Tuesday 8th December 2009

BMW Bits For New Seven-Style Roadster

Legend uses 3-series running gear. The ultimate home-build driving machine?

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M3 wheels backed up by M3 engine

Kent-based GKD Sports Cars has created a Lotus Seven-style kit car using a BMW 3-series as a single donor vehicle, the first company to do so.

The new GKD Legend is based on E36 or E46 3-series running gear and will take everything from a 140bhp 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine to the 343bhp straight six from the E46 M3.

Even the four-cylinder Legend should be pretty lively, with a 595kg kerb weight giving 235bhp per ton. By way of contrast, a Lotus Elise manages just 156bhp per ton. At 650kg an E46 M3-engined Legend Six is a little heavier, but produces an organ-squeezing 527bhp per ton.

650kg, 343bhp. A terrifying combination

The Legend was born (if you'll excuse the pun) when GKD boss Peter Lathrope acquired the rights to the old Ginetta G27. After a redesign here and a re-engineering there, Lathrope more or less decided to start again, and the result was a classic Seven-style sports car.

The BMW bit arrived a little more unexpectedly, however. "It was basically because I couldn't find any more Sierra bits," admits Lathrope.

Whatever the reasons for its peculiar evolution, the result is intriguing. For the basic Legend, and depending on the state and costs of the donor parts you find, GKD says you can have a complete car for around £7000. The rather more appealing Legend Six (the only current kit car we can think of with a straight-six motor) could be built from as little as £8500, although only with an E36 M3 engine - an E46 single donor would undoubtedly be a more pricy option.

BMW instruments look weird. Good, but weird

Once you have your Legend kit, the BMW bits you'll need include an engine, gearbox, ECU,differential, halfshafts, the whole brake assembly, steering column, instrument binnacle, and wheels and tyres. In short, most of the oily bits of a 3-series bar the suspension.

GKD isn't done yet, though: there are plans in the works to bolt the Eaton M45 supercharger from a Mini Cooper S Works to the 1.8-litre versions, which should push power to more than 200bhp.

[courtster]

E36's are cheap as chips - that's a real tempting proposition...

[kambites]

Always thought the I6 BMWs would make good donors for a kit car.

ETA: I wonder if the 330d drive-train will fit.

Edited by kambites on Tuesday 8th December 11:10

[GTRene]

wonderful news, that would mean a more reliable 7

and>> At 650kg an E46 M3-engined Legend Six is a little heavier, but produces an organ-squeezing 527bhp per ton.<<

wow, would be a blast to drive.

well done.

[louismchuge]

i never realised those m3's are so cheap! now if only i could put up with all of the chav comments

[rockystarr]

This makes sense and fairly economical too..

[MarJay]

Hm Quick bit of maths. 192bhp 325i engine... 525kg ish... 192 / 0.525 = 365bhp per ton.

That could be fun. Don't tempt me please please!

[jontysafe]

was wondering when someone would do this, makes a lot of sense!

[aarondrs]

Quite an advance from Sierra bits!

[Fordo]

if i had the garage space, id be placing an order about now.

great choice of donor car(s), and 2nd hand prices are exceptional good for what you get

[aarondrs]

Fordo said:

if i had the garage space, id be placing an order about now.

great choice of donor car(s), and 2nd hand prices are exceptional good for what you get

I've got the garage space just not the cash to do this.. would definitely think its about it had I.

[Motown Junk]

You could build a (mapped) diesel version.......

[ewenm]

It's certainly an interesting proposition, although 7-esque cars are usually judged on handling balance and feel and the BMW bits this kit doesn't use are the suspension assemblies. They'll certainly need to make sure their in-house suspension design and setup does justice to the powertrain. Hopefully it'll be done well though, it's always good to have more options in the 7-esque arena.

[Robatr0n]

Motown Junk said:

You could build a (mapped) diesel version.......

Here you go:

[aarondrs]

Motown Junk said:

You could build a (mapped) diesel version.......

Now that would be a lovely thing, just what you need in a light vehicle, loads of torque and no sound deadening so you can hear that engine.

Imagine everyones surprise when starting up from cold.

How about an auto version too

[The Donster]

This is likely to sound quite pedantic, but if you're going to take yourself seriously in this business at least use 4 matching tyres on your demo......

[someoneelse]

I love the logic. "Ah, Ford Sierras are getting a bit thin on the ground these days. What's another RWD doner car that's cheap as chips?"

[CooperD]

I really like that purple and orange car. They're my horseracing colours!!



And here they are on my horse.

[ian2144]

Westfield built a turbo diesel 7 back in the early 90's I think they called the Wiesel ??

[anonymous-user]

Just a pitty the styling isnt a bit more individual!

[raceboy]

M3 wheels backed up by M3 Engine....



Not in this car though, thats the 1.8

Love the idea though, seems a shame to break up M3's but 325/8's are plentyfull, cheap as chips and it would make a great comeback for some of the cars that had fallen into the chav brigade ownership.