Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2020 i Fast Car

The most fun cars are the ones that do surprising things; ones that subvert your expectations and lead your preconceptions down uncharted paths. We’re not talking about sleepers here – that’s a well-documented area, and a whole textbook in itself. No, what’s flicking our switch today is the idea of using a novel base to build something devastating. Like when Top Gear commissioned Lotus to build a track-slaying Lada, and the Norfolk spanner-twiddlers ended up throwing a hundred grand at it. Or when Volvo entered the BTCC in the 1990s with an 850 estate. These are not the logical cars to choose for such endeavours, which is what makes the whole concept so eminently desirable. So it is, in convoluted style, with Paul Graham’s Golf R32. We all know what…

STYLING GV front lip, side-step side skirts, USDM rear lip, clear reflectors and indicators all round, smoothed duck tail spoiler, hard top with spoiler, bikini top, pressed number plates, smoothed and vented front wings, turn signal intakes, Low Pro headlights, SlammedUK sunstrip, flip-up front number plate, re-sprayed in Audi Nardo grey, clear LED rear centre light in boot, smoothed GV rear panel and lights, vintage-style wing mirrors, Zoom Engineering fuel filler TUNING/PERFORMANCE MODS Smoothed and tucked engine bay, custom shotgun exhaust system with decat, HKS 4-2-1 exhaust manifold, Chase Bays brake booster delete, alloy Jap Racing radiator, fully forged and rebuilt engine CHASSIS D2 Performance air suspension, 9x15 (et -3) WORK Equip 40 wheels, Toyo Proxes 195/45x15 tyres, spiked wheels nuts, camber arms INTERIOR Roll cage, Bride Low Max bucket…

Last season, Tom’s R5 GTT build just pipped Dale’s awesome W114 build. In our eyes they were both winners, but this hasn’t stopped Dale wanting his revenge, so they’re both back with their new projects, and, of course, we’re here to document the builds. Once again, the new vehicles couldn’t be more different – Tom’s rocking a ’67 Volvo Amazon Coupe, while Dale has bagged himself a Jag S-Type R. Who’s gonna smash it this time? Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure, it’s going to be a fun ride!…

If you follow motorsport, you’ll have no doubt seen our news that we won’t be racing in the BTCC this year. Well, not as we intended anyway. We’re planning on doing a few guest rounds, with some exciting ex-BTCC celebs in the hot seat, but Messrs Plato & Jackson won’t be at the wheel. We’re still confirmed for 2021 though, with Plato at the helm, and with the same sponsors, so all is not lost. So what have we got planned then? Well, the car preparation side of our business is experiencing a bit of a boomwe’ve had enquiries about building numerous track and race cars, from Nobles to Corsa VXRs, and we’re looking forward to getting stuck in. People don’t realise that as well as building race winning cars,…

Name: Paul Graham Age: 33 Occupation: Painter/detailer Instagram: @paulg300986 Favourite car: Aside from my own, I’d love a Lamborghini Huracan! Favourite modification on your car? The supercharger Favourite show: VW Festival at Harewood House Track day or show-and-shine? Show-and-shine Lessons learned from this project? Always make sure that your car is worked on by people who specialise in a certain sector! Modified cars need extra TLC… What’s next – any future plans? More power, more wheels!…

STYLING: 1990 NA1 NSX, Lexus Naples Yellow Pearl paint, Zero Force carbon widebody with custom flares (1.5’-inch front, 2-inch rear), NA2 front end conversion, NSX-R headlights, Downforce bonnet, carbon Downforce bumper corners, carbon canards, carbon scuttle panel, NSX-R door handles, F1 carbon wing mirrors, carbon pillars, carbon skirt runners, custom carbon roof scoop, custom carbon rear hatch scoop, custom dual-adjustable carbon spoiler, custom rear diffuser, LED taillights TUNING: C30A all-aluminium 3.0-litre VTEC V6, full stainless dual-exhaust system, 5-speed manual CHASSIS: 9.5x20-inch (front) and 11.5x21-inch (rear) custom three-piece split-rims, Falken Azenis tyres, BC Racing coilovers with OCD bags, Air Lift V2 management, Brembo 6-pot front and rear calipers with 358mm discs, separate handbrake calipers INTERIOR: Full retrim in red suede and yellow tartan, Bride seats, Takata harnesses, S2000 dials, custom centre…

