Steven Thompson doing the impossible to cars in Westmoreland
MAKING THE impossible possible is something Steven Thompson is most known for as the talented 24-year-old makes good on a childhood hobby that remains forever blossoming.
“I do impossible things to cars that people would never think of as being necessary or possible. At first I was called ‘Mr Impossible’ because I was always doing things that seemed impossible,” he said.
Growing up in Westmoreland, Thompson attended the Petersfield High School, where even then, his passion for making something out of nothing set him apart from his peers.
He told Automotives, “I liked to invent, so when I was in high school, I actually invented a car alarm system on my school bag, and it created this scene where people would always tell me that I would become something big in life because I liked to invent.”
About modifying cars, specifically, he continued: “I grew up with that passion for inventing until the love for cars came into play and I started doing inventions on cars. I always try to turn things around with the car. The car comes in a natural
order, and I try something new to make it more advanced, look different, or unique.”
According to Thompson, his modifications often gives the vehicles a more ‘sporty’ look, which sometimes includes affixing butterfly doors and body kits.
“Most of the times, it’s best to keep the natural look of the car with the modifications so when people actually see the car, they can make out what type of car it is,” he said. “I’m trying my best to keep the look but put on the modifications.”
Still, he believes that his touch should add something different to the vehicle. “I try to make split-open hoods where the bonnet would split open. I have the trunk opening in the opposite direction and, also, the bonnet can open in a different direction. I try to make it as different as possible,” he explained.
DRAW ATTENTION
But what does a modified vehicle do for its owner? Thompson explained, “For most of them, they want to be seen and they want to draw attention.”
According to Thompson, “They want to show that the vehicle they have, even though it’s old, it’s classier and it draws more attention than the new ones. So they’ll customise their vehicle to a limit where even though it’s old, you can look at it and say it’s unique, and there are just things about it that draw your attention to say, ‘Wow!’.”
He mentions team member Pete Beckford as an integral part of his line of work, describing him as his “right arm”. Together, with Pete handling the welding processes, the two have modified some of today’s most ordinary vehicles to mirror sports-car flashiness.
“The latest modification is the convertible B13,” Thompson proudly recalled. “I cut off the top of it, welded in the back doors so you don’t really see any doors, and it looks now like a two-door vehicle. There are butterfly doors on it as well.”
He said that he has been enjoying the feedback to that particular modification.
“That hit the road like a storm!” he exclaimed. “The moment I drove it on the streets
it was attention everywhere. It was questions everywhere. It created this big excitement. Someone shot a video and uploaded it to Facebook and it received thousands of views and shares. That one went viral in one day!”
As a graphic designer, mechanic, and electrician, Thompson described his mode of operation as a little of everything. And with a five-year-old son to groom and take care of, he is hopeful about the future.
“In the future, I see myself having my own factory, I have my own team, my own resources where I can make cars from scratch. The ideas I have, if I had all the resources and I could make them from scratch, it would be the best,” he said.
He continued, “My son loves what I do. All the time when I make cars, he’ll be like, ‘Daddy, this one is mine’. He’s always trying to get involved and trying to help out. That’s him.
Noting that his business has got “very serious”, Thompson is looking to prioritise on an active social media presence, beginning with a new Facebook account. He can be reached online at Facebook.com/JamaicaImpos sibleCars.