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EXCLUSIVE……brand new, exciting exotic Italian replica announced this week comes from a company called Spyder Sportscars, run by Mark Roach, and is called the Ga**ardo (correct spelling!) and is based on a separate spaceframe chassis rather than a body conversion on a mainstream production car.

Power comes from an Audi 4.2 V8, from an S4, producing 390bhp and weighing in at around 1200kg, the power-to-weight is actually comparable with a genuine car! Other engine options are available, as you’d expect.

Spyder are working on an alternative version based on Toyota MR2 Mk2, which will follow later on this year. We’ll be visiting the company very soon for an exclusive first drive and we’ll bring you more information as it is released, including kit prices.

More from www.spydersportscars.com or 07956 904 464 ENDS.

New company, Spyder Sportscars, are working on a new model they call Ga**ardo!

As mentioned last week………the all-new Gentry made its début at Stoneleigh last weekend, and a TRIUMPH-ant one it was too, (Sorry! - Ed) having been officially launched in front of invited guests only (we were there), at the Jaguar Sports & Social Club at Browns Lane, the evening before the show.

Gentry Motors are run by former traffic policeman, Geoff Beston and his wife, Ellen, and from what we saw at the show, the demonstrator is of an incredibly high standard, with top quality touches abounding. It is the epitome of taste and subtlety and is sure, in my opinion, to put the Gentry well and truly back on the map.

The nice thing is that although SVA wasn’t even thought of in 1973, when RMB founder, Roger Blockley, launched his Gentry to a receptive kitcar buying public, by building on the basis of over 2000 kit sales, Geoff Beston has cleverly retained the charm of the car and carefully enhanced it to enable compliance with the demands of 2008.

Beautiful 'new' Gentry really caught my eye at Stoneleigh...

The body has been strengthened, items such as chrome-on-brass windscreen have been added, as has a purpose-made fuel tank and radiator, while areas like the dashboard are now a separate item rather than laminated-in.

The package is available in two versions: the General Kit Option at £5750, contains items such as ladderframe chassis (made in-house), and body tub (which has a steel frame covered in plywood, aluminium and fibreglass) and rear wings. Meanwhile, the Completed Kit Option, includes all the stuff supplied in the base kit but all panels are pre-aligned and fitted to the tub, while doors are also pre-fitted for you, and this costs £7750.

Geoff estimates that a ‘new’ Gentry could be completed for around £10,000 although that of course depends on the final specification.

More information from www.gentrycars.co.uk or 02476 382 973 ENDS.

...as did the interior.

 

Superb new 427 replica from Hawk Cars…………made its début at Stoneleigh last weekend and met with a very positive response.

The Hawk 427 has a totally authentic shape and comes fully assembled bar engine (Ford 302/351W), gearbox (Tremec), Jaguar diff and tyres. Therefore you spec items like the trim and paint colour and these arrive done for you.

The car is underpinned by an as-original round tube chassis and suspension, with vented disc brakes, peg drive hubs with 7½/9½in x 15in Halibrand replica ‘knock-off’ wheels. Meanwhile, the leather seats are to the same pattern as the sixties originals, as are the Smiths instruments, Mota-Lita steering wheel and brightwork.  

Base price for the car is an amazing £35,237 inc VAT although there is a variety of optional extras to chose from including stripes, roundels, sidepipe exhausts instead of underslung, quick-lift jacks in lieu of bumpers and a hardtop.

More from www.hawkcars.co.uk or 01892 750 341 ENDS.

Hawk's new 427 really impressed.

Among the great range of products in………….Rally Design’s new RMD range are six new steering wheels that are stitched on for kitcar use.

Four are finished in black suede with the other two being covered in leather (black/blue; black/red). You can choose from 'D’-shaped wheels in either 255mm or 320mm or ‘Flat’ wheels in 320mm or 350mm diameters.

The company sold a lot of them at Stoneleigh last weekend and one look at the quality and cool prices will tell you why. Just £40 inc VAT buys you a flat-shaped leather wheel, with the 255mm ‘D’-shaped suede wheel at £45 inc VAT. All others cost £50 inc VAT.

More from www.rallydesign.co.uk or 01795 531 871 ENDS.

Smart new range of affordable steering wheels from Rally Design in their RMD range.

Road Runner Racing…..run by Kevin Hickling, was at Stoneleigh with their latest Sprint R demonstrator and report that business is good for this hugely capable single-seat kit.

I well recall driving the previous demo car at Snetterton last summer and being very enamoured with it. Subtle changes to the bodywork have since been made and I reckon it really is a superb trackday kit that will make you feel like Michael Schumacher! It certainly made this very average driver feel like a world-beater!

Indeed, all round good bloke and bike engine supplier to the kitcar industry, Mal Curnin, has built himself one with a latest-spec Suzuki GSX-R1000 engine supplying the power…oo-er missus!

Kit prices start at £3519 inc VAT with turnkey cars from £13,513 inc VAT.

