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Mar 4, 2019
2 min read

We have been looking for a local European based custom brand of forged wheels for a while now as most of our wheels come from importing from either the USA or Japan, so as well as the time scale we have to air freight in every set, which all adds to the cost of the product.

European manufacturing isn't the powerhouse that it used to be thanks to the Chinese wheel foundries putting a lot of the European brands out of business, but we are happy to report that Europe has fought back and once again are a force in the market, all helped by the fact that most end users finally realising that most of the Chinese wheel foundries make a pretty bad product, Europe is on the up with regards wheel manufacturing, with some companies branching out into the world of custom forged wheel machining, FOM Performance, OZ Racing, MB Design, Schmidt Wheels, R3 Wheels, ATS Wheels to name just a few brands that are making some serious waves across the global scene and its great to see these brands so strong in the market.

One company we have been following the progress of for a while is NTM wheels, based in Zero Branco (Treviso) Italy they have been quietly building some pretty impressive wheels, to the point that we got in touch with regards representing the brand, which can be viewed and ordered on our website.

NTM DTM 14x18 Forged 3 Piece Wheel

We are excited by the future prospects of working alongside NTM as they seem to dot all the “I’s” and cross all the “T’s” as they offer a broad range of styles to suit all vehicles and builds.

The have a super modern range with a design that would suit all of the modern day machinery from sports saloons, luxury sedans right up to the exotic super sports cars, within their premium line up.

  • NTM Forged FM
  • NTM Forged LD

They also cater for the older vehicles with a vintage range of custom forged wheel designs, so if you own an old GT40 or a Lancia Delta Integrale, or an old Ferrari 308 GTB or Lamborghini Countach they can re-create the old wheel designs with new forging technology, they can cater for all applications, with most sizes and applications available on request with the usual finishes available on request.

Another option they have available, which they are actively involved in is completion wheels, from rally to race with a selection of designs, sizes and widths available for all race or rally applications.

For further information or any details required on the NTM forged wheel range get in touch with us to discuss your requirements, we will be more than happy to help you with your NTM custom wheels build.

NTM Racing Pista 3 forged race wheel

 

The Porsche 996 seems to be the most disliked Porsche build alongside the 955 Cayenne, personally we love the look but we do understand why people dislike the look, you only have to look at the older generations of the 930, 964, 993 chassis to see there was a huge jump in styling to the 996 chassis, with the front end being the most discussed topic on this model and something Porsche themselves must of taken on-board too, as when they launched the 997 model it looked more like the older 911, 964, 993 models rather than an evolution of the 996 as we would of expected.

  • Porsche 996
  • Porsche 997 GT3 R Bi-Turbo Sleepers Spee

Full aero conversion available to convert the Porsche 996 to the 997 GT3R 2013 Chassis

There seems to be many offering upgrades for the 996, the most popular at first was the 996 to 997 face lift, with the 991 look now and option for the 996, but we don’t personally like either. The best one to hit the market so far is our Japanese partners Old & New with their amazing slant nose, that really does transform the look of the 996 model, its extreme but we have to admit we love the slant nose on any Porsche chassis, we are looking at building our very own Kremer 997 K3R this year all being well, and that is the ultimate original slant nose, it’s the king of kings.

With not a lot of love be shown for the 996 we too have set out to look into transforming the look and we feel we have the ultimate 996 make over with the 997 2013 R upgrade now available as an upgrade option this year and will be added to our website.

From the Porsche 996 to 997 chassis there isn't a huge difference, but there is enough to keep a good body work specialist / mechanical expert busy for a while, but we take the pain out of the conversion by offering all the conversion parts to make the job so much easier.

Parts for the conversion consist of the full R13 exterior wide body work, we supply in GRP cloth or carbon fibre, as well as the rear 996 to 997 conversion parts, you will also need the front bonnet and you can then add as many optional extras as you require from light weight carbon cup doors, carbon fibre roof, full flat under floor, kevlar arch liners, we also offer a multitude of rear engine covers from the RSR, GT3R ducktail with various wing assembly, we also have a 993 GT2 Evolution style with the air intakes that sit either side of the main wing which looks well on any Porsche chassis.

  • xo.ashleynicole-1
  • Porsche GT3R Rear View
  • Porsche GT3R side
  • Porsche GT3R Rear Low
  • Porsche GT3R Top Shot
  • Porsche GT3R Rear

996 to 997 GT3 Conversion & aero parts

We can also supply bespoke built coilover suspension set up for this conversion from our partners Bilstein or JRZ, built to our own specification, as well as 18” or 19” 3 piece forged wheels in either magnesium or aluminium, or our hybrid carbon fibre barrels with magnesium centres.

For any further details on this aero upgrade for your 996 chassis then get in touch with us to discuss further, we are happy to build or we can supply the parts only with shipping all over the world.

