Hundreds Of Products Ready Today. Dispatch/Collection Custom Cages roll cages
Custom Cages is the more competition minded of the two big cage brands we carry. Almost everything we hold from them is weld-in, a lot of it is in T45, and the naming tells you straight away what level it is built for. If you are racing rather than road driving, this is usually the range to be looking at.
National Spec means Motorsport UK compliant and covers UK national competition. International means FIA certificated. Work out which your regulations need first, because the price difference between the two is substantial.
Where Custom Cages came from
Custom Cages was established in 1985 and has been under the same ownership for more than forty years, which in this trade is unusual and it shows in how consistent the kits are.
The part that matters to a customer is where the work happens. It is all done in house at Daventry on laser tube cutting, CNC mandrel benders and 3D measuring arms, rather than being bought in. That is why the tube runs land where they should on a given shell, and why the catalogue can be as deep as it is.
They also build for the professional end of the sport, which is the useful bit of context. The kit you can buy for a Clio is made in the same shop and to the same process as the cages going into WRC and BTCC cars.
Established, and still under the same ownership more than forty years later.
Cages built for WRC, R1 to R5, Super 2000, FIA GT3, WTCC, BTCC, international historic rally and Dakar.
Laser tube cutting, four CNC tube benders including mandrel benders, milling and turning centres, and 3D measuring arms for quality control.
Tubular chassis, suspension components, harness bars and bespoke prototype work through to production volumes.
Six things to understand
Custom Cages name their kits in a way that tells you nearly everything, once you know what the words mean.
01National Spec
Built to be Motorsport UK compliant, for UK national level competition. Usually 6 point, usually CDS, and the sensible starting point for club racing.
02International
FIA certificated, for international competition. Usually multipoint and usually T45. Step up in specification and in price.
03T45 and CDS
The two steels. T45 is the higher grade and builds lighter for the same strength, so it costs more. CDS is the standard and does the job for most national level use.
04Weld-in
The bulk of the range. Welded directly to the shell, permanent, stiffer, and a bodyshop job rather than a driveway one.
05Bolt-in and rear half
A smaller part of the Custom Cages range. If bolt-in is what you need, it is worth looking at Safety Devices alongside, where the choice is wider.
06Historic and classic
A properly deep classic list. Anglia, Austin A35, Capri, Escort, Imp, and a full set of Mini kits from Historic through Miglia to Seven.
Four questions, in this order
Get the first one right and you will not overspend by several hundred pounds.
National Spec or International?
This is the big one and it is worth reading your regulations properly. National Spec is Motorsport UK compliant and covers UK national competition. International is FIA certificated for international events. A National Spec kit starts around £695 where an International kit is typically over £1,300, so buying the wrong one is an expensive mistake in both directions.
T45 or CDS?
T45 is the higher grade steel and builds a lighter cage for the same strength. CDS is the standard and is what most National Spec kits use. If you are chasing weight and the budget allows, T45. If you are club racing and want the money in tyres, CDS is not a compromise on safety.
Weld-in or bolt-in?
Almost everything Custom Cages do is weld-in, which is stiffer and permanent, and needs a bodyshop. That is the right answer for a dedicated competition car. If your car still has to be a road car, look at the bolt-in end, and be aware that the Safety Devices range has considerably more bolt-in choice.
Is your exact car listed?
These are vehicle specific kits. BMW is the deepest at over a hundred kits, then Ford at nearly eighty, then Audi, Vauxhall, Nissan, Honda, Subaru and VW. If your car is not showing, ring us before assuming, because the catalogue moves.
The National Spec versus International question is the one to get right. People see FIA on a listing and assume they need it. If you are running a UK national championship, a Motorsport UK compliant National Spec kit is what the regulations ask for, and it is roughly half the money. Read the regs, then ring us.
Cameron, GSM PerformanceNational Spec, where most club cars start
Six point kits in CDS, Motorsport UK compliant, and the best value way into a proper cage. These four cover a Porsche 944, a Clio Mk2, an RX7 Mk1 and a four door E46, which is a fair spread of what actually turns up at a club meeting.
