The Bodgewell Story
Where it all began…
The earliest beginnings of this Bodgewell nonsense can be traced back to New Zealand, a rather long way from the UK which has now become home for me (Jaz) and my 1965 Mk1 Mini – the car which now bears the Bodgewell name.
Since I first got my driving license at the age of 15, I’ve been driving, modifying and tinkering with old British cars – namely MGBs and, of course, classic Minis.
I moved back to the UK in 2018, which sadly put my beloved Mini into hibernation in my Dad’s shed for a few years… that was, until I dragged it over here in with me after a lengthy voyage at sea in 2020!
Shortly thereafter in 2021, “Bodgewell” came into existence, initially as a 5 minute side project in Photoshop after I decided to design myself an amusing plaque for my car’s rocker cover.
Since then the name has stuck and I’ve continued to share my escapades under the Bodgewell moniker, prominently featuring the Mk1 as well as other cars that I’ve bought and sold over the years!
Why “Bodgewell”?
Glad you asked!
I’ve always been intrigued by the aftermarket tuning companies from the ’60s and beyond, who took standard Minis and turned them into cars that weren’t quite as slow as they left the factory.
Amongst other well-known tuners such as Downton Engineering, one particularly famous name is Speedwell, from which “Bodgewell” was derived in a tongue-in-cheek fashion.
What’s happened here is that I’ve gone and taken inspiration from that famous Speedwell name, bastardised it a bit, and created something that attempts to capture more of the “grassroots” DIY-centric automotive culture which represents the beating heart of the global Mini scene.
The art of the bodge
Bodgewell represents something I like to call “The Art of the Bodge“.
If you were to put it more gracefully, Bodgewell as a name stands for the ethos that “perfection is the enemy of progress”, and that “good is good enough”.
In a way, I’m trying to reclaim and redefine the meaning of the word bodge. Historically it’s been associated with unsafe corner-cutting; I prefer to see it as a descriptor of ingenuity, uniqueness, and something that a DIYer can achieve with a can-do attitude and some clever thinking.
Basically, don’t put yourself or others in danger, but do bend the rules and think outside of the box to inject some personality into your car, turning into something you can truly enjoy!
Over the course of my Mini stewardship, I’ve applied those values in practice wherever I can. My cars are never perfect, as nice as they might look in pictures – but I’d sooner have a unique car that’s “rough around the edges” than something I can barely drive out of fear of scratching a £10,000 paint job.
But what does Bodgewell even “do”?
You’ll be forgiven at this point for wondering what on earth this nonsensical brand actually represents – a company? A person? Something else entirely?
Put simply, Bodgewell is an outlet for various creative hobbies I enjoy, which is themed around DIY classic motoring and embodies my “perfection-averse” personal values.
Between driving and working on my own cars, I’m often pointing a camera at things, designing things, and talking rubbish with mates and likeminded enthusiasts.
Basically, expect to see some Mini-centric automotive social media content, the occasionally nice photograph, and the odd video showcasing my ongoing project(s) and Mini adventures… eventually I’d like to have some Bodgewell-designed things to sell you too!
Who am I?
If you’ve gotten this far and are still semi-interested, hello there, it’s jolly good to meet you!
I’m Jaz– by day I manage technology projects, and help companies to build websites and software applications. You could say that my enjoyment of tinkering with old cars and pottering about with a camera is an antidote for sitting behind a screen all day!
I also happen to be trans, so I’m trying (in my own small way) to play a part in the inclusion & representation of LGBTQ+ folks in the car community.
Bodgewell as you see it here is a bit of a combination of my professional skillset, personal hobbies & values, and an outright obsession with Minis and all things automotive.