More information on this cracking little kit from www.roadrunnerracing.co.uk or 01909 732 506 ENDS. 

Sprint-R from Roadrunner Racing looking good....

Raw Striker Ltd was at Stoneleigh………in force last weekend in a shared stand with their agents, AB Performance, and in addition to the Striker they had a range of superbike and Toyota 4A-GE engine packages available.

Also on display was their new Fulcrum, full-bodied model, which features a Striker chassis with outriggers. Sales of this exciting new package have been going well with trackday enthusiasts and of course 750 Motor Club racers finding it an attractive proposition, with former STM racer, Tim Gray and Gary Goodyear, doing really well this season in the Road Going Bike-engine championship (RGB) and Kit Car championship, respectively.

Kit prices for the Fulcrum start at £5590 inc VAT, rising to £8250 inc VAT for the comprehensive single donor package, with the more potent T-150 option at £15,600 inc VAT and the bonkers T-220 at £20,000 inc VAT.

There’s also a version called the T-R, which is aimed at the racetrack and features lowered chassis and lightweight bodywork among other amendments and costs £7199 inc VAT in kit form.

More from www.rawstriker.co.uk or 01432 371 169 or www.abperformance.co.uk ENDS.

Raw's new Fulcrum is also catching the imagination

You’ll see that our latest issue………..features Blaze Motorsport and sadly we closed for press before we could add a photo of the exciting new MGF-based version, to their feature in our May/June 2008 issue. So, to address that, here’s one….

More from www.blazemotorsport.co.uk or 01622 863 122 ENDS.

MGF-based Blaze F is set to do well

Leading V8 supplier Huddart Engines…….are now agents for the superb Accel range of engine management products.

Upgrades are available for any carb-ed Chevy or Ford V8 and give emission compliance, better economy, easier starting and more power. The Gen7 package features intake manifold, throttle body, injectors, fuel rails, wiring harness, wide band tuner, data acquisition facility, spiral plug leads and more. A typical installation can support up to 1250bhp and will add about £2350 inc VAT to your budget.

Huddart are also supplying TWM Induction fuel injection systems, too, which give classic sixties looks, with modern day performance.

More information from www.huddartengines.co.uk or 01270 811 427 ENDS.

Accel engine management and fuel injection products are available from Huddart Engines.

It was good to see Bob Busbridge of Autotrack Cobretti……………at Stoneleigh last weekend. It was his company's first show for quite a while and it was nice to see the Viper there.

The Viper Cobra replica has been around for a long time with many hundreds sold over the years. Bob told me that the company intend to become a lot more proactive this year and will be at several kitcar shows in 2008, commencing with Newark in June.

Kit prices start at £3695 and a DIY budget of around £15,000 would see a Viper 4 completed.

More from www.cobrettiviperv8.com or 0208 395 0109 ENDS.

Great to Autotrack Cobretti at Stoneleigh with their Viper

Vindicator Cars will not be at Capesthorne Hall, Cheshire, this weekend….as the show due to take place there has been cancelled due to circumstances beyond the organiser’s control. They are therefore having a well-earned weekend off to recover from the fantastic response I hear they had at Stoneleigh, last week.

The first picture shows the Vindistand in a quieter moment, when they had chance to think about using the camera! The second picture features a Rover 3.5-litre V8 having a trial fit in a new design of Vindi chassis (on Thursday 8 May), with a Mazda turbo destined for the first one. We look forward to hearing more about this development.

Busy Vindicator stand at Stoneleigh

Normal Vindi service will be resumed on Monday and this month’s busy schedule of Vindivents include their next Factory Open Day/SVA Forum arranged for Saturday 17th May, 11 - 3pm, followed by a Vindi-Cruise at around 3pm. Saturdays 24th & 31st are available for ‘Demos by Appointment’. 

Their next Factory Trackday is due to be on Thursday 19th June, 2-5pm with a Factory Open session from 9:30-11am.

For more info, or to book an appointment, please contact John on 07703 289 833, send him an e-mail - info@vindicator.co.uk or check out their website via www.vindicator.co.uk ENDS.

Trial-fitting a Rover V8 into a Vindi-chassis.

Gorgeous Gardner Douglas stand at Stoneleigh and this GDT70 knocked my eyes out....beautiful.

Nice also to see the diminutive Reliant-powered Tempest at Stoneleigh. This little roadster is great fun.

GKD Evolution is a superb thing...feature in totalkitcar magazine, soon...

Andrew Atkin, previously built a bloody fantastic AK 427, we featured it in 2004. This new one could be even better! We're going off to find out...!

LOVED the new Spire Sportscars demo car, powered by Kwak ZX-12....over 200bhp at the back wheels!

MK Sportscars always put on a great display at shows.

Veranti Coupe from John Barlow. Nice.

New SDR V-Storm demonstrator. Sales are going well...

Also, really liked the new Audi V6-powered Edge Devil. Looked cool in bright yellow...