Man converts a 1989 Bentley into a racing hot rod with an engine ‘like a Lancaster bomber’
Matthew McEvoy decided to make some drastic alterations to the classic motor - and the internet loved it
A petrolhead who took an angle grinder to his 1989 Bentley hot rod - making it sound "like a Lancaster bomber" - has been overwhelmed by the worldwide attention he's received since listing the car for sale.
Matthew McEvoy decided to make some drastic alterations to the classic motor ahead of the Cannonball Cornwall rally earlier this month.
By his own admission he mangled the paintwork, lowered the suspension almost to the ground and widened the wheels and tyres - but the car went down a storm.
After the rally McEvoy placed the hot rod on eBay with a buy it now price of £4,999 under the listing: "Bentley Rat rod. Slammed on banded steels, stretched tyres and a mad exhaust"
Since then, the page has exploded, with more than 120,000 page views and interest from around the world.
The car fanatic, from St Day in Cornwall, said: "I've had dozens of people on the phone wanting to buy it, use it for a photo shoot or even to make a music video with.
"I've lowered it, cut the exhaust off and angle grinded the paint work. It sounds like a Lancaster Bomber and I've never known a car so loud."
"I've been in cars all my life but certainly didn't see this interest coming."
McEvoy said that, after arriving late for the Cannonball Cornwall on 2 October, there were "people were running from the other side of the car park to come and take a look".
He revealed he was now "thinking twice" about his decision to sell the car, which he bought along with two others from a family looking to offload a number of motors.
However despite the stream of positive messages, not everyone is happy.
McEvoy revealed he had received furious messages from some of the more puritanical members of the Bentley community, who have accused him of "ruining" such a beautiful car.
But he was quick to insist "the car isn't ruined".
He added: "I already owned up to being taken over by the devil and his angle grinder but if anybody would like to restore the car it really only needs the original wheels (which I have) refurbished, a paint job (which was needed anyway) and four new springs and a tiny amount of interior work to make it stunning."
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