720hp

BLOWN
AND STROKED
LS3
CUSTOM
CARS
OF SEMA

Mid America
Corvette
Funfest

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NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015

Corvette Supercar

720hp
BLOWN
AND STROKED
LS3
CUSTOM
CARS
OF SEMA

Mid America
Corvette
Funfest

l
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NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015

Corvette Supercar

Subaru
Powered
Spyder
Superb
Cobra
Buildups

BMW
Rebody

THRILLS, NOT FRILLS

Call Today For a Dealer Near You

USCATERHAM.com
888.445.5226
USCATERHAM.com
Superformance LLC | 6 Autry Irvine CA 92618 | superformance.com | uscaterham.com | 949-900-1950

COOL CARS

Customized 1959 Corvette....................................24

Superb Cobra Buildups:
Supercharged Factory Five...............................46
Shell Valleys Raspberry Delight.....................78
Classic Roadsters Water Snake................. 110
Subaru-Powered Spyder........................................54
Miata Makeovers:
Exomotive Exocet.................................................62
Flyin Miata Catfish..............................................72
BMW Rebody: Nubodi Kalifornia........................87

EVENTFUL EVENTS

SEMA Show Cars.......................................................34

Mid America Corvette Funfest.............................96

DEPARTMENTAL MATTERS
Throttle Steering....................................................... 8
FYI.................................................................................14
Sideview................................................................... 120

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

2015

Car Builder Staff:

Steve Temple Editor/Publisher
Larry Weiner Marketing
Deb Murphy Art Direction
Tina Temple Maven of Morale
Jim Youngs Editor Emeritus
Car Builder magazine
(formerly Kit Car Builder Magazine)
is published bi-monthly by
SCT Communications, Inc.,
1427 Sioux Trail,
Reno, NV 89521
All Rights Reserved

Free Subscription at
www.kitcarclub.com
Editorial and Advertising inquiries
should be sent to
sctemple55@yahoo.com
Contents page photo by Steve Temple: Mid
Americas Funfest becomes the center of
the Corvette Universe fore several days every
September. Check out all the Corvette
conversions in our feature coverage

THROTTLE
STEERING
A Simple
Solution to
VWs Diesel
Emissions
Scandal?

ne of my favorite
expressions is that the
answer to a problem
is sometimes cleverly hidden
in plain view. That might be
the case with the burgeoning
scandal surrounding
Volkswagens violation of the
Clean Air Act. As widely reported
in the news, the automaker
intentionally and deceptively
used defeat programming to
sidestep emissions controls.
During testing, their engines
seemed to meet emissions
standards, but once on the road,
they produced much higher
levels of pollution.

This violation has

enormous implications,
as it applies to some
11 million cars (both
VW and Audi) globally,
and about a half-million
here in the U.S. alone.
Estimates indicate that
the extra pollution
produced by the defeat
mechanism amounts
to some one million
tons. So besides the
criminal aspect, other
impacts include serious
environmental health
issues, along with
consumer confidence
and wreaking financial
havoc on a major vehicle
manufacturer.
How this debacle will
all shake out is anybodys
guess at this point in
time, buts obviously
going to get very, very
expensive for VW. One
tangential
consequence
is that were
already seeing
increased
consumer
interest in
electric vehicles.
Yet they dont
necessarily
eliminate
emissions so
much as displace
them to the
power utilities

that
have to
generate
more
juice to
recharge
batteries.
(Solar recharging might
offset that at some point,
but the technology isnt
there yet.)
Let me share another
option for diesel
enthusiasts (of which I
am one, since I own both
a pickup and a car that
are oil burners). Rather
than fret over how to
modify diesel engines to
produce less pollution,
why not simply change
the fuel?
Thats already been
done by ARC (Advanced
Refining Concepts) based
in the Reno, Nevada area.
This company produces

a fuel called Gdiesel, so

named because it combines
No. 2 diesel with natural
gas.
Independent testing
indicates that GDiesel can
reduce NOx emissions by
as much as 50 percent
(depending on duty cycle
and application), among
many other benefits.
While GDiesel might not
be a quick fix specifically
for VWs diesel engines,
these results clearly
demonstrates that
theres plenty of room for
improvement in diesel fuel
quality.
GDiesel is an EPAapproved alternative fuel
made by further refining
of #2 diesel (what you
typically fill up with

at a fuel station) with

natural gas. Produced by
ARC (Advanced Refining
Concepts), the process
starts by pressurizing and
slightly heating diesel in
a steel tank. Then natural
gas is piped in and the
resulting mixture swirls
up and through a wheelshaped filter wrapped
with four different metal
catalysts that cause the
two fuels to bond together.
After further filtration,
the final GDiesel fuel has
shorter-length hydrocarbon
molecules that combust
more completely than
longer-chain molecules. As
a rough analogy, thats akin
to throwing smaller pieces
of wood on fire rather than
a big log.

While ARC makes no

claims about improvements
in fuel efficiency, weve seen
a number of independent
reports from fleets using
GDiesel indicating gains
in mpg ranging from 10
to 35 percent, depending
on the engine and vehicle.
Veteran off-road competitor
and instructor Rod
Hall found that GDiesel
greatly improved the fuel
efficiency of his schools
HumVee trucks. And weve
personally measured a 21
percent improvement in a
96 Dodge Ram with a 12V
Cummins.
Other benefits of GDiesel
claimed by independent
fleet operators include
reducing engine repairs,
eliminating cold-weather

gelling, and minimizing

black smoke. And ARCs
refining technology has
additional applications for
improving the quality of jet
fuel, crude oil and biodiesel.
Getting into more
detail about results from
emissions research, Dr.
Eric A. Lutz published
an article in the Journal
of Occupational and
Environmental Hygiene. He
compared the emissions
of petroleum diesel with
GDiesel and B75 Biodiesel
in an underground mining
operation. Since diesel fuel
is a known carcinogen,
and also can cause various
respiratory ailments,
finding cleaner alternatives
is clearly needed for
10

greater safety in the work

environment.
Dr. Lutz found that
GDiesel has a significantly
lower diesel particulate
matter66 percent
compared with low-sulfur
#2 diesel. By comparison,
biodiesel lowered
particulates by only 33
percent. His research
further indicates that
GDiesel also resulted in
a reduction in all other
exposures (except CO,
which is typically not at
high levels for diesel fuel,
ARC notes).
Does cleaner fuel come
at a higher price? Not
necessarily. While the
cost of fuel stocks have
fluctuated significantly

in recent years, at times

GDiesel has actually been
sold for less per gallon
than regular diesel, partly
because of the lower cost of
natural gas as a volumizing
additive. While GDiesel is
available only in limited
areas at this time, typically
for fleet operators, it offers
a clear solution to a cloudy
problem.
-- Steve Temple

SOURCE:
Advanced Refining
Concepts

http://www.clearrefining.com

Race Car Replicas

Mk II

RCR-40

Mk IV
Mk I

RCR-917

D-Type
Race Car Replicas
31795 Groesbeck Highway
Fraser, Michigan 48026

WWW.RACE-CAR-REPLICAS.COM
www.race-car-replicas.com

Business hrs..Mon-Fri 9am-5pm

Tel; 586-329-1573
Fax; 586-329-1574

www.factoryfive.com

FYI
Stricklands Striking Chupacabra

nitially Charlie Strickland

had the intention to
build a classic Countach
replica, as he has a
trademark for that name,
but he made a sharp U-turn
into the future after coming
across a modernized
version of the car. Rendered
by Flavio Adrianni, an
architectural illustrator by
trade (but a car designer
after hours as a hobby), it
has a very forward-looking
shape while still showing
some influences from the
past.

In keeping with
its cutting-edge style,
Strickland has come up
with a chassis that employs
an aluminum composite
monocoque
design thats
much more
cost effective
to build. He
dubbed it
an origami
car, since
its cut out
aluminum
panels
on a CNC

machine, folded together.

He makes a groove where
the panel bends into the
desired form, and adds a
bead of structural adhesive

http://www.stricklandracinginc.com
YouTube: //www.youtube.com/channel/UCHPgP6j4IvmgUkhtGJy9qAQ
14

to minimize the need for

welds.
Suspension pieces are
custom-fabricated uprights
with A-arms front and rear,
and double-adjustable
shocks, along with Corvette
C5 hubs. The Smeding 383
stroker engine is backed by
either Porsche transaxle or
a Griffin unit. Rated at 420
hp, the output doesnt need
to be excessive since the
car weighs a feathery 2300
pounds.
Both the chassis and
fiberglass body are being
tooled up as of this writing,
and Strickland plans to

have the first production

vehicle delivered by early
2016 to Russell Uhlig of
Kissimmee, Florida. Called
the Chupacabra (after a

mythological creature), it
will feature butterfly doors
supplied by Fran Hall at
RCR. Pricing is targeted at
somewhat less than $100K.

15

FYI

E
www.vdo.com/usa

VDO PRT
Tachometers
taking your ride
to the next level
The new VDO PRT 10,000RPM Tachometer adds
style and performance
to your ride. Featuring
configurations for 4, 6
and 8 cylinder engine
applications, its available
in a brilliant white dial face
with silver bezel and an
intense black onyx dial
face with black bezel.
Through-dial lighting
delivers excellent visibility.
PRT features a resettable
shift point and built-in shift
light indicator, an adjustable
mount for multiple mounting
options and positions and
a 4-wire hook up for fast
installation.

