Where are they now
Discussion
Back in the 90's I built an Autotune Gemini and liked several cars that were available then.
What happened to the Nelson 350 which was based on the Rover SDI.
I also liked the AF sports but both these cars dont come up for sale.
Also at the time there was at least 10 three wheeler kits too.
What happened to the Nelson 350 which was based on the Rover SDI.
I also liked the AF sports but both these cars dont come up for sale.
Also at the time there was at least 10 three wheeler kits too.
Can I add the Sculptural Engineering Larini that later became the GTM Balista. Lotus elise styling with Golf mk2 mechanicals and a sandwich composite structure monocoque with front and rear frames. Nearly bought one in 1999 but went for a Fury instead. SE also toyed with a sandwich structure seven chassis that did not see the light of day as far as I know.
Hi Yes I know the Gemini is a good car and the Taylors a fine family.
A couple of years ago I was at Brands at the invite of my Porsche racing daughter and Bill Batty's old racing V8 Gemini was there and brought back memories as he took me round Combe in it in 96.
My Gemini met its end with me driving in a head on and I elected not to buy back from the insurance company, though the car rebuild was started by someone who got in touch.
I have just completed a sevenesque special and have 2 Quantum 2+2's, conclusion is that I am completely mad.
No my point is the cars that have sunk without much notice.
A couple of years ago I was at Brands at the invite of my Porsche racing daughter and Bill Batty's old racing V8 Gemini was there and brought back memories as he took me round Combe in it in 96.
My Gemini met its end with me driving in a head on and I elected not to buy back from the insurance company, though the car rebuild was started by someone who got in touch.
I have just completed a sevenesque special and have 2 Quantum 2+2's, conclusion is that I am completely mad.
No my point is the cars that have sunk without much notice.
FlossyThePig said:
I may be wrong but I think Lotus jumped on that one PDQ.
Interesting, not heard of that before. I went down and met with the two brothers that designed it, looked a decent kit and pretty well engineered (they were boatbuilders so knew their composites). I think gtm re-engineered it somewhat and the price rose significantly to the point where iirc the balista was similar in price to a pukka elise.ugg10 said:
FlossyThePig said:
I may be wrong but I think Lotus jumped on that one PDQ.
Interesting, not heard of that before. I went down and met with the two brothers that designed it, looked a decent kit and pretty well engineered (they were boatbuilders so knew their composites). I think gtm re-engineered it somewhat and the price rose significantly to the point where iirc the balista was similar in price to a pukka elise.As for all the other kits that used to be available that have disappeared without trace, I think they mostly disappeared in the late 90s and early 00s. We've had a few long threads on here bemoaning their demise and the lack of variety in today's market. The reasons are many and various, but boil down to Sevens (or similar) working because they're not too expensive and you get something more focussed than the mainstream can offer and then the more expensive stuff - think Cobra, Stratos, Ultima etc, works because you can't get anything like that form the mainstream without spending A LOT more money, but the in-betweeny stuff doesn't really make sense in the face of the competition from the likes of the Elise, MX5 and whatever else you can think of from the mainstream market.
I didn't pay much attention to the kit car scene between the mid 90s and early 00s and I was genuinely shocked to see that some of the (I had thought) mainstays of the industry were no more and that there was a proliferation of sevenesque cars around. Particularly surprising to me was Quantum, who had abandoned their Fiesta based cars and were then (and now) producing their Xtreme - a stainless steel seven.
The AF Sports was a lovely thing, but I'm not sure they ever sold very many.
Here is a few more of the better designs that only sold a hand full but deserved better imo.
Raffo belva - focus/mondeo rear mid engine with vague stratos styling cues - was on my short list when I bought the fury
Dax kamala - futuristic looks but apparently well engineered and handles well
Gregori gpr - escort mk3 based, not bad looking, forerunner to the gtm libra ish
Ykc raider - mad hot rod type car, looked good fun
Edge devil - single seater formula type car with audi mid engine /transaxle. Always thought this would work well with an auto union d type body and an audi v8 in the back.
