About Us
The Heritage of our Company
R-Tec Auto Design has a history which spans more than 40 years. In the 1970's British Rallycross champion, Keith Ripp founded Ripspeed in North London, initially specialising in tuning parts and accessories for Mini's before expanding to all marques. Ripspeed became the largest specialised tuning store in England and exported products worldwide for over twenty years. The brand of Ripspeed was eventually sold to Halfords in the late 90's.
Keith Ripp with his two sons Adrian & Jason later started up Xtreme Motorsport with a partner based in Harlow, Essex. After many successful years in Essex, Xtreme was then sold to allow Adrian & Jason to fully concentrate on the next generation of bespoke automotive retailing. R-Tec Auto Design was born in 2001. R-Tec operates from a 10,000 Sq ft state-of-the art premises based in St. Albans, Hertfordshire.
Over the last decade R-Tec Auto Design has expanded it's premises and staff numbers. R-Tec also offer a larger array of services and stock more products from luxury and performance suppliers than ever before.
An overview of our Services
As one of the largest UK retailers of automotive products, we pride ourselves on delivering excellent customer service and a whole host of installation and fitting services for all marques including:
- Window Tinting
- Engine Carbon Cleaning Service
- Air Ride
- Custom Exhausts by Longlife
- Longlife Tailpipes
- De wrap my car - Removing vinyl wrap
- Engine Remapping
- Custom Interiors
- Four Wheel Laser Alignment
- Brake Caliper Painting
- Wheel Balancing
- Tyre Stretching
- Tyre Health Check
- Nitrogen Tyre Inflation
- Brake Installation
- Wheel & Tyre Installation
- Suspension Installation
- Instant Finance
- Parts Installation
- Price match
- Book Wheel Alignment now and SAVE
- In store only products
Our Philosophy
R-Tec's core philosophy can be summed up by the motto Top Brands, Best Prices, Best Bodykits and Styling, Specialist staff offering good Advice with large stocks in-store. With the option to have the parts fitted onsite.
R-tec's staff are chosen on the criteria of enthusiasm and friendliness, rather than good looks or skill in hard sales techniques. We like to think that our colleagues are some of the most experienced in the industry, so please pay us a visit - have a coffee in our espresso bar, and allow us to offer as much advice as you need.
We believe in providing a non-intimidating atmosphere, one in which we work with you to ensure that you get the desired results from your choices.
Saving you money
R-Tec buy in large quantities, and the strong relationships we have built up with our suppliers over 40 years allow us to negotiate extra savings. These strategies mean that our store is brimming with alloy wheels and tyres with the additions of other car modification products.
R-Tec monitor and react to the competition's prices on a daily basis. Please feel free to check around - in the unlikely event that you find any of the products we sell cheaper anywhere else (in-store and on-line*) we'll try to beat All that we ask is the parts you are interested in is brand new, in stock and that the lower price is being offered by an authorised dealer.
*Delivery charge added if mail order offer only.
Changes
Historically, we have been known for selling modified car accessories with sound advice to our clients, 'there are far too many e-tailers who pretend to have knowledge in our industry'. In recent years we've responded to a shift in Luxury vehicle modification due to demand. Our store in St Albans is equipped with a workshop with all of the latest fitting equipment and a large showroom where you are able to touch a feel the product before you buy.
Our Green Credentials
R-Tec Auto Design recognises that the provision of all services and products generates an impact on the environment and we are fully committed to minimising any potential negative impact by continually striving to improve our environmental performance. When we install a new exhaust or new tyres it is nice to know how your old one/s will be disposed. By using an environmentally friendly disposal process we are helping to reduce our carbon footprint, R-Tec only uses fully certified registered members of the recycling industry who abide by the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 1964 and fully certified registered members of the TRA and insured tyre recycling companies to help with the best disposal possible.