Puzzle Me

nglishmen go out
in the midday sun
and work on British
cars. Well, at least Brit car
builder Kevin Roots does,
renovating and restoring
the best and worst of fine
automobile engineering
in Californias high desert.
He practiced his fluency
in Lucas and fed a passion
with MGs, Triumphs,
Jaguars and others over the
past several years. Then
on a trip to England the
Enigma appeared in his life.
The Enigma is the
embodiment of British
design, being the accepted
design for the new Austin
Healey before the demise
of Austin-Rover, with the
reliability of a Japanese

Contact: salessupport-us@vdo.com
See the complete line at:
www.vdo-gauges.com
www.vdo-gauges.com

VDO - A Trademark of the Continental Corporation

16
CO2127 CarBuilder_PRT_Tachs_ThirdV_11-12-2015_v1.0.indd10/26/15
1
2:50 PM

watch. Build on a customdesigned steel chassis

with a fiberglass core
constructed body and
Mazda MX5 mechanicals,
its the perfect mix.
Available in kit and rolling
chassis the Enigma is a
new concept in homeconstructed cars at a real
world price.
So, now Roots has the
pleasure of putting a smile
on his customers faces
when their long stored
cars run again and the
opportunity to supply them
with the best of British (and
Japanese).
http://enigmacarsusa.com
englishroots@verizon.net

FYI

Mirror, Mirror

ock West Racing

(RWR) builds an
extensive line of
Porsche replicas, and RWR
is a division of Rock West
Composites, a company
that makes carbon-fiber
components for a variety
of applications. So its
no surprise that RWR is
Component Vehicles:
now offering side-view mirror assemblies
https://www.rockwestracing.com
for both Spyder and Speedster models
Composites:
that are made of carbon fiber. Fiberglass
http://www.rockwestcomposites.com/
mirror bodies are standard and priced at
$125 each. The carbon fiber model is a $75
upgrade. All mirrors use custom cut glass
Experience
with integrated swivel assembly, and custom
Shows
paint is an optional upgrade.
More than 170
Factory Five cars built
in the last 19 years

Pro-Quality,
Pro-Builder with
a Full-Service
Facility:

Engines
Transmissions
Custom Street &
Race Suspensions
Stack & Throttle
Body EFI Systems
Plus: Body & Paint

Gordon Levy
(520) 494-2745

www.bbmotorsports.us

www.levyracing.com
www.facebook.com/levyracing

17

FYI
RCRs
New
Projects

t never ceases to amaze

us how many different
replicas and original
designs come out of Fran
Halls productive shops.
As head of RCR (Race
Car Replicas), and also
Superlite Cars, he regularly
announces a variety of
project cars.
The latest ones include
a Jaguar D-Type replica
with a TIG-welded
monocoque chassis and,
following the originals

18

setup, an independent front

suspension and a live-axle
rearend. Its designed for a
six-cylinder Jaguar engine
backed by a T5 manual

transmission. Wheels
are 16s, and the body is
available either with or
without the tail (as seen on
the XKSS), and a Sebringstyle headrest.
Also rolling out is a
replica of the 51 Aston
Martin DB3S, offered
in either a fiberglass or
aluminum body. The
suspension is a periodcorrect trunnion-style

FYI

suspension, and either a four

or six-cylinder engine, mated
to either a four- or five-speed
transmission.
Last but not least is a
Steinard Formula Libre,
a replica of an old-school
F5000 open-wheeltrack/
racecar (albeit not currently
vintage eligible). The TIGwelded tube-frame chassis is
suspended by CNC-machined
uprights. With a 400hp
LS engine and six-speed
transaxle in a 1212-pound
package, this car sounds like
a rolling cruise missile!
More details to follow
at: http://www.race-carreplicas.com

19

FYI
Happy Trailering to You

or many years Ralph

Stork has offered body
enhancements for the
VW Beetle, but his company
Glass-Action Fiberglass
Specialists has now
diversified into making a
Fiberglass Trailer as a kit. I
wanted to build something
that wasnt just for VW
people, he notes. So its
been fun to open up my
market, even getting calls
from motorcycle owners.
Base priced at an
affordable $999, he and
can also build turnkey
units starting at $1695.
Shown here is Craig
Browns beautiful 32 Ford
Roadster. But wife Debra
complained they never
had enough room in the
32 Ford for chairs, E-Z Up

CAPEFEAR 7

canopy, ice chest, or just

her stuff. Now Debra is
happy, and his ride looks
so cool driving to the next
show. He will be matching
the wheels soon.
Stork also built a
Woody version displayed
at the Good Guys events,
and is being raffled off,

A single donor kit,

no searching for
parts. Just an NA or
NB Miata, plus our
CapeFear 7, CF7m
kit, is all you need
to complete your
car.

CAPEFEAR 7

www.capefear7.com
www.capefear7.com

(910) 547-3236
20

with proceeds going to a

Veterans group. A $10 ticket
can win a $4500 Trailer
with Tru-Spoke Wheels, and
every option!
Stork is mainly still
doing the VW parts, keeping
busy with that. The trailers
were finished just earlier
this year, and hes sold one
to a guy as far away as the
UK. (Attached is a pic of his
customer in England, blue
Bus with matching trailer).
He also just received
some VW Bug, T3, and Bus
pickup bed molds from a
shop in California that went
out of business.
www.glass-action.com
(928)420-1296

FYI

www.KoolMat.com

Service and Quality Second to None

Voted Best Cobra Replica by Kit Car Magazine
Awarded the Good Manufacturing Practices Award by AHA
Featured build up on the DIY Network
Cobra is a trademark of Ford Motor Company. Unique Motorcars products have no connection with Ford.

230 E. Broad Street Gadsden, AL 35903

(256)546-3708 or (256)546-2395
Visit us on the Web at: www.uniquemotorcars.com
www.uniquemotorcars.com
21

FYI
Skinning the Catfish

auer Limited
Production, maker
of the Miata-based
Catfish, has announced two
new models in its lineup,
and major changes to the
original car.
The first Catfish model
now has a raft of new
parts and designs. Changes
include all new interior
panels, a new transmission
tunnel, and major changes
to the frame.
The frame changes
were made so that it could
accept the General Motors
of bodywork. This raw
version of the Catfish will
be lighter and have a price
point below $10,000.Even
though its not clothed

22

in Catfish bodywork, it
is possible to order and
install the full Catfish body
and windscreen at any
time.Custom minimalist
bodywork is included along
with fenders so that this
track-oriented car will be
accepted at your local track
events.Estimated weight
is 1,500
lbs when
complete,
and each
car also
accepts
the LFX
engine, or
any engine
currently
used in
the Mazda

Miata (LS3, J35, 13B, 1.8

Turbo, etc.).
Lastly, the CFR Apex is
a hard-core, race-inspired
body thats intended for
more downforce and more
horsepower.It will debut
in 2016 in racing trim
and uses the LFX engine
package. The included

FYI
sneak peek picture of this
car is the first one to be
shown in public!
Enhancements to this car
will include a stiffer chassis
made to accept the LFX or
high-horsepower Mazda
drivetrain, V8 Roadsters
tubular K-member,
tubular A-arms with Heim
joints, tubular rear subassembly, and a wild body
package with a massive
rear diffuser and massive
engine vents to release the
heat of big engines at the
race track. An Aisin MV7
transmission and Getrag
3.23 rear LSD differential

(stock on Camaro and

Cadillac) should give a
theoretical gear-limited top
speed of 203 mph. With a
horsepower to weight ratio
of around 5:1, performance
is expected to be stunning.
When complete, less than
five percent
of the car will
have Mazdabased parts.
One more
item: the
Catfish will be
campaigned
at this years
25 Hours of
Thunderhill

by Ron Cortez and Team

CRE in the open ESR
class using a supercharged
1.8 Mazda engine and a
few other performance
enhancements.
http://bauerltd.com

World-Class Concours Winning

550 Spyders & 356 Coupes

Unrelenting
attention to detail,
performance built, vintage
turnkey replicas with
advanced modern
performance. Starting at $35,499

www.seductionmotorsports.com
www.seductionmotorsports.com

480-404-1117

23

Revising

A Remarkable Rework of a Classic 59

History

9 Corvette Into a Contemporary Exotic

Text and Photos by Steve

Temple

priceless piece
of nostalgia can
occasionally
become Fools
Gold. For instance, some
might think that owning
and driving a Fifties
Corvette would be a
wonderful experience.
Then again, it might not
be everything that you
imagined. Fortunately, even
if it isnt, you can make it
betterway better.
Thats exactly what
happened with Hugh and
Sean Cassar. Drawing from
their shared, longtime
fascination with collecting
cars, this father-and-son
duo purchased an originalspec C1 in good running
condition from an auction
in Scottsdale, Arizona.
But they ended up taking
a slightwell, actually, a
substantial detour.
It was sort of a heat
of the moment thing, son
Sean admits.
After getting
this classic
Corvette back
to their garage
in Socal, they
discovered
what many C1
owners already
knowbeauty
runs only

26

skin-deep.
When we realized that
the car in its original state
was a bit underwhelming
to drive, I decided to do
the build, he recalls. Not
just any buildup, though.
This restomod would
go way beyond a simple
engine swap, and become
a whole new creation with
prodigious performance.
The original vision
was to build a 59 ZR1,
exactly 50 years from
the 2009-released ZR1,
he explains. Essentially
taking the pinnacle of C6
production and melding it
with a first-gen Corvette.
Yet Sean had an even bigger
vision in mind. Building
on this theme, I also
wanted to incorporate racedesign features from other
supercars.
Thus the ZR59 would
be an eclectic in design:
old Vette, blended with the
new ZR1 Vette, all mixed
up with the technology, feel
and rumble of other exotic

modern-day performers.
This concept was first
put to paper by designer
Gary Ragle, where the
roadmap to a modernized
classic would become
clear. The rendition was
tweaked multiple times,
until determining the exact
combination of science,
stance, and race demeanor,
without losing the original
feel of one of the most
desired sports cars of the
Fifties.
Integrating all these
elements would first
require replacing the
antiquated foundation.
Sean personally removed
the body, leaving the 283ci
V8 and 4-speed in the
chassis, which was sold to a
Corvette restorer in Europe
to help defray the cost of
the project a bit. He then
mounted the body on an
Art Morrison chassis, fitted
with C6 fronts and a Currie
9-inch rearend.
To achieve a more
menacing, hunkered-down
stance for contemporary
cornering, Air Ride
Shockwave units went
on both front and rear,
instead of coil-overs
which Art Morrison
traditionally uses.
According to Art,
the chassis performed
equally on the track
with the Air Ride

