Esprit and GT40 in same garage

[lwasson]

I have basically finished the '83 Esprit and now I'm looking for another project car. What could I get? I decided I wouldn't get another previous owner car fixing someelse's problems and mistakes.

So I've looked around and got interested in some of the replicars. The GT40 companies are producing some incredible engineering and really works of art in their chassis and composite bodies. The cars are much better than the original 60s GT40 with advances in technology.

There is a GT that is about 60% complete with a 408 Windsor and G50 Porsche trans. Its almost too good to pass up.

An Esprit and GT40 in the same garage....we'll see.

louis

Restored '83 Esprit

[slade]

I've never seen a GT40 replica that I thought looked good. They all look... wrong.

But find a good one and go for it

slade

[markt]

An Esprit and GT40 in the same garage....we'll see.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You and me both Louis!

Have passed-up on some scrap over the years and nearly bought a superb example the day I saw my Esprit. I WILL keep looking and take an unfinished project off someone who's given up in frustration. There are a few companies in South Africa which produce almost rivet for rivet replicas.

If you have a serious wad of cash lying around, have a look here:

http://www.cav.co.za/

Nice bit of inspiration - If I can find an abandoned project and build something reasonably close to what these look like, I'll be a happy man

Adding Fuel To The Fire - Mark

[WayneB]

CAV Canada had there demonstrator at the RM Collector car auction in Toronto a couple of weeks ago.

I had a good look at it.

Its gorgeous! B)

Stood talking to Ian Clark (president of CAV Motorsports) for an hour, you wont meet a more knowledgable and straightforwards bloke.

The car arrives from South Africa as a rolling ,but trimmed and painted unit

The customer specifies the engine (Roush/ Ford Motorsports etc.) Buys a ZF transaxle, and either gets them installed or does it themselves.

If only I had that kind of money( $100,000 for car)

www.cavgt40.ca

Edited November 3, 2005 by WayneB

[Jonathan]

Had the apportunity to see a few 40 replicas up close and personal. I've also had a good look around a few originals (bit of a fan, see).

The replicas I have seen are perfect imo, couldn't see any major differences. On the kit show I went to a few weeks back we were folling a GT40 and a cobra back in the Esprit when the 40 blew the water pump and dumped all it's coolant.

We had it up in a fuel station and I got a good look inside whilst we were trying to fix it in order to limp it home. Cost the guy

[Evil_Dr_Fish]

I saw loads of GT40 replicas at Supercar Sunday last year and the ones there were superb.

[slade]

alright wayne, you got me. Those look fine

slade

[hovgaard]

Me wants! Me wants! Need more cash.

[WayneB]

Of course nothing beats a real GT40

This one was cut up to use as a camera platform in the movie " Le Mans"

My favourite GT40 chassis no.1027 in my friend Andys workshop near Donnington.

It was used as a camera car in the film"Grand Prix"

Sir Antony Bamford owns it now (Jealous)

Better photos are atGT40 1027

Edited November 3, 2005 by WayneB

[Guest teigan]

there was a lot of variation even in the authentic GT40s. i want to get one of these, but if i had a real one, i'm sure it would never get driven. i'll probably end up buying the oversized ford reissue, once they work out the snags. i agree some of the replicas look better, but the reissue is a wiser investment.

[Evil_Dr_Fish]

If you had a real one I'd tap you for money

They go for nearly half a million dollars

[markt]

If only I had that kind of money( $100,000 for car)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

How do you you think I feel? We build the bloody things in Cape Town and can't get one locally

Well you can, but it works out to about $125 000 - more expensive than a full import. Explain that?

[lwasson]

How do you you think I feel? We build the bloody things in Cape Town and can't get one locally 

Well you can, but it works out to about $125 000 - more expensive than a full import. Explain that?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hi Mark

I believe Superformance builds in South Africa. Incredible car. They also build the Cobra that Carrol Shelby endorses. And Roaring Forties is going to move their company from Australia to SA. If I were to buy a new rolling chassis to finish it would be Race-Car-Replicas from Detroit.

Evil Dr. Fish, in Vintage Race Car Magazine the 1964 GT40 Daytona winner sold at auction for $2.5million.

The car I'm looking at when finished would probably go for $80-85K but like the Esprit I don't think I would ever sell it.

Will probably fly down to Florida next weekend and take a look.