SPRINGS AND DAMPERS/COILOVERS, FROM £50 You may think that we – as thoroughly seasoned wheel whores – would put a new set of hoops right at the top of a list, but no. You see, a suspension upgrade will always be our numero uno of chassis mods, because even a car on standard wheels can look pretty damn cool when it’s slammed on its derrière. The general rule of course, is that a drop in altitude is ALWAYS directly proportional to a hike in attitude. And besides all that, cars running larger diameter aftermarket rims tend to look a bit like roller skates without a spot of lowering anyway, don’t you think? So, it makes sense to sort your ride height before anything else. Still, lowering your car is about…

Name: Dale Masterman Job Role: Full-time Swirl Slayer & Events Coordinating Marketing Executive, Meguiar’s UK As everyone’s favourite Austrian bodybuilder says, “I’m back!” Or does he say “I’ll be back”? To be honest, I can’t remember and anyway, you know what I mean! Yup, after a couple of months of lockdown loneliness, the Jaguar’s build is back in business. And the big news is, I’ve finally found a bodyshop I trust to get the exterior of the Jaguar looking super-fresh. Obviously, it’s my job to be fussy about paint finishes and I know the guys at The Motorworks will live up to my swirl-free standards. They’re not just tackling the paint, they’re also going to widen the rear arches so that there’s more clearance for the girthy new Image Wheels.…

Ever sold a car and really regretted it? I’ve had a few; there was my silly-low poo-brown Civic EG, that some older readers may remember and my Championship White JDM Honda Integra DC2, that would be worth a small fortune now. Well, it’s just happened again, yet this time I regretted selling the car before I’d even sold it, if that makes sense? Yes, you’ve guessed it, I’ve sold my RS4 B7 Avant. Something I never thought I’d sell, as it’s the best car I’ve ever owned. I would put a sad face emoji, but that doesn’t really work in a magazine, so I’ve had to say it instead. So why did I sell it? A few reasons; firstly, I wasn’t using it as much I’d like to, as it’s…

ENGINE: 3.2-litre VR6, DSG POWER: 250bhp CHASSIS: 8.5x19-inch 2-piece BBS LM – with crackle black centres, chrome bolts and gloss black lips, Air Lift Performance struts and bags, 3P management, Viair 444c dual compressors, twin seamless tanks, sectioned subframe and engine spacers to raise engine EXTERIOR: Full respray in Honda Repsol orange (inside and out), US-spec plate recess cover, crackle black fuel cap, textured-finish V6 spoiler extension INTERIOR: Recaro Pole Position seats - retrimmed by Optimus Automotive Trimmers in black and orange cloth, Alcantara and orange stitch, doorcards, kneepads and air build trimmed to match, side-mounts finished in crackle black, TRS 4-point harnesses, custom Quattro Sport-style seat delete - trimmed in headlining fabric, Safety Devices 4-point rollcage - finished in crackle black THANKS TO: “Thanks to Faz and the rest…

Pretty sweet summer we’re having this year, right? I mean, apart from all the horrible shit that’s going on in the world, the weather’s been alright hasn’t it? And now that we’re allowed to leave the house now and then for recreational purposes, we can dust the cobwebs off our motors and have a bit of fun. (Although apparently dogging’s still off the agenda for some reason. Don’t ask me. I reckon it sounds pretty safe to be getting up to that business with the windows up – you can’t catch a virus through glass, can you? But every time I tell the council this, they ask me to please stop calling.) You know what’s really pissing me off though? All the people driving around in their convertibles with the…