compared to the coil-overs,

Sean says. Brakes are
Wilwood six-piston calipers
in the front, and four-piston
in the rear.
As for the body, after
fitting it onto the chassis,
Sean cut out the rear to
fit over extra-wide tires.
He also had to modify
the center of the car for
the large Tremec T-56 6
Speed transmission. In
addition, the lines would
be streamlined, with the air
diffuser given the flow of a
Ford GT, among many other
exotic elements.
Yet it was important
not to go overboard on all
the mods. We were very
careful to make sure that
we did not change the
look of the car to the point

where it was
not easy to
tell what year
it was, he
emphasizes.
It is
definitely a
1959, and
if you know
the car well,
you can pick
out all the
custommade parts. And if you dont
know the car to that level, it
should just look like a really
clean 59 Corvette.
Replacing the old lump
was a 6.2L LS9 crate motor.
This supercharged smallblock fit right in, but did
require an Aeromotive fuel
pump, and several custom
touches: an aluminum
Griffin radiator, and longtube, mandrel-bent headers
from Art Morrison, along
with custom mufflers from
Borla.
Alan Palmer
of Palmer Customs
finished out the engine
bay by fabbing up custom
components such as a fan
shroud, smoothed-out
firewall, power steering
reservoir, throttle-body
adaptor, and oil/
water tanks with filler
necks, along with
making room for a
larger radiator and
intercooler. He also
changed the hoot so it

lifts in front, and lowered

the center of it so the GMsourced Lexan window
would fit closer to top of
blower case.
Once the mechanicals
were finalized, the output
at the wheels dynod out to
731 hp. (Thats more than
triple the power delivered
by the base engine back in
59!). Harnessing that many
horses required a McLeod
Racing clutch for the sixspeed manual tranny,
fitted with a Hurst Shifter.
This setup spins a custom
aluminum driveshaft into
the Ford 9-inch with a 4.11
ratio, HD axles, and fourlink configuration.
Why such a substantial
chassis? The most
important part of this build
is the fact that this car
was built to drive, Sean
observed during the build

27

process. It is not a trailer

queen, and will be pushed
to the limits. The car will
be track driven. (In fact, it
went on to participate in
the 2014 Optima Challenge
in Las Vegas, where it
gave a good account
of itself, winning Ride
Techs Renegade Award,
and Runner Up for the
Lingenfelter design award,
second only to a winner of
the Detroit Ridler.)
Guiding the chassis is a
new rack-and-pinion unit
with a much quicker ratio.
After all, back in the Fifties
there wasnt much sport
in Americas sports car, as
the factory recirculating
ball steering box was
vague and unresponsive,
with a lethargic ratio. The
steering joints and rods for
the ZR59s new system are
hardly visible. We directed
them into the fender near
the drivers wheel, and then
the rod comes through the
inner fender well at the last
point, before terminating
into the rack and pinion,
Sean explains.
The original drum
brakes were marginally
responsive as well. Thats
why Wilwood stepped up
with a set of six-piston
calipers in the front,
4-piston in the rear, all to
put a clenching grip on 14inch discs. (In fact, Wilwood
28

was so
impressed
with
the final
disposition
of the ZR59
project
that it was
displayed
at its SEMA
booth,
where it
won a GM Design
Award as well.)
Fattening up the
rolling stock with
Hankook rubber
was clearly needed
for sharp braking
and cornering as
well. The Nutek
three-piece rims
are wrapped with
245/35R19 rubber
up front and
305/25R20 out
back.
All these
mechanical mods
demanded a
corresponding level
of customization
on the body.
Palmer fabricated
and fitted an
extensive array of
custom exterior
components:
front and rear
steel bumpers,
cast headlight
bezels, grille mesh
and surrounds,

fender and door moldings,

inner fender wells, and
windshield trim. The latter
was a particularly difficult
aspect, he admits, with the
frame first cut down two
inches and laid back by
trimming the corners; and
then a 1 x 2 solid aluminum
frame shaped by hand,
shaved and bent.
Other painstaking
elements, more than 100 in
all made by hand, included
the trim for the tonneau
and tops of the fenders,

along with brass accents

in the coving. All of the
moldings on the top of the
fenders, the side door trim,
and the dual door spears,
on the outside of the doors
and on the interior panels

(not three like the original)

were handmade out of solid
brass by Lil Louie in Rialto,
California.
No area was left
untouched, including
upgrades such as a front air

29

dam, side rocker panels, a

rear air diffuser and multiangled exhaust tip inspired
by Lamborghini. In the rear,
the first thing to catch your
eye is the huge bumper that
stretches across the entire
back of the car, and swoops
around the sides to match
the front bumpers. This
bumper was a lot of work,

30

but it really made the back

of the car, Sean feels. For
a striking tri-tone finish,
Palmer applied PPG BMW
Alpine White, Flat Black,
and a custom mix for the
brushed aluminum finish
on trim items.
The cockpit was equally
embellished by Ron Mangus
Interiors, with a remarkably

modernized touches to
the gauge cluster and
dash, center console, and
iPad enclosure (which
controls the audio and
nav systems, and features
an electric docking port
designed by Sean to allow
easy removal). Speed
Hut Customs designed
and painted the gauges,
and supplied the GPS
speedometer as well.
Upholstery treatments
included both red and
black suede leather, plus
European tweed carpeting.
modified, smoothed, and
The Isotta steering wheel
lines changed just enough
rim was custom painted
to notice, this is what is
by Palmer and wrapped
meant by one of a kind.
by Mangus Interiors. ARC
No surprise, then,
Audios amps power the
that Sean has no plans
Kicker speakers.
whatsoever to part with
While the buildup went
fairly smoothly for the most the car: I dont want to
be a person who regrets
part, obviously it was very
selling it. Itll still be a
labor intensive. As Sean
unique car 20 years from
eloquently sums up, When
now. After all, creating the
a hood is built from a plan,
baddest, one-of-a-kind 59
and the bumpers are made
from scratch, when the trim Corvettes ever built takes
time, determination, lots
is hand bent, carved and
of down-and-dirty hard
molded from from chosen
workand ultimately,
metals, when wheel wells
revising history.
are hand shaped, and a
tonneau cover
is molded to
encompass
SOURCE:
the hand-built
Palmer Customs
seats; when the
805/552-9533
entire original
http://www.palmerscustoms.com
body of the
Vette has been

Celebrating 50 years of
the Shelby Cobra 1965-2015

800-297-6253

www.Superformance.com
www.Superformance.com

Own a legend today!

As seen on

L
I
W

Wond

LD

&

derful
Sensational Show Cars of
SEMA 2015
Text and Photos by Steve Temple

iven the size and significance

of that annual Las Vegas
auto extravaganza known
as the SEMA Show (hosted by the
Specialty Equipment Manufacturers
Association), youll find all kinds
of coverage in a variety of editorial
outlets, both print and digital. So
what makes CAR BUILDERs feature
any different? Several aspects.
To start with, weve been attending
this event for several decades, and
have the advantage of historical
perspective, having seen all sorts of
trends come and go, and we focus on
those vehicles and items of special
interest to seasoned car builders.
Also, we tend to be a lot more
inclusive and even irreverent in
our approach. So with the dual
advantages of both hindsight and
heresy, youll see stuff here that you
might not find elsewhere.
Not only that, we actually take
the time to dig for details on each of
these cars, so you dont puzzle over
what youre looking at. And all within
days of the event, since were a digital
magazine.
Even so, we dont claim to have
it all in just one article, so well be
following up in our next issue with
some more in-depth info on products
of particular value to readers of CAR
BUILDER. So enjoy the ride, and stay
tuned for even more material.

This Jeep has enough tread to

tackle a vertical wall.

Mr. Norms GSS AlleyCat has the

snarling look of a Hellcat, but you
wont get clawed by the price tag.

A Wiley Coyote: EDP Performances turbo fits any 2011 to 2016

Mustang/F150 Coyote 5.0 V8.

You gotta be a rock

star to have a car built like
this one! So no surprise that the Aquarius was commissioned by Metallicas James Hetfield. Rick Dore Kustoms crafted this remarkable ride from a 34 Packard, using an Art
Morrison chassis with Accu Air suspension. The elegant aluminum body was styled by
Marcels, drawing inspiration from the famed Figoni and Falaschi38 Delahaye 165 Cabriolet, along with some sinister inuence from the long and low look of customizers from
the Forties and early Fifties.

Superformance, which
also manufactures the
Shelby Cobras shown
here, wowed the crowds
with its drift Cobra replica.
We plan to feature it in an
upcoming issue.

How
about a
twin-turbo
version of
1940 Ford
truck from
Rick
Larios?

Clockwise from above: Our first

thought when we spotted this tank
display for Mishimoto was what it
took to get it into the building, Edelbrocks E-Force Supercharger is for
the 2015 5.0L Ford V8 Mustang.
Its the bomb! As in bomber-style
buckets from Ace Hot Rod Seats
38

Two extremes found in the Ford display: a stunning 32 5-Window Coupe

from United Pacific Industries, and built
by Roy Brizio and powered by an Edelbrock 347 crate engine; and the new
Ecoboost-powered Ford GT.

The Hurst Supercat

can make either a
2015 or 16 Challenger
look just like a Hellcat, but for a far more
affordable price. A
Kenne Bell supercharger is
an option.

Factory Fives Dave

Smith was joined by
legendary Cobra Coupe
designer Pete Brock.
The new coupe version of the 818 was on
display, along with a
mid-engine, LS-powered GTM, built by customer John Kabacinski.

Ford kept things fast and furious, giving free hot laps in front of the SEMA
show.

This ornate, raised finish on a KUHL

Racing GT-R is called Engraving Metal Painting.

Lots of curves seen at the Barrett-Jackson booth. This 38 Lincoln was the late,
great Boyd Coddingtons last build.

A boosted Belair with

an aged patina.

A 32 Fuller Moto Double Down sizzled

in the Jet Hot booth.
The Hurst Heritage GSS
Ram 1500 is a Hemi-powered sport truck and, in the
Hurst tradition, a gentlemans hot rod as well.

