ABOVE The first T! T! workshops today looking run down.

LEFT The Thump! Thump! crew relax by the Ware Lido. ABOVE Jay Townsend cutting his VW teeth with a 1954 Oval in 1984.

Thump! Thump! were a Volkswagen auto stylists in the late 1980's and 1990's run by Jay Townsend and Gary Constable.  They became famous for creating some of  the most outlandish Volkswagen's the British VW scene had ever seen, the most famous of which is a certain VW Beetle named Billabug, based around the 'billabong' surf wear! 

They also produced Targa Beetles, Custom, Stock, Resto-cal . . . they did it all.  Also producing a wide range of spares for your VW with many parts being sought after today, over ten years later. Most of the Thump! Thump! cars are still around today and sometimes picking up the odd trophy along the way some 15+ years along the line!

ABOVE 'The Duke' a smooth and shaved VW Beetle.

So, what happened before Thump Thump? Well, pull up a chair and let's chew some fat . . . 

Jay got in to Volkswagens in about 1980 when he bought a red 1303s Campaign model Bug (pictured above right). After reading an article in a Hot Rod and Custom UK Magazine by a guy called Pat Ganahl he was hooked! Jay read and read that article and was soon planning out some changes to his first VW Bug.

ABOVE Jay and his first car circa 1980.

In 1981 he took a trip to LA and visited all the major players in the US VW scene like  Berg, Top Line etc and now he was well and truly was hooked. The red 1303S received many new parts from the trip to LA like new carbs and Gene Berg goodies that were hard to find in the UK at the time. 

ABOVE A 1954 Oval body off restoration.

Modifications that were the hot ticket back in the day like the rear frenched number plate and aerial, T-Bars, custom exhaust etc. soon began appearing.

Jay soon moved on to another project,  a complete body off resto of a 1954 oval window Beetle. He completed all of the work himself in his Dad's single garage. Often grinding and spraying late in to the night to get the car ready, fortunately Jay had understanding neighbours!

Jay was the manger at the new Big Boys Toys (BBT) VW store in Essex and Gary Constable used to pop in. Gary had just come back from California and was looking for a good bodywork guy. Jay was getting a bit fed up at BBT, and decided two weeks into a mortgage on his new flat to set up Thump Thump with Gary.

Darren Brind came into BBT and asked if anyone knew of someone that did spraying . . . "Sure I did, me!". Darren handed over a deposit for a paint job and Jay had to go and find a workshop, basically his money started Thump! Thump! and after paying the months rent up front they had £10.00 in the bank.

Sadly Thump! Thump! closed their doors in 1995 with Jay and Gary going their separate ways. Gary went to work for a custom car shop in America and Jay has gone on to open his new business, bakebean design.  Who knows they may even open their doors for a second time?