This is the stunning ‘supercar’ created by a talented cabinet maker from an old Jaguar sports motor – using expanding foam, fibreglass and a lot of elbow grease.
Graham Slater, 43, has completely changed the shape of the 2003 Jaguar XKR which he bought for £7,000 in a retro-style heard-turner.
The custom show-stopping vehicle is capable of speeds up to 165mph and has been valued by experts at £120,000.
The striking pearl blood-red car has been extensively re-modelled by Graham who spent 36 weeks working on it over three-years.
Retaining elements of the original Jaguar design it also combines aspects of a Lincoln Zephyr and a Porsche.
The car – which retains its original Jaguar V8, 4.2-litre engine – was shaped to resemble the boat-tailed classic Bugattis of the 1930s.
Graham, a cabinet maker who builds church organs, and close pal Steve Cook measured the car’s shape using string lines – creating a cardboard template.
They then shaped its remarkable lines using 54 cans of expanding foam before bolting six layers of fiberglass paneling to the car’s steel shell.
For the bonnet, Graham imported a brass swallow ornament from the USA in homage to Jaguar’s origins as Swallow Motor Body Company.
It’s interior is in cream leather with a new central console and body-coloured instruments.
The car has been sprayed a Red Pearl Paint courtesy of a friend at nearby Colourcube Automotive in nearby Huddersfield.
Graham said: “Every time I see the car I can’t believe it – it feels like such an achievement.
“It’s a lovely feeling when people react to it the way they do.
“Individuality is something money cannot buy.”
Graham started building the car after seeing a video of Australian manufacturer Holden’s celebrated 2005 concept car – the Efijy.
It took him and work pal Steve 36 weeks to finish the marvelous motor – which cost more than £50,000 to build.
However, the proud father-of-three, of Wakefield, West York., insists his home-built supercar is only ever driven at speeds which allow people to admire it.
He added: “Because it attracts so much attention you don’t want to go too fast.
“it’s like that Will Smith song where he says ‘two miles an hour so everybody sees you’.
“It really does put a smile on your face – people are just blown away by it.
“I exhibited it at a car show recently and there must have been 30 people looking at it at all times minimum.
“I must have told at least 500 people the story of how I created it.”
Ingenious car crafter Graham has been modifying cars since the age of 16 when he started with a Morris Minor.
He estimates to have altered more than 15 cars during his life.
However, his two daughters Emmie, 12, Charlotte, ten, and son Cody, three, have mixed feelings.
He said: “Emmie’s getting to be a teenager now so she’s a bit like “whatever dad”.
“But Charlotte’s into princessy things and when we were at a car show with it recently she was like ‘dad I feel like a celebrity’.
“My youngest child Cody was born with Downs Syndrome and I don’t want him to struggle in life.
“When he came along I decided I had to make this as good as it could be.
“I thought if I can create something which has that ‘wow’ factor someone may take an interest and that could help Cody financially in the future.
“I’m not thinking about selling it at the moment but if someone wanted to make an offer they would have to be generous.”
