RAM D type-any good? Lowdrag...?
Discussion
RAM or nowadays Realm are not bad at all. Normally they have a 4.2 engine from an XJ and it depends who built it but sometimes just twin SU's instead of triple Webers but then they are not as precise as a Lynx or Wingfield, but then not the same price either. I guess it must be a long nose and at around £40K will give endless fun. it is the noise, the overall sensation we seek with a replica since sadly we don't have a spare £5 million to buy a real one. Well, I don't anyway. Have the suspension checked over would be my specific advice with one of these though, and the chassis condition. It's built by Reynard so it's fine, but just ensure no rust. Have fun!
Thanks for the imput, having looked a bit further into it i wasnt sure if this would of been better posted in the kitcar section.
Do you think there would be any value in replacing the front and rear sections in aluminium? Which i would do myself as i do this for a living.
Mph-i did like your special, what have you replaced it with?
Do you think there would be any value in replacing the front and rear sections in aluminium? Which i would do myself as i do this for a living.
Mph-i did like your special, what have you replaced it with?
That would depend on the suspension set-up and the wheels on the car. Remember many of these cars are bought as kits and assembled by the owners. Many wear 15" wheels because they and the tyres are far cheaper so that would give the impression of a higher ride height, plus of course if the front suspension is not properly set up it could be way out. I saw an E-type last May that was riding far too high because the torsion bars were badly set.
I really struggle with the replica D market and that despite all the effort that goes in they almost invariably get the ride height totally wrong. To me it is a signature of the D that it should sit low with the wheels right up in the arches, the rear arch on the originals usually sitting lower than the "top" of the rim.
I appreciate that road car suspension might need longer travel, but it puts me right off!
I appreciate that road car suspension might need longer travel, but it puts me right off!
Like this you mean?
The problem, as said, is that so many, including early Lynx cars, were sold with 15" wheels on cost grounds. Five 16" D-type mag/alloy wheels were around £10,000 last I heard and Realm sell peg-drive 15" steel copies at a tad over £200 each. Just a slight difference of £9,000, so nothing to worry about.
The problem, as said, is that so many, including early Lynx cars, were sold with 15" wheels on cost grounds. Five 16" D-type mag/alloy wheels were around £10,000 last I heard and Realm sell peg-drive 15" steel copies at a tad over £200 each. Just a slight difference of £9,000, so nothing to worry about.
pacoryan said:
I appreciate that road car suspension might need longer travel, but it puts me right off!
You'd be truly amazed at how well a real D rides on rough British roads. Most modern cars don't get close, some of that comes from a D having tyres rather than rubber bands, but they ride really well. I bet the Lynxes are even better with the IRS, from the passenger seat they are certainly more composed on the track.SlipStream77 said:
I looked at Realms a while ago and the ride height looked very high compared to a real D.
Can it be lowered to look right without destroying the handling?
Hi Slipstream - yes, it is easily possible to adjust the height to achieve a good balance between looks and handling. Adrian at Realm does produce some excellent kits. Replicas such as Lynx may be better in some respects but they are also quite "agricultural" in others. Check out the dirty great pieces of iron used to mount the rear suspension in a Lynx for example!Can it be lowered to look right without destroying the handling?
Lynx originally consisted of two companies - Lynx Motor Company and Lynx Engineering. The latter worked on "real" cars wheras the former confined itself to replicas. As Lynx's founder said in 1977 in a letter to the late Andrew Whyte of Jaguar, "The Lynx Motor Company, and the designs being specifically made so that no part is dimensionally similar or structurally the same as the original car". Please don't make the mistake of thinking that, if it says "Lynx" it is necessarily a better replica of an original car - they aren't. Indeed, Lynx replicas are way overpriced in my humble opinion.
The mention of torsion bars is completely irrelevant because adjustable-platform coilover shocks are used at the front in a Realm.
Neville
Edited by XJ13 on Tuesday 4th March 10:37
lowdrag said:
... Realm sell peg-drive 15" steel copies at a tad over £200 each.
Realm sell 16" D-Type alloy wheels. They are one-piece, CNC-machined die-cast aluminium and sell for around £450 with presser plates, pegs etc. You want to pay £2,000 each? I am sure Realm will happily sell them to you for that 
I have absolutely no affiliation with Realm by the way.
lowdrag said:
... Proteus all had an alloy tub ...
