People often wonder what lasting effects the internet will have on the world. Well, here’s a car and a story that would never have happened without Google. Not so long ago, Stanislav Chavik was an anonymous welder and panel beater, spending long days in a little shop in the eastern Czech Republic customising motorcycles and hammering out Wartburg fenders and dreaming of life in the California sun. Today, Chavik wakes up every morning in the actual sunshine of Southern California and spends all day building exquisite hot rods for a line of cashed-up clientele who aren’t afraid of dropping a couple of hundred grand on a Hot-Rod Chavik USA custom build. ‘It is like God opened a gate,’ says Stanislav, who now calls himself Stanley. And it all started with a dilapidated 1939 Buick and an internet connection.
Well if you do, Clive Sutton has just the thing. This fantastic re-creation of the 1968 Bullitt Mustang is believed to be the first of its kind in the UK. Utilising a Ford-licensed all-steel 1968 body, the chassis has been transformed to include the fundamental infrastructure behind the brand-new model Mustangs. This includes the brand-new 460bhp 5.0-litre Coyote engine, the Ford 6R90 six-speed automatic transmission, hydraulic-assisted rack and pinion power steering and adjustable coilover suspension system.
There are countless personal reasons why it can happen, but some cars just get under your skin, and parting company can leave a void that ultimately only one machine can fill. Re-capturing that feeling years later is never easy, held up by a dwindling stock of once readily available base cars and finding the right parts. As if that’s not hard enough, Leigh Parker had the added challenge of managing the long-planned resto-mod from the other side of the world.
This 1974 BMW 2002 E10 is US model “tii” that is fitted with factory air-conditioning. It was purchased by the former owner in Texas in 2008 while still in its original shade of Fjord Blue but was later changed to Malaga after it was relocated to California. While in California, it was looked after by the specialists at Coupe King. In addition to regular maintenance, they completely upgraded the suspension with performance springs, Bilstein shocks, upgraded bushings and a heavy-duty rear sway bar. The ride isn't overly firm, and the handling is a huge improvement from stock. The cosmetics are very presentable with minimal flaws and the Malaga paintwork was applied to a higher standard than is usually found on cars in this price bracket. The car sits just right on 13” steel wheels and slightly larger 185/70 tires. The interior includes sport seats up front, recently redone carpets against very good door panels and headliner. The dash is excellent, but the steering column has a hairline crack in the plastic shroud. The leather wrapped steering wheel has some sun damage but feels great in your hands. On the road, this tii feels very tight, handles extremely well and the engine makes good power. The gearbox is straightforward, and functions as intended making for a very lively and fun to drive car. A major service was performed on August 26, 2020 that included an inspection of all mechanical and cosmetic components, oil service, brake fluid service and rear differential fluid change. In addition to the mechanical work, the AC system was just completely rebuilt and is blowing ice cold.
