The man who saw his huge gamble in buying 200 Land Rover Defenders ultimately pay off, could be set to make even more from another venture.
Charles Fawcett was the man behind the idea to buy all those cars back in 2015 and modify them to sell for an increased price to customers.
The Brit started Yorkshire-based automotive company Twisted back in 2000, introducing its first Land Rover-specific parts, with the first Twisted TD5 90 demo vehicle on the road by 2003.
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By 2009, the company made custom vehicles for clients around the Land Rover Defender.
After bulk buying a stockpile of undriven Defenders and modifying them to be sold for up to £220,000, Fawcett revealed that these luxury cars are not where Twisted is stopping.
It looks like the founder has turned the company's attention elsewhere, explaining in a 2022 interview with Powerboat & Rib: "My family, and in particular my father, have all shared a long-standing love of boats...
"They’ve always fascinated me and, as a result, I’ve owned mirror dinghies, trailer sailers and one or two ski boats."
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He added: "It’s astonishing that in the States, 90s powerboats like the Scarab 43 are now considered virtually ‘throwaway’ relics of the past. Nevertheless, it was the Scarab that got me thinking as to whether I could take my acquired knowledge gained from automotive and reapply it to marine."
Fawcett explained that he looked at Scarab boat models in the US, spotting an opportunity to work on them and carry over the same concept of luxury modifications.
Speaking about the idea, he revealed: "I came to appreciate the synergy that Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIBs) held in terms of the 4×4 concept I had come to know so intimately through my history with Land Rover,
"So, from the spark of an idea ignited by Scarab through to formulating a valid Twisted Marine business working with RIBs, the ‘4x4s of the sea’, the concept started to become reality."
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Fawcett explained that Twisted is seen as more of an 'engineering business', adding that 'flair and attention to detail' are things it is known for.
"We’re working with partners and brands who, not surprisingly, share the same core values as ourselves. They are also open to our input and committed to making the best even better," he claimed.
Comparing the challenge with his Land Rover venture, Fawcett said: "I think the challenges for both are quite similar in many ways.
"Clearly they involve different skill sets, especially when it comes to understanding the individual product and the environment it’s designed to perform within, but for us, we work on the basis of securing the very best experts out there..."
Fawcett added: "The first RIB product, the Twisted T450, has been in testing and development over the course of the last 12 months and is now available for demonstration."
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He highlighted that he wants to build 'long-term relationships', again with bespoke, luxury designs within his products for Twisted Marine.
Joshua Nair