---- Copes Performance Cars Intro Post ----

I have been into building cars since i was around 14 years old in the mid 90s when i helped a mate swap over a V8 into v6 powered Ford Cortina with no engine hoist, just five guys some rope and timbers we made the swap happen.

Ford Cortina - Not the actual car, but the same colour

I had always been into cars but after that i was hooked on modifying cars, i started out doing stereo installs in my parents cars and helping friends with their cars as they acquired licenses and cars. eventually I got a car given to me by my auntie so I could get to work until i could afford my own car this was a Chrysler Sigma and it served me well for the few months until I bought my first car.

Chrysler Sigma - Again not the actual car but the same colour

My first car was a Ford Laser TX3, it was a 1.8 turbo (BPT) 4WD version

1990 TX3 4WD Turbo - stock version

This was the 90s so big and loud was the trend and i ended up building a show car which won a few trophies at Autosalon which was the big car show of the time.

My TX3 In its show form

I then acquired a Nissan Exa with a CA18DET engine swap and some mods like aftermarket ecu and s15 t28 turbo. it took about 4 years to get it going but it did well for a little FWD vehicle.

1988 Nissan EXA - Again not the actual car but the same colour

Then it was the dawn of the AE86 , what a build this car was, lol. a built 4AGZE with a 3071rs turbo hanging off the side of it. put out 250kw at the rear wheels and weighed around the 800kg mark as it was stripped down for the most part.

My Toyota Sprinter AE86 at one of the track days

My latest build is my Nissan Stagea, it is just a daily street cruiser with a little bit of poke, mods see about 280kw at the rear wheels. hauls well considering the weight she has on her. but it serves it purpose and does what she was built to do

My 1998 Nissan Stagea RS - just finished having some mods done

I will be writing up on some of the cars i have owned (Stagea, AE86, Tx3, Exa) so comment below on which you would like to hear about and see more of first.

Beyond my own garage i have helped many friends build their cars throughout the years and also had a business with a couple of friends building drift and show cars. some of the cars below. i may do a focus on the other cars i built also if people are interested in that , again comment below.

Track 1

Track 2

Autosalon

workshop 1

workshop 2

workshop 3