DO TRY THIS AT HOME...

1: The Ambassador’s reception

From a shortlist of six, this 1998 diesel, with 87,000 miles, was the chosen one. Full service history? MOT? Probably not, but a lovely runner and all for around £1,000. You just can’t go wrong. Can you?

2: The strip down

Body panels removed, interior out, back end chopped, angle grinder unleashed. Unfortunately, the roof and windscreen of a Hindustan Ambassador look nothing like a Peugeot 208 GTI, which is why they had to go. Held up by some makeshift scaffolding are replacements from an unidentified scrap car – the closest in shape that fitted the Ambassador’s width.

3: The magic mould

Six separate pieces milled in foam (using Peugeot CAD data) then glued together. From that, a plaster of Paris mould, and from that, a new one-piece fibreglass rear end. Repeat process at the front.

4: The panel beater

Here comes the skill. Getting a donor roof, fibre-glass front and rear ends and new doors wrapped in hand-beaten sheet steel to match up seamlessly is quite a job. The man in this picture made it work. We’re in awe.

5: The blow dry

Sourcing a rear windscreen and rear windows cut with the precise threedimensional curvature required was impossible, so plastic heated and bent by hand would have to do. Well, if it’s good enough for the 911 GT3 RS...

6: The paintjob

OK, so the paint shop wasn’t entirely dust- and contaminate-free. And, no, these aren’t official Peugeot colours, just the closest thing that was lying around, but who cares? The colour join is crisp as anything, there’s an authentic matt sheen and note the use of actual newspaper and oily rags – an advanced technique rarely seen these days.