This carbon fiber Pagani supercar was

a compelling sight at the Ohlins Suspension booth.

Heres diesel dually version of a rat rod. The engine appears to be a four-cylinder Cummins, commonly found
in commercial bread vans, but obviously with a lot more
yeast in this application.

Flyin Miata is
now doing its
thing on later
models as well.

43

Desert Sunset,
a golden 52 Chevy
kustom, gleamed in
the Eastwood display.

Built in California, the

Beast from Rezvani
Motors is based on the
British Ariel Atom exoskeleton car. Using both
a blower and a turbo, it
kicks out 500 horses,
while weighing less than
1700 pounds.

Local Motors
doesnt just
do 3D-printed
cars, but also
the DIY Rally
Fighter. This
one was treated
to a Gulf Racing-style color
scheme, sorta
of like a GT40
for off-roading.

44

Well, Halloween had already come and

gone by show time, but these costumed models pointed out plenty of
treats in the New Products Showcase
area.

Jerry Logans 34 Ford Roadster was

beautifully built by Jon Kosmoksi.

D
E
N
I
F
E
R
R
E
T
S
D
A
RO

Custom Touches Can Take Time

a Long Time
Told by Britt L. Fussel
Photos by Steve Temple

irst things first:

youve gotta
have a good place
to build a project
car. But even when

you have the right

setup, things can
take way longer than
expected, especially
when you want
things to turn out
just so, as Ill explain.

In February
2006, we
finally finished
building our
new house
that included
a shop. The
primary
purpose of the
new house
project was
to provide a
facility to build
another car. In
late February, I
placed an order
with Factory
Five Racing for
a Mk3 Roadster,
which arrived
in early May 2006. It
wouldnt get done until
much later, though.
I originally planned
the build to take only two
years. The convenience
of having a shop in the
backyard was to allow
work to occur on the
roadster project after I
came home from work.
Unfortunately that did not
happen, as I was always
too tired from work to
spend any real time in the
shop. Life generally got in
the way resulting in only
spending time on Saturday
and part of Sundays
working on the car.
48

In addition, I hurt my
back working on the car,
resulting in the need to
have back surgery. Also,
toward the end of the
project my father came
down with an inoperable
cancer and I needed
to spend time with
him. Aside from these
obstacles, I couldnt help
but add a number of my
own personal touches, so
thats basically why it took
so long to complete this
project.
I chose the Factory Five
Racing kit because I liked
the flexibility they offered
when ordering their kit. I
wanted to do something

different. I chose to go
with a Ford 4.6L DOHC
modular motor with a
Tremec TKO 600 fivespeed transmission.
Again, wanting
something different
when you opened the
hood, I added a Whipple
supercharger. Basically
what I had was the same
engine Ford put into
the 2003 Mustang SVT
Cobra: the Terminator.

READERS
RIDE

I found as I went along

that modifications begat
modifications.
I replaced the kitprovided steering shaft
and bearing with a
Flaming River Roadster
steering column. This
change provided selfcanceling turn signals and
a four-way flasher switch.
I moved the parkingbrake handle to the left
side of the console. This
mod not only made
it easier to reach, but
also provided room for
improved seats.
I spent a lot of time on
the FFCars.com forum
site. Unfortunately, the
forum participants could
readily help you spend
your money. It was on the
forum I found out about
the ISIS (now Infinity
Box) intelligent wiring
system. The product was
brand new and I had to
have one. I installed the
three-cell system, which
included a MasterCell
and three PowerCells,
providing a lot of
opportunity and flexibility
in wiring the car. The
MasterCell was installed
in the passenger-side
kick panel; one PowerCell
was installed inside the

engine compartment on
top of the passengerside footbox; and two
PowerCells were hidden
in a box that I cut into the
bottom of the trunk. The
battery was also hidden in
a box cut into the trunk.

When I turned
my attention to the
bodywork, more
modifications were in
order. The handles for
the hood and trunk were
shaved, and the hood
latches were replaced

49

with a hidden cable

system that could
be opened from the
cockpit. The trunk
latch was modified
and can be opened
with an electric
trunk release. Since
the battery was
mounted in the
trunk, a backup
cable release was
also installed.
The quick jacks
were removed and
the holes filled. The
Mk3 Roadster kit
ships with visible
body mounts. All
body-mounting
points were hidden.
The license plate,
which sits above the
trunk handle, was
frenched into the
trunk lid. All of the

body modifications
made for a very
clean looking body.
Bodywork alone
took over two years
and I performed all
the work, including
paint.
The kit provided
low-back bucket
seats that were
tossed for high-back
bucket seats from
Corbeau. These were
then recovered in
leather. Seat heaters
were added, along
with a Vintage Air
roadster heater.
Since I did not
want any part of it
visible in the engine
compartment, this
unit was dismantled
and installed behind
the dash in two

pieces. This resulted

in needing to build
a duct to connect
the fan motor to
the heater core, and
then a plenum to
duct the heated air
into the cockpit. In
addition there are
defroster vents in
the dash.
To provide a
luxury only found in
high-end production
vehicles, I included a
keyless ignition from
Digital Guard Dawg.
This ignition system
requires you to have
a RFID transmitter
with you to start the
car.
The car was
registered under
the California
SB 100 process

that allowed me to
register it as a 1965
Cobra. It was finally
completed and on
the road in March
2014, some eight
years after the kit
was delivered.
Unfortunately,
it was not without
its mechanical
problems and has
twice been on a
rollback tow truck.
The first time I
grenaded a throwout bearing. This
was the result
of a mismatched
clutch fork to the
bell housing. The
clutch fork was not

pressing on the centerline

of the throw-out bearing,
placing a lateral force
on it and causing it to
shatter. I know it was in

at least five piecesfour

were in the bottom of
the bell housing with the
fifth out on the highway
somewhere.

The second problem

was even more disastrous.
A brass sprocket that
ties the exhaust cam to
the intake cam broke,
allowing the passengerside intake cam to stop
spinning and causing
the number-one piston
to hit the intake valves.
As a result I found that
you could remove a 4.6 L
DOHC motor from one of

these cars with the body

still on. It took almost four
days to remove, including
tear down to long-block
status delivering the
engine to an engine shop
for repair. It then took an
additional four-plus days
to put the engine back
together and re-install it
back into the car.
The culprit? A loose
bolt that held the timing

gears in place on the

passenger-side intake
cam. This dates back to
when I had the long-block
built seven years before
I put the car on the road.
All told the car was out
of commission for over
two months, causing me
to miss two scheduled car
shows.
During the first year
on the road I received

recognition at several
car shows including
winning best interior at
the Factory Five Racing
2014 Huntington Beach
Show. But the best part is
knowing that I did it all
my way, in my own sweet
time. You cant rush art
or custom project cars
either. -CB

How a Japanese
Engine Ended up in
a German Design,
Built With Yankee
Engineering
Text and photos by
Steve Temple

hat does the CEO of a

prominent computer
company prefer to
drive over all the other classic

sports cars in his collection? After

all, Intels Brian Krzanich has
his pick of Cobras and Speedster
replicas, but one in particular
is more seductive to him. As
in Seduction Motorsports 550
Spyder. But its not just any
Spyder, as most are powered by a
VW Type 1 air-cooled engine. No,
this one has a boxer configuration
thats water-cooled instead, and
sourced from the other side of the
globe, nowhere near Stuttgart. Its
a Subaru EJ25.

Why did Brian take

a route to the land of
the rising sun? Well, the
reliability of this engine
is undisputed, so its
ideal as a daily driver.
And the opposed cylinder
configuration keeps the
weight down low, similar
to the VW powerplant. Of
course, the Subbies weight
is somewhat higher, and a
radiator and coolant lines
have to be added, along
with a functional front oilcooler grille (since they
were not found on the
original design). But with
porting and hotter cams,
it obviously delivers way
more power (230 horses,
versus 165hp stock), which
offsets those drawbacks.
All up, the car weighs
only 1300 pounds, so thats
more than enough beans to

really scoot. As equipped,

this Spyder scampers from
0-60mph in only three
seconds, Seduction says.
The extra traction of the
mid-engine configuration
helps here as well, and
the company offers a new
wider tire option as well
as an upcoming option
of carbon fiber fender
flares for fitting track tires

underneath this beast.

Backing up the engine
is a Seduction Motorsports
Pro-Street transaxle w/
3.44 (3.88 is optional) ring
& pinion, powdercoated
matte gunmetal, plus a
Super diff, dual heavy-duty
aluminum side covers,
welded 3-4 hubs, hardened
keys, one-piece rubber
boots, and all new stainless

steel 316 hardware.

