Member Article

Portuguese couple establish Britain’s “Fast and Furious” tuning garage

Janica Customs Garage was opened on March 1st, 2022 by husband and wife team with a passion for all things cars, fast cars. The company founders and owners, Catia and João or better known as ‘Janica’ in the car scene operate the garage in Kingston upon Hull, and had started their entrepreneurial journey via a small mobile mechanic van, providing services roadside.

Becoming quickly known for their reliable work and passion for custom cars, they became the talk of the town and received an outpour of support, providing them with enough financial leeway to save up and open their own mechanic shop.

This mechanic shop isn’t just your usual mechanic shop, if you’re having a fault they will fix it but their specialty lies in customising and upgrading your car to anything you can dream.

Known for being the couple that Dom and Brian from Fast and Furious would take their cars to, or being able to make your car go as fast and look as good as something from Pimp My Ride or Need For Speed Underground 2 they have become the ‘go to’ spot for exotic, muscle, JDM and race car owners.

From modifying normal Mini doors to those seen on a Lamborghini, to installing Nitrous Oxide (NOS) systems on quarter mile, straight line drag strip monsters they do not shy away from any challenge, as long as you can afford it.

The couple moved to Britain to find a better life with their young son, Janica who was a celebrated engineer, welder and car mechanic in Portugal saw a market gap in British modified car scene, with not many garages that allow you to modify every bit of your car existing.

Catia commented:

We didn’t want a normal garage, it needed to be a garage that people were proud to bring their car in, that made people feel good. So we tried to be the best in business with the most cleanest customs garage that anyone has seen or done business with.

The couple are said to be the real life Dom and Letti, the infamous couple from Fast and Furious film franchise who’s passion for cars matches their love for each other.

Customers from all around the world are now coming to upgrade their exhausts, tune their ECU modules for faster lap times and modify every bit of their pride and joy. Building, producer and celebrity entrepreneur’s Terry McGinnis’ Mercedes-Benz ‘HellBat’ for a charity race, a heavily modified, armored SUV capable of reaching 700 horse power in collaboration with American Mercedes tuner, RENNtech, founded by Mercedes AMG engineer, Hartmut Feyhl and wrapped by The Vehicle Wrapping Centre of Leeds in pearlescent white, creating an intimidating beast that has the power to match its looks.

Catia continued:

It is always amazing seeing a smile on the face of our customers, when we do an exhaust on their pride and joy and it is better then they were expecting.

The modified car scene has been one of the most popular hobbies for men in United States and Japan, however Europe has been lacking behind, instead opting in to upgrade their existing car every four years according to DVLA.

The garage is also heavily involved in the car scene and community, supporting several car groups; ‘Modified Yorkshire’ and ‘Kingston Cruz’. The couple also believe in supporting charitable and altruistic endeavors, providing fundraising and support for charity ‘Lupus Modified’, a leading charity in providing awareness for Lupus, something no cure for has been found yet.

The couple has provided inspiration for other entrepreneurs seeking a better life in Britain, allowing Kingston upon Hull showcase it as a case study for why the riverside city is the place to establish a business.

Janica Customs Garage can be found at Unit 6, Tadman Street, HU3 2BG, Kingston upon Hull.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Joanna Gierhart .