POLOKWANE – Head spinner, businessman and drifter, Feroz Mahomed Cassim, the owner of Team Y and Sons, a workshop that specialises in motor maintenance and repairs, shares his passion for cars.
Growing up, what was your dream car?
I loved bikes while growing up because my uncle was my inspiration and he owned several bikes, and my favourite was a Honda CBX1000.
Did you have many toy cars while you were growing up?
I had a few, the one I remember most was a replica Ford Mustang. I specifically remember that one because my dad drove a Mustang and I was fascinated by it.
What was the first car you owned?
My first car was a Toyota Corona MK1. My dad bought it for a bargain, however, the first car I fell in love with was the Toyota Corolla GLi twin cam 1986 chisel nose. This car had it all, the speed, looks and the sound.
When did you buy your latest ‘toy’?
I bought my latest toy last year. It is a Nissan Skyline GTS-T R33 import with a RB25 engine. The original power output on the car was 200 kW and about 280 Nm torque. We did some modifications on the car with a bigger turbo, inter-cooler, and a fuel management intake manifold which pushed the power up to around 270 kW and 340 Nm toque, a big increase considering it is only running a 0,8 bar boost.
What was the price tag?
I bought the car for R100 000 and spent about R40 000 on all the upgrades.
What are some of the features that stand and which you appreciate most on a car?
What stands out for me about a car is not its shine, it is more the attention to detail. The choice of wheels and mags on your car and the stance say a lot about the kind of person you are. Most people normally lower a car to the ground, it might look sweet, but it makes for a bumpy ride. Mainly what stands out most for me is the cleanliness of your engine bay, your tyres, and your car as a whole.
What is the car you feel proudest about?
My father and I started with a project car, a BMW 325i E30, in 2011. We went all out with this car as we wanted to build a powerful beast ideal for drifting. So far we have spent around R150 000 on this car.
What are some of the modifications you made to the car and do you think it was worth the money?
We replaced the engine, gearbox, clutch, coil over suspension, and bodywork. We installed rollcages, bucket seats and several smaller cosmetic changes. If I could start over with this car, I would do it in a flash as every time I look at this car, it makes my heart beat faster. It is a priceless work of art and the time my dad and I spent on it is something not even money can buy.
Did you do all of the modifications yourself or did you get someone to do it for you?
All alterations and modifications on my cars have been done in house by Team Y and Sons which is our family business. My dad, Yunus Mahomed Cassim, opened the business in 1996, so I come from good stock and that might be why I’m a mechanic fanatic and a sportsman.
There is such a wide selection of mags to choose from, why did you pick this look?
The mags on this car is called a Borbet and it is very rare. It reflects my personality as I myself like to be unique.
If you could add something else to your vehicle, what would it be and why?
The next thing I want to add to a future project car is airbags (air suspension) as it is the latest craze and it hasn’t hit the streets of Polokwane yet.
