Dale Buckley’s modified Citroen Saxo VTR
Almost exactly a year ago while me and Jules were tucking into a burger or 10 at the TRAX show 2010, the not unfamiliar figure of Dale Buckley came strolling over, with his side parted hair, skinny jeans and dodgy Derbyshire accent.
Dale – who has featured in Fast Car a few times now – begins to bang on about his current project, and how it was going to grace the cover of FC by this time next year. A quick glance over his head and it turns out his project is already one on the most iconic modified cars built in the last decade… it’s only our ex staffer Benny Boy’s Euro Saxo!
After a puzzled raised eyebrow from Jules, Dale begins to reel off his plans for the car which turn out to be a complete makeover using only the best parts, finest materials and expert know-how.
Now Dale is hardly a smooth talker at the best of times (some will know him for his blunt opinions and ‘don’t give a shit’ attitude), but what you can’t label him in this case is a liar. In fact he’s pretty true to his word so given he stuck to it, we were impressed with the ideas so it was a sort of ‘See you next year’ kind of deal.
Now it takes balls to rip apart such a well known car, so Dale thought the best way to approach this was to go back to where it first started – Plush Automotive.
Back in 2006 was the last time main man Luke Massy got his hands on the Saxo, so when Dale’s idea for simplistic trim with a modern twist was on the cards, Luke already had the new smooth dash, iPod docking setup and rolls of Alcantara at the ready to replace the already stunning ochre leather trim.
To change the interior was a shock to most of his mates who thought he had lost the plot, but with the results speaking for themselves, Dale went on to attacking the exterior.
With new hydraulic suspension and split wheels already added at this point, many people were shaking there heads in disbelief, telling Dale he was mad to even touch the outside… to which Dale replied with a simple “Fook off, I’ll do what I want.”
Everyone soon held their breath as the legendary Porsche brown paintwork was wet sanded ready for its new colour. But that baited breath soon turned into a sigh of relief when the chosen colour was revealed as Porsche’s new Sport Classic grey.
Simple body mods teamed with a bunch of new carbon fibre additions… it was clear that ‘mental’ Dale actually did have his head screwed on.
So here we are, a year later, car on cover, me and Jules still eating burgers and after all the graft gone into it, Dale is already selling up to make way for yet another project. He may not be quite right in the head, and we might not understand his accent, but fair play to the bloke.