So if your 996 is looking tiered, or you just fancy a road going R13 conversion, then feel free to get in touch and start planing the overhaul of your Porsche 996

 

At the turn of every year we have the ultimate dilemma, do we attend the Performance car show at the NEC Birmingham or head to Japan for the Tokyo Auto Salon, this year Birmingham won.

We headed down on Thursday which is the first day with our good friend Iby from Speedwells, its the first of the press days which is not so busy, so you get to do and see a lot more, which is a bonus if like us you want some good pictures and you want to document the day.

SPEEDWELLS PORSCHE 997 TURBO-700R

As per the usual, you have the show split over various halls if you include the live arena you have 5 and the one we always like to head to first is the parts hall, which then leads on to the modified vehicle hall.

The modified hall had some fantastic vehicles on display, with our good friends from Kream Developments who had an array of cars all built in house, from their modified wide body GTR, to Kash's very own very unique Bentley GT, we particularly liked the rose gold wrap that caresses the Bentley panels, its impeccably finished and quite possibly the best wrap we have seen to date, as with most wrapped cars any close up inspection reveals the odd imperfection here and there, but not on this GT, it really is that good.

Kream Developments Hexis Wrapped Bentley GT Supersport

  • Kream Developments
  • Kream Developments
  • Kream Developments
  • Kream Developments

Kream Developments conversions on display at Performance Car Show 2019

Our personal paint favourite was the matte Purple wide body GTR, the paintwork is second to none with a beautiful contrast of gloss and matt purple with exposed tinted purple carbon, we can only imagine the time and the patience the guys have taken over this particular build, the man hours must be in the hundreds, kudos to the Kash, Shabs and their team as they have worked hard to get where they are. Liberty Walk, Yannimize, Urban Automotive, Nero Design, and Cannon Ball Run all had great stands with some amazing machines, some with various wheel displays from the usual brands cut and past brands.

  • Cannon Run
  • Liberty Walk M4
  • Lumma Design
  • Urban Automotive G wagon
  • Lumma Design
  • Liberty Walk Aventador

Cannon Run Mercedes G Wagon

  • Plush Automotive
  • Plush Automotive

Plush Automotive Audi RS6 Full Carbon Fibre

It was good to finally catch up with our friends build Plush Automotive and his amazing carbon clad RS6, Luke has a habit of building some absolute stunners inside and out and this really was something rather special, although this particular Plush mobile has been sold for a while now, incredible work.

Porsche had us in a frenzy as it was the first time we have got up close and personal with both the all-new 935 and the amazing 991.2 2018 RSR, with the RSR being our personal favourite, what a machine, Porsche really do know how to design and build a beautiful put together race car, the RSR is just perfect from every viewing point.

  • Porsche 2019 935

Porsche 2019 935

  • Porsche RSR 2019
  • Porsche RSR 2019
  • Porsche RSR 2019
  • Porsche RSR 2019

Porsche 2019 RSR

Porsche RSR 2019

Another stand that had us reminiscing was the ford stand, the Mk1 Escort and the Zakspeed Capri had us drooling, both old School works of art that we would have in a heartbeat, just both really cool builds, with some very special Mk2 Mexico, RS1800 and some traditional RS Sierra Cosworth's on display, ford were out in serious modified numbers and there wasn't one we wouldn't want to own.

  • Mk1 Escort RS Mexico

A stunning collection of old school Fords on display

Another car that caught the eye was the i-pace from Jaguar, beautiful to look at especially with the all new fender flares and pumped up more aggressive styling race package, it really was a looker and one we cannot wait to see hitting the track, the wider track, larger wheels, livery and colour made it look very special, especially over the road going version.

  • Jaguar iPace Race Car
  • Jaguar iPace Race Car
  • Jaguar iPace Race Car

A huge selection of current and old race cars were also on display with the full exposed carbon fibre BMW Z4 GT3 in all its glory which for us stole the show for obvious reasons

BMW Z4 GT3 EXPOSED CARBON

  • IMG_20190112_100549
  • IMG_20190112_100509
  • IMG_20190110_110721
  • IMG_20190110_110700

Aston martin Vantage GTE, Nismo GTR GT1

We really enjoyed the show this year, with a huge range of various cars on display from old school race or rally cars to full modern custom builds, new and old super cars, with Shmee 150 bringing his epic McLaren Senna along for the live show, until next year.

 
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GT3RR-BMW-Z4-GT3_edited.png
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OFFICE
Unit C20
Rose Hill Industrial Estate
Rose Hill Road 
Market Drayton 
Shropshire 
TF9 2JU


WORKSHOP 

Unit C21
Rose Hill Industrial Estate
Rose Hill Road 
Market Drayton
 
Shropshire
TF9 2JU


Strictly by Appointment  
​Art...Some people collect it, We like to build it
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