A brief rundown of the e87?

Where to start….brief background. My first car was a 2006 120i - hand me down from mum. Funnily enough it still lives with us and is daily driven. I then wanted something more reliable but upgraded to the 130i as I wanted to see the build through and bring my ideas to life. In terms of parts and how it sits at the moment:

• Full OEM BMW 1M body conversion

• Custom E92 M3 metal bonnet

• Repainted to Hockenheim Silver

• Front and rear badge delete

• Extended rear aero spoiler

• Flow Design Side Skirts

• 1M carbon front lip

• Airlift Air Suspension

• Accuair Elevel Management

• Big Brake Upgrade

• M3 control arms

• Recaro Sportster Seats (Heated)

• Custom forged carbon w/Alcantara Steering wheel

• Custom Alcantara trim

• Rear seat delete

• AGI Half Cage (colour matched)

• Customer floorboard boot setup with 5Gal polished Tank

• Wheels: depends on the day.

Which car means the most to you and why?

Without a doubt, the Jaguar means the most. The story behind it, the memories and what it means not only to me, but my parents, their friends and family is just irreplaceable and something that will forever be held onto through the car.
That being said each car means something different to me and all hit a different spot.

My father's first car in Australia, was a Series 3 1985 Jaguar XJ6. He was the second owner buying it in 1986 and never had any intention of selling it. Unfortunately in 2010, he was involved in an accident causing the car to be written off.

His daily driver for 24 years gone in an instance. The car not only left a big void in our family, but it held so many memories for all of his closest friends and family.

Fast forward to 2021, I decided I had to buy another one for him as I knew he wouldn't do it and what better way to present it to him as a surprise for his 65th birthday. May 2021, this beautiful fully restored Series 3 1979 Jaguar XJ6 came up for sale and I just had to jump on it. Then one of the hardest things I had ever had to do was hide this from my family for the next 8 months.

But come January 2022, with all of dads closest friends and family, those who he has shared so many memories with with his old Jag, was able to present him with this very special gift. This is where the passion for old cars started for me and where dads passion for cars also started. By far the best decision I have made ever and can't wait to share more memories with the old man moving forward.

You’ve been included in a couple of shows, what’s the preparation for them like & have you taken anything away from being in a show before?

Preparation varies. I tend to use the shoes as a way to push my self to make a change the car and do something new. That maybe as simple as a new wheel setup or as complicated as the widebody conversion or chassis mount wing with Johnnie Walker livery I ran at WTAC 2018.

Because of this for me it’s always chaotic - especially when there’s more than one car involved. Two weeks leading up to event will consist of full nights after work followed by a couple of overnight stints leading up-to the event day. It’s amazing what you can accomplish last minute to meet deadlines

As someone who definitely appreciates older cars, how do you feel about where the automotive industry is heading at the moment?

As cars become more modern I feel as if though we are starting to lose the true meaning of what it means to “drive a car”. Even when you compare the 240z to the 130i there’s certain driving elements the 130i will never achieve with the tech it posses. With the way the industry is progressing, moving away from manual gearboxes, more EVs, more driving assists I think the feel and connection you gain from driving say an old car in comparison will be lost. I know that even with my daily, I find it quite boring and will tend to not drive it outside of work commitments.