Thanks for all the inspiration and keep it coming I'm having to convince the Misses. Of course she says, "I know you're going to get it anyway. If not the GT it would be something else". As in any engineering design or endeavor there is always give and take. Nothing is perfect. If I get the GT40 my honey dew list will be infinite!

louis

83 Turbo

[lwasson]

Here are a few more pics.

louis

'83 Turbo

[Jonathan]

Shudder to think how much the lemans winning cars would fetch.

When this kit pulled into this gargae down the road from me the chump inside came out to look at our cars, he saw the 40 and foolishly said...

him - "need anything...apart from a match ?"

me - "why do i want a match ?"

him - "to set fire to it"

looking disgusted - "yeah right...tw@"

him - "well...it's not an original is it"

me - "yeah like you see a million

[WayneB]

Last real GT40 I saw being street driven was in about 1967!

Values of real ones have gone into orbit, I remember thinking George Stauffer was crazy when he was asking $250,000 for the Le Mans Winner!

Here is the late Bruce Mclaren in 1966 at the Mulsanne hairpin when the GT40 was working for a living B)

[lwasson]

Wayne

I love these pictures. On the first one you sent showing the camera car I was looking down the pit lane at all the machines. I believe that is a Ferrari to the right of the camera car and down the road looked like a Porsche short tail and another GT40.

Great history lesson. That was a wonderful era of racing. At LOG25 the Lotus mechanics Bob and Bob were telling of there adventures during that time. I got a chance to spend some time with .... Bob and he was telling how it was more of a family back then. Today is much different, more money from sponsors and politics. You can't go and ask for a spanner from the shop next door these days.

Thanks!

louis

'83 Turbo

[silverfrost]

Just buy GRAND TURISMO 4 for the playstation and you can have FORD GT40, TURBO ESPRIT AND V8 ESPRIT IN YOUR GARAGE AS WELL AS ALL THE OTHER HIGH PERFORMACE CARS FOR MERE POCKET CHANGE! NOT QUITE THE SAME THOUGH I KNOW!

[WayneB]

Wayne

I love these pictures.

Edited November 4, 2005 by WayneB

[f1karting]

there was a lot of variation even in the authentic GT40s.  i want to get one of these, but if i had a real one, i'm sure it would never get driven.  i'll probably end up buying the oversized ford reissue, once they work out the snags.  i agree some of the replicas look better, but the reissue is a wiser investment.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I believe the fun in the kits, is in the build, not the owning.. sure anyone with money may be able to buy one.. but wheres the pride in that.. J

PS I think the interior of the newFord GT sucks.

[f1karting]

I have basically finished the '83 Esprit and now I'm looking for another project car.  What could I get?  I decided I wouldn't get another previous owner car fixing someelse's problems and mistakes.

So I've looked around and got interested in some of the replicars.  The GT40 companies are producing some incredible engineering and really works of art in their chassis and composite bodies.  The cars are much better than the original 60s GT40 with advances in technology.

There is a GT that is about 60% complete with a 408 Windsor and G50 Porsche trans.  Its almost too good to pass up.

An Esprit and GT40 in the same garage....we'll see.

louis

Restored '83 Esprit

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hey Louis you and I have the same thoughts.. I considered a GT40 but really want to do something completely different.. I actually started planning a Ferrari F40 replica project, from scratch.. I found a source for an accurate 1/4 scale model with ferrari assembly drawings, started the cad drawings for the body panels, and bought a suspension design software package. I eventually worked out a bill of materials.. it would cost about $100k in materials, components and subcontract work and another $45K worth in labour to produce all the molds and panels in CF and to assemble the car. I realized at that point I was going to have to wait on this one because Id have to sell all my toys to finance it, or find investors and build more than one.

I had plans to use the ford 32 valve SC-V8 and a ford GT or RBT transaxle.

An amazing car you could really flog without the Ferrari O and M.. nice... maybe later.. finish the Esprit first. Jan

[lwasson]

Hi Jan

Good to hear from you. F40! Remember seeing it on Top Gear. The paint was so thin you could see the weave of the carbon fiber. Incredible car.

I need to go see the GT40. I've search for info on the Sabre kit but not much luck and little help from the GT40 forum. Either they are all too busy and don't read the forum much or they just don't want to answer a 'newbie's' questions. Members on this EspritFactFile are still some of the most knowledgeable and forthcoming people I know. Anyway I have concerns about the body and would like more information on the quality of the fiberglass.

