Due to this being a new upgraded website, we are slowly updating this page with our previous builds. As you can appreciate 20 years on we have built a lot of cars, so please be patient with us whilst we continue to add more.
This cool Van is now powered by a stroker 318CI (built in house by VGSS) which now produces over 340BHP, along with a rebuilt transmission, and fully rebuilt underpinnings. We have lowered the van by flipping the axle to get down in the weeds and sit well on those Rocket Racing Wheels. The van was taken back to bare metal and then painted in a House of Kolor Kustom mix. We have also done some cool little tricks on this van, like the Grille, moving the bumpers inwards, de-badging, nosed and decked. When you get to see this van, check out its headlining and interior as all this has been carried out by our very talented team here at Valley Gas Speed Shop.
This 5 window Coupe is powered by a Ford Flathead V8 and has come to us as a running, driving hot rod. We will be chopping the top 4” and we will also be filling the roof in. The axle requires re mounting to get the wheels to sit correctly in the fenders. At this time we will also lower the back, and add different wheel and tyre combinations which will also move the track out. We will also be fitting a wider dropped I-beam. This will all hopefully make the car sit a lot nicer and lower. There is a whole bunch of other mods the customer requires us to do, for example, smooth running boards, rolled rear pan, custom interior. This awesome little A will be pounding the streets very soon.
Circa 2006
Kevin originally brought his two tone red and white 57 Chevy to us for an engine oil change and general check over. He and his wife used it to drive down the coast and wanted it to be reliable. After viewing the workshop and seeing the new shiny crate engines on display. He decided a new engine was needed. Shortly after this evolved into a full nut and bolt restoration. We loved worked with Kevin on this car and we still store and maintain this car to date.
This 57 was featured in Custom Car Magazine back in the day.
This E Type came to us part built. We were asked to put our own stamp on this awesome Jag. This E Type is powered by an XJR Supercharged engine along with upgraded brakes and suspension, so she runs classic looks but with modern driveability. The choice of paint (Porsche Chalk Grey) was chosen to keep the modern theme, as well as blacking out the chrome work. The up-to-date Jag wheels have been painted black keeping the theme throughout the car. There are lots of modern touches in this E-Type – like projection lights, 6 speed transmission with paddle shift and a full stainless steel exhaust system. When you open the door of this classic cat it is pure luxury with a deep red leather interior, a beautiful moto-lita steering wheel and Red Mother of Pearl dash panel from a Fender guitar, to direct this GT cruiser down to the South of France, or wherever its owner decides to take her.
This long bed C10 is a perfect tool for carrying your chopper in, and when you’re a bike guy like the owner of this – it needs to be made easy for loading bikes in and out. So what better way than to slam this killer truck on the deck. We have ripped out its 6 cylinder engine and replaced it with a 350 SBC and TH350 Transmission. We’ve upgraded the brakes to power and disc, as well as 17” Steels that make this truck’s stance beautiful. But what really makes this awesome truck sit right is the fitting of the air ride, that gets this truck deep in the dirt. The added bonus to this is it makes loading your Panhead super easy! This truck will end up with a very trick paint job too, as its owner runs a paint shop!
This 1942 Chevy was originally built in the US but after close inspection the build quality wasn’t up to modern standards. VGSS set about and totally transformed this truck into what you see today. With its rare SU downdraft tri power and its many cool features (Customers input) This unique hot rod can be seen in the SU Carburettor Christmas video along with being featured in Classic American Magazine February 2020.
The Standard Vanguard is not the best looking car you would think to begin a project with. But with some metal work magic and numerous hours, she now represents a British slant on an American lead sled. The Slamguard is powered by a Rover V8 and has a Borg Warner transmission, and all the suspension has come from a MK5 Cortina. This is as “English Hot Rod/Custom” as you could get.
Featured in Custom Car Magazine December Issue 2020
This early Sunbeam Tiger has been sat for the last 10 years and came to VGSS as a non-runner for a light recommission. This is a task we carry out regularly for classic car owners to recommission long stood cars and provide safety checks. We replaced the radiator with an aluminium one to stop the inherent overheating problems on Tigers and have now got the 260 V8 purring again. We just need to sort some electrical and charging issues out before this Tiger gets back on the road where it should be.
This South African RHD F100 came to us totally stock with a 6 cylinder engine. Now she runs a 2019 Ford Coyote 5.0 Engine with 7 Speed Auto. The front is now running on a custom Kugel Komponents IFS (We are the sole UK Dealer) and now running a Ford 9″ rear with 5 Link and coil overs. The suspension is fully adjustable and stops with four pot Wilwood front brakes and Ford SVO rear discs. The customer wanted this truck to be usable with creature comforts, we feel we nailed the brief on this one.
