventional wax.

WATER BEADING PROTECTION… HYBRID CERAMIC WAX PROTECTION… Ceramic wax protection with Advanced Sio2 Hybrid Technology extreme water beading action. delivers ceramic wax protection.

MEGUIARS.CO.UK Discover more at…

Follow us on social…

WILD CARD

52 www.fastcar.co.uk

Daily Grind

VW TRANSPORTER T5.1

coffee shop at events – hence the Joe in Popup Joes – has ended up being a onestop coffee and bar solution. What better way to promote the business than this cool wrapped T5.1...

Words Mark Walker Photography Sam Kelly

Defining car culture 53

WILD CARD

Have you seen a more intricate wrap on a Transporter? We doubt it!

I’ve bandied around the idea of owning a coffee shop a lot over the years; what could be cooler than owning a Shoreditch style coffee shop? The smell of artisan roasted beans, coffee sacks, scaffold boards, distressed walls and mismatched industrial furniture. The thing is, as much as I love frequenting these places for an oat milk latte (I know, such a hipster), I’ve realised that it’s the experience of sitting and soaking up the vibe with a nice cup of coffee that appeals to me.

Having watched more than a few Baristas go about their work, I’m pretty convinced I’d know how to put a fancy leaf on top of a flat white, or one of those patterns that look like a cock and balls, but I’ve also seen enough to know that I’d be bored out of my tree once I’d mastered the art forms; making 300 cups of coffee a day?

No thanks. I’ll stick with soaking up the vibe and that’s where guys like Mike Gething, founder of Popup Joes, come in.

Not one to be content with simply opening a coffee shop in his local town, Mike had a better idea; in creating the Popup Joes brand, he’s found a way of bringing the cool vibe direct to you. Fancy having your favourite coffee shop at a car show you’re putting on, or at your wedding? Well, now you can. Note how I said your favourite? Well, Mike’s genius doesn’t stop at simply providing a coffee shop or bar to his own taste – he consults with every customer to isolate the elements of their favourite coffee shop or bar, then goes all out to replicate it – the customer is king, after all.

It’s been 10 years now since the brand was created, and the company has gone from providing a popup coffee event space, to being able to set up a full indoor or outdoor bar space that caters from coffee to cocktails and everything in between. They’ll be in a corporate car park one day, a high-end wedding the next and at plenty of car shows every year too. Of course, being in a position of needing a work van, Mike went on the lookout for a van that would set a certain standard; let’s just say a Transit wouldn’t have cut the mustard.

Having owned an earlier T5 before and being a serial 20-inch Radi8 r8sd11 split rims are simply stunning 54 www.fastcar.co.uk

car modifier from a young age, Mike set his sights on a T5.1. I like to think of the 5.1 as a nice balance; it has the updated looks that make it pretty similar to a T6 at a passing glance, but doesn’t have nearly as much tech and stuff that’ll probably eventually go wrong packed inside.

Let’s face it, if you want to own anything rather than lease it, then simplicity is key to a long and happy life together and, personally, I think the 5.1 ticks that box.

The requirements of a company van weren’t exactly the same as a lot of companies; most people want their van to shout from the rooftops about who they are; in your face branding and several ways of getting in touch all need to be emblazoned across the flat space down the sides, so that you never miss an opportunity of attracting a potential customer, right? Well, that may be right for a lot of companies, but Mike wanted a cool vehicle that wasn’t obvious; less of a shout and more of a whisper, if you like.

