Indice dei contenuti per October 2021 in Fast Car

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 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…

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…

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…

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…

ROAD ANGEL PURE SPEED CAMERA ALERT SYSTEM Whilst we would never advocate using your vehicle in a manner than contravened the UK’s robust road traffic laws, or that involved breaching the road’s sign-posted speed limits, (obviously!) there’s always those moments of over-exuberance that could see you sneak into lawbreaking territory, especially if you happen to be behind the wheel of a fire-breathing turbocharged monster! So, to ensure you don’t fall foul to an ill-positioned Truvelo or roadside camera van, why not invest in a speed camera alert system such as the Pure from Road Angel. This latest GPS-based device features a host of new features including a new super bright, sunlight readable LCD screen and access to seamless updates at the touch of a button from your phone with built…

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,…

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…

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 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…

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…

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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…

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…

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…

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… 1 Nankang ……… Name of tyre manufacturer 2 AR-1 …………… Tyre product name 3 225 …………….. Width (in mm) of tyre 4 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…

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…

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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. 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,…

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While not a truly essential piece of 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…

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…

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!…

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 Cars 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…

“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…

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…

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…

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

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…

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 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…

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…

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…

“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…

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…

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…