Possibly showing our age here but before this press release landed the work of Japanese styling/chop shop
Liberty Walk
and its supercar sub-brand LB Performance had somehow escaped us. Which is even more of a surprise when you look at what they do. Which is to say wild-looking - and very expensive - bodykits and air-suspended 'stancing' for supercars. With no qualms about irreversibly hacking away the original bodywork to achieve the look.
Now, this is either utter sacrilege and bastardisation of otherwise beautiful and desirable cars. Or the coolest thing possible. Liberty Walk's own press release boasts it has "set out to create a true 'love it or hate it' design statement that will truly divide enthusiasts!" Not wrong there...
Saying that, while we all like a chuckle at some of the monstrosities shown every year at Geneva by the likes of Mansory, FAB Design, Kahn and all the rest there's an endearing honesty about Liberty Walk founder Wataru Kato and the 70s motorsport inspiration behind his designs. With typical Japanese earnestness you get the impression he's motivated by passion for his craft, not simply pandering to the wallets and egos of the super rich and insecure.
Which isn't to say we fully support the idea of taking an angle grinder and tin snips to the body of a Ferrari or Lamborghini. More that, love or loath what he does, there's an underlying sincerity there that somehow defuses the instinctive 'WTF?' you might feel on first encounter. And, grudgingly or not, there's a level of commitment to admire that goes some way beyond a gold wrap and big rims.
Anyway, if you're sufficiently bored by the looks of your Ferrari 360 Modena or F430 and fancy walking the Liberty Walk these new kits are now on offer by the firm's UK distributor. And they ain't cheap. Both are available in a choice of GRP or carbon fibre, the latter coming at some cost premium but adding to the bling factor if lacquered in its raw state. How much? Around £14K plus VAT for the GRP kits and £17K plus VAT for the carbon version, both comprising front and rear bumpers, skirts, arch extensions and suchlike. A 'Dry Carbon' wing adds another four grand or so. Of course, you'll be wanting to budget £5K plus VAT for the AirREX digitally controlled air suspension to get the car "correctly stanced" though we'll take the promise the system is "developed from the ground up with track performance AND style at heart" with a pinch of salt.
Find your donor 360 Modena or F430 in the PH classifieds here...