The details in the wrap are a work of art

VW TRANSPORTER T5.1

“Mike wanted a cool vehicle that wasn’t obvious, less of a shout and more of a wisper”

OWNER

Name: Mike Gething Age: 52 Occupation: Popup Joes founder and chief Instagram: @popupjoes Website: popupjoes.co.uk First car: Mk2 Golf at 16 Dream van: T6 on air Hardest part of the build: Getting the suspension right Favourite modification: The wrap of course What lesson learnt from this build would pass on: Less is more What’s next? Work, work and more work when the world gets back to normal

Defining car culture 55

WILD CARD

Full T6.1 facelift makes a once old

All of the planning for the way this van looks was done on the job, so to speak; the continuation of the wrap on the roof? Try a high-end wedding where the van was viewed from the top of 200 steps. Lots of other elements of the build were garnered by figuring out what kind of punishment the van would need to endure on a day-today basis; it’s one thing looking the part, but if it doesn’t work as an equipment hauler or a family car, then it’s no Bueno.

Starting with a blank canvas, Mike found a twin-slider builder’s van in nice condition – which is always part of the battle in itself – ripe for modification and wrapping.

If you’re reading this and you don’t have any experience with getting a vehicle wrapped, rather than painted, then let me point out that a wrap won’t cover dents, rust or shoddy bodywork. It needed to be straight, so the search took a while.

You might be under the impression that most of the vans we feature get built in one hit - go into the garage as a stocker and emerge as a badass show stopper – but that’s rarely the case. Even hallowed feature vans are often built on a budget and as time and money allow (usually when you have one, you don’t have the other).

The beauty of this, though, is that it keeps the interest high in a project and helps it to evolve with fresh ideas (such as viewing your van from the top of 200 stairs).

The first step, as with everything, was to nail the stance, so a set of GAZ coilovers were called in to bring the van 120mm closer to terra firma. Actually, we’re

GTI tartan trimmed 5.1 seats look as good as OEM 56 www.fastcar.co.uk

missing out a few key details there; there were two other suspension kits before this one that were not to Mike’s liking. The 120mm is achieved with the help of a front hub mod and engineered T6 top mounts that give an extra 10-15mm drop. Wheel duties were initially handled by some 10.5x19-inch Rota Grids on 255/45’s, but have since been swapped to 19-inch Porsche RSR lightweights with 235/40 and 275/40 tyres; the offset of these allowing a bit more tyre.

Once a bit of styling was taken care of, in the form of a Travelin-Lite deeper front spoiler, debadged Sportline front end with DRL’s and carbon mirror covers and grille, the call was put into David at Wrap Bespoke. David was given the brief and worked closely with Mike throughout, first creating a mood board before putting pen to paper.

According to Mike, David had some reservations at first: “He initially said that he didn’t think we were doing the best to advertise the company, but as soon as he realised how understated I wanted it, he got into being able to let his creativity run riot”.

With so much going on in the original design, including the last-minute addition of the 77 numbers (a subtle nod to daughter Ella’s birthday), Mike thinks that Ben at Wrap Kings (the guy tasked with applying the finished 3M matt silver wrap to the T5) probably wanted

The cabin boasts Corbeau RSS recliners on swivel bases

Alpine Halo9 is a

VW TRANSPORTER T5.1

“As soon as he realised how understated I wanted it, he got into being able to let his creativity run riot”

Defining car culture 57

WILD CARD

to kill him: “There were so many elements that needed to be lined up, it took him ages to get it right”. But get it right he did and the finished van looks awesome; it’s in your face, but not in a promotional way. As Mike explains: “So many people take photos of it at events and, it’s only later when they look back at the pictures that they realise it’s company branding; that’s exactly what I wanted”.

Transforming the inside from builder’s van to a multipurpose layout also took a little head-scratching, but Mike settled upon a Kombi kit from Midland VW, once the insulating, lining and glazing had taken place, that is. Originally, the front seats were also trimmed in the matching GTI plaid, but a more recent addition of black leather Corbeau RRS seats on swivel bases put paid to the factory chairs. There are plans afoot to get the rear seat trimmed to match, not only for the looks, but also because Ella, who’s 18 months old now, thinks that grinding her food into the upholstery is the funniest thing in the world.

