Why has No one done a Replica of ....
Discussion
Why has No one done a Replica of ....
Lotus Elite (The 1960's Mk14 version and not square thing)
http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-jkl/Lotus-Elan-r...
Alpine Renault A100
http://www.sgurz.it/diecast/In%20Edicola/Rally%20C...
Lotus Elite (The 1960's Mk14 version and not square thing)
http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-jkl/Lotus-Elan-r...
Alpine Renault A100
http://www.sgurz.it/diecast/In%20Edicola/Rally%20C...
They have, in both cases.
The Alpine was available from Darrian, and I believe there is a French company who still produce them.
There was an Elite copy (rather a good one) called the 'Encore Super 95', by a guy called John Hoestler (sp?). The project was shelved due to conflict of interest when he went to work for Lotus.
The Alpine was available from Darrian, and I believe there is a French company who still produce them.
There was an Elite copy (rather a good one) called the 'Encore Super 95', by a guy called John Hoestler (sp?). The project was shelved due to conflict of interest when he went to work for Lotus.
I don't have a link to the French A110, I'm afraid. You could try contacting Darrian to see if they still have any involvement.
I agree with you that the Elite is a very pretty car and I'd have loved an Encore Super 95 myself. There have been a couple of other attempts to produce 'updated' versions, but they were both absolute monstrosities.
...having said which, I know that the world was not exactly beating a path to John Hoestler's door, when he launched the Super 95. Lots of cars look like obvious candidates for a replica, but simply don't generate enough interest to be a viable business proposition in practice. The Super 95 was a really nice car, properly marketed, and received rave reviews from the kit car press at the time, but I'm not sure he actually managed to sell any.
You can, of course, build an Elite from scratch using reproducton components, if you wish - almost everything is still available - but the cost would be exorbitant. There's a project car for sale at Paul Matty's at the moment for £15K, if you really want to put your money where your mouth is!
I agree with you that the Elite is a very pretty car and I'd have loved an Encore Super 95 myself. There have been a couple of other attempts to produce 'updated' versions, but they were both absolute monstrosities.
...having said which, I know that the world was not exactly beating a path to John Hoestler's door, when he launched the Super 95. Lots of cars look like obvious candidates for a replica, but simply don't generate enough interest to be a viable business proposition in practice. The Super 95 was a really nice car, properly marketed, and received rave reviews from the kit car press at the time, but I'm not sure he actually managed to sell any.
You can, of course, build an Elite from scratch using reproducton components, if you wish - almost everything is still available - but the cost would be exorbitant. There's a project car for sale at Paul Matty's at the moment for £15K, if you really want to put your money where your mouth is!
How do you know? Have you asked Darrian? Often moulds are just lying around, still in existence but not being actively marketed due to lack of interest. It's Alpine, by the way - Alpina chav-up BMW's for a living - and its A110, not A100.
...and as I said, if you study the kit car industry for any length of time, you'll soon discover that many 'obvious' gaps in the market close up as soon as somebody tries to fill them.
If either the Super 95 or the Darrian A110 replica has shown any signs of setting the world alight, they'd still be there and being actively marketed today...
...and as I said, if you study the kit car industry for any length of time, you'll soon discover that many 'obvious' gaps in the market close up as soon as somebody tries to fill them.
If either the Super 95 or the Darrian A110 replica has shown any signs of setting the world alight, they'd still be there and being actively marketed today...
Reference replica Lotus Elite,there was an "Encore" replica Elite for sale on the CJ Tools stand at the Classic Car show 12,13,14, November 2010.The first one I have ever seen,it looked to be quite a fair project,pretty much complete but couldn't open the bonnet to see was underneath.Would have definitely been tempted but have only just purchased an unbuilt 1986 Westfield XI kit that has been stood for the last 25 years as abasic rolling chassis.
bob whittaker said:
Reference replica Lotus Elite,there was an "Encore" replica Elite for sale on the CJ Tools stand at the Classic Car show 12,13,14, November 2010.The first one I have ever seen,it looked to be quite a fair project,pretty much complete but couldn't open the bonnet to see was underneath.Would have definitely been tempted but have only just purchased an unbuilt 1986 Westfield XI kit that has been stood for the last 25 years as abasic rolling chassis.
