Hegedus Automobili

About Brandon Hegedus

Born, raised and living in Calgary Alberta Canada, Brandon is the son of a skilled brick mason who was taught to work with his hands, by eye and with imagination at a young age. With access to his father’s small home workshop as a child, he learned many woodworking and fabrication skills that led to a job offer and apprenticeship in cabinetry at the age of 16. Becoming a red-seal journeyman cabinet maker in young adulthood lead to a career in fine and artistic custom millwork.

With a lifelong side interest in custom cars, hot rods and racing, Brandon spent time at the local race track, and building go-karts, drag-cars and working with turbochargers as a youth in every spare moment, with dreams of scratch building his own American hot rod someday. As an adult and with a workshop of his own, that dream was realized in 2011 and led to a number of subsequent hot rods and automotive projects being built as a hobby during evenings and weekends, gaining new skills with each project.

With the drive to venture outside of his comfort zone and further stretch his skillset, Brandon embarked into the culture of vintage European race cars working with carbon fibre, tube chassis, suspension geometry and sophisticated fuel injection. After a number of completed vehicles of this genre and with media praise and recognition, paying clients began to enquire about their otherwise unattainable dream cars.

With encouragement from his family, Brandon left a two-decade career in fine millwork in 2022, and a once part-time hobby became a daily focus and full-time passion to be shared with clients as Hegedüs Automobili LTD. With a constant striving to learn and acquire new skills, Brandon has a long and growing list of exciting vehicles and ideas that continue to inspire him.

My INspirations

Brandon's Ideology

“Anyone can simply finance a fast and exotic car, new or used, have something that countless others have, and then deal with the costs to maintain it, but I wanted to know what it’s like to street drive a legendary race car, something unique. Something that would be absolutely unimaginable to be seen on a regular road. I also want to know that I can change its oil, clearly see and understand how the car works, and know that I as its owner or any capable mechanic can maintain it over time with easily sourced and affordable parts. That gets me excited! That wakes me up at night with fresh inspiration and new ideas!”

“What I find most beautiful about historic coach-built cars are the imperfections. Because each one was handmade, they have flaws that show the human hands behind their craftsmanship. Add to that their battle scars and patina from the lives or races they have lived and it takes me back, wondering about those hands, those drivers, the experimental engineering that made the next cars better. It speaks to the human experience. We are not perfect. Life is not perfect. We live in an imperfect world where nothing is without its flaws, but the pursuit of perfection is admirable. To look back and see where we came from and honour those scars and that history… it’s a beautiful thing”.

“Any car guy can see that vehicles today are becoming just another appliance. Self-driving, self-shifting, sensors and driving aids for everything. The masculine or feminine look of a car’s exterior is being lost and replaced with faceless androgenous designs that are easier sold to the masses. Where has the excitement gone?? I love a car that is raw. An engine that screams, throttle bodies that breath loudly, gated shifts with a firm engagement, steering feedback that feels the road, and a driving experience that keeps you riding that line between fear and joy. Vintage cars do that”.