GRAND TOURING MINI RETURNS
Feb 23rd
Hard to believe the little Coupe is fifty this year
It’s fifty years since Bernard Cox first launched his super little Mini-based Grand Touring Mini at the Racing Car show of 1967. Over 600 were sold in various incarnations, the lion’s share via Paddy Fitch and the late Peter Beck’s GTM Cars operation between 1980-1996.
Former GTM racer, Derek Hambly and his son, Ed, are resurrecting the little car and plan to unveil their new demo car at this year’s Stoneleigh show (National Kit Car Motor Show – April 30/May 1) although due to the current custodians of the ‘GTM’ name not More >
STATESIDE ZERO
Feb 23rd
The GBS Zero is now available for sale in the United States and coinciding with the launch Great British Sports Cars will be exhibiting at the Lifestyle Expo (booth 1586) located within the grand prix circuit at the Long Beach convention and entertainment centre in Long Beach, California, that is held in conjunction with the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on April 7-9, 2017.
On display will be a fully Californian road-legal GBS Zero. Although the Nottinghamshire company has sold a few Zeros in the USA in the past to a small number of customers in order to prove the More >
NOTHING WRONG WITH FLARES!
Feb 23rd
The compact design of this new brake pipe flaring tool from Laser Tools (part number 6728) means that it is particularly suited to on-vehicle use, making it very convenient and a real time-saver. Under a wheel arch or even underneath the vehicle, its small size, light weight and robust construction makes flaring brake pipes an easy task even when access is difficult.
The set includes dies and punches for the two most common brake pipe sizes: 4.75mm and 3/16in diameter and can produce both DIN single flares and SAE double flares.
Easy to use, the device is hand-held and the flare type More >
ADD AN EXTRA BLANKET
Feb 23rd
Forge Motorsport has released details of its superb new turbo blanket that will fit most turbocharged cars to give several benefits.
The main function of this blanket is to isolate the radiant heat normally produced by any ‘charger during normal operation. Forge originally created this product for its own Mk1 turbocharged ‘Berg Cup’ race car – and found it to be hugely effective in reducing under-bonnet temperatures in even the harshest of conditions – and under gruelling race and track day temperatures.
Reducing under-bonnet temperatures is always a good idea, as generally speaking, it will help to prolong the life of most More >
OOH LOOK AT THAT WELDER!
Feb 23rd
New from Rally Design is this ac/dc TIG-welder – Blackline TIG250 – designed especially for welding aluminium has inverter technology with ac/dc, TIG and MMA-functions, an output current of 5-250-amps, 60 per cent rated duty cycle and weighs in at under-20kg.
TIG250 is designed to weld aluminium, aluminium alloys, copper, stainless and titanium as well as low carbon steel.
The fine control offered by inverter technology results in an ‘easy to strike’ arc and precise control, so important when welding aluminium, specially of light gauge. It is priced at £446.88 inc VAT.
More information at the other end of 01227 792 792 or More >
PORTABLE COMPRESSION
Feb 23rd
This is the perfect compressor for any tasks involving fixing, spraying, inflating and dust/debris blowing while on the move.
The CHAMP3 packs a powerful 7cfm with a max operating pressure of 8-Bar and a simple to use on/off automatic pressure switch control.
Boasting an easy-to-carry design with a comfortable grip, handle and durable steel frame also providing air storage, this is a convenient, tough, lightweight (25kg) and highly portable air compressor.
The CHAMP3 also comes included with 1.6-metre of cable and a hose or cable storage plate and had an RRP of £167.98 inc VAT.
More information from https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarkechamp3aircompressor ENDS.
More >
WOWZER – P4 IS BACK!
Feb 16th
Back in 1985, Lee Noble caused quite a stir when he launched his World Endurance Car–inspired Ultima Mk1 on an unsuspecting kitcar world. He soon followed it up with his interpretation of the legendary 330 P4, arguably one of the top three Italian exotics ever produced.
The Noble P4 marketed by Lee’s Kitdeal company sold around 150 of the kits before he shelved the project eventually selling it to Deon in 1992. In 1995 the project moved again to Neil Foreman of NF Autos, originally a customer of Lee’s and purchaser of one of the first kits.
Neil and his son, Matt More >
COOL STAINLESS STEEL LOTUS SEVEN-INSPIRED KIT
Feb 16th
If you’ve been to Stoneleigh since 2009 you might have seen a very special-looking Lotus Seven-inspired sportscar wearing aluminium body panels, wearing an ‘MB1’ moniker.
It’s the handiwork of Martin Batho, a sheet metal worker from Nuneaton and was based on the trusty Locost chassis, featuring a mix of Ford Sierra and Triumph Spitfire components. Martin says that he would regularly get requests for body panels, which unusually he could satisfy because unlike a lot of ‘specials’ builders he’d created full tooling for his car.
Martin’s previous day job saw him work on all manner of projects from the mundane to Jaguar More >
SEVEN SELLING WELL. VERY WELL.
Feb 16th
Caterham Cars enjoyed one of its best years in 2016 with this special edition of the Seven, the Sprint, selling out (rather aptly) in just seven days!
Caterham Cars, who celebrate 60-years of the Seven this year, has started 2017 the way they left off in 2016 and is currently holding 600 firm orders on their books. The manufacturer expects to build 540 Sevens in 2017 and 575 in 2018, which would put them on the limit of their production capacity at the factory in Dartford (Crayford actually but don’t tell anyone!).
CEO Graham Macdonald has returned to the original ‘one-man-one-car’ build More >
SAD NEWS
Feb 16th
Sad to hear that Zenos Cars has gone into administration although at the time of writing it was hoped that a saviour could be found to enable the Norfolk manufacturer to continue trading.
Their problems have been attributed to a recent downturn in trade with a cancelled overseas order not doing them any favours.
Co-founded by Ansar Ali and Mark Edwards, both ex-Caterham Cars, Zenos debuted their E10 model at Autosport International in January 2014, with Ford 2-litre GDI power, although that was soon joined by an EcoBoost version.
When Ali left – although he remained a shareholder, Edwards was in sole charge More >
