#speedwells 5/12

BMW Z4 (E89) GT3 V8 road car

VAD Admin
Jul 18, 2019
2 min read

Updated: Sep 25, 2019

Our BMW Z4 GT3 V8 took another step towards completion with the guys over at Next Level Automotive laying down the paint this last weekend, they were extremely secretive and then decided to video call us for our reaction of the freshly painted car, and we can honest say it’s turned out better than we had ever anticipated, it really blew us away. Only last week we were discussing the fact the car was about to go to the next stage and how we had turned the corner after deciding to work with our European Partners Next Level as when we were building in the UK it just stagnated, a none starter for one reason or another, we have our theory and reasons why the build didn’t get started and the company in question have theirs, unfortunately we will never agree with what we were told, we have decided not to give the subject any further airtime, as it’s just not worth the effort, we were warned well before we decided to take the Z4 there by various people, but we decided to ignore, so we only have ourselves to blame, so we move on and it’s another lesson learned, the good thing is we don’t have to work with them again now or in the foreseeable future, so that’s a blessing.

So back to our Z4 GT3 V8 build and the fact we are not too far away from actually driving this beauty on the open UK roads, it’s been a lot longer than anticipated but looking at the build and where it is, the wait has been worth it.

We still have lots to do, like set up the bespoke coilover conversion that Bilstein supplied us, and set the ride height, as well as fit the huge rear diffuser and front and rear bumper mesh, which will finish off and tidy up the bumper openings. We also have to fit our authentic Z4 GT3 double blade rear wing assembly which we are really looking forward to as that really does complete the overall look of the car, and its well needed, and then its back to our good friends Dynotorque, our engine installers.

The last upgrade will be the wheels, the design we have chosen will be the RS5 from our wheel partner Litespeed racing, with a couple of decisions still need to be made, one being forged magnesium of forged aluminium and also the colour. We had chosen the matte and gloss black, but so many of you requesting we fit the bronze wheel set up on our white beauty, we are a little bit torn, do we play safe with black or go all out and go with the bronze.

We couldn’t have achieved this dream without a few people and at the end of the build they will all be thanked personally to include a decal on the cars launch, its not too much longer before our first of its kind hits the street.

GT3RR BMW Z4 GT3 V8

#BMWZ4 #BMWV8 #BMWWideBody #BMWe89V8conversion #e89BMWGT3Z4 #GT3Z4 #GT3RRAero #GT3RR #NextLevelAutomotive #NextLevel #Speedwells #bmwz4gt3 #bmwz4 #RobertŠenkýřBMWZ4GT3 #BMWZ4GT3 #CarbonWideBodyZ4 #BMWZ4GT3rearwing #VADBMWZ4GT3 #BMWZ4GT3RoadCar #GT3Z4

2019 Players Classic show, at the Goodwood Motor Circuit.

VAD Admin
Jun 26, 2019
2 min read

Updated: Sep 25, 2019

Another year another Players classic show at the beautiful Goodwood Motor Circuit down in Chichester and we have to say they never fail to impress with the wonderful selection of cars they have on display, which is organise year in year out and this year was no different.

A Shell V-power drink for the 700hp Speedwells Porsche 997 Turbo-R

As we did last year we headed down to the show with our brother from another mother Iby in the blindingly fast Speedwells 997 Turbo-R only this time with its new look and with some serious power upgrades, 700 + BHP to be more precise, it’s absolutely immense, we got there a little late with the show in full flow but with the prime spot on the Bilstein stand just waiting for the Turbo-R to arrive.

Speedwells Porsche 997 GT3R Turbo, on the Bilstein UK stand

If you haven’t been to the show we can strongly suggest you do, as you have every car you can think of on display, full range of Fords, VW, Japanese sports cars, old classics, hot rods, you name it, its on display, split over various fields, pits lanes and enclosures, it really is a great place for a car show, people seem to come from all over Europe to have their vehicle on show at one of the best modified car gatherings in the UK.

On the Saturday the track is open with a full range of various marquees hitting the tarmac from super quick old classic Cosworth tuned RS Escort’s, to a range of super modern sports cars like the McLaren 570, BMW M3 and Mercedes AMG all in full song, it’s a sight to behold, especially when you see the Escorts RS brigade seem to be a lot quicker than most, the noise is intoxicating.

