Three of the best, British Custom Builds

[HoTWire]

So I recently did a negativity and well I'm not taking it back, but I will offer a counter point, a more Retro Rides approach.

If you could pick three cars that represent what is great about the British modified car scene and put them on the biggest international stage, which three would you pick?

I suspect most people will have a different selection, and I'm pretty sure we'll all have some pretty cool cars. Here are mine:


Brian Burrows Squareback, Porsche 993 GT2 powered car built in 2004. Carbon fibre bumpers, smoothed body, just all round a proper proper custom build. Predating the high end restomod scene, but absolutely could be built today and would still be as head turning.


Dean Meeson's Lotus Esprit. At the front here in its final form, with Alfa V6 engine, Custom split rims and blue paintwork (or was it a wrap?). Years ahead of what soon became a common sight of a modified "super" car. Had a few more low Esprits turn up over the past couple of years and none of them are as good as Dean's first one.


David West's Alfa GTV. Built by Retropower this is absolutely everything I'd love to show the world. The finish is fantastic, the details are perfect, it gets driven (and driven hard), it is every bit as good as a Singer Porsche, but just so so so much cooler because it is properly unique. Bonus point it has a Millington engine in it, just for maximum British cool points.

[ironmighty07]

Probably my pick of UK, and this is kustom... Mk7 Jaguar Phantom Coupe built by Graham Slater

[Pid363!]

Good thread apart from how do you pick three!
One Gary Ellis moggy been around for years I’m not a fan of moggy’s but it’s as cool now as it was when built and he’s still got it. I went to school with Gary’s nephew so was lucky enough to see it from time to time in his paint shop.


Along with Winston’s P5 and a rather well know 16/60 that’s been on my wall for years






So that’s my 1st choice!

2nd choice



This two doored Magnette my choice as I built it which I’m still chuffed with as I’m no mechanic.

3rd choice any thing built buy retro power,
The mk1’s they have built have brought escorts to a new level but il pick the xj coupe they did a few years ago.
The two doored mk2 jag they built is epic!

[braaap]

Nov 18, 2024 18:32:29 GMT HoTWire said:

So I recently did a negativity and well I'm not taking it back,

It was me who dragged that Fiat 500 monstrosity out of dbizzels gallery, mainly to show it to our aircooled-rear-wtin-engined fiat expert round here.

I don't like it myself a lot, best are the wheels on it. I hate the rear wing on it and probably the moped engine, if there is one in it.


Since You asked for favorite UK cars, one of them for me is in that pic of Yours, but the color is red:




Two more are billabug because of it's simplicity and interior and a green karmann ghia type 14 coupe of an interior artist whose name I can not recall.

And another car, which I don't know if it was also modified in the UK was a black XJ on chrome smoothies. Or rather the XJ coupe on black BBSs?

Or something else, but since You only asked for three?!

[VIP]

Nov 19, 2024 14:30:16 GMT braaap said:

Nov 18, 2024 18:32:29 GMT HoTWire said:

So I recently did a negativity and well I'm not taking it back,

I don't like it myself a lot, best are the wheels on it. I hate the rear wing on it and probably the moped engine, if there is one in it.

You are correct that the wheels are the least worst thing about it, and they are horrible.

[HoTWire]

Nov 19, 2024 14:51:37 GMT VIP said:

You are correct that the wheels are the least worst thing about it, and they are horrible.

For continuing this here, you must now pay the Three Best Of British tax, will be very interested to hear your choices.

[VIP]

Nov 19, 2024 15:18:26 GMT HoTWire said:

Nov 19, 2024 14:51:37 GMT VIP said:

You are correct that the wheels are the least worst thing about it, and they are horrible.

For continuing this here, you must now pay the Three Best Of British tax, will be very interested to hear your choices.

That's a terribly difficult task frankly, and could change for me depending on the day of the week.

As of right now...



Kev Reilander's Sweet and Sour Pontiac Grand Prix really pushed the UK lowrider scene forward. Up until this point no-one had really done a 100% US-style full custom interior and full custom paint lowrider.



Andy Saunder's Rainbow Chaser Volvo because it evolved not one but twice over a 20 year period, and Andy has been at the forefront of UK custom car modifying for years. I loved his builds when I was growing up, and never expected in a million years to be in a position to call him a friend.



Gary Cruse's Austin A35 Pro-Street van - purely because as an impressionable 13 year old kid, THIS CAR is the sole reason I got interested in modified and custom vehicles from the start.

[jayj83]

1st off the car that launched max power






2nd John Sheilds Nova, the car that showed a 2,0 lump will fit







3rd Project 2000, Still a awesome car to this day, and the poster car of the reunion show

[DarrenW]

Nov 19, 2024 14:30:16 GMT braaap said:

Two more are billabug because of it's simplicity and interior and a green karmann ghia type 14 coupe of an interior artist whose name I can not recall.

Bernard Newbury?

[braaap]

^^^
Exactly that car, thank You.

[ratchart]

I'm going to nominate 3 cars built by Dave Rothwell. He has such a distinctive build style, choosing less obvious base vehicles and late model European engines and running gear, along with modifications that subtly enhance the style of the cars without taking away the original characteristics. 
For me, this is how to build British/European street rods without just slavishly copying America.



1936 Standard 12



1939 Hanomag



Standard 9

[ironmighty07]

The Dave Rothwell builds are always superbly executed and as outlined very "British" in style even when using stuff like the Maserati power plant.

[HoTWire]

The Rothwell builds! Of course, yes any and all of them are a great representation of the UK custom scene. I still dream of getting as many of his cars together as possible and do a special Rothwell display at Weekender one year.

[misterm]

I've drooled over the Hanomag at Wheels Day before. And the Standards look just as desirable.

[misteralz]

Was it him that did the phase I Vanguard woodie? That was fantastic. That's definitely on my list, along with the first iteration of Bernie's Ghia. This is one of those things where my mind just goes blank, though, like when someone asks you what your favourite film is and you end up saying something stupid, like Mallrats.
I kinda feel like the Max Power era needs to be honoured nowadays, so I'm gonna throw Jamie Shaw's 5 into the ring.

[jimi]

Nov 20, 2024 9:24:30 GMT ratchart said:

1936 Standard 12

oooof That's outstanding

[bmcnut]

I'm just going to leave this here while I think about the other 2.


Still a personal favourite of mine, and in my eyes oh so british.

[ratchart]

Nov 20, 2024 16:09:26 GMT misteralz said:

Was it him that did the phase I Vanguard woodie? That was fantastic. That's definitely on my list, along with the first iteration of Bernie's Ghia. This is one of those things where my mind just goes blank, though, like when someone asks you what your favourite film is and you end up saying something stupid, like Mallrats.
I kinda feel like the Max Power era needs to be honoured nowadays, so I'm gonna throw Jamie Shaw's 5 into the ring.

I don't think Dave Rothwell had built the woodie but I can't remember who did. I did look out for a picture of it and by pure coincidence there were two more Rothwell builds in the same folder.










The blue and white one is probably his most "conventional" hot rod style build, being Chevy powered pro street style. The Peach one has a Cosworth engine and was more of a collaboration being a re-build of a car previously customised by Chris Hay

[braaap]

IIRC one owner of the Vanguard woody is a member here, but I can't remember who it was.
Maybe he could shed some light in here, who built it?

[disastra98]

This V8 Mini van got me into custom and hotrod. In the newsagent at 15 years old and on the cover of Street Machine was this van but painted in red.




Mr Torquer has been around for years and still looks timeless to me.




And you cannot get much more British than a Vauxhall Viva van built by Jon Baldacchino.
I believe it is still around today.