STYLING: Custom Paints Candy Raspberry paint, CMST carbon fibre front bumper, CMST front wide arches, Varis rear bumper, Rocket Bunny rear wide arches, carbon sideskirts, Liberty Walk carbon diffuser, CMST carbon splitter, Knight Racer carbon bonnet, carbon bootlid with ducktail, Depo Lightning Bolt LED headlights TUNING: VR38DETT 3.8-litre twin-turbo V6, Knight Racer Stage 4.25 setup inc. Big Power intake, ASNU 1,050cc injectors, 90mm stainless Y-pipe, 3-inch high-flow cast downpipes, full 4-inch decat exhaust system with titanium tips, Ecutek RaceROM custom tune on engine and transmission, 660bhp CHASSIS: 10x20-inch ET-18 (front) and 12x20-inch ET-60 (rear) CMST forged 2-piece wheels, 265/35 (f) and 305/30 (r) Nankang NS-2R tyres, Air Lift Performance struts with 3P management, Brembo calipers, Alcon discs, Ferodo DS2500 pads INTERIOR: Recaro seats retrimmed in Alcantara Seatskinz with purple stitching,…

STYLING: Full respray in OEM R32 Deep Blue Pearl, ceramic-coated, SRS-TEC wide front wings, front plate removed and bumper smoothed, TRC front and rear splitters, tailgate de-locked, smoothed and de-badged, carbon-dipped mirror bases TUNING: 3.2-litre VR6, RUF Stage 3 supercharger (Carlicious Parts kit), charge-cooler, DW65V high-flow fuel pump, 630cc Bosch injectors, RS4 MAF, Milltek manifold, decat and cat-back exhaust system, Vibra-Technics engine mounts, EVAP delete, small header tank, small PAS tank, colour-coded plastics, bay smoothed and painted Frozen White, relocated battery, ABS, washer bottle, fuse and relay box, brake and clutch lines hidden, engine bay wiring hidden 406bhp, 354lb.ft – tuned by Stealth Racing UK CHASSIS: 8.5x19-inch Rohana RC10 wheels (US import), 35mm rear hub adaptors; 25mm front, 215/35 tyres, Air Lift Slam Series V2 air-ride, adjustable rear upper and…

Alco Sense Elite 3, £70 Yup, we’re straight outta lockdown… and presumably straight into the pub, so it’s important to remember to stay on the right side of the law for the morning after. Alcosense have been around for a while now, and what they do is lead the way in scaling down the same semiconductor technology used by the police, and putting it into their multi-award-winning personal breathalysers. This mighty impressive Elite 3 job is their new flagship model, and for the money, it’s actually the most accurate bit of kit in the world. Now, we’re not suggesting that any true car fan would drink and drive of course, what we’re saying is that this lightweight, pocket sized system will give you the tools to check just how long…

Name: Tom Clarke Job Role: Senior Marketer, Meguiar’s UK As things go, the last four weeks have been some of the busiest on the build so far. Suspension-wise, the final components have now been laser cut and offered up to the car, and Bilstein have finished the dampers and will be shipping them to Phil at the Install Company in the coming days, so that he can get them mated-up to the air bags and installed. While all of that has been happening, a good friend of mine, Bobby, has been working wonders on the wiring side of things. Instead of trying to adapt the original wiring, it’s a lot more efficient just to pull out the old and then start afresh. With that in mind, the dash and rear…

Well, the good news is that I’ve just unpuckered my backside just enough to tell you that I’ve finally got my winter wheels on the TT. Admittedly I didn’t have a lot of choice, after having a rear blowout and a rather scary sideways moment crossing 3-lanes of the M25. I’d love to tell you that my superior piloting skills saw me safely to the hard shoulder, too. But scientifically speaking that would be utter pish. The truth is that I was simply lucky that there was no one remotely close to me when the tyre pulled itself apart. Shit, I might have even closed my eyes at one point. But thankfully, I’m still kicking, the TT is in one piece and it’s a harsh lesson learned. Let’s just say…

Midge: “Look at that Big Mac bonus, that’s like winning the lottery that is.” Jules: “I just knew you’d be straight to the nearest McDonald’s!” Midge: “I can’t wear this mask in the bank, the security guard will kick the shit out of me.” Midge: “Check out my 8-inch King Dick!” Initial G: “You’ve got issues, you know that, right?” Jules: “Right that’s it, lock-down is over, get to work your bastids.” Midge: “I think I’ll work from home today.” Jules: “Dick.” Midge: “Is that my birthday present? Jules you’re too kind.”…