In 2015, I bought a 1965 Ford Mustang Shelby replica—right-hand drive, clean, full of potential. Over time, I started tweaking it: cleaning up the interior, upgrading the suspension, and slowly connecting with some incredible people like Ralph from Trutrack and Lou from Dandy Engines. Piece by piece, the Mustang started to change—but something bigger was taking shape too.

By 2022, I knew it was time to go all in. I started the process by engaging a body shop to transform the car into something truly unique: the JR-GT350. This would be a full rebuild, a reimagining of what the car was always meant to be. But no great journey comes without challenges.

There was a detour—14 painful months at a dodgy repair shop that left the car in worse shape than when it went in. That could’ve been the end. But instead, it was the push I needed. I connected with a new team of talented, passionate experts—Jeremy and Rob from Automotive Creations, Ralph, Avni and Adrian from Trutrack, Adam from MPW, Manny from The Trim Shop, Lou from Dandy Engines, and Heath from Harrop Engineering. Together, we made magic.

Six intense months. Long nights. Countless decisions. Highs, lows, and everything in between. But we did it. We finished the JR-GT350 and unveiled it at MotorEx—a dream more than a decade in the making, finally roaring to life.

Now? I plan to drive it. Show it. Enjoy every second behind the wheel. Because this car was built to be driven.

And I want to pay it forward. Everything I learned on this journey—from finding the right people to avoiding the wrong ones—I’m happy to share. If you’re dreaming of building your own car and don’t know where to start, reach out. Email me, message me on social media—I’d love to help.

As for the name JR-GT350? That’s for my youngest daughter, Juliette Rose.

And none of this would’ve happened without the love and support of my wife Vanessa and our two daughters, Alannah and Juliette. Thank you for believing in the dream. Many family drives await us in the JR-GT350

"Early Mustangs are probably the most widely modified car on planet earth, so building one that stands out is no mean feat. Ross Gangemi’s ’65 Fastback pro tourer is an absolute stunner, and while the world-first Harrop 2650-blown 360ci Windsor and myriad of carbon fibre goodies are definitely a highlight, the quality of the paint and bodywork steal the show. “Automotive Creations did the body and paint and turned it around from a rusty bogged out shell in just six months,” said Ross. They did so to an exceptional standard, with loads of custom touches everywhere you look. “It’s built to be a Shelby clone, but with a modern look,” said Ross."