We've all seen the adverts in the back of the mags. 'Unfinished Project' - referring to a half restored wreck rotting in someone's back garden. Well this project is in a somewhat different class. We're talking 400+ bhp of partially built four wheel drive sports car!

After many years designing and modifying cars for other people, Dave Bees wanted to realise his own design dreams and have an example sitting in his drive, not someone else's. He'd had the concept lurking in the back of his mind for some years and set about making it a reality eighteen months ago.

The aim was to produce a car capable of long distance touring, yet be able to arrive at a race circuit, lower and stiffen the suspension at the push of a button, then enjoy the track too. Design criteria included

• Crash safety as a main focus
• Complying with Single Vehicle Approval build regulations (these allow 100 cars to be built by a single constructor)
• The design would be such that complying with Low Volume Approval regulations greater numbers of cars would be a simple evolution.

Exterior styling was based on a theme of 'Modern Classic', Clean and simple lines with purposeful muscular curves - a piece of automotive sculpture.

It's been built using a 1/5th scale clay model, taking measured sections from it, enlarging them to full size and creating a temporary structure which has then been bolted to the chassis. The aluminium panels have then been fitted over this template. Almost half the body has been completed so far.

Power comes from 6.4 litre fully balanced Chevrolet V8 with eight throttle bodies, Webber Alpha fuel injection and engine management system,  and estimated to produce 460bhp and 460ftlbs of torque. This is transmitted through the Borg Warner T56 six speed gearbox to the four wheel drive system, which has yet to be finalised.

A unique double wishbone suspension supports the steel tube space frame with enormous custom made 355mm drilled discs and four pot calipers providing the stopping power. The discs sit behind unique 10"x20" split rims shod with 285/30 Pirellis.

If you're looking for your next project, this could provide more than a little amusement! There's obviously more than a few evenings of work required to polish it off, but it looks like it could be snapped up for a bargain price. So far the prototype has cost £65,000 to put together. However the car is having to be sold quickly to the highest bidder as the company running the project came up against business problems (unrelated to the building of the car).

Cost to complete it? The designers reckon on £35K to produce a show car complete with 4WD system and hydraulic suspension. Alternatively for around £25K, a two wheel drive version could be completed.

Interested? More information and contact details are available at www.ethos.car.ukf.net .

Technical/design info available from Dave Bees: dlbz@lycos.co.uk 

23/2/00