Ian Hildreth - Focus ST Kung FU Panda

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Ian Hildreth

Focus ST

Photographer: @andys_arty_auto_images

My car scene love started in 2016 when I bought a Seat Leon. My friend who owns a mobile mechanic business JEMMS had a look at what could be done to her. He put in an intercooler, boosted pipes, new turbo and remap it to 270bph. 

I and my wife went on holiday for a few days, in a magazine I saw an ST for sale. We drove down the country to view it. I loved the sound and colour. I bought her there and then, a big mistake. 

I took the car to Durham remaps when I got home. They had a look at it and said the engine was wrecked and engine and body numbers did not match. From there ensued a long battle of trying to return the car and get my money back, with consumer rights getting involved. I got nowhere and lost my money. I then got very disheartened about getting a decent car. Then one day I spotted an orange ST in the Autotrader. 

I and my mechanic friend went to view it. It was magnificent both our eyes lit up and thoughts were whizzing through our heads at what could be done to her. The car engine was wrapped in camouflage colours. 

Me and my wife started to attend car shows and I wanted to make the car more ‘me’. I love Kung fu panda and my wife calls me her Cockney panda. So I went to see a guy called Peter Collinson at Custom Creative in Sunderland and told him my ideas. I bought second-hand engine parts so my car could stay on the road whilst being changed. 

Peter airbrushed by hand my Kung Fu panda scenes. I then asked him to airbrush the splitter too. 

We have joined car groups such as electric orange owners club and SCENE. We go regularly to car shows. I don’t believe in a ‘don’t touch the car’ policy, it’s there for everyone to enjoy. 

I allow kids to sit behind the wheel and have photos taken. At the last Newcastle car show, we had a queue of families waiting for pics. I have even gone as far to buy a panda head and gloves to wear at the shows.

What had to be changed when I bought the car in 2017

• Contaminated air filter
• Insecure timing cover
• Cv boot split
• Oil leak from the inside timing case
• Front disks needed replacing
• ECU holder was broken
• Oil seal from cams was leaking
• Needed an uprated plenum
• It had a standard ST clutch in it
• Standard boost pipes

What I have had done to the car

• Hybrid turbo which runs at 342bph - 562mn
• Block mod with belts and water pump
• RS clutch Kit
• Airtec front intercooler with ‘cockney’ painted in orange 
• Maxton front splitter with bar ties
• Rear RS splitter painted black with 3 stage orange fleck paint
• KMS section 18 back exhaust with 5.5 inch RS tips
• KMS stage 3 map
• KMS pop and bang programme
• EBAC lowering springs
• Anti-roll bar
• Bonnet anti-lift kit
• VXR wheels colour change from black to orange By S.E.M Alloy wheels specialists North East
• Ram air induction kit
• Panda bonnet catch made by DNA Bonnet props
• Future plans for the car
• Airbrushed Kung Fu panda to the sides

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