We had a couple of personal favourites on display this year with the McLaren MP4-12C displayed on the Auto Finesse stand that was tastefully modified, lowered onto a set of BBS LM’S and the MMR full race BMW Z4 GT3 which was pretty spectaular, sat a little high for our liking, but what an absolute beast of a car, makes us really excited as our own Z4 GT3 V8 project is almost ready to hit the streets, it was great to get up close and personal which such an epic car.

Its great to see so many hight quality japanese cars also in attendance, Supras, RX7, Nissan GTR's, with the R32 and R33 our personal favourites, but the one that had us hooked was the Datsun 260Z with the fat flares, dished steels and rat look body, this is the one we wanted to take home.

Huge selection of modified cars on display, here are just a few pictures of the hundreds we took over the two days.

Each year this show seems to get better and better, roll on 2020, as we will have not one but two amazing cars on display.

#GoodwoodMotorCircuit #Goodwood #PlayersClassicShow2018 #PlayersShows #PlayersClassic2019 #Players #Speedwells #GoodwoodFestivalOfSpeed #GoodwoodCircuit

Porsche 997 GT3R Bi Turbo

VAD Admin
May 16, 2019
3 min read

Updated: Sep 25, 2019

It's always good to have a home grown build especially when it's one that wears an aero kit of your own, to actively promote and have around you at your disposal Is so good to have, especially when the build in question is owned by one of your close friends Iby the owner of Speedwell Wheel Refinishers, personally I'm extremely pleased he took the bull by the horns and took on this epic build, as I know how anal he is when it comes to perfection and that's exactly what this 997 Turbo is... utter perfection.

As most of you know that follow the blog or our social media news, this 997 Turbo started life as the Dragon performance demo car, you can read all about that in an older blog as the car has come an awful long way since that stage in its life, the less said about that look the better, and the first 12 months of its life with Iby the 997 remained in its basalt black colour-way but I always knew it wouldn't stay that colour as a black 997 was never really on the shopping list to start with, but right car, right place and above all the right money the deal as we know was done, with a colour change at some point in the near future.

Now we loved the car in its black form, but it did hide a lot of the beautiful touches the R aero kit has and with the new colour you get to see those touches in all their stunning glory, as they just stand out, like the front fender vents, the rear bumper vents, and just how wide the car really is, it’s so wide, at roughly 7 feet and it just oozes road presence, I personally was pretty sceptical when Red was discussed with regards the potential colour change and I have to say he nailed it, because it really is stunning.

As with any build you get to collaborate and get involved with various companies, and although Iby did most of the work himself there are a few companies that need a mention with regards the input and help that has been fantastic, especially Taj and Perfection Midlands Limited who just so happens to reside next door to the Speedwells empire, he applied the first round of paint, giving the build its first lease of life

Shoot location, the custard factory Digbeth Birmingham

The boys at MSL Customs who have totally transformed the look of this R conversion, I must say the wrap is the best we have seen to date and I have personally been around a lot of wrapped cars, this one they smashed it out the parts as this is not an easy one to pull off, the beauty of this is it looks like paint, the finish is that good.

We would also like to thank Bilstein uk for not only supplying a first class set up for this Turbo, but also for the bespoke specification we so desperately needed for this conversion, which we now offer exclusively for the 997R conversion, along with the up and coming 991R.

Markski Tuning has also been an absolute legend with the tuning side on this Turbo, with his Intercoolers sitting either side of the R bumper and his ECU mapping skills makes for one seriously fast road car, with the best part of 700 HP now on tap, it certainly has the go to match all that show.

With the Build now complete and Iby content for the foreseeable it was time to take the car out for a little shoot, so we paid our friendly neighbourhood Spiderman a visit down in Digbeth Birmingham which is a great location for such an epic car.

It’s now time to enjoy the build and get to as many shows as we can this year and it will soon be joined by another GT3 road car with our very own BMW Z4 V8 coming to the end of its build and if you fancy building your very own 997R then get in touch with us, we will be more than happy to discuss your individual requirements.