Hugely impressed with the new ‘Koupe’ demonstrator from NuBodi Automotive, which takes its inspiration from the priceless Ferrari 250 GT SWB.

A body conversion based on BMW Z3, with a 2.8-litre straight six providing the power, the kit is actually made by Tribute Automotive but these days, Richard Bird of Berkshire-based NuBodi acts as sales and build agent.

So busy are they that they now have two agents of their own in The Figaro Shop of Didcot and Automotive Nostalgia of Thornaby who can supply kits and turnkey cars.

We’ve featured several of Richard’s builds before and all have impressed, but this one really is absolutely exquisite, it has to be said. He goes to extraordinary lengths to source period-correct parts or where unobtainable or prohibitive in price seek out convincing alternatives at a fraction of the cost.

During our photoshoot we managed to have access to a beautiful 1969 Aston Martin DB6 Vantage in Silver Birch and the Koupe did not look like a 15K replica parked alongside its new £350,000 friend.

Koupe kits cost from £4995, with its sister convertible version, the Kalifornia packages at £3995. Alternatively, the company also markets the Kobra, a BMW Z3-based Cobra pastische. All NuBodi/Tribute kits are IVA-exempt.

The Koupe will star in a forthcoming issue of TKC Mag. We’ll bring you the full story then but in the meantime you can contact NuBodi Automotive via www.nubodi.co.uk or 01189 833 709 ENDS.