‘Properly bonkers’ Guy Martin transforms Volvo into rally car
NATION LOVED WATCHING HIM ON NEW SHOW
GRIMSBY’S Guy Martin has been described as ‘totally bonkers’ and a ‘ledge’ after he transformed an old volvo at his garage near Grimsby into a rally car.
The mechanic and TV personality was back on Channel 4 on Monday night in the first of a four-part series, Guy’s Garage which shows him turning four classic cars into speed machines.
Guy and his best friend Cammy, turned an old Volvo 240 Estate into a folk racing car to race in Sweden.
He started his career as an apprentice at a Volvo truck garage. He has also in Sweden before to get his skills up to the test for his newest endeavour.
The show saw Guy and Cammy embark on a four hour trip to Dagenham to buy a 1988 automatic saloon car, setting the garage back £1,200.
But it had a number of issues. First they had ripped out a wire connecting the engine to the fuel pump and then there were issues switching the gearbox from automatic to manual.
In the end, Guy ended up spending £1,850 on a manual Volvo 240 GLT just four miles away from the garage.
Guy first offered the owner £1,300 but the man said the car had “sentimental value” and would not take any less than £1,850.
But once back at the garage, they discovered a huge hole in the side of the unroadworthy car.
After spending more money getting the car race ready, Guy and Cammy travelled to Blyton Park near Gainsborough to test it out - but things did not go to plan.
Guy said: “A big puff of blue smoke came out on that corner. She’s terminal.
“How many laps did it do? Half a dozen maybe? “She’s terminal, she’s knackered. About as bad as it gets.”
They then completely rebuilt the engine out of scrap parts at Guy’s garage, upping the horsepower and improving it to make it race ready.
More work had to be done once in Sweden to improve its safety features and to install different tyres.
Eventually, Guy managed to race the Volvo. He said: “I’ve really, really enjoyed it. What a lovely country, what lovely people.
“Razzing round in heaps of *****, I think it’s bloody brilliant.”
Guy Martin fans took to Twitter to praise him and the show.
@JimTwoEightSix said: “Yet another fantastic Guy Martin programme.”
@Stellabranch said: “#GuyMartin is properly bonkers, but so personable.”
@nickbewes tweeted “Sounds like 2 skeletons playing ping pong in a dustbin has to be the best description of a knackered car I’ve ever heard #guymartin.”
@dchassocks tweeted: “Enjoying #GuyMartin going #Folk racing in Sweden on @Channel4 and smiling as I always do at how his hair length changes from scene to scene.”
@colingilchrist said of Guy: “He’s not happy unless he’s knee deep in engine oil #guymartin.”
@still_blunt tweeted: “If you’re not watching #GuyMartin right now getting his hands dirty on a #Volvo we can’t be friends.”
And @_ALACS said: “#guymartin is my #mancrush. What a total ledge!”
Guy’s Garage is on Channel 4 on Mondays at 9pm.