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 WHEN it comes to building custom cars in the UK, there is only one man you need to know. Andy Saunders has been at the top of his game since he first picked up a hammer at 15.
Auto Trader's Stuart Milne caught up with Andy at The Road Ahead concept car show in London where his incredible Lancia Stratos 0 (right) has taken pride of place. The road to the Stratos 0 has been a long and winding one. From building his first car - a questionably-styled but well executed Mk1 Escort, dubbed 'Bird Puller' - Andy has torn up the rule book to create a style all of his own.  Ground Zero Holding court at The Road Ahead show, Andy was waxing lyrical about one of his proudest achievements, his newly finished Stratos 0. The wedgetastic Lancia Stratos 0 before us - one that I read about as a child - might never have happened if it was for Andy's unique vision. Originally designed and built by the famous Italian design house, Bertone in 1970, the 0 is simply breathtaking. But it wasn't until 1985 that it reached a wider audience, when it appeared in Michael Jackson's Moonwalker movie. Incredibly three identical 0s were made for the film, which was released at the height of Jackson's fame. Andy couldn't believe the producers went to so much effort: "for the few seconds it appeared, they could have used a clay model," he said Andy watched the film just to see the 0. Suffice to say he was more impressed with the car than Jacko's cinematic efforts. Andy bought his model after one of the three film cars came up for sale in the US. A friend forwarded the advert and Andy was straight on the phone to the seller, and the car was his. "I simply couldn't miss out", he confesses. An authentic rebuild was on the agenda, with the ultimate goal of getting it on the road. The first job was to locate a rot-free Fiat X1-9 coupe, due to it having the exact dimensions and a remarkably similar engine to the 0s original motor. This was no mean feat as they suffer badly from the dreaded tin worm. The 0 was the first car that Andy had to do any serious spannering to. "I'd never done any steering or geometry work before. I prefer the styling element." But you have to hand it to him - it's a superb first effort. Although the 0's fantasy looks make it appear as though its capable of warp speeds, in reality it would struggle to get to motorways speeds. But Andy isn't fussed: "I get asked if I've got nitrous in the car, but it wouldn't matter if it only went to 30mph. It's immaterial because you can't see where you're going anyway."  Cosmetically, the car looks as it did when it
transformed into the then King of Pop in Moonwalker, but with lengthened
side windows. Andy's a big bloke and he simply wouldn't have been able to
see where he was going. He thinks his only change to Bertone's original
masterpiece makes the car look less wedgy. Photos don't do Andy's work justice, as in the flesh, the quality is astounding - and it should after Andy spent a massive 110 hours a week over two and a half weeks completing the project. At 1.20am, just two days before the show opened he finished the car. He hands us a photo taken to celebrate completing the car "I was bloody knackered" he said, a fact confirmed by the snap. And what does the man who's poured his heart and soul into building some of history's most fantastic custom cars drive? A Fiesta. And not just any Fiesta: the loan car from the garage that he owns with his Dad Ron. So what's next from the world record holder? "I'm in the middle of two projects at the moment: restoring a Dodge Woody and a turning a 1936 Cord into a coupe (30s Cords are reminiscent of the Ant-Hill Mob's gangster mobile). If you know anything about Cords, you'll know how expensive they usually are. I bought mine for £500. That's how bad it is. Apparently the seller was trying to get rid of it for 12 years - no one else would touch it!" Andy is refreshingly humble about his achievements. When pushed on the highlight of his career, he understandably rates his world record as up there, although receiving the Rolls for his Mentley Insanne (right) award comes a close second. As we're about to go our separate ways, I ask Andy what is the best looking car today. "The Alfa GT", he says almost without hesitation. "I hate Hyundais though. They're dull and I think they must come with a free driving license." |
