Gardner Douglas t70

[surrey7er]

So, I've had my Caterham 4.5 yrs, and I feel it's time to move on.

A few cars appeal:

Honda'd Elise
Ginetta g40
Etc

But I quite fancy (and have had the thumbs up from the Mrs) building a kit car.

So, I keep coming back to the GD t70 and the Ultima GTR.

Anyone own a t70 and care to share their thoughts?
FWIW, I want a car that is a bit easier to live with than the Caterham, but still gives that 'special' feeling when you step on the gas. Mainly road use, with the odd track day chucked in.

Cheers all

[qdos]

I'd recommend a trip to Stoneleigh this coming May Bank Holiday. You'll find all the possible options there and plenty of owners to chat with too. Definitely a must visit if you are looking to build a kit

[jason61c]

the GDt70 would be top of my list if I had the cash. Great looking and not as 'common' as the Ultima. Obviously they're not common but you know what I mean.

[AdiT]

jason61c said:

the GDt70 would be top of my list if I had the cash. Great looking and not as 'common' as the Ultima. Obviously they're not common but you know what I mean.

Snap! Fantastic looking car (better looking than an Ultima IMO). The hardest thing would be deciding whether to go fully retro racer or modern take on it with lots of carbon. Not a cheap option though... but if I had the time and money...
You need to get to Stoneleigh 1-2May and have a good look around at all the options and finished cars.

[surrey7er]

Cheers guys... Didn't know stoneleigh was coming up... Will check it out!

[Podie]

Drop PHer "MPETT" a line - he knows a lot about GDs.

[GTRCLIVE]

GD for me If I had the choice.....esp as there doing a Hard top for it now for those trips to Le Mans...

[surrey7er]

a few replies there stating that it would be top choice... care to elaborate on why chaps? I love the looks, how do they go?

I had a test ride in an Ultima. Wow, what a car. How does the T70 compare to those?

Also, any news on this T70 hardtop? The GD website seems a bit scant on the info...

Many thanks again...

[surrey7er]

Podie said:

Drop PHer "MPETT" a line - he knows a lot about GDs.

Thanks Podie, I will try and track him down... in a non-stalker way, of course!

[jason61c]

surrey7er said:

a few replies there stating that it would be top choice... care to elaborate on why chaps? I love the looks, how do they go?

I had a test ride in an Ultima. Wow, what a car. How does the T70 compare to those?

Also, any news on this T70 hardtop? The GD website seems a bit scant on the info...

Many thanks again...

Its fair to say that at the minimum they're an equal, some would argue that they're dynamically superior. You couldn't go wrong with either.

[200Plus Club]

i built my own GD t70 drop me a mail if you want any info. your welcome to a passenger ride at a trackday this season, might be at donnington on the 25th if things pan out.
Imho they are the best looking kit car available currently ( and i do like ultimas) but their classic looks have never been bettered.
andy at GD will take you for a ride in their demo car any time on the road, mine is a track only car as thats all i wanted tbh
http://s398.photobucket.com/albums/pp66/chris-T70/...
thats my build album

launch vid
http://s398.photobucket.com/albums/pp66/chris-T70/...

that was the old engine (ls1) which spun a bearing after a few trackdays, was a 2nd hand engine when i got it for just 1200 quid! car now runs a forged ls6.

[ezakimak]

that looks great.
i can see how it looks similar to the ultima underneath the skin.

do they use the same uprights as Ultima's, is there a better picture of the front steering arm atatchment point on the upright?

[200Plus Club]

they have alloy uprights with a ford 5 stud pattern as i recall. will have a look thro build photos for more of the uprights. chassis is very well laid out and v strong, i had a double roll bar laid up as it was going on track.
the side pontoon area gives you some side crash protection as well, as its 12" or so outside the main chassis and i get the feeling you would have to try very hard to bend the chassis . lets hope i never prove that!

[ezakimak]

200Plus Club said:

they have alloy uprights with a ford 5 stud pattern as i recall. will have a look thro build photos for more of the uprights.

same as an ultima - ford granda is what i have been told - some odd pcd spacing which is the same as what merc use on the ultimas 5 x 112mm or something

does that sound the same?

[200Plus Club]

yes its a granada pattern from what i recall. seems to work v well on track with regard to suspension and handling. we set mine up in our garage with a laser floor leveller, floor pads , string, paper and pencil! :-) my mate did most of the set up if i'm honest, i just assisted and made out i knew what he was doing lol

[EFA]

Ultima uprights are derived from the Lee Noble designed Prosport LM 3000. Remember Noble designed the Ultima before selling the project to his customer Ted Marlow.

The hub casting has been subsequently reproduced by a number of kit car manufacturers. It uses Granda MK3 stub axles and the corresponding flanges to which AP brakes are usually attached or the old Granny brakes are left.

I like to be different so went for some 6 pot Willwoods on my car, and converted the hubs to use knock on wheels. (You cannot of course use such things if you intend to undertake IVA.)

[200Plus Club]

yes those are the same uprights, i run the AP brakes which are superb on track, you can nail it all day without any fade. pads arent cheap tho, i run Pagids which are £160 a set.

[Furyblade_Lee]

NOBLE! NOBLE! NOBLE!

[GTRCLIVE]

EFA said:

Ultima uprights are derived from the Lee Noble designed Prosport LM 3000. Remember Noble designed the Ultima before selling the project to his customer Ted Marlow.

The hub casting has been subsequently reproduced by a number of kit car manufacturers. It uses Granda MK3 stub axles and the corresponding flanges to which AP brakes are usually attached or the old Granny brakes are left.

I like to be different so went for some 6 pot Willwoods on my car, and converted the hubs to use knock on wheels. (You cannot of course use such things if you intend to undertake IVA.)

Wow what gearbox is that from (yes I know what it bolted to) but which one..... Only the diff being that high your going to have fun with drive shafts, looks like that box is designed for a realy low engined race car..

[ChrisJ.]

GTRCLIVE said:

Wow what gearbox is that from (yes I know what it bolted to) but which one..... Only the diff being that high your going to have fun with drive shafts, looks like that box is designed for a realy low engined race car..

348 or 355 / Mondial t