“It’s the most wonderful time of the year” (cue the theme of the song by Andy Williams) but we’re not just talking about Christmas. It’s finally time to vote for the Safely Insured ‘Customer Car of the Year 2018’!

All entries have been collected and now we have the final 12 who have made it to voting stage! Who you vote for is up to you but be sure to check out the information about each car first!

If you scroll down this article, you’ll find pictures and information regarding each car within ‘The 12 Modified Cars’ section. Be sure to check out this section first, before casting your vote!

Vote for the Customer Car of the Year 2018

Once you’ve decided who you want to win, all you have to do is select the car you want to win, click vote, and just like magic – your vote is then registered.

THE VOTING IS NOW CLOSED! (as of 10am on Monday 7th January 2018)

PLEASE SEE THE RESULTS:

The 12 Modified Cars

Alex’s Toyota JZX100 Chaser 

2.5 litre engine | 330bhp | extensively modified

Are you ready for this modification list? Well, we’ve shortened it because there’s too many to fit in: Apexi Power FC with hand commander, custom manifold with external wastegate (Screamer pipe), Greddy front mount intercooler, Walbro 255lps fuel pump, Ogura Racing twin plate clutch, 326 Power coilovers all round, Ikeya Formula front lower arm, front steering arm and front camber arm and also Ikeya Formula rear camber arms. Full BN Sports kit and BN Sports bonnet. Custom made, wide front wings with side repeaters removed. The rear arches have been properly widened with the metal being cut, extended, and welded.

The wheels are Volk Rays Te37’s. Interior has a full 6 point, through dash rollcage, 2 red Recaro reclining front seats from the Civic EK9, Nardi steering wheel, Blitz turbo timer. The car has had a full respray in ‘Sepang Bronze’.

What does Alex love most about the car?

“I love the look of my car the most. The colour looks gorgeous in the sun and the body kit with the wide wings looks aggressive. The wheels really finish off the look.”

Chris’ Toyota Supra

662.5bhp | 620ft-lb torque | extensively modified

Just some of the modifications on Chris’ impeccably kept Toyota Supra include: Precision 6266 single turbo, BC racing coilovers, Asnu 1100cc injectors, 264 cams, fully re-built block and (in his own words) ‘lots of shiny bits’.

What does Chris love most about the car?

“I love my car because it’s how I met my future wife. It’s very loud (the car, not my future wife) and is a head turner. I’ve owned it for 8 years (with the car insured for many, if not all, of those years with Safely Insured) and all of the bodywork and engine re-build has been done by me since ownership.”

Craig’s Ford Focus RS

2.5 litre engine | 670bhp | 702ft-lb torque

Craig’s Ford Focus RS is extremely modified. The engine is forged with oversized pistons etc. It’s also had lots of headwork – it’s running a gtx 35/86r turbo with 1000cc injectors. In addition, it’s running an emu black ecu, is on bc racing coilovers and has a full roll cage (painted orange) fitted. Other modifications include: racing bucket seats, a wrap (done by blueprint), a btcc front end, and many more.

What does Craig love most about the car?

“What I love about my car is how it can be a show car one minute and the next a full on animal on the track. I love doing track days and hearing nice comments about the car.”

Jamie’s Seat Leon Cupra 

2.0 litre turbo engine | 300bhp (approx) | highly modified

Modifications on Jamie’s Cupra include: a TRC front splitter, Seat official side skirts, blacked out alloys, Forge turbo inlet hose, Forge induction kit, black Cupra lettering on rear, rear tinted tail lights, front badge blacker out, BCS powervalve exhaust system chrome quad tips, Ghost autowatch immobilise, tinted rear windows and it’s fully wrapped in ‘Avery Satin Black’.

What does Jamie love most about the car?

“Thing I love about it most? It’s not a Golf R 😉 No, in all seriousness – I love the wrap!”

Lee’s Mk1.5 Ford Focus Zetec

400bhp | 2.0 litre | Modified

Lee’s 400bhp MK1.5 Ford Focus Zetec has a Zetec shell, with an RS engine and components. It was built with a purpose in mind. If you’re a rally fan, you’ll love this car…

What does Lee love most about the car?

“It was built to remind people of a rally legend. That legend being Colin McRae.”

Lee’s Honda Integra Type R (DC5)

Iconic | 18 years old | Immaculate condition

Lee’s kept this car in pristine condition, considering the fact the car is 18 years old. Lee’s also added some modifications to it, these include: a Toda exhaust, Mugen strut brace, Rota Torque wheels, Hybrid Racing billet short shifter, uprated Clarion speakers, Yellowspeed coilovers, Yellow Rocker cover, and carbon fibre spark plug cover.

What does Lee love most about the car?

“I love the fact that the car doesn’t look it’s age despite being nearly 18 years old, and the ability to drive it like a regular commuter car yet it has performance and a split personality on tap.”

Indy’s Sierra Sapphire RS Cosworth 

2.0 litre | 16v Turbocharged engine | 400bhp+

Modifications on Indy’s iconic Cosworth include: a fully re-built bottom and top end, fully detailed engine bay, forged Wossner pistons, steel rods, modified crank, new T34 modified turbo, new grey injectors, live map, RS500 intercooler, -31 Actuator, 3 bar map sensor, group A Coil, group A K&N Air filter, fully adjustable lowered suspension, and Ford 17” Diamond cut alloys.

The exterior looks relatively standard but features detailed paint work, standard light clusters, 4X4 bonnet, de locked, more than 3 different alarms, immobilisers, steering wheel lock, wheel clamp, and more…

What does Indy love most about the car?

