Arguably the most successful of the eighties crop of Lamborghini Countach replicas, the Prova marque has returned to production.

The men behind the project were former Panache Cars founder, Paul Lawrenson and Peter Jackson, an air conditioning engineer, who had been working in Saudi Arabia when he first saw the Countach and became immediately smitten but couldn’t afford the asking price of £40,000 for a new one.

When he returned to the UK he teamed-up with Ged Dunbar. Paul Lawrenson fixed the moulds and he and Jackson started Prova Designs, using a Lee Noble-made chassis, a spaceframe from 16g with Ford Granada front uprights and Renault driveshafts, Lancia Beta rear calipers and a choice of engines including Ford V6, Ford 289/302 V8 or Rover V8.

In later years, Lawrenson was in sole control and supplied over 1000 kits including six cars for the film ‘It Takes Two’, which gave the product extra credence.

It left production in 1999 when Lawrenson went off to pursue other ventures.

It’s great to hear it’s back on the scene, based once again in its spiritual home of Darwen, Lancashire, under the control of Ged Dunbar, with the car now known as the Rossini.

Kit prices start at £5950 for the starter kit, with what the company calls an Evocation Stage 2 pack, which adds the GRP parts and other stuff at £14,750. Fully built examples of the Prova Rossini are available powered by the storming V8 from the Audi R8, which gives it 450bhp potential, out-of-the-box.

For DIY-ers, plenty of other engine choices are possible including small block Chevy and GM LS3.

More information on this one via www.provadesigns.co.uk ENDS.