So much mis-information on this forum!My Proteus (supplied by Jim Marland in the late 90's) didn't have an alloy tub. The only bits of aluminium were the floor panels - which were ripped away during an excursion over kerbs at a wet Anglesey. I could have driven the car with my feet like Fred Flintstone afterwards
One learns every day. I thought they all had alloy tubs. My bad. And I am totally in agreement by the way that the Lynx cars are well overpriced, but history sets a precedent it seems. The Ecurie Ecosse long nose for sale at £225,000, the last Lynx XKSS sold at £235,000 several years ago and a short nose in Australia for sale around £200,000 if I have converted the currency correctly. Yet a Wingfield for sale in Switzerland at half the price. The same with E-types; will there be a market correction? I have no idea, but virtually everything seems overpriced today. Oh, the only (I think) latest incarnation long nose Lynx/Proteus with XJ6 suspension at the front is on the market at £100,000 too.
lowdrag said:
Have the suspension checked over would be my specific advice with one of these though, and the chassis condition. It's built by Reynard so it's fine, but just ensure no rust. Have fun!
The chassis' were not built by Reynard, they were supposedly designed by Reynard and built (mine was anyway) somewhere near Aylesbury. Agreed about getting the suspension checked, the chassis on most of them are not exactly straight and the front cross member is pissed, mine was 10mm out one side to the other. I eventually worked round this by making new lower wishbone mounts, set back one side and adjusting the top with caster shims. If it has a fabricated lower wishbone they tend to crack near the damper mount, can be remedied by fitting XJ6 or S ones.I've never had a problem with rust on the chassis, It's pretty tough and very heavy duty. As for ride height and handling, being a Reynard design It's built to run about 3 inches off the ground but can be made to handle reasonably well at more respectable heights.
For a far better car look for a Revival or late Realm, these have the chassis problems sorted and a far nicer body.
lowdrag said:
Like this you mean?
The problem, as said, is that so many, including early Lynx cars, were sold with 15" wheels on cost grounds. Five 16" D-type mag/alloy wheels were around £10,000 last I heard and Realm sell peg-drive 15" steel copies at a tad over £200 each. Just a slight difference of £9,000, so nothing to worry about.
Exactly! £9000 eh?? Hmm ok I guess I'd take a view on that as well, looks aren't everything!The problem, as said, is that so many, including early Lynx cars, were sold with 15" wheels on cost grounds. Five 16" D-type mag/alloy wheels were around £10,000 last I heard and Realm sell peg-drive 15" steel copies at a tad over £200 each. Just a slight difference of £9,000, so nothing to worry about.
a8hex - it's been a few years since I passengered in a real D on the road, I was too busy grinning to remember how it rode! We were on the Basildon by-pass (at the Basildon "Grand Prix" a charity event) so not really a typical piece of lumpy tarmac. I'd love to repeat the experience behind the wheel which is what got me idly looking at the replica world.
Here's an example where a set of 16" wheels would make a big difference (plus some paint of course)
Edited by pacoryan on Tuesday 4th March 15:32
pacoryan said:
a8hex - it's been a few years since I passengered in a real D on the road, I was too busy grinning to remember how it rode! We were on the Basildon by-pass (at the Basildon "Grand Prix" a charity event) so not really a typical piece of lumpy tarmac.
I was visiting the guys working on my XK once, arrived at the nearest station and rang for them to fetch me. Are you on your own?
Yes, just me today,
We are expecting to be picking any other customers up from this train, would it be OK if I fetched you in a D-Type, only I need to take it for a test drive.
This has to go down as one of the worlds great all time stupid questions!
So I got taken for a spin around East Sussex's bumpy country roads. I'd even got a pair of sun glasses this time so didn't have to squash down too much. The other time I've been in a D was at Goodwood when I was offered a ride for a few laps if I could go NOW. My XK's a fixed head so I don't need goggles and so didn't have any option in the D but to scruch down and keep bellow the screen. I'm not Norman Dewis height, but it was worth it :-)
Yes, silly grin seems to describe it quite well.
a8hex said:
XJ13 said:
pacoryan said:
Here's an example where a set of 16" wheels would make a big difference (plus some paint of course)
noooooo Patrick - leave it bare aluminium. It's gorgeous!Gassing Station | Classic Cars and Yesterday's Heroes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff