Primo Designs Ltd - GTM Coupe is it still manufactured ?

[fuoriserie]

Is the Primo Designs Ltd - GTM Coupe kit is it still manufactured ? any prices for the complete kit ?

I love this classic kit ....)

Some nice images :

[fuoriserie]

A very nice rebuild.....

http://www.ken555.plus.com/gtm/november06.html

[fuoriserie]

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....

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

[fuoriserie]

Midas said:

a bit like this?



http://www.gtmdrivers.com/forum/where-s-the-puma-p...

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

[fuoriserie]

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.

[fuoriserie]

Midas said:

Yep just what I thought too Italo, the Artega is a great looking car.

it is, designed by Henrick Fisker the ex Aston Martin designer...

[fuoriserie]

Trap said:

Just to show quite how small they are. Me parking next to a modern small car.

Hi Trap,

I like your car and what yuu've done to it......., may I ask how tall are you ?, I'm 5.11 would I fit ?

Thanks
Italo

[fuoriserie]

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.

Why bother, what would be the point? For the time trouble and expense of desiging and building a car one might just as well start from a better position. Scaling up the GTM to a full size car would be ok, though, I've always thought it was good looking. Perhaps a similar idea to what BMW did with the Mini

Why not ?...... I would be interested and consider a different niche than kitcars, they're called Microcars and are very popular in mainland Europe, and for this niche the Cox Gtm dimensions are big enough if not big.......

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.......

[fuoriserie]

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 A series FWD engine gearbox does differ in that the engine sits on top of and shares the same lubricating oil,this feature of the design caused major problems soon after it was launched,both for the oil companies and BMC,however like most current FWD engine/transmission units the centre lines of both the crankshaft and the gearbox are in the same vertical plane,the driveshafts in both cases are offset to the rear of the block/g/box assemblies,so the difference between the centre lines of the wheels and the firewall position are probably not as great as would be imagined,I'll get my tape measure out next time I see a Mini and check.

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 .

Great info as usual......

Cheers mate

[fuoriserie]

Arthur Jackson said:

fuoriserie said:

I'm 5.11 would I fit ?

I'm 5'11", Italo and I fitted fine in mine.

Thanks Arthur, great news for me........

[fuoriserie]

Ferg said:

I'm about that Italo and fitted into my little car.
You are aware of the history of Trap's car are you? It's based on a GRP replica of the original steel tub.

Hi Ferg
No, I'm not aware, can you tell me more ?
Italo

[fuoriserie]

Trap said:

Im about that hight and I fit in it fine while I owned it. Its the getting in and out thats a tad difficult. Quite Tardis like once your inside with plenty of head room. Its now owned by a chap down in Plymouth.

Plenty more pics here including the article about it:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/35867857@N03/

Trap.

Edited by Trap on Sunday 1st November 12:21

Thank you for the pictures........

Italo

[fuoriserie]

Ferg said:

It was built by John Dickens, your fellow CKC contributor. There must be build pics all over the place!


AHA!!
http://s41.photobucket.com/albums/e254/gtmdriver/G...

Edited by Ferg on Sunday 1st November 10:25

Thanks for these pictures...

Italo

[fuoriserie]

Flipatron said:

Just bought a 1985 Coupe in rough condition, picking it up this week. Don't know a thing about them but it'll be fun finding out.

You should create a build blog, I know that quite a few of us would follow your rebuild...

[fuoriserie]

Flipatron said:

fuoriserie said:

Flipatron said:

Just bought a 1985 Coupe in rough condition, picking it up this week. Don't know a thing about them but it'll be fun finding out.

You should create a build blog, I know that quite a few of us would follow your rebuild...

Hmmm...may do just that.

Thinking I may go down the bike engined route when rebuilding.

Looking forward to it.......

[fuoriserie]

Flipatron said:

Hopefully picking this up tomorrow

Keep us updated.......

[fuoriserie]

Ken555 said:

Vtec engines in the back are quiite a common mod on the Coupe.

As are a few other engines.






But practical as a shopping car , you can get about 5 shopping bags in the back and it keeps take aways warms as well.

I like these engines in the little coupe.......

[fuoriserie]

gtmdriver said:

fuoriserie said:

Ferg said:

It was built by John Dickens, your fellow CKC contributor. There must be build pics all over the place!


AHA!!
http://s41.photobucket.com/albums/e254/gtmdriver/G...

Edited by Ferg on Sunday 1st November 10:25

Thanks for these pictures...

Italo

Yes Italo. The all-glass Coupe is my work, for better or worse.

It was a nice little car but unfortunately, once I retired from the daily job, it was covering no mileage at all and it was too good a car to sit idle so I sold it to Trap. I believe it has now been sold again?

John Dickens (gtmdriver)

Hi John, nice to see you in here and that is great work on the GTM.......

I also like your Marcos job......

I like small fast cars and I believe they're set for a come back in the near future as big manufacturers are investing heavily in citycars.

Welcome in the forum and looking forward to your future contributions in this kitcar forum......

Cheers
Italo

[fuoriserie]

gtmdriver said:

Thanks.

As you may know the Marcos Heritage Mk VI GT demonstrator is actually my car which I modified for my last season of racing in the 750MC Kit Car Challenge.

I like it........

[fuoriserie]

http://www.m-tech-cars.co.uk/mtechsales.html

A new GTM Coupe shell for sale.......