RideTech adjustable
dampening suspension
is included on all of
Seductions vehicles.
RideTechs system uses
an aluminum mono-body
shock with HyperCo
spring, aluminum top hats,
adjustability on ride height
as well as dampening.
Theres another
advantage to using the
Subaru engine as well.
Since Brian enjoys flying
through the twisties in the
Sierra foothills, Subbies
computer-controlled EFI
the readily adjusts to
differences in altitude. But
his approach to customizing
didnt stop there.
The exterior is painted a

Porsche Candy White

with an interior
lined with baseballglove premium
leather interior with
a diamond-pattern
stitching. Also
dressing up the interior
are charcoal carpeting
and Seductions brushed
and polished aluminum/
stainless steel interior
components, along with a
stainless steel hand-brake.
The interior door panels
have the period-correct
oval shape (instead of the

D-shaped
seen on
other
replicas).
A
prototype rear stainless
dual exhaust system is
paired with stainless
Magnaflow mufflers.
For safetys sake,
Brian opted for a double
removable rollcage bar
in chrome with a fourpoint, three-inch shoulder
harnesses. Since hes a
fairly big guy, Seduction
made a shortened Nardi

57

steering hub, and added

a removable shift rod
extension that raises up
the shift knob while still
allowing a short-throw shift
with a standardized PBS
Cable Shift shifter setup.
Seductions Daniel
Verwers touts this system
as the easiest to use and
drive cable shifter on the
market, and he teamed up
with PBS to make all his
companys mid-engine 550
Spyders shift smoothly. It
has a quick change, shortor long-throw feature

options. And he adds that

which is standard. He also
upgraded the headlights
a 953 Pre-A Porsche 356
to H4 Xenon units with
bent window Coupe is now
available as well. And we
authentic German parking
lights, and uses originalwont be surprised if that
model will be enhanced
style fluted headlight glass.
Verwers notes that a
as well from a global
turnkey Spyder fitted with
perspective.
a 230hp
Subaru
EJ25 can be
SOURCE:
purchased
brand new
Seduction Motorsports
for $47,099
3215 N. Arizona Ave. Suite B9
before
Chandler, AZ 85225
add-on
www.SeductionMotorsports.com

Most Powerful, Biggest, Baddest, Best Look

BILLET TWIN SCREW

Kenne Bell combines size, efciency, lower parasitic losses an

STREET

STREET RODS

Why settle for a little 2.3L cast

aluminum supercharger or an
2.3 OEM rotor adaption. Make
some real HP. Get a big Kenne
Bell 100% Billet Twin Screw. The
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Worlds Fastest, Quickest and
M o s t P o w e r f u l S h e l b y s ,
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Patented Liquid Cooling

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lby American are registered trademarks and/or tradedress of Carroll Shelby and Carroll Shelby Licensing, Inc.

Phone (909) 941-6646 Email: kennebell@kennebell.net

The Exo F
Examining How the
Exocet Hits HighPerformance Targets
in an Unconventional
Way
As Told by Taylor Perkins
Photos by Steve Temple, Kevin
Patrick and Halston Pitman of
Motorsport Media

iata enthusiasts
are a broad and
enthusiastic
group, since its the bestselling two-seat sports car
ever. No surprise, then, that
car builders of all stripes
are drawn
to it as a
versatile
platform
for a
number
of project

Files

READERS
RIDE

cars. With the stock body

removed, its roller skate
backbone chassis and
sturdy engine serves well in
a lightweight configuration.
As a prime example,
consider the Exomotive
Exocet. It features an
exoskeletal, tubular spaceframe chassis based off the
geometry of the first- and
second-generation Mazda
Miatas. Using this proven
platform as a foundation,
Exomotive has created
a simple and affordable
way for enthusiasts to
transform one of the most
raced cars in history into a
lean, welterweight fighting
machine.
It does so by radically

altering the
power-to-weight
ratio. The Exocet
cuts anywhere
from 600 to 1,000
pounds off the
weight of the
standard Miata
donor, and that
weight reduction
is what provides
an unconventional
performance
boost. As a result,
the acceleration
rivals its missile
namesake, the
brakes bite
down harder, the
steering feels more
agile and precise,
all the while a

grin spreads across your

windswept face.
Three basic versions
of the Exocet package
are available, along with
some optional extras. Each
level provides a different
variation on the main
theme. Want a weekend
cruiser for tooling around
town and winding down
country roads? Then the
Base kit is a good place to
start. Or are you more of a
track rat, ripping up a road
course? The fully caged
Race package is just the
ticket. In between those two
ends of the spectrum is the
most popular Sport model,
providing the accessibility
of the base model, but also

SOURCE:
Exomotive
http://exomotive.com/exocet/
serving well on the track.
Each kit comes with a
laser-cut and CNC-bent
fully welded chassis, all
the necessary internal
paneling, gelcoat fiberglass
bodywork in a choice of
180 colors, hardware, and
an entire online community
of helpful enthusiasts
spanning the nation. On
average, build completion

time runs about 100 hours

or so, significantly faster
than a large number of
other kits on the market.
As noted already, the
secret to the Exocets
simplicity is the heavy
usage of all the Miata
drivetrain components.
Basing it off the NA and
NB Miatas allows you to
simply bolt in the Mazda

mechanicals, eliminating
the need for complicated
installation methods or
custom mounting parts.
Take what you need from
the Miata and sell the
unused parts to recoup
some, if not all, of the cost
of the donor.
For those wanting a
take things to an even
more extreme level, there
have been a number of
alternative builds using
turbos, K24 & J32 Honda
swaps, GM LFX V6s, and
various V8 LSX swaps along
the way. Even the beefed up
V8 subframe conversions
can be bolted in under most
circumstances, preserving

the easy build process.

There are already
so many aftermarket
components and engine
conversions out there
that one simply has to
do a quick Google search
to find them. Some build
examples include two
Exocet co-owners who had
Flyin Miata build them
an Cadillac CTS-V LSApowered beast. While this
monster weighs a bit more
than your typical Exocet, at
around 1900 pounds, with
556hp horsepower on tap
its no slouch.
Exomotives inhouse V8

build also boasts some LS

power as well. Company
technicians were able to
easily install an LS376/535
crate engine from GM
Performance, along with
a T-56 transmission and
CTS-V Getrag rearend by
using an Exocet V8 swap
kit offered by Exomotive
and V8 Roadsters. To say
it kicks butt would be an
understatement.
Exomotive has made it
a point to build a variety
of Exocets, boasting an
array of naturally aspirated,
turbod, and V8-swapped

examples. All the better

for testing, and test it I
did. Driving Exomotives
Exocet Race model with a
Flyin Miata FMII turbo kit
was like nothing I have ever
experienced. With the turbo
set to 12 pounds of boost,
delivering 250 horses at
the rear wheels, and in
such a light foundation, you
feel every bit of power, as
you drop the clutch and let
loose. The open nature of
the Exocet gives the visceral
feel of a four-wheeled
motorcycle, with the added
safety of the full cage.
Along with impressive
performance comes
impressive looks. I was

seeing rubber-necks
everywhere, as people
craned to see what odd
machine was whipping
past them. All in all, it was

a memorable, and exciting

drive.
Overall, the Exocet is
an affordable option for
those with minimal build

experience and are looking

for increased performance,
exoskeletal open-air
motoring, and bringing new
life to an existing Miata

donor. After all, theres a

strongly supported Miata
aftermarket, given the the
sheer number of NA and
NB model Miatas produced

over the years (more

than 700,000 in the U.S.
alone). Literally thousands
of options are available
to choose from in each
category of upgrade or
replacement.
This production volume
also drives down donor
prices, since theres such
a huge market of available
used vehicles. Though they
were mass produced, the
quality was never lacking,
as the Miata has a steadfast
reputation of reliability,
and the engine has a
massive capacity for taking

a beating. Even if an
issue arises, you can bet
there have been plenty
of others before you with
the same question and
the answers are all easily
found on one of the many
Miata-specific enthusiast
sites or forums. The sheer
volume of parts flooding
the market makes repairs
well documented, and
even better, inexpensive.
So the Exocet
component package offers
a fun and simplified build
experience, along with
open-design
options
allowing
for easy

maintenance,
customization, and
accessible aftermarket
products that keep cost low.
You can make it as mild or
as wild as you like, because

in the end, the Exocet

platform is a blank canvas
for your next custom car
build.

http://www.shellvalley.com

a
t
a
i
M
e
h
T

Toy
Box

Text and Photos by Jim Youngs,

Editor Emeritus

For over 26 Years

Flyin Miata Has
Been Dedicated to
Making the Most
Popular Sportscar in
the World
Even Better

ou can find several

attractions in the
tiny Colorado town
of Palisade, nestled
in the shadow of the Grand
Mesa and bordered by the
Colorado River. In addition to
lush peaches and fine wine
grapes, this area boasts both
popular bicycle and kayak
areas and the gateway to the
spectacular Colorado National
Monument. And theres
another big enticement: Flyin
Miata.
This company is the go-to
source for everything MX5.

Founded by Bill Cardell

in 1983, its housed in
a 25,000 square-foot
former indoor horse arena.
The company began as
The Dealer Alternative
specializing in repair and
servicing of Porsche, Audi
and VW products. It was
1989 when a Porsche
customer introduced them
to a Miata and the love
affair began. Two months
later Cardells own Miata
was turbocharged and a
new business formed.
In 1996, we moved
to Colorado and started
working on Miatas
exclusively, Cardell recalls.
A couple of years later,
we bought our first dyno
to use as a tuning tool.
Many of our special parts
had been given the name
Flyin Miata, so in 2000 we
renamed the company to
match.
In keeping with the
Flyin part of the companys
moniker, it has added
monster horsepower
upgrades in the form of LS
V-8 engine conversions. But
not just some crude swap,
as its one thing to wedge
a V-8 into a little car, and
quite another to make it
look as if it came that way
from the factory. Flyin
Miata not only does an
awesome job in appearance,
but also achieves something
74

other than just

a nose-heavy
hot rod.
In addition
to a thick
catalog of
Miata hop-up
engine parts,
suspension
upgrades,
and brake enhancements,
Flyin Miata has diversified
its offerings. As a natural
extension to the business,
it is now a dealer for some
Miata-based component
cars such as Westfield,
Exocet and Catfish. Of
course, this hands-on
company is not content
to just take orders for
those customs, but created
formidable demo models
of each and loaded them
up with some of the best
components offered in
its catalog. We had the
opportunity recently to take
a look at a couple of the inhouse builds and they both
bristle with cool tech and
are high on the fun-factor
scale.