Raffo belva - focus/mondeo rear mid engine with vague stratos styling cues - was on my short list when I bought the fury
Dax kamala - futuristic looks but apparently well engineered and handles well
Gregori gpr - escort mk3 based, not bad looking, forerunner to the gtm libra ish
Ykc raider - mad hot rod type car, looked good fun
Edge devil - single seater formula type car with audi mid engine /transaxle. Always thought this would work well with an auto union d type body and an audi v8 in the back.
Edited by ugg10 on Tuesday 16th December 09:22
trackerjack said:
Hi Yes I know the Gemini is a good car and the Taylors a fine family.
A couple of years ago I was at Brands at the invite of my Porsche racing daughter and Bill Batty's old racing V8 Gemini was there and brought back memories as he took me round Combe in it in 96.
Sorry for resurrecting a very old thread, but just wanted to say - the people you saw running that V8 Gemini were my dad and his mate, who co-own and run that car to this day. It's actually just had an engine rebuild, as the Rover v8 kept dropping oil and getting black-flagged for smoke. We spent Saturday afternoon getting it turned over on the driveway. It's still completely mad.A couple of years ago I was at Brands at the invite of my Porsche racing daughter and Bill Batty's old racing V8 Gemini was there and brought back memories as he took me round Combe in it in 96.
Image 1
Image 2
Having driven it myself, I can testify that most track days are spent trying to keep the rear wheels from overtaking the fronts (and being overtaken at ever bend because of it), and then overtaking just about everything on the straights at comically low revs. It's a very strange car, full of character and extremely crude! We'll hopefully be running it at track days and hillclimbs fairly regularly from this summer, look out for us (you'll hear it before you see it!).
SimonSaid said:
trackerjack said:
Hi Yes I know the Gemini is a good car and the Taylors a fine family.
A couple of years ago I was at Brands at the invite of my Porsche racing daughter and Bill Batty's old racing V8 Gemini was there and brought back memories as he took me round Combe in it in 96.
Sorry for resurrecting a very old thread, but just wanted to say - the people you saw running that V8 Gemini were my dad and his mate, who co-own and run that car to this day. It's actually just had an engine rebuild, as the Rover v8 kept dropping oil and getting black-flagged for smoke. We spent Saturday afternoon getting it turned over on the driveway. It's still completely mad.A couple of years ago I was at Brands at the invite of my Porsche racing daughter and Bill Batty's old racing V8 Gemini was there and brought back memories as he took me round Combe in it in 96.
Image 1
Image 2
Having driven it myself, I can testify that most track days are spent trying to keep the rear wheels from overtaking the fronts (and being overtaken at ever bend because of it), and then overtaking just about everything on the straights at comically low revs. It's a very strange car, full of character and extremely crude! We'll hopefully be running it at track days and hillclimbs fairly regularly from this summer, look out for us (you'll hear it before you see it!).
I too was at Combe on that day in 96. I was there with a friend who had a Dutton and he let me drive it which set me off on my kit car journey.
On the Day Bill Batty was giving rides and as my friend had bought a Gemini to build, the Taylors got him a ride in it. When he came back he bought me a trip out with Bill.
He pulled out and asked for the thumbs up after one lap and then dropped the hammer. He was chasing down a Ferrari and was all over it in a couple of laps, both he and the Ferrari both got faster and faster not giving an inch. Eventually he came in with me and a grin from ear to ear on both of us. He apologised that he had not got past and had been forced to come in as we were running out of fuel.
A spectacular package, especially for the day and a very good driver.
On the Day Bill Batty was giving rides and as my friend had bought a Gemini to build, the Taylors got him a ride in it. When he came back he bought me a trip out with Bill.
He pulled out and asked for the thumbs up after one lap and then dropped the hammer. He was chasing down a Ferrari and was all over it in a couple of laps, both he and the Ferrari both got faster and faster not giving an inch. Eventually he came in with me and a grin from ear to ear on both of us. He apologised that he had not got past and had been forced to come in as we were running out of fuel.
A spectacular package, especially for the day and a very good driver.
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