Custom Brompton Folding bike - homage to 1989 Cal look VW Karmann Ghia

This is a custom Brompton folding bike finished in a colour scheme inspired by a classic 1989 Cal look Volkswagen Karmann Ghia, with authentic colours matched to the original car. It started life as a B75, the most basic Brompton model available when it was purchased new in 2020, and has been extensively rebuilt and customised from the ground up. The frame is British-made steel, which forms the foundation for this one-off project.

The build process involved stripping the original paint, cleaning and reshaping various frame sections including the removal of the front luggage mount and flattening the hinge area to accommodate the graphics more cleanly. The frame attachments for the three-speed gear linkage were left in place, allowing that system to be added later if preferred. Brommie Mods aluminium mudguards replace the stock plastic versions, stripped and repainted to suit the scheme – they hold their shape considerably better than the original components.

The paint work was executed using traditional methods without vinyl graphics. Every colour was carefully masked and airbrushed by hand, then buried under layers of 2K clear coat, flatted back smooth, and polished to a professional finish. The aluminium components – handlebars, cranks, brakes, and wheel rims – were stripped of their original anodizing, then flatted and polished to a bare metal sheen. The wheels are custom-built with 14 spokes at the front and 21 at the rear, running a 44-tooth chainring and 13-tooth rear sprocket. The bike weighs 10.5kg.

Component choices throughout reflect careful attention to detail: Aceoffix quick-release pedals, Vans handlebar grips, H&H hinge clamps, Cane Creek Flat top brake levers, Gusset Bling Slink chain, Snot Wheels jockey wheels, and a Radar saddle with stitching matched to the frame colour and underside painted detail. Although it was built in 2020 to function as a fully rideable folding bike, it has been used sparingly and kept mainly for shows, with the robust paint finish designed to handle regular riding without issue. A stand is included. The bike represents several hundred pounds worth of upgraded components alongside the bespoke paint work, making it a genuinely functional custom build rather than purely decorative.