CRAFTSMAN Gary Coulin has completed a project with a difference - making covers for the world's fastest car.

Gary had three days to make the covers for the 50ft-long Thrust SSC.

Thrust, driven by RAF Tornado pilot Andy Green, broke the land-speed record in the Black Rock Desert, Nevada, US, on October 13 last year, clocking 764.168mph. Now the black PVC transportation cover is being used to protect the car during a somewhat slower exhibition tour of the UK.

He and his father, who helps in his textile business at Oddington Grange, at Weston-on-the-Green, travelled to Thrust's base in Farnborough, Hampshire, to measure the car's vital statistics.

Gary said: "It is an awesome car - more like a plane without wings. The tail looked like something off a jet aircraft."

The cover is made from shiny black PVC-coated polyester and consists of five sections which zip together.

Four main sections cover the bodywork and the fifth protects the car's distinctive nose cone. Gary, 31, said the cover had only needed a few minor adjustments before it fitted perfectly.

He started Thames Valley Textiles in 1992 after an apprenticeship with his grandfather in Liverpool.

"I didn't want to stay on Merseyside so I came back to Oxford. I bought a sewing machine and thought I would make tarpaulins," he said.

Two years ago he made some huge polyester bags for the new Severn Bridge.

The bags were laid on the bed of the estuary and filled with concrete to form the first foundations.

Gary was introduced to the Thrust team a few years ago while doing a marquee job for Jaguar cars and took the opportunity to pass on his business card.

"This is a landmark for me. To start from nothing to protecting the world's fastest car is very satisfying," he said.

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