“The best part I love about my car is that it attracts so much attention from young, middle aged and mature working-class people. It’s a classic and puts a smile on my face every time it gets driven. The noise, smells, pulling power, and the retro feel it gives is an absolute nostalgic feeling. I can take my 4-year-old to school in it, take granny to the shops, or put it up against a Porsche 911.

I’ve owed it for over 25 years, and plan to keep it for another 25 years if life permits.”

Matthew’s Mazda RX-7 FD3S RS-R (30th anniversary edition)

1.3 litre rotary engine | 467bhp | highly modified

The modifications on Matthew’s impressive Mazda include: full feed body kit, Bridge port, BorgWarner efr turbo, water methanol injection, Haltec ECU, custom bucket seats, custom stainless exhaust, Billet fuel rails, 1860cc secondary injections, 750cc primary injectors, front mount intercooler, over-sized ally rad, 450lph fuel pump, fuel lab fuel pressure regulator, beaded fuel lines, Exedy stage 2 clutch, short shifter, custom flat boot, Lambo style rear lights and custom headlights.

What does Matthew love about the car?

“This car means the world to me. I lost my mother at the beginning of the year and she was proud of me and helped me work on the car. Then, I lost my best friend on the 18th of November. The build started in October 22nd and finished on December 7th. I dedicated the build to my mother and best friend as can be seen by the plaque in the photos. It now sits proudly in my centre console where the radio was.”

Sean’s Nissan Stagea RS4 

300bhp (approx) | JDM Import | highly modified

Sean’s car is a JDM Import Stagea. imported in 2017, completely stock, it has gone under the knife with a full R34 GTR front end and wide body conversion. Other modifications include: BC coilovers, Rota deep dish wheels (custom pink), Recaro interior, many JDM mods, Greddy, HKS, and Blitz to name a few. It’s got an RB25DET engine, which produces around 300bhp (without a map). Other modifications have been added, such as: FMIC, exhaust, coils, injectors etc.

What does Sean love most about the car?

“When you want an R34 GTR but need to carry the dogs around, nothing else does it better!”

Shawn’s Toyota Supra

1020.6bhp | 3.4 litre engine | immensely modified 

The full list of modifications on Shawn’s Toyota Supra is literally too long to list here. So, we’ll give you an overview of the main modifications instead…

This UK Spec Supra is now running a fully built, 3.4 litre, 2JZ engine with a Garrett GTX4202R turbo producing 1020.6bhp (although there’s still more power to come, as it’s not quite finished). It’s also got a full custom red and black leather interior as well as a custom wide body kit on it.

What does Shawn love most about the car?

“This car has been my pride and joy since the day I bought her nearly 4 years ago. In this time, the car has been stripped down to the bare shell (twice) and rebuilt to the spec I wanted.”

Stephan’s Subaru WRX-S (prodrive edition)

2.5 litre engine | 300bhp | 380lb-ft torque

Modifications on Stephan’s Subaru include: K sport’s all round, Bilstien b66 coil overs, custom side exit exhaust, custom rear diffuser, Team dynamic 18×8 et35 wheels, Perrin fmic, Hybrid turbo, custom bonnet vents, Cosworth carbon mid spoiler, custom made varis style spoiler, front and rear strut braces, and front and rear anti roll bars.

What does Stephan love most about the car?

“I made (or designed) every custom part, my car is an extension of me – a bit mad haha. When I purchased the car, it was a bit boring to be honest. So, I decided to set about making it unique to me – I’m so close to achieving my dream car / look.”

Ed’s Nissan 200sx S14a 

404bhp | 405ft-lb torque | highly modified

Modifications on Ed’s immaculate Nissan 200sx S14a include: a forged engine, baffled sump, poncams, rocker arm stoppers, 2871r turbo, 740cc injectors, FMIC, uprated fuel pump, tubular manifold, full custom exhaust, lightened flywheel, stage 4 clutch, mishimoto rad + expansion tank, Nistune ecu, AVC-R, Greddy multi DA gauge, HSD coilovers, full adjustable arm kit, full polybush kit, big brake kit, reclining bucket seats, JDM rear bumper, Kouki front bumper, Work XD9 wheels, and a full underbody restoration.

What does Ed love most about the car?

“The car simply turns heads – from the outside it’s a clean, OEM(ish) looking, 200sx apart from the wheels and ride height. Then, you add a little power and the car transforms.”

Now you’ve heard all about the cars, are you ready to decide who you think should be crowned the Safely Insured ‘Customer Car of the Year 2018’?

Scroll back to the top of this post to place your vote.

Here’s a quick reminder of the prizes the winner will receive:

1. Halfords voucher
2. Dedicated feature article written about them and their car
3. Professional feature video made of their car (by us, at our offices in Hertfordshire)
4. Certificate and car window stickers

Safely Insured

Safely Insured are specialists when it comes to Modified Car and Performance Car Insurance. Due to our knowledge and expertise, we have set-up specialist schemes with insurers to provide insurance policies that consider your needs when owning a modified or performance car. For example, within our Modified Car Insurance scheme we can offer:

• Like-for-like modifications cover
• Agreed valuations cover
• Limited mileage discounts
• Second car discounts

Many of our team are car enthusiasts, so you can rest assured they know a thing or two about cars, as well as insurance.

For more information, visit the Safely Insured website.

Further information: Modified Car Insurance | Performance Car Insurance | Get a Quote | Call Us