www.bernardnewbury.co.uk Creative auto interiors since 1970

When Bernard first left school back in the early ’60s, his first job was that of a ‘Detailer’ (valeting) from which he eventually worked his way up through the ranks to become a mechanic. Back then he was best described as a Mod and could often be found buzzing around Southend (on the Essex Coast) on a very Modified Vespa GS scooter. Soon after passing his driving test, on the 3rd attempt, Bernard bought a Ford Anglia, which he had started to customize within 2 weeks of purchasing! He lowered the suspension, removed the bumpers (race-style) and, before he knew it, Bernard had entered his first race. Bernard was so fixated with racing he would compete anywhere and in just about any kind of competition, whether it be autocross, circuit or drag. Incidentally, Bernard raced at Santa Pod the first year it opened! The only changes to the set-up back then would a few sets of tyres to suit various types of surface/track… Now that's what we call budget racing! Following the Anglia, Bernard bought an Austin Mini and soon realised he couldn't find anyone to undertake custom modifications to the standards he required. To this end, Bernard eventually started his own business specialising in custom interiors. It was also around this time that Bernard got married, which stopped any racing for a while! Well, that’s not completely true, there was also the fact that he rolled the Mini and completely destroyed it.

Several years later, Bernard had two significant customers cross the threshold, Richard King and Stewart Bishop. At that point, Richard was building a red Karmann Ghia Cabriolet, which some might say sparked the burgeoning UK Cal-Look scene and Stewart was building a ’53 Oval. Bernard eventually trimmed both vehicles, and Stewart’s Oval went on to win Best Interior at the very first Bug Jam back in 1987 as well as being featured in the very first edition of VolksWorld in the same year. In 1986, Bernard’s son, Louis, joined him straight from school and was keen to inject young ideas and to emulate what was going on in the scene. So, in 1988 a clapped out ’67 bug was bought for just £60 and work started on the new project, named ‘No Lemon’ – a lemon yellow Cal-Looker, which was featured in VolksWorld magazine back in the June ’89 issue. Although it was never a show winner, ‘No Lemon’ was an important car as it caused both Bernie and Louis to specialise in custom VW interiors. Also around this time, Bernard and Louis were powerboat water-ski racing at a semi-professional level, eventually becoming members of the British team and racing all over Europe most weekends. However, during a race in Rotterdam in ’90, Louis injured his back so badly he wouldn't be able to ski competitively again, so it was time for Bernard to go back to concentrate his efforts on his first love... modified cars!

Anyone who knows Bernard will know his attention to detail, and this was ever present when building his powerboats. He even won the Concourse D'Elegance 3 years in a row for the best-prepared boat at the annual British Water ski Federation award ceremony. It's this award that lead Bernard to build one of the most ground breaking VWs to ever come out of this country and possibly the World. Over the winter of ’91/’92 Bernard helped finish Louis’ Type 3 squareback project, and at the last moment decided he would enter it in the first VolksWorld show at the Rex Centre in Birmingham! A wise decision indeed as the car walked away with a trophy for ‘Best Interior’. It was also at this show that Bernard first met Simon Emery of The Paintbox and formed a lasting and close friendship. Also around this time, Bernard had noticed at various cruises that the loudest vehicles often attracted the biggest crowds and thus ‘The Boom Box’ (Type 25 van) was born. This served as an interim show vehicle and as an attraction to his trade stand at various shows (including Louis DJing from it at Bug Jam ‘92).