Primo Designs Ltd - GTM Coupe is it still manufactured ?
Discussion
Italo,
AFAIK, The guy who took over the project(Peter Leslie?) passed away a while ago.Met and spoke to him several times,he was a really charming,gentlemanly chap who spent much time and effort updating the project.
He did all the necessary mods to enable the car to pass the then new SVA test,but for whatever reason didn't proceed further with it in a commercial sense.
I agree that with a restyle the car could probably still sell in limited numbers,just imagine one with a V-Tec in the back!
The negatives are that with Mini running gear the whole car would need the donor package rethinking,also it's very "compact",it would be a real struggle to get in and out of for todays larger youngsters I had two of Cox variants in the past and you got to know your passenger very well!
I also agree that it would be a shame to see all the jigs,tooling disappear,I seem to vaguely remember hearing of someone in South Wales having a bit to do with the project,perhaps someone else has more concrete info.
AFAIK, The guy who took over the project(Peter Leslie?) passed away a while ago.Met and spoke to him several times,he was a really charming,gentlemanly chap who spent much time and effort updating the project.
He did all the necessary mods to enable the car to pass the then new SVA test,but for whatever reason didn't proceed further with it in a commercial sense.
I agree that with a restyle the car could probably still sell in limited numbers,just imagine one with a V-Tec in the back!
The negatives are that with Mini running gear the whole car would need the donor package rethinking,also it's very "compact",it would be a real struggle to get in and out of for todays larger youngsters I had two of Cox variants in the past and you got to know your passenger very well!
I also agree that it would be a shame to see all the jigs,tooling disappear,I seem to vaguely remember hearing of someone in South Wales having a bit to do with the project,perhaps someone else has more concrete info.
Edited by Auntieroll on Saturday 31st October 20:53
Auntieroll said:
Italo,
AFAIK, The guy who took over the project(Peter Leslie?) passed away a while ago.Met and spoke to him several times,he was a really charming,gentlemanly chap who spent much time and effort updating the project.
He did all the necessary mods to enable the car to pass the then new SVA test,but for whatever reason didn't doproceed further with it in a commercial sense.
I agree that with a restyle the car could probably still sell in limited numbers,just imagine one with a V-Tec in the back!
The negatives are that with Mini running gear the whole car would need the donor package rethinking,also it's very "compact",it would be a real struggle to get in and out of for todays larger youngsters I had two of Cox variants in the past and you got to know your passenger very well!
I also agree that it would be a shame to see all the jigs,tooling disappear,I seem to vaguely remember hearing of someone in South Wales having a bit to do with the project,perhaps someone else has more concrete info.
I totally agre with you, I still think it has potential and with just a few styling tweeks, it's still a great looking little kitcar, just what you need in todays congested city centers....AFAIK, The guy who took over the project(Peter Leslie?) passed away a while ago.Met and spoke to him several times,he was a really charming,gentlemanly chap who spent much time and effort updating the project.
He did all the necessary mods to enable the car to pass the then new SVA test,but for whatever reason didn't doproceed further with it in a commercial sense.
I agree that with a restyle the car could probably still sell in limited numbers,just imagine one with a V-Tec in the back!
The negatives are that with Mini running gear the whole car would need the donor package rethinking,also it's very "compact",it would be a real struggle to get in and out of for todays larger youngsters I had two of Cox variants in the past and you got to know your passenger very well!
I also agree that it would be a shame to see all the jigs,tooling disappear,I seem to vaguely remember hearing of someone in South Wales having a bit to do with the project,perhaps someone else has more concrete info.
I would gladly use this than a Smart Fortwo.......
I need to find an old shell next time I'm around in the UK, could be an interesting project, even with a lesser engine, like a Fiat Fire engine .......
Edited by fuoriserie on Saturday 31st October 14:47
Auntieroll said:
just imagine one with a V-Tec in the back!
Isn't the probllem with using a different engine that the mini unit is unique (AFAIK) in having the engine on top of the gearbox, rather than in front of it like all other FWD cars? And that therefore a good deal more space is needed in the engine compartment with any other donor?
Midas said:
The design reminds me a lot of the Artega GT and it's a very nice design to be inspired from...especially from this view.
Edited by fuoriserie on Saturday 31st October 20:33
singlecoil said:
The GTM is a very small car. If anyone was going to go to the trouble of updating it I think they could find a better starting point, or alternatively start with a clean sheet. And this time make it big enough for adults.
maybe a bubble roof could cure the height problem......for the interior you would need to be more creative.singlecoil said:
Auntieroll said:
just imagine one with a V-Tec in the back!
Isn't the probllem with using a different engine that the mini unit is unique (AFAIK) in having the engine on top of the gearbox, rather than in front of it like all other FWD cars? And that therefore a good deal more space is needed in the engine compartment with any other donor?The miniscule size of the car would definitely need addressing though,it might be easier to start with a clean(ish) sheet as the dimensions would need to be stretched in every direction to accomodate both the wider track dimensions (and drivers )of today,as a bonus the screen should be available quite readily though!
The Mini power unit was very tall due to the stacked design,this in turn dictated that the scuttle heights of the MiniJem and its spin/rip off brother MiniMarcos and the later Richard Oakes designed Midas etc; had to be on the high side for such small cars .
fuoriserie said:
singlecoil said:
The GTM is a very small car. If anyone was going to go to the trouble of updating it I think they could find a better starting point, or alternatively start with a clean sheet. And this time make it big enough for adults.
maybe a bubble roof could cure the height problem......for the interior you would need to be more creative.
singlecoil said:
fuoriserie said:
singlecoil said:
The GTM is a very small car. If anyone was going to go to the trouble of updating it I think they could find a better starting point, or alternatively start with a clean sheet. And this time make it big enough for adults.
maybe a bubble roof could cure the height problem......for the interior you would need to be more creative.I agree with you that, if I were looking at a kitcar proposal I would have to scale it up a bit, but I'm not looking for a kitcar proposal at the moment.
The reality is that I would have to try to fit inside to test the dimensions, eventhough by looking at Traps picture it does seem really small...
Will have to try the interior before I work on something.......
Auntieroll said:
singlecoil said:
Auntieroll said:
just imagine one with a V-Tec in the back!
Isn't the probllem with using a different engine that the mini unit is unique (AFAIK) in having the engine on top of the gearbox, rather than in front of it like all other FWD cars? And that therefore a good deal more space is needed in the engine compartment with any other donor?The miniscule size of the car would definitely need addressing though,it might be easier to start with a clean(ish) sheet as the dimensions would need to be stretched in every direction to accomodate both the wider track dimensions (and drivers )of today,as a bonus the screen should be available quite readily though!
The Mini power unit was very tall due to the stacked design,this in turn dictated that the scuttle heights of the MiniJem and its spin/rip off brother MiniMarcos and the later Richard Oakes designed Midas etc; had to be on the high side for such small cars .
Cheers mate
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