´óÏó´«Ã½

THE DRIVE OF YOUR LIFE

FAST CAR | original cars with much more than just 'va va voom'

Grab your sticky back plastic and your best set of DIY instructions as Inside Out goes kit car crazy.

We prove that the golden age of British motoring is alive and kicking in Kent and Sussex.

Empty roads, friendly waves from other drivers, the wind rushing through your hair, the way British motoring used to be. But if you thought that the golden days of British motoring were over, there are a small group in Kent and Sussex that would be happy to prove you wrong.

They'll both not fit in there surely?

Hidden away in these fair counties, there are as many as 10 dedicated and successful motor manufacturers, putting the smiles back on road-weary faces for anything from £6,000 to £60,000.

Self assembly

Whilst some are well established makes, others are from far more humble beginnings. So if you have ever wondered what your next door neighbour was tinkering with in their garage, Inside Out may just have the answer.

The sleepy countryside of Frant is often disturbed by the roar of Gerry Hawkridge’s self built car, the Hawk 289. Based on the classic 1960s AC Cobra, there is no better way to blow those winter cobwebs away.

The Hawk began life looking remarkably like a kid's toy

"I always liked cars," explains Gerry, "I was always tinkering with them or restoring them… there’s a bit of heart and soul that goes into every one. But there were other people out there who liked them as well and I became a manufacturer."

From design to reality

Gerry and his team of two make virtually all the parts for the cars. They’ll assemble it for you, or for those of you flat pack enthusiasts, they’ll hand it over as a kit for you to assemble yourself for anything between £15,000 for the kit version, to £40,000 for the assembled car.

For local lad Gerry, Kent was the obvious place to base his business.

"There are lots of reasons for small industries like this being in Kent. Bexhill is the site of the first motor race… after the war there were all these people who had been trained to work on planes who suddenly found themselves not required and had skills to use elsewhere." Gerry Hawkridge

The race track is a great place to put the car through its paces

Fellow car enthusiast and manufacturer Neil Foreman and his son Matthew also make Kent and Sussex the home of their kit car manufacturers.

"We built our first car 13 years ago. Matthew was 11 … as far as I know, we are the only manufacturers that build everything that goes into the car, from design to turning the key…" Nei Foreman

Put to the test

So these cars are stylish, value for money and will definitely make you stand out in a traffic jam, but would you really part with your reliable run-around for a more sporty number? Inside Out put it to the test in Rochester.

The test begins at the petrol station and for a sports car, it's surprisingly economical, about 30 mpg. Next it is those dreaded speed bumps, no problem for this car as the ride height can be adjusted.

Inside Out presenter Paul Ross has gone AWOL in the Hawk

A trip to MacDonald’s drive through proves trouble free even though the car is slightly wider than average - more space for all those Big Macs! The final stop off is a supermarket and here lies the car’s downfall. There is no boot, so weekly shop for the family is out of the question.

Inside Out’s verdict? A stylish ride for the young, free and single or just the young at heart, but keep the trusty Escort tucked away in the garage!

So if ever you needed proof that Britain’s motor heritage is alive and kicking, just pay a visit to Kent and Sussex and while your there, keep an eye out for Inside Out presenter Paul Ross, last seen heading out of Frant in the Hawk 289!