Caractere - UK ... The greatest VAG styling

RSD was set up back in 1997 when I decided that I had had enough of chasing rally cars around the world, working in all weathers for VW Motorsport. Spending most of the year away from home, stuck between airports, service stops and hotels, meant I couldn't devote the amount of time I wanted to my daughters.

To stay within the world of rallying, I set up RSD where I started by preparing the recce cars for VW and SEAT. I developed the F2 Ibiza replica rally car for road use - this was featured at the 1998 London Motorshow. We still produce the body kit for the F2 Ibiza.

At the end of 1999, RSD won the sole importer rights for Oettinger Technik GmbH into the UK and Ireland. At the same time, we also became sole UK and Irish importer for Projektzwo. This meant that we had a strong hold on the Germany body styling market in the British Isles.

In the summer of 2001, we widened our horizons further and took on sole importership for leading Belgian Styling House, Caractère. This means that we can now offer a wide variety of styles to meet virtually everyone's tastes.

In June 2003, RSD reformed as a new partnership... Back in September 2000, a colleague at SEAT UK had requested that, as a favour, I do a service on a car for a SEAT UK employee... Some might say I was tempting fate! I serviced her car, we got on, she started spending time helping me with the Customer Service/Sales side of the business... In June, Trish became my business partner and in October 2003, she became my wife! One way of keeping a close eye on the partnership, you might say!!!

Since Trish came on board you could say we've never looked back!

In 2004 We were luck to have both James Salisbury & Luke McCutcheon join our workforce at the same time. James is usually the first person you speak to. He's worked very hard at keeping up with all of us, and deserves to be mentioned for his commitment!! Luke is the quiet but very clever mechanic in the workshop! I have never had such a brilliant youngster come upto me and ask me for a job before! And don't think I ever will do again! There are some very clever technicians, but you won't find a better mechanic!!!!

In 2005 RSD invested into its own tuning program, and feel that we can now offer our customers the piece of mind when it comes to playing with their cars! Most people associate us with just body styling, but in fact we've been tuning & servicing cars for a long time.

We offer our own warranty on our tuning work. We match the manufacturers warranty, and it has nothing to do with Volkswagen Group (UK) Ltd. warranty either!

I have always said "Who wants to own the fastest car in the workshop, when you can have a very quick one on the road!!!".

We're now an approved supplier to a main manufacturer, and proud to be associated. We still have a long way to go and are looking towards the future...

2006 is here, so is RSD.

Danny Whitrow.