Like many things, great ideas and opportunities come about by chance. That is certainly the case for Theoc 4×4 founders Dan Williams and Graham Daly.

The pair first met while working at the local car dealership in their hometown of Tewkesbury (Theocsbury). They were both united in their passion for motocross and that quickly escalated into cars.  Their first project, as are many, started with converting a Suzuki Vitara into an off-roader, learning the hard way of what works and what should be left alone!

Shortly after, they started modifying and building their own components to compete their Land Rover Defender 90 in winch challenge events before tackling the Welsh Xtreme. The word quickly spread and people liked what they had done to their Defender, so the pair decided to set up Theoc 4×4. Since starting the company in 2015 they have progressed from modifying Defenders to full on Ultra4 builds. In this quick interview with the pair we find out about their long-term goals and which one is always last to the bar!

 

Do you just specialise in serious off-road builds?

Graham: Not at all but we focus on 4x4s mainly. This can range from Ultra4 frames and builds to fitting a winch bumper to a Land Rover Defender. There isn’t not much we haven’t tackled.

Outside fabrication what other services do you offer?

Dan: Pretty much everything comes to mind. From fitting Land Rover chassis and rebuilding Defenders from the ground up to setting up suspension and oil changes. We also prepare cars and get them MOT’d.

What brought about the new logo and colour change?

Graham: Once we opened I quickly threw a website together and had a go at a logo with the intension to change it. But we’ve been packed out since we opened the doors in 2015 and I’ve never got round to looking at it. Recently a good customer of ours offered to help out. It is surprising the contacts we have picked up over the years. I’m the green part of the logo being a Kawasaki fan and Dan’s the red. No he’s not a Ferrari or Honda enthusiast but it was the colour of his first car, a red Ford Fiesta!

Will you both be competing soon?

Dan: We sold our last truck and are currently working on two projects. But we are just struggling to find the time to finish them. So we are aiming to be out for 2021. I’m building a Volvo T5 powered winch challenge truck and Graham is going all out with rear engine LS3 powered Ultra4. That way Theoc 4×4 can enter both disciplines.

What has been your biggest challenge in the shop to date?

Graham: It has to be configuring the front suspension for the new Ultra4 I’m building. It’s a minefield of numbers and geometry. 

What is the long-term goal for Theoc 4×4?

Dan: To have more people in Theoc built cars and to compete in the Balkan and Dakar rallies.

 

JUST FOR LAUGHS

Do you prefer rock or mud sections? Rocks more challenging

Who is the better driver? Dan as he doesn’t roll it as much!

Who is quickest on a bike? Dan

Who is last to the bar? Always Dan

Who has the worst taste in music? Both listen to the same stuff. 

If you two had to do a duet in a karaoke bar what would you sing? If we ever sang you probably wouldn’t be able to understand what we were singing!