forgotten kits

[hobson]

Ah, some memories jogged by some of the posts.

The Avante Lotus elan and the Ferrari Daytona replicas (still looking for the coupe, rarer than the original (in silver) cash waiting )

I always thought the Midas Gold mkII was a cracking little car, Richard Oaks? Loads of production cars since with similar styling.

Clan crusader looked good back then.

[hobson]

Had to refresh my memory on the midas. Richard Oaks designed it and was the first car ever, to have effective downforce through an undertray, apparently.

http://home.wanadoo.nl/hansefde/html/start_gb.htm

>> Edited by hobson on Sunday 13th November 00:06

[Avocet]

I've always fancied that "Corse" Stratos replica myself. I remember seeing a show chassis at a kit car show when I was a student and thinking it was just obviously head and shoulders better than almost anything else available at the time.

Incidentally, Cymtriks. You mention that real chassis rarely do as well as their FE models predict and you ascribe this (in part) to assumptions on joint stiffness. Do you think it might be possible that due to the greater number of joints in a "spaceframe" chassis, the model results will be less like the "real" results than they would be for a ladder? Also, what makes you think that a kit car manufacturer who couldn't design a decent spaceframe / backbone chassis would be able to design a good ladder chassis? Surely he'd be equally bad at both?

[cymtriks]

Avocet said:

Incidentally, Cymtriks. You mention that real chassis rarely do as well as their FE models predict and you ascribe this (in part) to assumptions on joint stiffness. Do you think it might be possible that due to the greater number of joints in a "spaceframe" chassis, the model results will be less like the "real" results than they would be for a ladder? Also, what makes you think that a kit car manufacturer who couldn't design a decent spaceframe / backbone chassis would be able to design a good ladder chassis? Surely he'd be equally bad at both?

All structures are slightly stiffer in FEA than in the real world. This varies a bit with very well made, very consistent stuff like bits for aircraft being a lot closer to the results than a more variable widely toleranced fabrication like a spaceframe. You are probably right about joints but remember that big hollow tubes have their own imperfections, sides not quite straight or flat for example.

A simple X braced ladder frame is easier to get right, at least you'd think it would be, but you may well be right on this one as well.

[289]

VPR roadster/coupe
I bought the yellow one, 1 of only 2 ever built in the late 90's
They were shown at all the shows around that time.

Built from all new parts
these beautiful 'cloned' cars had
Aluminium chassis and floorpan
Chevrolet V8 and 5-speed
Full stainless exhaust and headers
Wilwood brakes
Leather interior
Electric everything
etc

Does anyone remember them?
or have photos of them at any of the shows?


R

[ifc63]

Ferg said:

fuoriserie said: What happened to the Minari, I thought it was a nice looking kitcar, with that sweet Alfa Romeo boxer engine I was watching 'Waterworld' on Discovery the other day and narrow-boat-dweller Alex Lester from Radio 2 was on and he was driving a delightful light blue Minari.

I've just sold the Camaro which was one of Alex's previous cars. I e-mailed him to pass the news on and asked how he was getting on with the Minari. I'll reproduce his reply here and see what you all think!!!

"The Corvette and the Minari have now gone and have been replaced by a
Boxster and a Mazda RX7. I saw the ad on Ebay for the Camaro. The Minari
went via Ebay it was a whole heap of trouble I am never having another kit
car,. Hope all is well withyou and your new car. You can tune in to the
show via the R2 Website at any time you like on "Listen again" so there is
no excuse!!!

Best Wishes

Alex"

Hmmmmmm.

[flossythepig]

fuoriserie said:

What happened to the Minari, I thought it was a nice looking kitcar, with that sweet Alfa Romeo boxer engine

Project is up for sale. Advert in Kit Car also mentions Subaru power

hobson said:

I always thought the Midas Gold mkII was a cracking little car, Richard Oaks? Loads of production cars since with similar styling.

There is a Midas MkII with the reg HOB 50N.

hobson said:

Had to refresh my memory on the midas. Richard Oakes designed it and was the first car ever, to have effective downforce through an undertray, apparently.

Gordon (F1) Murray had input into the aerodynamics of both the MkII and MkIII.)
After I fitted both front and rear undertrays to my Midas I went out for a drive. Heading along the A40 (before the M40 was completed) towards Oxford all was quiet and smooth. Checked the speedo and it was registering 120 with the rev counter beyond the red. Didn't know what the actual speed was but slowed down immediately as the engine was a bog standard 1275 Metro.