top of page

Since our trip to Japan in January for the Tokyo Auto Salon, we have been updating the website with some new aero and wheel brands, as we decided in 2016 to go back to our original routes and get some high quality Japanese brands on board, since the closure of the Riverside factory some 6 years ago, we have drifted away from the Japanese scene, but for 2017 and the foreseeable future that’s all about to change.

Over the last few weeks we have added some real high quality Japanese products, old&new for aero and TWS and Enkei wheels brands, I don’t think any of them need introductions, they all have a global presence, and most within the scene will know all of these brands.

One last brand that we are happy to get hold of is the AME brand (Auto Motive Engineering) this brand that has been around for over 30 years, part of the Kyoho company brand that has been around for over 50 years, still producing great designs, and high quality, the latest from the Shallen L.O.D forged line up is breath taking, 3 designs that have gone through various stages and changes in design over the years, and get better and better, from conventional 3 piece wheels, to the ultramodern deep concave 3 piece with the extended legs, to the Dual block 2 piece, with the deeper concave profile, 3 designs that really have stood the test of time.

AME SHALLEN L.O.D FX, MX, WX

AME ‘s timeless designs, and diversity helps them develop in various markets, from the luxury SUV and VIP scene to the German tuning of the BMW, Mercedes saloon series, with the odd exotic and with the latest old school OSS series of the Shallen Mesh and star 2 design, targeted at the euro hot hatch and Japanese sport car scene, they really do touch every market with their extraordinary range of wheel designs, all come with the sought after JWL, JAL, VIA global test approval.

AME Shallen OSS Mesh & Star

One wheels that has caught our attention is the all new TM02, manufactured by their wheel partners Enkei, it’s a super lightweight wheel aimed purely at the track, fast road user, and what a stunner, you can tell the Enkei input just looking at the 6 spoke split spoke design… its very Enkei style, which isnt a bad thing. The manufacturing process also caught our attention, the all new MAT technology, which is basically a process to increase the inner strength of the rim, this flow forming process which also is classified as rim rolling, this process produces not only a light weight product, but also high rigidity, info from Enkei explains the process in depth

AME SPORTS TM-02

ENKEI proprietary rim moulding method developed by applying "spinning process" used for forming rims of forged wheels and 2, 3 piece wheels. After the casting process, stretch forming while trimming the rim part. As a result, the rim achieved material strength comparable to that of forging, and the disc design made it possible to apply a high degree of freedom design that cannot be moulded by forging. With material strength comparable to forged wheels and excellent design technology, Lightweight, high strength, high rigidity achieved at high dimensions!

Along with the high performance of cars, weight reduction of wheels is getting more important as the tires and wheels are increasingly diversified year by year to reduce weight under spring. "MAT PROCESS" which greatly improved the material strength of the rim part greatly contributed to the thinning of the rim, etc. In addition to the designing technology fed back from the race activities, light weight, high strength and high rigidity are balanced at a high level Made wheels manufacturing became possible

The TM-02 is available from all VAD stores to order, available in various applications in various widths in sizes 17” and 18”.

CYBER MITSUBISHI EVO, 10.5X18 AME TM02

For any information regarding the AME Wheel range, fitment request, or you would like to order, get in touch with our sales team, we ship worldwide.

 

This build has excited us from day one, and why wouldn't it, 700hp + Porsche 997 twin turbo fitted with the widebody GT3R carbon aero pack, its a fine build and one we cant wait to see finished and hitting the track driven in anger, Cobus the man behind the build has been an extremely busy putting this impressive build together over the last few months, and to say we are impressed is a bit of an under statement.

The build is not far off being completed, they are just waiting on a few parts to finalise the build, and we are happy to report the car has finally had a coat of paint, and we love the chosen colour, although the scheme will only be revealed when they launch the car at its first test, its all of the little details that have been put into the car we love, like the one off bespoke built aluminium hood that has been crafted all in-house, and the rear cooling set up for the Turbos, that have been wrapped in Phoenix Performance Thermal Insulation blankets, Marco adding his little Midas touches to this build, not only keeping the Turbos cool, but a great heat protector, as they say the devil is in the detail, Cobus and his team have some serious skill set.

Phoenix Performance thermal insulation Blankets 997 Turbo

Phoenix Performance thermal insulation blankets for 997 Twin Turbo GT3R

For any any South African enquiries please contact Scribante Racing who are the sole agent for V.A.D related products for the S.A market, speak to Cobus he will be more than happy to assist you with any information on our products, and happy to take on any VAD aero builds, for more details on the carbon GT3R aero pack, make sure you get in touch with our team.

Porsche 997 GT3R

Cobus Jonker, the man behind the build

 

It has been a while for our Z4 V8 build to come together, it seems so long ago since we put it out there to the world that we were going to build our own version on the BMW Z4 GT3 bat mobile, but with internal issues within the company at the end of 2014 and a pretty hectic schedule ever since, along with moving premises the time just hasn’t been right, but we decided at the end of 2016 to pull our finger out and put our own build to the front of the queue, the added bonus was our friends over at Dynotorque finally getting their own huge workload out the door, so this was our moment, and our Z4 Emerald over the festive period and into the new year, it wasn’t until the end of February until we were able to take up residence on the main Dynotorque ramp, so the work could commence with surgery of the engine, suspension and brake set up.

The iDrive system of the Z4 caused a few issues with the emerald boys, but nothing they couldn’t handle, it was just a very time consuming process and as they are a methodical bunch, it took a little longer than expected, but we were in no rush… it gets done when it gets done, but a little reminder that it’s not just the engine install you have to consider when building a car like this, but a whole host of other areas that will need attention.

Standard BMW Z4 (N52B25) Engine

Craig has wasted little time in removing the stock 2.5ltr engine, just before this happened a photo was taken of the stock N52B25 engine in situ, with this removed and a dummy LS3 fitted so fabrication of the engine and gearbox mounts could be set into place, and as the photo shows, there is so much more room for the 6.3ltr LS3 V8 to live and breathe, than there is with the original 2.5ltr (N52B25)

More updates will follow as we progress through the build, we just need to contain our excitement first.

BMW Z4 (E89) 6.3 LS3 V8 Conversion

 
  • VAD Facebook
  • VAD Twitter
  • VAD YouTube
  • VAD Instagram
  Website Design By VAD
  part of the Vad International Group
GT3RR-BMW-Z4-GT3_edited.png
Office Hours

Monday to Friday 9.00 am > 5.30 pm
Saturday                9.00 am > 1.00 pm
Sunday                   Closed

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
bottom of page