A TRUE champion of the “anti ordinary”, Charles Fawcett is the owner and managing director of Twisted Automotive, based in Thirsk, North Yorkshire.

Twisted was born from the passion of one man for the iconic LandRover Defender. The business was established in 2001, but the love affair with the Defender started much earlier.

As a child, Charles was surrounded by LandRover vehicles. His father had been involved in the sale and repair of this rugged vehicle since the 1970s and ran a 4×4 off-road driving centre.

Charles joined the family business in 1995 and in 2000 set up Twisted as a side operation, offering tuning and performance enhancements for the then range of LandRover 200/300tdi Defender, Discovery and Range Rover.

Demand for expert advice and quality modification quickly grew, and within ten years Twisted became a full-time operation.

The team quickly switched to focus solely on the Defender and the rest, as they say is history.

In 2008, the business was turning out £500,000 a year, and by 2014 the figure had reached £4.2 million.

Today, Twisted sources base vehicles to convert, restore already-owned vehicles, or supply new from stock - until they have all gone.

Defender Production ended on January 31, 2016 and right then it became an instant classic, and through his business, Charles aims to enhance that legendary status.

Twisted has customers in Malaysia, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, Canada, Switzerland and New Zealand, with plans to expand operations across the Atlantic.

High-profile Twisted clients include chef Jamie Oliver, skateboarder Tony Hawk and overseas royalty.

What job would you like to have other than your own and why?

“I love the variety and creativity of Twisted - and the lengths we go to for our customers to create their perfect vehicle. I really wouldn’t want to do anything else, although in an ideal world I’d spend less time at a desk though and more time outside.

“But if I absolutely had to do something different I’d like to be a farmer. I’d drive a Land Rover, work the land, and grow great crops.

Greatest achievement?

“I have two amazing daughters. There is no bigger achievement than them. They light up my time away from work, although it’s only possible as I have the most incredible support at home from my girlfriend Pip - she is one in a million.”

What makes you most angry?

“I get angry at unnecessary waste - this comes from being broke when I started out in business and had to make every penny count. I’m the first to pick washers up off the floor in the workshop!”

Biggest mistake?

“I think it would have to be being too cautious at times. When I was penniless it was easy to be bold and make sharp rash decisions. But once we started to see something develop and grow, my decisions were slower and I was always looking to protect the business.

“I should have made quicker decisions throughout – we’d probably be much further ahead now if that had been the case.”

What do you need to make life complete?

“I have my dream business, my two girls and the most incredible girlfriend. What more do I need? Except a perhaps the yacht, the beach house, ten dogs and a garage full of cool cars!”

Why do you make a difference?

“From bolting parts onto a Land Rover in the driveway of a rented house ten years ago, to having what is probably the largest stock of Defender vehicles in the world, I guess the difference is my love and passion for the iconic vehicle. But I’m just a normal guy that loves cars, and I’m lucky enough to work with the best vehicles in the world.

“Seriously though, there’s definitely room for improvement. My mind is always cluttered, busy, skipping around, seeing exciting opportunities. I try to make a difference by surrounding myself with an amazing team that I trust implicitly - people who can work through my chaos, take the good ideas and make them work.

“They’re the ones who take the crazy unworkable ideas and find the sense, or that humour me, and make me believe it was my idea and just do what they think is best.”