Here is a description of the car:

you are bidding on a replica/kit car of a GT40 (originally a Sabre kit) from the 60's. this car has the Gulf flares, rear snorkels, single nostril up front and the rear spoiler and front wings. it has 3 piece 17" wheels with michelin tires 335/35 in the back and 245/45 in the front. it had masive brembo 4 piston calipers and 13" rotors all arround. coil over suspension with sway bars and all links with heim joints for adjustment. the suspension has been ceramic coated in silver. the steering rack is flaming river with a moto lita 14" original style steering wheel. i have the coke bottle green plexi for the windows and the front windshield has a crack on it so it has to be replaced. it has aluminum fuel tanks and radiator. i have the gas caps, starter, wire harness, all instruments gauges, lights front and rear, clutch and adaptor plate, tranny and a 351W block. the tranny is a Porsche G50 that has been gone through and rebuilt with a phantom grip LSD. the block is an old 351W block out of a truck. i do have a 408W being built for this but that is more money and we can talk about that too. the fuel injection system is a Webber original manifold and TWM 48 IDA looking throttle bodies with fuel rail and horns/velocity stacks(rails and stacks have been polished and anodized in silver for long life). i also have a computer for this system(stock mustang harness and computer). most of the body work has been done and it is almost perfect. the entire underneath fiber glass body has been coated with a ceramic insulation for sound deadening and paint spiderweb cracks purposes. also the interior of the car has this material for sound proof inside the cockpit. you will need to wire it, brake lines, fuel lines and pumps, cooler lines, A/C unit, and some interior and weather stripping.

What do you think Jan. I value your opnion.

Thanks!

louis

[f1karting]

Hi Louis.. hows the esprit running now that its all done.

The GT40 sounds like it has lots of nice stuff with it. Any idea how much they are hoping to get for it?

Sabre kit.. god knows who they are.

The things I would be concerned about are:

The fiberglass and component fit after spending so many years in storage. Fiberglass can creep and change its shape over time, especially if it has not been jigged and exposed to heat. Some of the early kit cars had god awful heavy body components and often not that well constructed.

I would want to check out what the chassis and suspension are like. It may be hard to tell, but its important that the chassis is true and the pickup points accurate. The welds are another thing to check.

I dont know that the mustang ECU will be much good unless its fitted to the same engine as it came off of. I dont know if the mustang ECU is tunable. I would figure on getting an Autronic or Haltec ECU instead. The brakes are nice and so is the TWM TB setup. The G50 transaxle I hear is a good choice for the GT40.

I would try and find out more about Sabre and what success they had.

You should try and get ahold of Ron Earp.. he is into GT40s.. he used to hang on the Esprit pistonheads forum.. he is approachable for sure. J

[lwasson]

Thanks Jan

He is asking $35k

I have sent Ron Earp and email but no reply yet.

I did contact a Sabre owner you bought his GT the under same circumstances. It was a car the PO wasn't going to finish and the deal was almost too good to pass up. John says the price is fair for what's in the car. He also says the fiberglass is ok to good. Thin on the edges and will have to be reinforced. Also, the suspension mounts need to be beefed up. He was impressed with the tubular chassis.

To do this right I'm estimating another $10-$15K on top of the $35k. $50k for a quality GT40 is not bad considering $80 -$85K to get one of the top kits on the road.

The Lotus is running and sounding great. I haven't found the exhaust system I want yet so we ran a pipe straight off the cat. The turbo is an efficient muffler and the sound is sweet. Though at idle it does sound light a log truck. I need to find a resonator.

I don't like the clutch pedal. It is too low and sits in the middle of my foot instead of up on the ball of my foot. Will work on that.

Still have a few Lucas gremlins that need to be worked out. Going to replace all the switches. I still have a link you provided on swithches you recommended.

The carbs are tuned and she is fun to drive and quick.

Thanks for you opinion!

louis

'83 Turbo

[DrieStone]

I myself have been thinking along these lines (of course I'm still 4-5 years from putting another car in the garage). I'm not sure how the wife will feel about that (since I have the Lotus and the Jeep as play cars, and the WRX as a commuter). I've considered a GT replica, or a Pantera. Then I considered something like a Porsche Speedster (maybe even a kit car), since I thought she might take an interest in that. In the end though, I think that I'm really leaning towards is a Lancia Stratos (kit of course, since the real deal is in the US $150k range).