FIA certificated multipoint kits in T45
The step up. Multipoint, T45, FIA certificated, and priced accordingly. The Ford KA is the cheapest way into an International kit here. The E30 M3 and the Saxo are two of the most requested cages we sell full stop.
When the car is still a road car
The smaller end of the Custom Cages range, and the one to look at if the car is not a dedicated competition build. Rear half kits for the E92 and the second generation Fiat 500, plus full bolt-in kits for the Escort Mk2 and the 1 Series. If you want more bolt-in choice, our Safety Devices guide covers a much wider selection.
Classic and period kits
A genuinely deep classic list and one of the reasons people come to Custom Cages specifically. Capri Mk1, Austin A35, Anglia and the Mini Historic here, with Mini Miglia, Mini Seven, Hillman Imp, Zephyr and a long list of Escorts alongside them.
E36 rear half, DIY kit
At £410 this is the least expensive thing in the Custom Cages range we hold, and it is worth knowing about. A rear half kit in CDS supplied as a DIY kit, for track and show use on an E36.
It is not a competition cage and it is not pretending to be. If you want rear protection in a track day car without committing to a full competition kit, this is the entry point.
National Spec against International
| National Spec | International | |
|---|---|---|
| Approval | Motorsport UK compliant | FIA certificated |
| Built for | UK national competition | International competition |
| Typical design | 6 point | Multipoint |
| Typical material | CDS | T45 |
| Typical fitting | Weld-in | Weld-in |
| Starts around | £695 | £1,138 |
| Buy it if | Your regs say Motorsport UK | Your regs say FIA |
Cage type, material, fitting type and approval are listed on every product page under the specification tab. Read the approval line rather than assuming from the material, because the two are separate things.
Where the range is deepest
Everything is vehicle specific, so this is really a question of whether your shell is on the list.
Beyond those we hold Nissan, Honda, Subaru, VW, Porsche, Alfa Romeo, Mazda, Peugeot, Toyota, Renault, MG, Mitsubishi, Mini, Lotus, Seat, Austin and Citroen kits, among others. If your car is not listed, ring us with the model and year. Custom Cages also do bespoke work, so a one off is not out of the question.
Common questions about Custom Cages
What is the difference between National Spec and International?▾
National Spec kits are built to be Motorsport UK compliant, which covers UK national level competition. International kits are FIA certificated for international competition. If your regulations only ask for Motorsport UK, a National Spec kit does the job and costs a good deal less. If they ask for FIA, you need International.
Where are Custom Cages made?▾
Daventry, in the UK. They have been established since 1985 and under the same ownership for over forty years, and the tube work is done in house on laser tube cutting, CNC mandrel benders and 3D measuring equipment.
What is the difference between T45 and CDS?▾
Both are cage steels. T45 is the higher grade and lets the same strength be built with less weight, which is why T45 kits cost more. CDS is the standard and is what most National Spec kits use. The material is separate from the approval, so check both.
Are Custom Cages kits weld-in or bolt-in?▾
Almost everything we hold from Custom Cages is weld-in. There is a smaller bolt-in and rear half selection, but if you specifically need a bolt-in cage you will usually find more choice in the Safety Devices range.
Do Custom Cages supply professional teams?▾
Yes. They build for WRC, R1 to R5 classes, Super 2000, FIA GT3, WTCC, BTCC, international historic rally and Dakar, alongside the road and club kits we stock.
Will a Custom Cages kit fit my car?▾
We hold over 650 of them and BMW and Ford are the deepest, with more than a hundred BMW kits alone. They are vehicle specific, so the tube runs and mounting points are worked out for that shell. Ring us with the car and year if you cannot find yours.
Can I fit a weld-in cage myself?▾
No, and you should not try. A weld-in cage is welded directly to the shell and it is a bodyshop job. Get it done by someone who has fitted cages before, particularly if the car is going to be scrutineered.
Do I need padding as well?▾
Yes. Any tube within helmet reach needs FIA rated padding and scrutineers do check. Add it to the order at the same time rather than sorting it the week before an event.
Read the regulations, then ring us
Cages are the one purchase where a five minute phone call saves a lot of money. Tell us the car, the year and the championship, and we will tell you whether you need National Spec or International, and in which material. Ask for Cameron.
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