I spotted that as well, wire wheels an all, I wonder how accurate the body is compared to an original?Joe T said:
bob whittaker said:
...there was an "Encore" replica Elite for sale on the CJ Tools stand at the Classic Car show 12,13,14, November 2010.
I spotted that as well, wire wheels an all, I wonder how accurate the body is compared to an original?Obviously it's a bit different underneath, due to the backbone chassis and 'modern' mechanicals.
I've still got the Classic and Sportscar issue with the Encore for sale in the classifieds.
If I remember right, it was around £10,000, yellow, fully built and very convincing.
I've also got the article on the Darrian based A110 replica by the same magazine.
Both cars should have been a success?
If I remember right, it was around £10,000, yellow, fully built and very convincing.
I've also got the article on the Darrian based A110 replica by the same magazine.
Both cars should have been a success?
slomax said:
If you don't mind having the engine at the rear. I know Porsche get away with it, but I'm not sure if anyone else would. Cars based on the beetle chassis are very much a minority interest now.singlecoil said:
slomax said:
If you don't mind having the engine at the rear. I know Porsche get away with it, but I'm not sure if anyone else would. Cars based on the beetle chassis are very much a minority interest now.- edit* I also now see its not going to be very much a replica at all. Still very interesting tho.
Edited by Trap on Tuesday 16th November 23:10
Mr2Mike said:
singlecoil said:
If you don't mind having the engine at the rear.
Wouldn't be a very authentic replica if it wasn't rear engined!slomax said:
i've seen that some time ago and i thought it was not a replica... so i asked them in their forum.daartechniek.webs.com said:
i've taken a look there and first of all... nice to see that the link is spreading around.
it was never meant to be a replica. when building a replica, everyone looks at it and will see differences. therefor we decided it should be inspired by the A110. this way we can do anything that we think makes it look better or do wich is easier to build. It is the first time we do this, so we are bound to make mistakes. we look at the existing lines and then decide what the next piece of steelsheet needs to look like. no drawings.
the rear mounted engine was an original feature, but even if the original placement was in front or on the roof... we would still go for the rearmounted engine. the beetle chassis is ideal for us, because we can get nearly every vw part we need from friends at "kieft en klok" (vw suplier). for free !!!
because the costs need to be low, it was a huge pro to go for the 1303 chassis.
also it is not a production car/kit. it is a one time build.
it was never meant to be a replica. when building a replica, everyone looks at it and will see differences. therefor we decided it should be inspired by the A110. this way we can do anything that we think makes it look better or do wich is easier to build. It is the first time we do this, so we are bound to make mistakes. we look at the existing lines and then decide what the next piece of steelsheet needs to look like. no drawings.
the rear mounted engine was an original feature, but even if the original placement was in front or on the roof... we would still go for the rearmounted engine. the beetle chassis is ideal for us, because we can get nearly every vw part we need from friends at "kieft en klok" (vw suplier). for free !!!
because the costs need to be low, it was a huge pro to go for the 1303 chassis.
also it is not a production car/kit. it is a one time build.
Edited by karel on Wednesday 17th November 10:37
well to this end, i have a set of moulds for the type 14 elite, and a replica/styling clone was planned a few years ago however a divorce and a serious illness put this on hold. phoenix automotive developments is the new company producing the mirach,ECU project,MVIIe and next year the elite replica on a steel chassis with zetec power. and i have to agree the type 14 is one of the prettiest cars ever produced
I've still got the Classic and Sportscar issue with the Encore for sale in the classifieds.
If I remember right, it was around £10,000, yellow, fully built and very convincing.
Hi Chris see your posting am interested in trying to get a Encore Super 95 was the add a recent one if so can you tell me what month or the advertiser thanks
If I remember right, it was around £10,000, yellow, fully built and very convincing.
Hi Chris see your posting am interested in trying to get a Encore Super 95 was the add a recent one if so can you tell me what month or the advertiser thanks
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