EXOCET

In building their
exoskeleton Exocet, Flyin
Miatas team did all the
work themselves with the
goal of using as many of
their salvage 1999 Miata
components as possible

without modification.
For example, the wiring
harness wasnt modified
except for cutting off a few
redundant lengths such as
power window and audio
controls. The majority of it
was left alone and simply
strapped into the car. All
of the emissions gear,
rearend, steering, engine,
transmission, instruments
and such were retained
basically without any mods.
The company did replace
stock shocks with V-Maxx
coilovers at all four corners
and added Little Big Brake
Kits consisting of Wilwood
calipers on the stock rotors.
The Exo wears a complete
set of 15x7-inch Kazera
KZ-M wheels shod with
Toyo RA-1 rubber (225/4515).
The boys left the engine
with its stock internals and
induction, but added one
of their Level 1 lightened
flywheels. The car spends
a good portion of its time
on FMs local track and has
been turbocharged since

our visit. It apparently

makes a great test platform
for R&D for the company.
It basically doesnt
have an interior, is FMs
description. Bare aluminum
panels make up the floor
with a pair of Sparco Sprint
V racing seats mounted. It
has an NRG quick-release
hub steering wheel and air
conditioning described as
copious fresh air.
We always get a chuckle
at some of the answers to
our typical questionnaire
filled out by feature car
owners, and this one was
no exception. In response
to our question of Make/
features of sound system,
FM commented, Exhaust
note and passenger
screaming only! When
asked about the cars
brand and color of paint,
Hot Yellow powdercoat
was listed and when asked
about Number of coats and
any special application
(stripes or fades, etc.)
FM responded, Rubber

chunks on the
frame were
applied using
a high-speed
technique at
Laguna Seca.
While still
on the subject
of Exocet, we
were able to
take a look
at a special
customer model underconstruction sporting none
other than a Cadillac CTS-V
supercharged LS V-8!

CATFISH

they also added FM V-Maxx

suspension components
and the FM Little Big
Brake kit. For wheels they
chose TR Motorsport C3M
15 x 9-inch wheels with
Hankook 225/45ZR15 tires.
The Catfish interior is
purposefully simple with
a pair of Sparco Spring
seats and G-Force Pro FIA
harnesses. The steering
wheel is a removable
Momo Prototipo and the
gauges are stock Miata
with Flyin Miata gauge
faces. The team also added
a rear-view camera. The
door panels were covered
in microsuede. Since
our visit the Catfish also
received Bauers new full
windshield instead of the
small racing windscreens.
The windshield gives the
stylish car a dramatic new
appearance, a nice upgrade
from the one we featured
initially. And we here that a
2.0 Version is in the works
with a number of additional
improvements, so stay
tuned for more details.

Weve published a
considerable amount of info
on the stylish Catfish made
by Bauer Ltd, so we wont
dwell on all of its details
except to say that it is also a
component car that comes
with a steel subframe and
belly pan that attaches to a
Miata chassis.
FM staffers built their
Catfish based on a 2001
Miata and utilized its
engine, transmission, gauge
pod, and differential. The
build team
added a
Flyin Miata II
Flyin Miata
turbo system
499 35 Rd.
to realize
Palisade, CO 81526
about 250
horses at the
800/359-6957
rear wheels.
https://www.yinmiata.com
Like the Exo,

www.kirkhammotorsports.com

Text and Photos by Steve Temple

Raspberry
Delight

But Choosing
That Color Wasnt
So Easy

s much as
we respect
tradition,
its good to
occasionally color
outside of the lines.
Literally, in the case
of Frank and Martha
McLaughlins Shell
Valley Cobra. You see,
weve lost count of how
many Cobras weve seen
in Guardsman Blue with
Wimbledon White. Not
that theres anything
wrong with that, as it
pays homage to the look
of a legendary muscle
car.

80

But they make

different flavors of ice
cream, dont they?
So when we
spotted the raspberrysherbet shade of the
McLaughlins Cobra
(how could you miss
it?!), it whet our
appetite. Yet it still has
a touch of tradition
in the skunk stripe,
but rather than ivory
colored, its done in
Vapor Silver. And the
berry hue is actually
multiple applications of
PPGs Magenta Magic,
slathered with four

coats of clear.
The result is visually
stunning, a treatment
that stops onlookers in
their tracks time and
again. They all have one
obvious question: What
color is that?
Once the McLaughlins
get past that point
(which Frank admits
was the hardest
decision to make during
buildup) folks find
that beauty actually is

more than skin deep

in this instance. Stress
points on the body
mounting are reinforced
with Kevlar and steel,
snugly fitted on Shell
Valleys 2 x 4 inch frame
transversely linked with
eight cross members.
The McLaughlins
received their
component vehicle in
November of 2005, and
started by removing the
body from the chassis,
and then installing
the suspension. It has
custom tubular A-arms
in the front, fitted with
a combination of Ford
Granada and GM Monte

Carlo brake components

and a Ford 9-inch
rearend in an adustable
4-link setup with Shell
Valleys custom brake
setup. The front coilovers use QA-1 shocks
(while the coils are

already adjustable, Shell

Valley is evaluating a
new type of shock thats
adjustable as well). And
suspending the rear are
Quickset Silver Bullet
II coil-overs. Rolling
stock consists of Vintage

81

Wheels shod with Cooper Cobra

Radial G/T rubber.
After the brake system and
hydraulic and fuel lines were installed,
the body went back on, along with
exterior trim. Frank then lined the
engine bay and transmission tunnel
with stainless steel panels, all within
six months of delivery.
Next he dropped in the
5.8L 351W Ford crate engine.
Topped by a Victor Jr intake
and 770cfm Holley Street
Avenger carb, and fitted
with Shell Valley ceramic
headers, this mill pumps out
385 horses. Its backed by
Ford Racings World Class
Super Duty T-5 with a 10.5inch clutch. While he was at it, he
fabricated all sorts of custom brackets,
and all of the Painless Wiring
system was carefully concealed
(likely drawing on his former work
experience as an electrician).
The nearly assembled car then
went to paint in February of 2007,
and once done after about five

months, Frank installed the dash with

Autometer gauges and a Moto-Lita
laminated-mahogany wheel, along
with other cockpit items. In the 11
months it took for him to assemble the
car (not including five months at the
paint shop), he handled 99 percent
of the work. He gives plenty of credit

SOURCE:
Shell Valley
http://www.shellvalley.com
to Shell Valley for providing excellent
tech support (and the company
notes that this buildup time is fairly
typical for most customers). All told,
he achieved remarkable results in
fairly short order. Is that a Raspberry
Delight, or what?

Turn-key Com

DENMATCARS

Profes
d
enma
denma

Kick-Out, DualSport and

mmission Builds

ssional assembly for your next adventure

a
tcars.com
Cape Cod, MA
774 487 7826
atcars.com/

Manxter 2+2 Sport Cars

Kalifornia

n
i
m
a
re

An ItalianStyle Body
With
Germanic
Origins
Text and Photos by Rob
Hawkins

henever
I photograph
a kit
car where there are
lots of people passing
by, it never ceases
to amaze me how
many of them are
completely unaware of
the range of replicas
that can be built for
a fraction of the cost
of an original exotic.
So when we parked
the Nubodi Kalifornia
(developed by Tribute
Automotive) outside
a block of offices, the
usual assortment
of questions were
directed at proprietor
Richard Bird.

Graphically illustrating
his responses, next to
where we had positioned
the Kalifornia was the
very same model of Z3
that had been used to
make the Kalifornia.
Parking the two side
by side stunned most
people, but also made
them realize that
owning a classiclooking collectible
can be affordable.
While that same parking
lot had a Lamborghini
Aventador nearby, such
supercar exotica doesnt
always impress people as
much as classic cars. And
in this case, originality
doesnt matter. After
all, the Kalifornia is
loosely based around
the Ferrari 250 GT SWB
(an acronym for Short
Wheel Base), which is
88

rare and very expensive.

The nearest most people
have got to this shape of
Ferrari is by watching
Ferris Buellers Day Off,
which featured the longwheelbase California.
So the Kalifornias
approach of a classic
exterior with modern
components underneath
should appeal to a
large proportion
of production-car
owners who want
the reassurance that
serviceable items and
replacement parts can
be bought from a local
dealership or salvage
yard.
Even though this
aspect was a major
selling point for the
people in the office who
stopped to ask questions,
many traditional replica

builders might need a

little more convincing.
Earlier in the day, I
had met the owner of
a Sammio, based on a
Triumph Vitesse, who
recalled the occasional
fiddling he has to do on
his straight-six engine to
keep it in order. I tried
my best to convince him
that a rebody for a BMW
Z3 would put an end to
having to fine tune the
ignition and fueling, but
I could see I wasnt going
to be able to talk him
into it. He liked to tinker.
So the blend of
modern and classic isnt
for everyone, but does
it really work on the all
new Kalifornia? Theres
no clear answer here. For
instance, the beauty of a
panel kit is it should be
relatively quick to fit and
is easier to register (as
the original donor car).
Yet how far do you have
to go to make it look
convincing?
In the case of the
Kalifornia, Nubodi went
to great lengths to source
replica, authentic and
genuine parts for the
exterior. The badges on
the wings for example,
are not stickers, but
made from stainless
steel with an enamel
and chrome finish. They

had to be warmed up
and bent to shape before
being stuck in position,
but only cost less than
$24 each (other badges
are in the same price

range or even less,

depending on their
authenticity).
The external door and
boot handles are from
the classic Mini, or door
handles from the
Alfa 156 might be
used in the future.
The protruding
tailpipes at the rear

are reminiscent of the

non-bumpered Ferrari
250GT race cars. In this
case, the Z3s original
heavy rear silencer has
been removed, some
pipework fabricated to
fit a couple of lighter
twin silencers with
four slash-cut polished

stainless steel tailpipes.

