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Further to my late life crisis cars thread I've been thinking the problem with most of the cars that appeal to me is rust. I've woke up this morning and realised what would suit me is a fibreglass monocoque. Obviously one of the first I think of is the Rochdale Olympic then there is the Lotus Elite, Mini Marcos, Berkeley (although that had riveted in alloy sills - I had a T60), Imp based (Davrian nicest among others) and there I stop !
Excluding cars such as Lotus Elan etc that have a backbone chassis what other affordable (ie no exotic, rare, valuable and such) car are there with a fibreglass monocoque and possibly just steel subframes (kit cars included).? Preferably front engine and RWD.
I'm not dismissing things like Lotus Éclat, Gilbern Invader, Ginetta G21 but at the moment and thinking about cars without a recognised chassis.
BTW There were fibreglass Mini and 1100 / 1300 prototype cars build by BMC for possible manufacture overseas where making a steel body could be prohibitive.
Paul h
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edwell
Part of things
Posts: 199
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There are galvanized "chassis" for the type 75 and 83 lotuses (Elite and Éclat) and I think there are various fibreglass mini shells available both old and new. How about wood?
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Last Edit: Dec 3, 2013 11:19:32 GMT by edwell
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Elite and Éclat seem to the unloved Lotus's and therefore some of the cheapest to own - which interests me. There is also now a following that modern Zetec and Redtop are actually better than the original Lotus engines plus cheaper to mainatain so are being transplanted. A cheap Lotus needing restoration will always be a money pit but one that is basically sound has just been robbed of it's engine could be viable.
Gilbern Invaders also tempt me but the inner steel frame rots like any other car so it ends up a massive project to restore as it's bonded to the body.
Paul H
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Foxy
Posted a lot
Making pink manly in the north!
Posts: 1,913
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3 words for you. T V R!!!!!! My mate owns a Cerbera 4.5. Great bus. Scary as a room full of porcelain dolls but remarkably cheap supercar fun. 4.0 ones are actually very affordable and they are stunning.  |
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Last Edit: Dec 3, 2013 13:12:54 GMT by Foxy
I'm the handsome fella with the cheesy white specs or is that the cheesy fella with the handsome white specs?
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duncanmartin
Club Retro Rides Member
Out of retro ownership
Posts: 1,320
Club RR Member Number: 70
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Fibreglass monocoques ?duncanmartin
@duncanmartin
Club Retro Rides Member 70
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Gtm and Midas kit cars were fibreglass monocoques with mini (or metro) subframes. Sorry, no pics as I'm on my phone.
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3 words for you. T V R!!!!!! My mate owns a Cerbera 4.5. Great bus. Scary as a room full of porcelain dolls but remarkably cheap supercar fun. 4.0 ones are actually very affordable and they are stunning. Have TVR ever made a GRP monocoque? I love the original Lotus Elite, but prices are now very high. There's only choice as I see it, but I am biased.... |
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Davrian and Clan Crusader are the 2 Imp-based GRP monocoques: the Ginetta G15 has a steel chassis that rots like it's going out of fashion. With the Clan, watch out for rotten plywood membranes, suspension parts and mounting brackets - there's still a lot of work in those... How about a Rickman Ranger? Specifically the one I'm trying to sell?  GRP bodywork on a strong galvanised chassis - basicaly nothing left to rot. Mk2 Escort running gear so simple to work on and excellent parts availability. |
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Foxy
Posted a lot
Making pink manly in the north!
Posts: 1,913
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Have TVR ever made a GRP monocoque? I love the original Lotus Elite, but prices are now very high. There's only choice as I see it, but I am biased.... But they are fibreglass and very late life crisis  |
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I'm the handsome fella with the cheesy white specs or is that the cheesy fella with the handsome white specs?
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Quantum Cars. Fibre Glassed monoque 2 door hatchback, think they did a soft top version?
Although they are front engined, front wheel drive.
Ford Fiesta/Escort based .So can shove some RS turbo gear in them ....
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You've hit on something I never dared speak before on this forum : how you guys can be bothered to deal with all that rust  It'll have to be something low volume, and underdog rather than exotica. Reliant, Lotus (wedges), TVR, Marcos, Ginetta....but they're separate-chassis designs. Quantum kitcars are a superb product, and silly cheap second-hand. The coupe is monocoque, but FWD and modifying is difficult due to the tight engine-bay. The 2+2 is convertible, FWD again, essentially monocoque but with separate front sub-frame. We've had both and they're great cars. Clan, GTM, Midas seem to fit your design spec the best.  |
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Quantum Cars. Fibre Glassed monoque 2 door hatchback, think they did a soft top version? Although they are front engined, front wheel drive. Ford Fiesta/Escort based .So can shove some RS turbo gear in them .... I bought a Quantum 2+2 last year for the wife. So far impressed. Hers is a factory built one with the 1.9 cvh.  |
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Last Edit: Dec 3, 2013 23:52:21 GMT by topdeck
Best Served Chilled
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GRP bodywork on a strong galvanised chassis - basicaly nothing left to rot. Mk2 Escort running gear so simple to work on and excellent parts availability. 
