Conference terri::cars_uk

    As I have already stated, I have placed my order for a Stratos kit car.
    
    There are two particular kits of this car available in the U.K. (that
    I know of).  I sent off for information on both of these.
    
    The first, the one I am buying, has been available for a few years now.
    This is the 'Transformer HF2000', made by Gerry Hawkridge.
    
    The other kit is the 'Corse' - available in 'I' and 'S' models.
    
    Although these are generally similar kits, with a Lancia Beta as
    the main donor, some of the differences follow :
    
    Both of these have bodies made using moulds taken from the original.
    The Transformer body panels have been supplied to a number of
    owners of the original cars.  The Corse panels are claimed to be
    made of thicker fibre mat and to have return lips for extra strength.
    
    Both cars have a spaceframe/cage type of construction with the body
    panels being non-stressed.  The Transformer is set out in an
    almost-identical manner to the real thing, whereas the Corse kit
    does not attempt to be an accurate copy (only in bodywork).
    
    The two models of the Corse kit use different suspension set-ups,
    with one of them using their own wishbone rear suspension, which
    utilises Ford Scorpio parts.  The other method is for Beta front
    struts to be used at the rear, with one coil removed and with
    custom-made uprights to take the Beta hib bearing in both cases.
    
    The front suspension of the Transformer is designed to the same
    geometry as the original, but using different (thicker) tube and
    bushing sizes.  A Triumph Herald rack is also used on this kit.
    
    The Corse has their own layout front suspension, which is still
    similar to the real thing, but has more compliance built in, and
    does have their own cast steering rack (as they claim there is no
    suitable part to be used for the geometry).
    
    
    When asking Corse what they thought of the Transformer, they said :
    
    	The original car was designed with 70's thinking, so when our kit
    	was designed, it updated certain areas with more modern knowledge.
    
    When asking Gerry of his comments on the Corse, his view was :
    
    	The kit has been developed is as close to the original as can be
    	reasonably managed.  Since it is so similar in so many ways, the
    	kits hold their value much better.  He did not feel that it would
    	be reasonable for a 'back yard worker' (meaning both himself and
    	the manufacturers of the Corse) to make a product that would be
    	any better than that turned out by a Rally-winning factory...
    
    Other points to consider in any comparison (I think) are :-
    
    	The Corse product is made in Yorkshire, the Transformer in Sussex.
    	This may well be important when sorting out any problems.
    
    	There is a large build manual for the Transformer, but there is
    	not yet a complete manual for either type of Corse kit.
    
    	The Corse was originally made/sold as the 'Litton Corse', but
    	apparently not many of these have been completed.  This would
    	not have been helped, a) by the lack of a build manual, or
    	b) since the original manufacturer quite the business.
    
    	I am led to believe that around 100 of the Transformer kits
    	have been built.  These have used Lancia Beta engines, with
    	and without Volumex superchargers, Lancia Thema Turbo engines,
    	Honda/Rover V6 and Ferrari V6 and V8 engines.
    	The Corse has been built with the Beta engine and with the
    	Honda/Rover V6 engine.  Neither have yet had a kit built
    	using the Alfa V6 engine.
    
    	The Corse is expected to be slightly cheaper to build than
    	the Transformer product, but prices for completed kits will
    	always be hard to quote on, as so much will depend on the builder.
    
    Another point, there is a Stratos Replica Owner's Club, for which I
    have sent off my membership, which has about 70 members.
    
    J.R.

From one of my books it shows only 500 original Stratos were made.  Is that
an accurate figure?  I guess just enough to get them homologated.

Dave

    The rules at the time were worded in some way which required that
    the manufacturer had to have 'the intention to build 500 cars' (or 400?)
    and there is some doubt as to whether Lancia ever made the full amount.
    
    What is definite is that they did not sell all of them.
    
    To make matters worse, there was an accident at the factory/warehouse
    where a large number of them were kept, plus many spares, and the roof
    fell in and destroyed this mass of Stratos cars + parts.  A Shame !
    
    J.R.

    
    The homologation figure was 400 over 2 years. As John said there is
    some doubt that Lancia ever reached that figure. Also there are
    reports of Lancia giving away Stratoses because they couldn't sell
    them!
    
    There were a number of special Stratos models including the Giro
    D'Italia Group 5 model turbo model which had a nasty habit of bursting
    into flames! The Stratos was descended from a show car (Bertone, I
    think, since they designed the production car) which looked not much
    like the final car at all. Somehow it was decided to build a rally car
    out of this wierd machine and eventually the Group 4 Stratos we all
    know and love came about.
    
    Not all Stratoses had the roof spoiler and boot spoiler.
    
    Mark

    
    Is Rut-the-nut any relation to Bernie-the-Bolt?
    
