I’ve created the world’s fastest panel van – it cost me over £100,000 to convert & can beat Lamborghinis for pace
A car nut from Cornwall has created the world’s fastest panel van – with a top speed of almost 200mph.
Richard Milton’s VW Caddy has a whopping 1,300 brake horsepower and broke the world record over a ¼ mile.
It cost him over £100,000 to convert from a 1.6 diesel runaround into a blisteringly fast race car which can do 0-60mph in just 2.8 seconds.
At Santa Pod Raceway in Bedfordshire, it broke the world record – finishing the quarter of a mile drag strip in 9.97 seconds.
He reckons it can reach almost 200mph but has so far only managed to clock 183mph.
Richard, who runs VW parts company KernowTransporters in Marazion, Cornwall, regularly trounces other high-powered motors when he races it at Perranporth Airfield.
The 57-year-old, who says he thinks he is 23 and still listens to Radio 1, said: “You get people here with loads of money who go out and buy a Lamborghini or a brand new Porsche and they think they’re the bees knees and you can go out and beat them in a panel van.”
Richard, who is not married and has a South African girlfriend, has a huge internet following from around the world.
He said: “People just love to see the panel van win.
“It’s famous, I’ve got followers all over the world.
“When you race people are excited and say ‘it’s the Caddy’.
“Everyone loves an underdog.
“It’s not even made to look fast. I’m not a boy racer, it’s all functional.
“It’s a lot of fun. I’ve always loved cars and played with them. I used to buy and sell mini Metros to make a bit of cash over winter, but I’ve been a chef and worked ski seasons in the Alps. I do all sorts.
“I bought the Caddy and just thought I wanted it to go faster. I got too excited, I like living life fast.”
He first replaced the engine with one from a VW Golf R7 but decided that wasn’t quick enough.
Richard then added a 2.5 petrol Audi RS3 engine with a seven speed gearbox.
It is all road legal and declared through the DVLA and he pays £650-a-year insurance on it.
He recently put the van up for sale for £80,000 and had a lot of interest but has decided now not to sell it.
He added: “It’s an expensive hobby but I love it.”
There are no tools left in this van at night – just a racing helmet and a fire extinguisher.