Former footwear designer on track to make it in world of classic cars
A FORMER shoe designer has swapped his love of heels for a passion for wheels – and is now restoring classic cars from his garage.
Businessman Steven Moffat, 42, used to own one of the UK’s most exclusive shoe shops, Shhh, where he provided high-end footwear to well-heeled clients in Edinburgh and around the globe.
But following the financial crash, the former Scottish Entrepreneur of the Year saw his retail business crumble in 2014, leaving him free to pursue his passion for automobiles.
And Mr Moffat, who is currently restoring a rare Ashley 750 Special, insists there are similarities between high fashion and car restoration.
He said: “A woman walking down the street in great shoes stops me when it’s done well – cars are the same.
“You’ve got a lot of technology, you’ve got a lot of architecture, you’ve got a lot of engineering – lots of different things coming together to make a very beautiful thing.
“I found my love again of engineering and systems and how things are put together – but I had to do them my way, by myself, and learn how to do that.
“And then suddenly I had quite a tough challenge: I can’t weld or paint and I was starting at a very novice level in a man’s world.”
Mr Moffat’s interest in cars was sparked at the Goodwood Revival which celebrates classic motor racing.
And now the Dumfries born petrol-head has been invited to drive round Goodwood’s famous track in the red Ashley 750 Special.
He said: “I went down to the Goodwood Revival, and the sun was setting and I sat at the bottom corner, and these guys were racing Jaguar D-types and it was the most beautiful thing in the world.
“Watching these things swing out, come down with the sun setting behind them and I was enthralled – to actually see them race – there was just a very raw energy, a raw power and a beauty in the movement and I realised that I have to do this. I’d love to drive round that track – to push it round as far as I could – that’s really what I want to do, if I can, with the sun setting behind me.”
‘‘ I can’t weld or paint and I was starting at a very novice level in a man’s world