RE: The Light Car Rocket: Spotted

[Sway]

Love the rocket so, so much.

I've mentioned it on here before, but earlier this year Charlie Craft (mentioned in the article and a member on here) brought his to Goodwood for a Breakfast Club in the pissing rain so I could have a good look at it. Could have easily spent hours poring over it - so many lovely little details, which of course led to the cost. Virtually nothing off the shelf, pretty much every component is bespoke. I suppose a similar design could be made with more regular components, however the kerbweight is guaranteed to suffer.

I believe one sold early this year from Duncan Hamilton for around £75k, and this one is 'unique', so would expect a tad more. Not sure where the £200k figures are from, not heard them being that far out of my reach!

Lastly, I think I'm right in saying one of only three road cars to have front suspension designed to give an element of lateral compliance as well as vertical, along with the NSX and F1. All three have been complemented on the quality of ride whilst retaining rather pleasant handling...

[NelsonP]

wile7 said:

A good bit of archive Top Gear (1992) with Tiff and Clarkson testing the early version of the Light Car Cmpany Rocket out on roads and track:

http://youtu.be/5JFOyBbyWjs

Isn't that the Amazon Prime audition?

[Ligne]

Slightly more up to date video from Jay Leno here.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gw43m0TVsZE

[ucb]

Always reminded of the Brooke Double R when I see the Rocket and vice versa. I doubt either sold in triple digit figures

[anonymous-user]

ucb said:

Always reminded of the Brooke Double R when I see the Rocket and vice versa. I doubt either sold in triple digit figures

St Gordon of Murray sold barely 50 Rockets. Such is the folly of answering an automotive question that nobody is asking.

Whether his "smoke 'n' mirrors" iStream process will shift any new TVRs remains to be seen. Don't hold your breath...

[GetCarter]

rockin said:

St Gordon of Murray sold barely 50 Rockets. Such is the folly of answering an automotive question that nobody is asking.

Whether his "smoke 'n' mirrors" iStream process will shift any new TVRs remains to be seen. Don't hold your breath...

FYI It was Chris Craft's baby, he came up with the idea and funded it, and set the price, GM just designed it for him. Again GM just designed the TVR, it's Les Edgar's company that will sell, or not sell numbers.

As for smoke and mirrors, GM has earned enough from iStream (Yamaha) to build this (below) and employ even more people in a tiny British automotive design industry. Maybe he's actually answering the questions people are asking after all

https://www.dezeen.com/2018/01/05/design-engine-pl...

Edited by GetCarter on Tuesday 20th March 05:50

[lukeyman]

ucb said:

Always reminded of the Brooke Double R when I see the Rocket and vice versa. I doubt either sold in triple digit figures

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201702242653451?atmobcid=soc3

[Voldemort]

Coincidentally Jay Leno has just re-visited the Rocket for his youtube channel: https://youtu.be/gw43m0TVsZE

[blade7]

Esceptico said:

So about as practical as a motorbike (no roof, no storage, passenger sits behind), without being as quick and ten times as expensive nor as easy to park (and you can't filter).

I do like the idea but a secondhand Caterham R400 would be as much fun to drive and a fraction of the price.

I think they used to build them on Paxton Hill near where I lived. I had a Yamaha FZR1000 Exup at the time, I remember going past and riding away from a Rocket fairly easily, on a twisty road.

Edited by blade7 on Tuesday 20th March 13:52

[Mezzanine]

Voldemort said:

Coincidentally Jay Leno has just re-visited the Rocket for his youtube channel: https://youtu.be/gw43m0TVsZE

Leno must be really keen on the Rocket, two videos in under 24 hours!