    

    In case anyone wishes to get info on these kits, this is available
    from the following two companies (usually for a �2 charge) :-
    
    
    	For the 'HF2000', contact Gerry Hawkridge.
    
    		Transformer Cars Ltd
    		Oak Dene
    		River Hall Hill
    		nr Frant
    		East Sussex TN3 9EP
    
    		(0892) 750341  or  (0892) 750282)
    
    	For the 'Corse', contact C.A.E.
    
    		Carson Automotive Engineering
    		Wisp Laithe
    		Wood Lane
    		Grassington
    		Skipton
    		North Yorkshire BD23 5LU
    
    		(0756) 753335
    
    J.R.

    
    Re .3 & .4 about the number of Stratos produced for the homologation.
    
    Lancia was aiming to build the required 500 (not 400) Stratos cars by
    March 1974 but could only achieved that figure in October of the same
    year.
    
    Some interesting facts about the Stratos designed by Bertone.
    
    The car appeared first at the 1970 Turin Motor Show as a mere styling
    exercise by Bertone.
    
    It had an exaggerated wedge shape body and was called Stratos after a
    Bertone employee commented that it looked like something from the
    stratosphere.
    
    The version with Ferrari Dino V6 engines and glass-fibre body won three
    successive World Rally Championships from 1974 to 76.
    

    
    Was it 500 over 2 years? So, presumably the later Group B was 400 in a
    year?
    
    Mark

�    The car appeared first at the 1970 Turin Motor Show as a mere styling
�    exercise by Bertone.
�    
�    It had an exaggerated wedge shape body and was called Stratos after a
�    Bertone employee commented that it looked like something from the
�    stratosphere.
    
    And this looked extremely ugly, in the picture I have seen...
    
    The subsequent body, IMO, looked almost totally different, and
    *much* better.  Real style !
    
    J.R.

    
    John,
    
    Is Gerry Hawkridge any relation to the Alex Hawkridge of the Toleman
    F1 team of old (now Benneton, of course)?
    
    There is someone (as you probably already know) actually rallying a 
    Stratos replica, but I've got a feeling it's a Corse. It seems fairly
    successful at the level it competes at (high level clubbies).
    
    Mark

�    Is Gerry Hawkridge any relation to the Alex Hawkridge of the Toleman
    
    Dunno 'bout that one.  One of the mag write-ups mentioned that
    Gerry 'made his name' in Karting - many, many moons ago.
    
�    There is someone (as you probably already know) actually rallying a 
�    Stratos replica, but I've got a feeling it's a Corse. It seems fairly
�    successful at the level it competes at (high level clubbies).
    
    When speaking to the manufacturers of the Corse, they did tell me
    that someone is rallying one of theirs with a Honda/Rover V6 in it.
    
    When speaking to Graham Bates of GB Engineering (in Camberley, anyone
    know anything about him/them ?), he mentioned that they have done a
    number of parts (gear linkage, exhaust system, brakes, hubs) for
    a Stratos replica that is used in competition, with a Honda/Rover V6.
    At the time, I didn't ask which kit this was based on.  I will be
    having more of a chat with Graham at the Fete this weekend, where
    he says there should be about 5 Stratos replicas present.
    
    One which he has just finished work on has a Lancia Thema Turbo
    fitted to it, and is painted in Bennetton livery...
    
    J.R.

    
    Graham Bates, GB Engineering, is a fairly good friend of my brothers
    and has just done some work on his Transformer Group 4 Stratos 
    replica. 
    
    My brother bought an old Lancia Beta and sent its engine to Ozelli 
    (excuse the spelling) in Oxford. Apparently, it should now have 170
    BHP.  
    
    BTW, the Stratos replica being used for rallying is based on a Transformer
    Group 4 kit (I can't remember whether it had a Lancia or Renault V6
    engine).
    
    Tony
    

�                  -< GB engineering know what they're doing! >-

    As I said, I will meet Graham on Saturday and ask about his work,
    and the sort of prices involved.
    
�    Graham Bates, GB Engineering, is a fairly good friend of my brothers
�    and has just done some work on his Transformer Group 4 Stratos 
�    replica. 
    
    This means you should have some information to pass on in Notes
    about the Transformer then...
    
    So if Graham has done work on your brothers car and is still a
    'fairly good friend', then he didn't make any real mistakes :-)
    
    J.R.

