New Sports Sedans

[FalconEL]

Sorry Chris, my mistake, old age does that to you...
Never was good with names

No worries!

I'm no Phil that's for sure :)

Keen to hear your ideas though Tony C, if it can make car builds quicker and easier for competitors to get out there then I'm all for it!

[Toyzda]

Wow, literal comments only then... sorted.

Sorry Tony C, didn't mean to upset you or anyone with that one.

I am sorry if any felt like they have been accused of anything un-just.

So, PC reply;

"Controlled" cars similar to other formulas have been mentioned previously on this forum and it was considered against the nature of Sports Sedans. I read your "Donor Kit Car" post as a similar idea. I obviously did not read it as you intended, so I offer my thoughts.

Since SS cars are predominantly space frame chassis cars, I could see benefit of "kits" for front and rear sub-frames for chassis cars, ie; front subrame complete with wishbones, shocks, springs, uprights, brakes, rims, etc all set-up in a usuable geometry range that could assist car builders. You could also do similar with live or dead rear ends. This could even be taken further by including OEM components from a donor car, like a Falcon or Commodore, to reduce initial costs. You could even take it further again and have a "blueprint" chassis design that replaces the OEM monocoque with a space frame chassis utilising all suspension and power train components.

Personally though I don't see the point, as you could never make enough of any "kit" to make it cost effective in SS. Maybe if somebody built the intended "kit" as prototype then sold the design drawings for aspiring builders, it could reduce build times and increase the number of SS cars being built. The cost and time saving might also be enough to retain the interest in SS and get cars on the grid.

[Tony C]

My thoughts at this stage would be to have a central spaceframe chassis (cockpit) of a fixed length, and front and rear subframes of fixed length, with adjustable length sections between the cockpit and subframes to adjust to different wheelbases. These would be sorted out when the kit is ordered assuming the buyer has a body in mind. My thoughts are for a fixed overall width to keep it simple.

I have been thinking of using a VE Commodore as a donor. they are plentiful and cheap. The V8 is powerful enough to start with or you could choose another engine if your skills and budget allowed.

As mentioned previously the owner could replace the heavy suspension arms and crossmembers if and when money was available. Or they could pound around for years without having to worry about wearing out rod ends.

Bodywise would be up to the buyer and what they like, and what is available in 'glass.

[Robert Ryan]

Anyway Dameon sent me the first online photos of the Aston Martin. Looks great.

[2002 turbo]

One word: WOW

[Toyzda]

O....M....G....

I hope he decides to race "test" it at EC this weekend...

[Robert Ryan]

There has been a kit car around for years that can run up front, it is called a "trans-am". They are all 102 inches long and 80 inches wide and have a range of bodies that fit.

I have drawings and can build one. The chassis takes about 6 months to build on our jig ready to fit a transam body, gearbox and 9 inch live rear end. The bodies range in price from about $6K to $16 depending on shape and material. Or you can buy one from a few constructors in the USA.

Phil we have talked about this on the phone. It would make it a lot easier to get into the category. Maybe generic bodies for Sports Sedans rather than a TA clone? In the US there are several generic body contructors. I have talked to Lou Gigliotti who know builds cars for the Grand Am GT series(Corvettes). Tony Ave does the same thing. These are NOT HUGE Corporations doing this, but fellows operating out of small factory buildings.

[Robert Ryan]

I have just chatted to Tommy Kendall on Facebook. He hoped the TA series can be resurrected. Very impressed by Kerry's Aston Martin and his reply to Phil's proposal.."Amen"

[Robert Ryan]

This is the Grand Am GT car that Lou Gigliotti is working on.

[Robert Ryan]

Yes my idea is about getting people into sports sedans, quickly and cheaply.

There are a lot of people that like the category, are handy on the spanners but would not know where to start when it comes to designing a car.

Once the car is on the track the owner can learn to drive, have some affordable fun, then when they have more skill and money they can modify the car.

It would not suit (or be fast enough) for national level but you have to start somewhere. From my experience budget is important to a lot of people.

TonyC , it appears the South African Wesbank V8Supercar series(yes it was named after ours) is doing this. They have chassis kits built by local builders, 680-730hp. Ford Falcons, Chevrolet "Commodores", as well as locally built Jaguars, Corvettes, Mustangs ex-TA versions and TWO new Tony AVE built Mustangs . The current Front Runners are the Ford Falcons and the Chevrolet Commodores. Older slower cars are in their Wesbank 2 category, for people getting into the category.
Ford Falcons and Commodores charging into a corner.

Wesbank V8Supercars site.