0-60? 1 second. Street legal,
Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2011 11:41 pm
Many young drivers dream of renovating their tired old cars into a sleek, impressive model.
But one 50-year-old has turned that dream into reality by turning his £60 red Vauxhall Victor into the world's fastest street-legal car - complete with a MOT.
Andy Frost's monstrous motor, which he bought in 1980, can clock a whopping 250mph and will rocket the driver from 0-60 in under one second.
And for the creator, from Wolverhampton, the 29-year project which has cost him an estimated £100,000, it has all been worth it.
Andy, from Wolverhampton, said: 'It has been an on going 29-year project, but it is never going to be complete - I'm always trying to improve it.
'I've spent almost £4,000 a year on this car since I bought it second hand. I have slowly improved it bit by bit in my spare time.
'It is a bit like Trigger's broom in Only Fools and Horses - I've changed so many parts that it has evolved into a super car from just a bog standard Vauxhall with nothing done to it.
'It is hardly recognisable from the the car I first bought.
'I have sacrificed having a holiday each year to spend the money on the car instead.
'I don't ever go to the pub or spend money on other trivial things like that - I just plough it all back into improving the car.
'It has been a life-long dream to be able to say I own the world's fastest street legal car. It makes all the hard work worthwhile, but I won't stop tinkering with it even now.'
The car fanatic, who runs Penn Autos in Wolverhampton, has devoted over 1,600 hours to painstakingly crafting the sports car in his garage.SPECIFICATIONS: WORLD'S FASTEST STREET-LEGAL CAR
Cost: £100,000
Top speed: 250mph
Weight: 1,200kg
Body: Vauxhall Victor
Brakes: A parachute
Engine: V8 engine
Acceleration: 0-220mph in 6.5 seconds
Interior: leather seats and electric windows
It weighs a hefty 1,200kg due to the modifications - and is estimated to have cost Andy over £100,000 in total.
When on the drag strip it can zoom from 0-220mph in 6.5 seconds - and comes complete with a parachute to help slow it down.
And for those who like to cruise at break neck speeds in style, Andy has added luxuries including leather seats and electric windows to the interior.
Under the bonnet a powerful V8 engine combined with two turbos lifted from a large digger give it enough boost to reach its top speed in a matter of seconds.
And the suped up Vauxhall Victor can just as easily poodle down to the supermarket - but don't expect a lot of room in the boot to put the bags.
He added: 'It is just like a normal car when you drive it on the roads - it handles easily around the corners and isn't tricky to drive like many people think.
'But on the track it goes like a rocket.
'I used to take my three lads to school in it. They loved it obviously as they were the envy of all their friends. Everyone would stop and stare as we roared up in it.
'I've had the car so long that it has been a part of my life since before my children were born, so it is as much a part of the family as they are.
'My wife Deb is used to it all as the car has been a part of my life ever since I met her so she didn't get much choice.
'But she is a part of my Red Victor racing team so loves the car as much as I do.'
The build has even attracted the attention of Andy's local council and Vauxhall who both sponsored him to help him bring the car to its current condition.
Andy said: 'I was given some sponsorship by Vauxhall and Wolverhampton Council.
'They thought I was helping promote Wolverhampton and Vauxhall so I got a cheque from them towards the project.
'At first I thought it was a hoax, but once the cheque came in I was delighted.'
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