Finer details inside include a MK7 GTI multi-function steering wheel, MK1 Audi TT ring around the gear lever, low-level lighting (in case of a crash landing presumably) and Caravelle door panels on both sliders. What you can’t see in the pics is what’s under the skin; plenty of charging sockets for the business equipment, as well as the 240-volt hookup and leisure batteries: “If we were really pushed, we could plug the coffee machine into the van and power it up” says Mike.

The icing on the cake was a Pendle 180 remap and a K&N air intake; we’ve heard a lot of good things about Pendle mapping and Mike is no exception: “It’s like driving a big estate car now, with plenty of power; the bigger brakes also mean you can make the most of the power without ever running out of brakes”. Mike is delighted that his vision has been brought to life; he sometimes wishes he’d just gone for airride, but was outside his own comfort zone installing it, as he’s never worked with air before. The result is pretty cool though, regardless, and you’ll probably see it at with Mike at an event near you soon serving up a great cuppa Joe. t

58 www.fastcar.co.uk

2011 VW T5.1 MODIFICATIONS:

Tuning/engine work: 104ps with Pendle 180 remap with K&N intake Exterior: Debadged Sportline front end with TravelinLite deeper front spoiler, DRL’s, carbon mirror covers and grille, full exterior 3M wrap designed by Wrap Bespoke and fitted by Wrap Kings Interior: Kombi rear kit by Midland VW, Corbeau RRS front seats on swivel bases Chassis: 10.5x19-inch Rota Grids, GAZ coilovers with modified T6 top mounts and hub mods , Twin Turbo brakes Thanks to: David at Wrap Bespoke for the amazing design, Ben at Wrap Kings for skilfully applying it and ‘my wife for everything she does’.

The guys behind Wrap Bespoke and Wrap Kings, a true dream team!

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TOP 10: WRAP STARS

WRAP STARS TOP 10

We’re not talking Drake or Jay Z, but Black Rose and Matte Military Green, as we pick out our favourite wrapped cars…

We’ve featured a lot of wrapped cars over the years, in fact, it’s rare if there’s not at least one vinyl adorned car in each issue. So, narrowing down the list of our Top 10 was quite a challenge. We muddled through, raided the archive (and fridge), scratched our heads, and decided this lot were worth mentioning…

Art Cas

We’re kicking things off in style with these two E36 Beemers!

You have to take a rewind to 2014 and the August issue of Fast Car when Carl Taylor and Brian Henderson broke the internet with their BMW Art Car-inspired Wörthersee builds…

BRIAN’S MOTOR Inspired by Lichtenstein’s 320i

American Pop artist and icon of the modern art movement, Roy Lichtenstein was most famous for his large-scale comic book-style compositions but he too was commissioned to create a car for the BMW Art Car Programme. The year was 1977 and the motor in question was a E21 Group 5 Race Car, again for the Le Mans 24-Hour (it finished 9th overall and first in its class). This time around the car is said to reflect all the experiences that a car will go through, from the sweeping painted lines symbolising motion and the road, to the blurred scenery rapidly passing by. Lovely stuff.

060 www.fastcar.co.uk

TOP 10: WRAP STARS

CARL’S MOTOR Inspired by Koons’ M3 GT2

The most recent official BMW Art Car, and the one most of us can actually remember, is the 500bhp M3 GT2 that competed at Le Mans in 2010.

Designed by contemporary American artist Jeff Koons over a two-month period, the idea of all the colours and streaming lines was to be evocative of raw power, motion and bursting energy.

And, in case you were wondering, yes this one is all about new technology, it was applied as vinyl wrap too.

Defining car culture 061

TOP 10: WRAP STARS

KIRAN HALSEY’S 2JZ-POWERED GT86

Who remembers this beast from the July 2019 cover of Fast Car? Well, we certainly do as there’s not many air-bagged, Rocket Bunny-kitted GT86s out there with 1000bhp 2JZ engines! The crazy thing is, even with a spec sheet like that, the defining mod on Kiran Halsey’s ride is the custom wrap by Fleet Livery Solutions Ltd.

