I bought it 3 years ago as a standard 100e off an old boy in Taunton. It had been in his garage for 12 years. I put a battery on it and drove it home - the only problems were the exhaust that had rusted away and the brakes were a bit poor (OK they didn't work - but that's not what I told the wife). I got it MOT'd to transfer to reg no. to another car - then Swansea gave me another date less reg no. I used the 100e to take my two dogs to the park. One day I thought I'd like it to go a bit faster - that's when it all started....

It's a long story, with all the usual times of doubt and frustration. I did all the work in my garage at home, it's a standard size garage so at times it was difficult. All the spraying was done by me (exterior done in my pals body shop but by me), I never sprayed before and practiced on the underside. Every part of the car is pink metallic (I used to get pissed at the local and dream about a car the same colour as the KP Cashew Nut wrapper - sad or what!), stainless steel or rubber, with only a few exceptions.

It now runs with the following modifications. Doors, bonnet, wings and front panel in fibreglass 1.5mm thick aluminium panelling to interior and bulkhead. One seat - no one I know wants a ride in it anyway. Big roll cage Narrowed Volvo axle 8 x 15 supalites on rear with 295/60/15 Hoosier QT's 13" minalites on front with P6000 rubber Fours bar with modified jag coil overs on rear Front suspension is modified Sierra struts, Sierra TCA and home made 1 1/4" stainless steel anti roll bar. Steering is modified Fiesta rack.

The engine was a SDI lump, It has been completely re-built and balanced with the low comp pistons. The cam and followers are Crane. The push rods are adjustable to set lifter preload. Valve springs uprated. I spent a lot of money on the engine, around £2,000 on the block and heads all up. The blower was advertised early last year in a mag, I drove to Southampton and bought it straight away - it turns out it had been over hauled 10years before, but never used. I paid £800 for the blower, manifold, pulleys, bearings and belt. The carb is a new 465 cfm. I had a lot of problems getting it right - this is why I did n't drive it to W n W II last year.

Radiator is a special made from ally 5 speed SDI box, but could really do with a T5 from a cossie. Gives good performance, 0 to 60 is between 4 to 5 secs. Top speed is a bit of an unknown, but it does 30mph at 1000rpm in 5th gear. I have had this thing upto 5,000rpm in 5th on the motorway - it gets pretty scary and all the other traffic gets out off the way. The best stretches are on the M5 between Bristol and Evsham, some good straight and level bits of road.