OV9

Don’t want to steal your thunder @dan , but Matt Bird’s article is out (apologies if I’ve missed your post)

https://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-bri ... r500/50168

The studio photos in that article make it look such a professional build, like it could be an official lotus product. It looks absolutely fantastic. Really is an amazing project.

I mean, it is a professional build

But yeah, the pictures are fantastic especially love the studio ones with the exploded panels.

Matty wrote: Sat Aug 09, 2025 9:59 am I mean, it is a professional build

Yeah, I was struggling to find a way of saying it and not sounding insulting like those photos put it up there with Singer Porsche quality levels of restomod

That looks amazing. Good work Dan, I’ll have an R500 Exige when my lottery numbers come in

ZedLeg wrote: Sat Aug 09, 2025 11:03 am That looks amazing. Good work Dan, I’ll have an R500 Exige when my lottery numbers come in

All of this. Looks incredible Dan.

Epic

Nice, very nice

Fantastic!

The studio shots are fucking awesome!

I wonder if it needs some sort of (subtle) HPE branding to help it demand that sort of sticker price - like the Singer signature logo so it is obvious it’s an HPE R3/4/500 - not just any highly modded “grey” S1.

Those who know or look closely will see it for the work that has gone into it regardless!

Stunning.

Wow

That is stunning work Dan. I’ll add it to my lotto garage list.

Rich B wrote: Sat Aug 09, 2025 12:18 pm The studio shots are fucking awesome!

I wonder if it needs some sort of (subtle) HPE branding to help it demand that sort of sticker price - like the Singer signature logo so it is obvious it’s an HPE R3/4/500 - not just any highly modded “grey” S1.

Those who know or look closely will see it for the work that has gone into it regardless!

Stunning.

Free private number plate with every car?

I posted elsewhere, I'm sure I remember Dan posting about working on (I think maybe that specific) cars on his driveway in the middle of winter in the sleet, a number of years ago that it scares me to think about - kinda strange to see if represented so 'professionally' in the motoring press - fingers crossed it gets a few orders in.

The PH comments are fucking hilarious, one clown on there complaining it doesn't have a boot. Do you even like cars??

Car
Price

A Hondalise has always been high up on my want list. Anyone placed an order or registered interest?

Hehe thanks chaps, I’m very happy with it as you can imagine.

It’s everything I wanted and hoped it would be and some, the most outrageous driving experience short of getting a blowie in the car.

I realise the price is ridiculous and am fully prepared to never sell a car, but if I don’t put it out there you can absolutely guarantee you won’t sell one. Sadly the cost of the parts here, plus the labour to actually build it adds up to a big number, I know this to my cost having done too many Honda conversions (like Duncs) that barely cover the costs of opening the roller shutter, but the market kind of dictates the cost and I was too stupid to ask for more, hence it took me 10 years to save the money to build this one.

I’ve got another 100 studio shots if anyone wants to see more

I’d like to see more pics. Did you document any of the build on video? I think it would be fascinating to see some of how it’s built. The carbon fibre body etc

whether or not you sell any full builds, this will definitely get you noticed - it’s your halo car. Which will no doubt lead to an even fuller order book for everything else - hopefully the more profitable or interesting stuff too.

If you can get the brand being talked about with the car doing the rounds with people like Chris Harris you could even make some easy cash with some merch too - HPE SV t shirts…

Rich B wrote: Sat Aug 09, 2025 7:49 pm
If you can get the brand being talked about with the car doing the rounds with people like Chris Harris you could even make some easy cash with some merch too - HPE SV t shirts…

Dan could leverage some of your relationships with Shortz manufacturers for much cheapness

Absolutely yes, it’s a shop window if nothing else and it was nice to get a lot of attention today.

There’s some subtle branding on it already, I’m deliberating over how much or little to put on it as I’m very much a less is more kind of person, but I agree it needs to be properly branded.



I have ten years worth of photos of the development of it, the only original part is the chassis and the front indicators and rear lights…

Excellent - the logo looks good too.