SAM EATON’S POLO

We couldn’t do a Top 10 wrap feature without mentioning 3M’s now legendary matte green. This colour has adorned many a Fast Car feature car over the years, but our current favourite is Sam Eaton’s tough-looking Polo 6R. We think this colour suits the aggressive styling of this baby VW and works perfectly with those matt black Fifteen52 Tarmac wheels.

062 www.fastcar.co.uk

TOP 10: WRAP STARS

FASTCAR’S 350Z DREAM BUILD

Blimey, 2014 was a good year for 3M, as we decided to blow our whole budget on our biggest build ever. The Fast Car 350Z had everything, 3SDM wheels, air suspension, top audio, carbon fibre, aero, posh seats and of course, a stunning Pearl White colour change courtesy of 3M and JD Wraps. Pearl White is still one of our favourite vinyls, mainly because of the satin-style finish that looks even better under streetlights, don’t believe us? Check out these pics…

Defining car culture 063

TOP 10: WRAP STARS

BAGGSY’S GT-R

This has got to be one of the most famous GT-Rs in the world, why? Because of the nutter who drives it, the legendary drifter Baggsy! Hit YouTube and type in Baggsy’s GT-R and you’ll see this thing smoking its rear tyres on some seriously famous tarmac! This car was built for demo purposes, so it needs a wrap that can deliver the wow factor and we think it certainly does that! The best bit is, Baggsy isn’t scared of changing things up, this is his 2021 livery, and we reckon it’s the best yet!

064 www.fastcar.co.uk

JVC GT86

If you’re an internationally recognised audio brand with great heritage and you decide to build a demo vehicle, that vehicle must be perfect and that’s exactly what the JVC GT86 is. There was a lot of time and effort put into this build, which explains why it’s wearing a custom wrap designed by none other than Khyzyl Saleem, otherwise known as The Kyza.

That’s right, this car went from render to reality and we’re very grateful it did!

TOP 10: WRAP STARS

HARVEY HOWE’S 1 SERIES

To date this is one of our all-time favourite 3M hues. The 1080 Series Black Rose vinyl looks so different in high and low light situations that you have to question it’s the same colour. It’s proved to be an extremely popular colour and we’ve seen it transform everything from Audi R8s to Honda Accords, but one of our favourite examples is Harvey Howe’s bagged E82 120D. When I first saw this car shinning away at Players Classic, I couldn’t believe it was a wrap! Awesome colour on an awesome build.

Defining car culture 065

TOP 10: WRAP STARS

WRAP KINGS SCOOBY

The guys at 3M decided TRAX 2018 would be the perfect place to wrap-up (sorry, not sorry) their Wrap Tour, which saw 14 of 3M’s best Authorised Vehicle Wrappers tour the UK in vehicles wrapped specially to highlight the best that modern vehicle wrapping has to offer.

On the final day of the event-filled, 665-mile trip, nine of the vehicles joined us on the Fast Car stand before the public voted for their favourite. The winner was Ben Hamblin, owner of Wrap Kings and this crazy Scooby. He was presented with a trophy and crowned the 3M Wrap Tour Champion 2018 for his car’s wrap, which used products from the IJ180mC series of print wrap films by 3M.

066 www.fastcar.co.uk

MIDGE’S AUDI TT

Why’s this in here? Is it because it’s who you know and not what you know? Well, maybe a little bit but the main reason this car is in here is because it has lasted the test of time, it’s been on the car for almost a decade, which is way more than the average wrap tends to stick around – true testament to the quality of the work. And the fun part is that this was essentially 3M’s original wrap colour, the genesis of the oeuvre that has since snowballed into a whole scene within itself.

“They developed it for taxis in Berlin, because they’re all this sort of beige colour,” Midge explains. “The guys at 3M figured it’d be more cost-effective for taxi drivers to wrap their cars rather than paint them. When I heard about that I thought it’d be cool to give my TT a Berlin taxi vibe – it’s a nice German connection, innit?” Explains Midge.

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