In the custom world, there are few more challenging builds than designing a motorcycle around a car engine. They?re heavy and torque focused, and trying to physically fit one into a production bike frame is easier said than done.
But what if your starting point is a car engine and you build everything around it" That?s what New Zealander Marcel van Hooijdonk did to create this incredible ‘Madboxer’ custom.

The Madboxer, as good a name as any for this machine, has been ‘in the build’ for over five years. A toolmaker by trade, Marcel is more than a dab hand behind a set of tools, so when a friend sent him an email with a photo issuing a challenge, he leapt at the chance to put his skills towards something a little different. ?It all started off as a bit of a challenge from a mate in Aussie, Harry, who came across an artist?s impression of a Subaru-powered motorcycle concept?with the comment ?something for you to knock up in the shed, mate,? says Marcel.

The car engine was obviously the key to this build, and Marcel had a few options to choose from. The most readily available Subaru engine in NZ is the long-lived EJ series, with capacities ranging from 1.5 to 2.5 liters, and found in most Subarus since 1989.
Marcel passed over the ever-popular 2-liter mill, and instead went with a turbocharged EJ25 out of a second generation WRX.

To start the project off, Marcel checked to see if it was even possible to make the Madboxer a reality.
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