    Here's some Technical Data from the glossy on the Transformer :-
    
    GENERAL
    
    Kerb Weight:	1800 lbs (dependant on spec)
    Dist F/R %:		43/57
    Wheelbase:		85 in
    Track F/R:		56.3/57.5 in
    Length:		146 in
    Width:		68.9 in	(+4 inches for Gr.4 arches)
    Height:		43.9 in
    Ground Clearance:	5.1 in
    
    CHASSIS/BODY
    
    Layout		Mid-engine, rear-wheel drive
    Chassis		Tubular steel and folded section frame
    Body		Unstressed GRP
    Brakes		9.5 inch discs all round, vacuum assist
    			(AP vented discs optional)
    Steering		Rack and pinion, 2.75 turns lock-to-lock
    Front Suspension	Lower transverse arm
    			Forward locating link (adjustable)
    			Upper wishbone (adjustable)
    			Coilover shock [2� inch dia coils]
    			Anti-roll bar (optional)
    Rear Suspension	MacPherson strut [adjustable spring/damper optional]
    			Reversed lower wishbone
    			Leading link (adjustable)
    			Anti-roll bar (optional)
    
    POWER-WEIGHT RATIOS
    
    HF 2000, 122 BHP standard Beta engine	157 BHP/ton
    HF 2000, ??? BHP tuned Beta engine		199 BHP/ton
    HF 2000, 190 BHP standard Ferrari V6	236 BHP/ton
    Stratos, Ferrari V6				198 BHP/ton
    
    
    The Alfa V6 I intend fitting puts out 200 BHP, so better than 240 BHP/ton
    
    J.R.

    DONOR CAR PARTS for the Transformer HF2000
    
    Parts required from Lancia Beta
    
    Engine, gearboxm drive shafts, front hub units and front engine mounting
    Front shock absorbers and spring pans from Coup� or HPE (*)
    Gear linkage and gearlever
    Handbrake lever, cable adjuster and rear calipers
    Front brake flexibles (*)		!  Who wouldn't buy new ?
    Washer bottle and pump
    One wheel and tyre, for spare
    Heater unit can be modified to fit (as per build manual) (*)
    Glove box lock
    Coil
    Ignition pack (if fitted)
    
    Parts required from other cars
    
    Radiator			X19 or Montecarlo
    Instruments			Fiat 124 Coupe
    Steering column and stalks	Fiat 124/125/128/131(early)/132(early)
    Interior mirror		Fiat 124/125/132
    Front stub axle		Fiat 125/132
    Front brakes and calipers	Fiat 132 (2 litre has larger brakes) (*)
    Rack			Triumph Herald (*)
    Door locks, catches, rods	Fiat X19
    Headlamp motors and link	Fiat X19
    Panel catches (4 off)	Fiat X19 (Targa overcentre catches)
    Master cylinder		Fiat 132/131 1600 (*)
    Servo			Fiat 131 1600 (*)
    
    For fitment of Thema/Chroma Turbo brakes and calipers front and rear
    it is only necessary to modify the front caliper mounting plates.
    
    Items marked (*) can be supplied new by Transformer, if required.
    Other parts should all be available through Transformer too.
    
    J.R.

    
    John,
    
    Are any mods made to the Herald rack?
    
    As you probably know, this rack has the ability to steer almost to 90�,
    which worked fine in the Herald as the chassis was designed to cope,
    but on my Marcos the rack has 2" spacers inserted to limit its turning
    ability (In fact, it still has a mightily impressively small turning
    circle).
    
    Mark

�    Are any mods made to the Herald rack?
    
    Yes, the kit includes parts to modify the rack, containing :
    
    	2 laser-cut steering arms in cadmium finish,
    	2 steering rack extensions,
    	a lock limit spacer,
    	an intermediate steering shaft (for different spline types),
    	2 alloy rack mountings with adjustable shims
    	plus a split alloy column bearing
    
    J.R.

    
    � a lock limit spacer,
    
    More than I expected, but this was the bit I was expecting.
    
    Mark

    
    re. 11 - I made a mistake, the Transformer Group 4 being used for
    rallying has a Honda V6 (my brother told me last night).
    
    Graham Bates did some fabrication on my brothers kit and made an
    excellent job. Graham is very helpful to fellow Stratos owners - his
    car was featured in one of the car magazines recently. His kit has a 
    Ferrari V6 engine and it's s..t hot!
    
    Unfortunately, I'm not that familiar with the Stratos kit, but I
    would be happy to ask my brother any questions you may have, or, 
    you could speak to him directly.
    
    BTW, if you thought that the overall cost of the Stratos kit car was
    cheap, think again, my brother has already spent �17k and has still got
    to buy the wheels, interior and a good paint job. 
    
    He told me that he's going to the fete tomorrow, so you might see him 
    there.
    
    He said that the Beneton coloured Stratos kit (with the Lancia Thema 
    engine) has 180BHP (without the Turbo wastegate it had 135BHP - 
    the identical twins who own it said it wasn't much quicker than 
    their Pug 19GTi!).
    
    Good luck with yours!
                        
    Tony

�    BTW, if you thought that the overall cost of the Stratos kit car was
�    cheap, think again, my brother has already spent �17k and has still got
�    to buy the wheels, interior and a good paint job. 
    
