The car arrived from Japan as a stock MK1. It soon became apparent that not every mechanic would be happy working on the car due to its rarity and no help was given when he took a trip to his local Mitsubishi garage.
Like most of us do in times of car trouble, he hit the web and came across GTOUK. A forum based GT0/300GT owners club where inspiration for the work really began.
Although he was fond of the pop up lights on the car, the mk4 slowly became his more favourite look. After hesistating on whether or not he would change the mk1 pop up light set up, Steve followed in the footsteps of other forum members and purchased a mk4 conversion kit to spruce up the look of his mk1.
With all the body looks of an mk4, his attention soon turned to the colour. “I wanted a colour no one else had in our community. Lime Green it was and the theme would be the HULK. Being in the business of wide format printing, using my available assets meant I could make the graphics to create the look I was after. “
With a fresh lime green paint job and Hulk style decals, it seemed like the GTO had seen as much modding as it would and the idea of selling the car for a different project was soon on Steve’s mind.
He was really after something different for the car, a bespoke finish that would keep it unique in the UK scene. Whilst browsing through a few American forums he found a company in the US had been commissioned to build soft top conversion kits for the 300GT.
Just when it seemed too simple... it was. The company who created the kits (Straman) didn’t exist anymore and finding any information on fabrication was impossible.
With his heart set on a soft top GTO he decided he’d have a go at fabricating the soft top system himself. This got a mixed response on the forum board. Some full of hope for him and others thinking he was mental.
“I had made my mind up; I’d have a go at the fabrication myself”. Posting what I was about to try on our club forum lead with varying opinions, DON'T, you’re a brave man, if anyone can do it you can. What have I to lose? I was bored with the look and if I bugger it up I could sell the parts and scrap the rest.”
The task ahead was one of mammoth proportions. With no workshop or garage the work would begin on Steve’s driveway. To make things even more difficult he wanted the car ready for summer and so fabrication work started in cold wet October.
After more trolling of the internet he came across a company who created hard tops for the 300GT. This time he had more luck and stumbled across some outlined drawings showing where the car would need to be strengthened. This was his first challenge.