Some parts on this
car are very inexpensive,
but required lots of
preparation time to
fit. The front grille was
bought from B&Q for
only $34, but took a
whole day to cut, modify
and paint. The 15-inch
wire wheels bolt onto the

89

standard Z3 hubs without the need for

spacers and are made by MWS. Richard
bought a rusty set for less than $310 and
spent two days cleaning them up. The
spinners are commonly found on classic
Lambretta scooters.
All told, how far you go towards
making a convincing re-creation is down
to personal taste. Leave off the badges on
this car and it would surely make it more
intriguing as to its origins, but it would
still need an assortment of chrome
to make it look classic. In the cabin, a
standard Z3 interior probably wouldnt
suit the looks of the car, but Nubodi has
incorporated a few subtle changes to
help create a semi-classic appearance.
Okay, theres no escaping the fact that the
Z3 dashboard and centre console look
modern, but the seats look authentic,
and who can tell theyre from a Rover
75?
The plastic and composite paneling
behind the seats and over the rear
package shelf has been removed and
covered with carpet, meaning the
inertia-reel seatbelts dont retract so
easily, but Nubodis intend to fit fixed
seatbelts in the future. The company
also plans to fully modify the dashboard,
re-creating a classic appearance with
authentic clocks. Its a lot of work and it
will certainly be worth it, but should you
wish to save time and money, stick with
the standard Z3 interior.
The looks of the Kalifornia are
only one aspect of whether this is an
appealing repro. Whats surely more
important is how it drives, and this
is where opinion is always divided.
Anyone who wants authentic driving
characteristics should use a more dated
donor, but dont be offended if youre left
90

for dust by a Ford Fiesta. So does a more

modern, mass-produced car take all of
this appeal away? I had to find out.
Sitting inside the Kalifornia, the
wood-rimmed steering wheel and
comfy Rover 75 seats help to knock a
few decades off the feel of the Z3. The
lettering on the center console has been
deliberately removed, but the auto-box
selector is easy to figure out between
park, reverse, neutral and drive. Im not
a massive fan of automatics and luckily
the next Kalifornia to be built will have
a manual gearbox, but the sports car
market has been turned upside down
with sequential boxes and engines so
powerful that a paddle shift is essential.
The Kalifornia doesnt feel as big as

it looks from the view

inside. When I first
walked around it and
later compared it against
a standard Z3, theres
no mistaking the GRP
panels have made it look
a lot larger, adding an
extra foot to the length.
The 15-inch wire
wheels and high profile
225/70/15 van tires
also help to raise the
ground clearance
and give it a larger
appearance without the
need for any suspension
modifications. From
inside, that perception
of size isnt retained.
Visibility is good,
enabling me to see where
the front wheels and the
front end are located.
The door mirrors are
surprisingly helpful.
The rearview mirror
maybe needs a rethink.
Nubodi discarded the
composite standard
mirror (and discovered
its required to activate
the remote locking
function using the key
fob). It was replaced by
something made from
metal, fitting it on top of
the dashboard. The view
of the rear is limited, so
Nubodi is now looking
into fixing it to the inside
of the windshield. My
suggestion is to make

the most of technology

by fitting a stereo with
a flip-up screen and
installing a camera in the
back of the trunk panel.
As I head off for
the first time in the
Kalifornia, I realize I
instantly feel at home
inside this car. The
automatic transmission
looks after itself,
although there is a
sequential option should
you feel the need to
manually change gear.
Otherwise, all you have
to worry about is which
of the two pedals to
press while controlling
the steering.
After a few minutes,
Richard Bird asks me
to slow down to create
some distance for the
few cars ahead as they
pass a national speed
limit sign. Were cruising

along at 20 to 25 mph,
then he encourages me
to floor the throttle and
hold onto the steering
wheel. The torque of the
fuel-injected straight six
pulls hard through the
rev range, holding onto
each gear up to 6000
rpm.
I lose count of the
gear changes, but
estimate were still in
Second when we hit
the national speed limit
and a sharp corner
approaches. Richard
hints that I should slow
down a little, so I hit the
brakes hard and the allround discs and calipers
respond with confidence.
Through the corners,
the high-profile
rubber provides some
entertaining handling as
you can feel the tire walls
flex and the body lean.

91

The choice of tires looks

right, but they certainly
alter the characteristics
of cornering and driving
in a straight line. I
eventually realize I need
to relax and allow the
steering to do its job.
Theres more feedback
through the steering,
but it doesnt need to
be corrected. Most of
this is possibly in my
mind thanks to the
wood-rimmed steering
wheel, which seems to
exaggerate every bit of
movement, much more
than a standard padded
vinyl or leather wheel.
Im soon starting to
have some fun driving
the Kalifornia. The
automatic is effortless,
although Im not entirely
converted as Im a
self-confessed control

freak and miss having

to change down gears
prior to a corner, match
the revs and feel my way
through a bend. That
aspect is all taken away
in a Z3 with an auto
and traction control.
However, I can also see
their appeal, allowing
a leisurely driving style
and according to the
onboard computer on
the Kalifornia, it still
returns a respectable 32
mpg!

What really appeals to

me about the Kalifornia
is the fact that you
can obtain a turnkey
classic collectible for
less than $20K (not
including delivery from
the UK; kits are less
than $4600), and have
a car that is faster and
more reliable than the
original and with lots of
modern conveniences as
well. And thats not just
California dreamin.

SOURCE:

Nubodi Automotive
Tel: 0118 983 3709 or 07779 365247
www.nubodi.co.uk
Tribute Automotive
www.tributeautomotive.co.uk

Superlite Cars

Superlite
Coupe (SL-C)
Superlite Nemesis

SUPERLITE CARS
31795 Groesbeck Highway
Fraser, Michigan 48026

www.superlitecars.com
WWW.SUPERLITECARS.COM

Business hrs..Mon-Fri 9am-5pm

Tel; 586-329-1573
Fax; 586-329-1574

70

www.jasperengines.com

Insurance Coverages Available:

www.worldclassins.com

COrVEtTE
COuNTrY
Mid-Americas
Funfest
Relishes All
Sorts of
Customizing

Talk ab
joined

Text and Photos by Steve Temple

F
Every available parking spot was filled with
Corvettes in the city center.

Dennis and Cindy Manire displayed a Grand

Sport roadster replica with a law enforcement
theme and Star Wars storm trooper behind the
wheel.

bout a long line of Corvettes! Hundreds of them

d in the Fun Tour to kick off Mid Americas Funfest.

ew production
cars are
lavished
with as much
aftermarket attention as
the Corvette. Even Chevy
execs acknowledge that
virtually all Corvette
owners begin to customize
their cars the moment
they drive them home.
And older Corvettes,
considering their
desirability as collectibles,
are ideal as projects, be
they pure restos or the
wildly popular restomods.
Whichever one you
prefer, Mid America is an
ideal source for a wide
variety parts and upgrades
(and not just for Corvettes,
as the company also
offers VW components).
In addition to serving as
an excellent resource for
car builders, Mid America
also knows how to throw
one heckuva party, aptly
dubbed as its Funfest.

Lingenfelter fitted one of its 603hp

LS7 mills into a GM-licensed Superformance Corvette Grand Sport. It
features Lingenfelter CNC-ported
LS3 cylinder heads, because the dual-carb style
intake is not available for the LS7 head

Filling up the field of dreams with nearly 160 acres

of Corvettes.

Lining up for
a tour of Corvette country,
and displaying
a provocative
plate.
98

Held every year

since 1994, this massive
convergence of Corvettes in
southern Illinois is the event
of the year for enthusiasts
of all stripes, whatever
era or model they prize.
While a great many cars
that show up are
pristine examples
of production cars,
were naturally drawn
to some of the more
imaginative creations,
to see how owners
embellish their cars.
Summarizing all the
attractions of this four-day
event is nearly impossible,
but well hit a few of the
highlights, and let the
pictures tell the rest of the
story.
At first sight, you cant
miss two big fixtures
(literally) on the show
field: the Fun Dome and
Install Dome. Under these
enormous tents are all
sorts of Corvette lifestyle
accessories and aftermarket
upgrades are readily
available, everything from
lifestyle apparel to power
adders. But its not just
about the merchandise,
as Mid Americas chief
cheerleader Mike Yager
and his crew do everything
possible to make the Funfest
live up to its festive name.
They provide all sorts of
entertainment, from a Fun
Run to a free rock concert,
and much, much more.

The event kicked off

Thursday morning on
September 17, as attendees
Corvettes began pouring
onto the 160-acre show
field. Later in the day, more
than 500 of them lined up
for a scenic drive through
Effingham County, led
by Mike Yager in comical
FLIPOVR pickup, and
ending up in the town
square.
Downtown, a Welcome
Fest sponsored by the
Effingham Convention and
Visitors Bureau included
live entertainment by Allie
Keck, a performance by
Caylas Dance Team, and an
impromptu Corvette show,
with a trophy was awarded
by the towns mayor.
On Friday, Corvette Funfest
kicked into high gear, with
Corvettes streaming onto
Funfest Boulevard three
abreast, all eager to enjoy the
festivities. Expert seminars
delivered tips, tricks and
the latest information on
everything from Racing
Headers to Performance
Tuning, and Building a New
Corvette. Clearly
some great info for
car builders.
New to Corvette
Funfest this year,
enthusiasts had a
chance to have get
some professional
pinstriping done on
their fuel-rail covers,
helmets, cell phone

Alan Arthur showed off his exotic, widebody Callaway C12, built on a 97 C5, and then drove back
home to Indiana and later returned with his silver
Callaway C16.

Heres a C4 that must go.

Make offer!

Hot rod enthusiast Dennis Pittsenbarger, a self-proclaimed professional of automotive tomfoolery,

added his electric personality to
the Funfest by hosting a number
of panels and awards presentations.
99

Heres a C7 we wanted to drive home: a 2016 Z06 C7.R Edition (ZCR). Available in
either Racing Yellow or Black exterior, its loaded with carbon fiber trim and other upgrades.
cases and even high heels,
expertly done by Louie
Allison and Rick Losh.
They could also get the
autographs of their favorite
Corvette and automotive
celebrities, during the
scheduled Celebrity
Autograph sessions.
Friday evening featured
the annual Corvette Funfest
Charity Event, raising funds
for Fear Nothing. The local
non-profit organization
was created by two-time
cancer survivor and former
100

Check out the Lambo-style doors and custom

hoods, along with aero add-ons and color-matched
wheels, on this Extreme Supervette

Looks like one mean

Shark Corvette.

Deborah Schwoerers electrifying paint job

juiced up the crowds.
Ron Fellows Performance
Driving School gave away
a Weekend Course on
Saturday evening.