Featured in Classic American December 2020
Not all the cars we do here at VGSS are your typical hot rod. The said name “Viperceptor” has become a world wide named car and since emigrated to Texas. What started off as a bone stock rusty Jensen Interceptor, we totally restyle the body as if Jensen had built a 2013 Interceptor re-creation. Running an 8.2 V10 Viper engine with an SRT-10 Auto transmission and big brakes all round, this GT Car could be used as a daily or for a trip to Monaco.
Featured in Octane Magazine 2014
Steve’s 32 Model B
This 32 was the last of the fibreglass bodies that we produced, so for us this needed to be a special show build. With our love of Fords we picked a 429CJ with a C6 transmission, previously used in the Boston Brawler Gasser. VGSS built a fully custom chassis with a 9″ rear. Along with custom front brake covers and a one-off interior. This car is not just built for shows but with 450 bhp, it is built to go!
Was featured in Custom Car September 2018
Circa 2009
Richard originally bought just a cab/chassis along with many boxes of parts. We then set about building a show winning truck. Various custom touches were added into this build such as frenched headlights, custom dash, smoothed body, de-badged. The big impact of this truck was the paint – originally due to be painted orange – however in the end the truck left VGSS with a custom mixed paint job.
The truck was featured in Custom Car June 2011.
Built at our old shop in Newbury, this 37 Ford came to us with a TPI small block Chevy, and the customer wanted to run it with a supercharger. We bought a crate 350 and a complete blower kit, and shoehorned this into the compact engine bay. It as always going to be sticking out the top of the hood so this was modified to accommodate a shotgun scoop. We also changed the lights and added side trim and various other modifications including a repaint.
This glorious Willys Coupe was built in the States, but the owner realised that it was a total show car trailered to the shows and back home winning many awards but not being driven. Its new owner wanted to use this car, so we sorted out all the overheating problems and fitted a hydro-boost brake system as the brakes were nonexistent. You will now see this car regularly on the street, and at the drag strip
This customer had been racing an MGB in hillclimbs for several years, but wanted to have something different harking back to nostalgic years. Being an MG fan, the whole car was built with MG front and rear suspension, custom made 4 bar with coilovers at the rear, an MG engine and gearbox, and the chassis was custom made at VGSS. The front nosecone and tail section was also supplied by us. The car was finished to a rolling steering stopping state so that the customer could then finish the car off and go racing.
This 69 Camaro came to us for a full build. It was fitted with a ZZ3 engine with a 700R4 transmission, the whole of the suspension was upgraded with a total handling pack, sway bar kit, and biggest Wilwood brakes we could fit. Wheels are AREs, inside was re-trimmed in black with red piping, the instrument panel was upgraded with Auto Meter Classic Series gauges, and then it was bare metal repainted in this beautiful gloss black with a red hockey stick. As you can see the customer was pleased with the end result. This Camaro is fast, comfortable, and stops like any modern classic should.
The Camaro was featured in Classic American January 2011.
This hot rod was originally built in California, the customer wished to add his own touch, and make it more usable as he lived in the Scottish Highlands, and as you can imagine every show journey was a long trip. We had Gear Star build build us an adaptor plate and 700R4 to be connected to this Pontiac 401 engine. We also added new steel floors, wheeled in a roof insert and lots of extra custom touches that the customer required. After this, the seats were trimmed in bright red leather, and the car travelled down from Scotland to many shows and we now believe the car lives with its new owner in the south of England. This hot rod is exactly what hot rods should be- loud, fast and slightly uncomfortable.
Originally built for a previous customer as a Graffiti inspired coupe. He wanted good gas mileage and towing ability, and once finished, he travelled thousands of miles in the 10 years he had this car. The new owner then wanted a completely different look, so we embarked on a full makeover whilst also getting a little more horsepower out of the engine and some gears to bring back a bit of acceleration. Customer then had it painted this beautiful candy red colour. We then finished the look off with a lowering job, a nice set of whitewall tyres, full retrim and a new dash layout.
The Kellison is owned by the Duke of Richmond, and we have had the privilege of building him several cars, but this is our favourite. The car was designed by a Korean war pilot called Jim Kellison. It is well worth looking him up. The car came to us in very poor state, and the chassis was beyond use. A date was made to have this car finished by and it was all hands on deck to get it finished in an unbelievable 8 months – this included new chassis, suspension, engine, custom grill, paint, interior and sign writing. You will spot this car at Goodwood Revival most years.
Featured in GRRC Almanac Issue 6
Other work carried out at VALLEY GAS SPEED SHOP.