Mid America Motorworks

employee, Jodi Waymoth.
With a laid-back Luau
theme, the Charity Event
welcomed guests with
colorful leis and included a
silent auction, a live auction,
authentic Polynesian

dancing and fire

throwing, and tributes
to those who fought
the fight against cancer.
Proceeds from the
evening were donated
to Fear Nothing, which
uses half of its funds to
assist local families going
through cancer treatments
and the other half to fund
private cancer research.
Saturday began with
the Opening Ceremony at
the Funfest Pit Wall, where
Mike Yager and the whole

Yager Family officially

welcomed their guests
to Corvette Country. Max
Brockhouse with the Solid
Axle Corvette Club and John
Hutch Hutchinson and
Maureen Waller with Grand
Sport Registry announced
plans to coordinate both of
their events with Corvette
Funfest 2016. (Car builders
will likely enjoy checking
out some more great
examples of both restos and
restomods, so mark your
calendars for next

101

September.)
Saturday also gave guests
a chance to hear
what the experts think
of the latest trends in the
Corvette industry, with the
annual Expert Panel. Event
emcee Dennis Pittsenbarger
hosted the panel, asking
Mike Yager, Fred Gallasch,
Kevin Mackay and Lance
Miller to give their insights
on what makes the Corvette
hobby so strong.
The Funfest Stage was
then the setting for the
annual Corvette Funfest
Fashion Show, where
industry celebrities strutted
their stuff, showing off the
latest Corvette fashions and
giving out some great prizes.
The highlight of the day
came with the Saturday
Evening Concert. As
registered guests and
concert goers awaited the
band, the Yager Family
announced winners of the
Ron Fellows Performance
Driving School Weekend
Course, three $500 Gift
Certificates from Condon
Skelly Collector Insurance
and the pinstriped Fender
Strat that was autographed
by the band. Mike Yager
introduced David Marks and
the Surf City Allstars, as is
tradition, and the band took
the stage with Beach Boys
classics.
Sunday wrapped up with
the annual St. Anthonys
High School Corvette
102

Rally round the ag boys. Its a matter of national

pride for Americas sports cars.

One of the more creative efforts we noticed was this

reproduction of the GM Motorama Corvaiar concept
car. Based on a 1954 C1 barn find purchased by
Mike Terry, it was custom fabricated by Brett Henderson of Blue Flame Restorations. Recognizing
how much effort goes into creating a body, kustomizer George Barris gave it a celebrity choice trophy.

Jasper Engines & Transmissions

not only offers a wide range of
remanufactured engines, but
also has an Authentic Custom
Drivetrain Division for period-correct engines and transmissions.
giveaway, featuring a 2016 Corvette.
Once the final awards given out
Sunday just before noon, attendees
went home a bit weary but happy,
after roaring through the heartland
of Corvette Country. After seeing all
the latest upgraded and customized
show cars, participants are no doubt
looking forward to next years event,
either to strut their stuff or get ideas
for their next project car.

Repeat winners Sandy and Jr. Redden

rolled up to the award stand yet again in
their 427-powered 75 Coupe.

Adams Premium Car Care experts captivated the crowds with a number of detailing
tips.
103

This rare conversion is only one

of three or so known to exist. It
smoothly incorporates the side
cove of a C1 Corvette into a C5, creating a contemporary classic.

Need new rims and rubber? The Install Dome

had them all, with special deals for on-site installs.
104

Mid America now offers a

wide range of upholstery
products, including a new
C3 upgrade with the modern
style and comfort of C5 or C6
Corvette seats. They replace
the motor and track mechanism of C5 and C6 Corvette
Standard and Sport Seat assemblies, allowing your factory 1968-1982 seat tracks to be
bolted in their place.

VIP guest George Barris of Barris Kustoms selected a special

Kustom Corvette each day, highlighting how custom cars can be
a work of art. Sadly, we heard of
his passing right after the SEMA
show. His marvelous sense of
style will be greatly missed.

ACS displayed a number of aero body parts

for the new C7 Stingray.

Not to confuse names, this Grand Sport

replica hails from Mid America in Milan, IL.
Its owned by Doug Hanner, president of
the Corvette Club of Illinois.

Something old, something new, combining different eras of Corvette body styles
to create a compelling look.

Another trophy winner was Tom and Barb

Noels 2001 C5, displaying an abundance
of both style and
speed. Its fitted with
Lambo-style doors,
custom paint and trim,
and a 200-shot bottle
of nitrous in the back.

Guests at Corvette Funfest 2015 enjoyed the opportunity to meet an icon in the racing world, Miss
Hurst Golden Shifter, Linda Vaughn, aka the First
Lady of Motorsports. She signed autographs and
related some wonderful memories from her years
in drag racing.
Now heres a
new way to
get around the
showgrounds.
This Corvette
owner rigged
up rack for a
Segway.

Mike Ungermans C4 not only had several

body and cockpit upgrades, but also an LS1
engine swap.

Available now, che

eck your dealer for inventory!

Own a legend today!
www.Superformance.com

800-297-6253

Water S
Recovering
from a Near
Drowning
Incident

Snake

READERS
RIDE

As Told by Larry Johnston

Photos by Steve Temple
and Larry Johnston

ve wanted a Cobra
since I was 18 in
1968. Needless to
say, the dream faded
over the years, but it never
went away. By chance, one
day my son and I dropped
intoKassabian motors
(a consignment store in
Pleasanton, CA www.
myhotcars.com) and there
it was: my dream car.
The salesman persuaded
me to sit in it, and then fired
it up.
Bitten by this slightly
enlarged replica (made
by the long-gone Classic
Roadsters), I called back
and forth and later made
abid. This took place over
a three-month period, but I
finally bought it. Turns out
that Im the third owner.
The first was a man in New
Mexico who had it built in

112

Texas and delivered to him.

The body is about six
inches longer and three
inches wider, and most of
that room is in the seating
area great for bigger people.
The paint color is Bonsai
Blue, and the white stripes
are slightly wider with the
thin pinstripe on each side.

(I know the color because

the first owner wrote that
his barn door hit the door
and it had to be repainted.)
The second owner was
in San Rafael, who put
a lot of money into the
car for a fuel cell, second
roll bar, canvas top, new
shocks, suspension mods,
and stereo. I think he also
changed the motor, since
the one I pulled out didnt
match the specs the first
owner had included.
No matter, since I had
about 500 miles on the
car before I had to change
the motor yet again. This
happened after a highspeed run. I was a little
busy at the time, driving
(or maybe flying), but the
speedo looked like it hit
160 mph). Not surprisingly,
I burnt the top of one of
the pistons, and ruined a

good pair of underwear!

The current motor is a 351
Windsor Ford Racing crate
motor with a 430hp rating.
It had about500 miles
on it when I crashed the
car. The motor was filled
to the top with water and
had to be disassembled
and rebuilt. Im not proud
of this moment and these
pictures have not been
shared publicly before. The
incident took place on an
industrialstreet close to
where I keep the car with
a sweeping corner that a
regular car can make at 35
mph. As a suggestion the
city put up this 15 mph
sign on it. (No imagination
here!)
I was pushing 55 when
I got into the corner felt
the car come around.
As I tried to correct the
drift and straighten out, I
unfortunatelyjust ran out of
room. Out of nowhere this
fire hydrant threw itself in
front of me to keep me from
hitting the tree. Poor little
thing didnt make it.
It took two and a half
hours to get the water
turned off before the tow
truck could pull my Cobra
off the hydrants geyser.I
never did get the water bill,
can you imagine how much
from a six-inch main for
hours? The officer wasnt
pleased and I think he just

felt sorry for me when he

wrote the ticket for unsafe
speed. It came toaround
$350.
When I got to my
garageI drained the oil, as
the engine was completely
full of water. I pulled the
plugs, and turned it over
manually to vacate the
water. I filled the oil up as
high as it would go sprayed
WD40 on all the cylinders.
I also WD40d all of the
electrical connections I
could find and did so many
more times. Later on I
would be happy I did.
I found out later that the
Yokohama tires were well
over ten years old and had
simply gotten too hard to
stick, so loss of traction was
the culpritand maybe a
little stupidity. Nah!
Many thanks to Diamond
Auto body, and the shops

fiberglass guru Lester,

for taking on the job to
rebuild my dream. Cost
of the total rebuild: over
$50K. Also a nod to Hewes
Performance Machine in
Reno, for rebuilding my
motor and giving it a lot
more power. Roger Kraus
Racing in Castro Valley, is
the performance tire guy
who persuaded me to go
with the Avon tires and
completely rebuilt the
suspension as well. He
also cross-balanced the car
front to back, and side to
side, including my weight,
so the car handles great.
The Avon tires have made
all the difference in feeling
safe and enjoying the power
under control in this car.
Thats my story and Im
sticking to itand now to
the road too!

113

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CAR BUILDER MALL / CAR BUILDER MALL / CAR BUILD

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READERS
RIDE?
Not a replica. Not a kit car. A continuation GT40.

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The GT40/R racecar bolt-for-bolt virtually identical to the original has been approved for
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116

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117

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF

AUTOMOTIVE PASSION

Subscribe to Car Builder

today, for Free
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Join us in celebrating our 40th Anniversary! We
have changed the way you shop for VW parts
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site is content rich with user-friendly navigation
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CLICK:
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OR CALL
866.309.5290 TODAY!
Key code: 780
17082 N US Highway 45, Effingham, IL 62401
Mid America Motorworks, Inc. All rights reserved.

Jim Inglese 1/6 pg_Layout 1 10/5/15 11:19 AM Page 1

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DF Goblin

Got welds?

The Perfect
Entry-Level Kit
The aptly named
CarValkyrian Steel was created as an art car for the Burning Man festival,
held annually in the desert of northern Nevada. Powered by a Ford Coyote 5.0L V8, its
described by builder Henry Chang of Playaworks in Las Vegas as sculpture which you can
Low-priced
and
easy on the rear is a kinetic sculpture, and more body components
drive.
The device
mounted
will be added
in the
coming year. Looks fascinating as is, in our opinion.
to build,
the
Get it Built and on the Road for Less Than
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DF Goblin is designed
$10,000!
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DF Kit Car

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119