    I haven't viewed this as being a cheap car to build.  I intend to
    buy new parts in a lot of areas and justify the expense by comparing
    the price of the total vehicle with that of a new car.
    
    I do not mind paying more for a Stratos (albeit a copy) than I
    would even consider paying for most currently available road cars.
    
    For comparison, how much is a new MR2 nowadays - that is at least a
    two seat, mid-engined car, even if it only has a four-pot engine ?
    
    J.R.

    
    J.R.
    
    Have you sat in one yet? What I mean is, do you fit?

�    Have you sat in one yet? What I mean is, do you fit?
    
    Yes, I've sat in one - but wasn't permitted to drive it :-(
    
    And I do fit, but I may have to take care with my choice of seat...
    
    J.R.

    
    Re.20 - I mentioned the price because when my brother (Terry Bunn)
    bought his kit he was told that he could build a complete car for 
    around �13k. Unfortunately for his bank balance, it hasn't turned out 
    that way ;').                                             
    
    Tony 

�    bought his kit he was told that he could build a complete car for 
�    around �13k. Unfortunately for his bank balance, it hasn't turned out 
�    that way ;').                                             
    
    Thanks anyway for the warning.  I think the point is that one
    *could* build a car for the quoted budget figure.  This doesn't
    mean that you will build the car you want for that price...
    
    J.R.

    
    I often think the prices quoted for kit builds relate more to what the
    manufacturer can build a kit for. If you can do major work (painting,
    trimming, mechanical overhauls) yourself, you may come close to the
    figures they quote, but 95% of kit builders have neither the patience
    or the inclination to do that kind of time consuming work and have to 
    sub-contract it out, hence boosting prices, and that's assuming that 
    they have the expertise, which would be a pretty rare combination.
    
    Some kits are built at horrendous expense. Some of the Mantulas you
    see at club meets are beautiful and prepared to a standard that no
    manufacturer could match in a production car, but it has cost dear in 
    time and the little gold coins!
    
    Mark

    
    I went to Windlesham fete on Saturday.
    
    There were more than 5 Lancia Stratos kits (I assume they were all
    kits, it's difficult to tell in the really good cases isn't it?) at the 
    fete. They all looked good, but the Alitalia rally replica was
    absolutely the biz, complete with Haldas, etc! I rather liked the two red 
    ones as well, but the standard overall was excellent.
    
    Looks like John's got a lot to compete with!
    
    Other cars included a couple of Porsches, a 1934 Rolls (in a horrible
    Wedgewood-like blue), Jag XK140(150?) roadster, a couple of Ferraris
    (including a tatty old racing sportscar - probably worth a bomb!) and 
    a VW Golf! (Still, in Windlesham, seeing two Porsches, he probably
    just assumed that that was the car park! :^)).
    
    Mark

�    I went to Windlesham fete on Saturday.
    
    As promised, so did I.
    
�    There were more than 5 Lancia Stratos kits (I assume they were all
�    kits, it's difficult to tell in the really good cases isn't it?) at the 
�    fete. They all looked good, but the Alitalia rally replica was
�    absolutely the biz, complete with Haldas, etc! I rather liked the two red 
�    ones as well, but the standard overall was excellent.
    
    Shortly after I got there in the afternoon, there were a good half-dozen,
    but a few of them left as time went on.
    
    I did get to meet Graham Bates, who seemed quite friendly, and who had
    already heard of me as being 'the person who is going to be first to
    fit an Alfa 164...' - so my reputation preceded me !
    
    The Benetton-liveried vehicle looked amazing.  This had a Lancia 16v
    Thema Turbo engine+transmission fitted into it, with much of the work
    being done by G.B. Engineering (aka Graham Bates).  The bodywork was
    great, a really good choice of paint scheme.  When the back was lifted,
    the detail was even better.  It really looked like a factory fitment.
    Besides all the effort in getting a turbo engine in, with intercooler,
    the owners had gone to the trouble (and therefore expense) of also
    fitting the ABS braking system to the vehicle too.
    
�    Looks like John's got a lot to compete with!
    
    I sure have.  All of the replicas there were Transformer kits, with one
    comment being that the moulds for the Corse did not have the fine
    definition on some of the edges/corners that the Transformer had.
    Also, all but two of these kits had Beta engines.  The exceptions to
    this were the Thema Turbo engine mentioned above, plus the vehicle
    owned by Graham Bates which had a Ferrari Dino engine fitted to it !
    
�    Other cars included a couple of Porsches, a 1934 Rolls (in a horrible
�    Wedgewood-like blue), Jag XK140(150?) roadster, a couple of Ferraris
�    (including a tatty old racing sportscar - probably worth a bomb!) and 
�    a VW Golf! (Still, in Windlesham, seeing two Porsches, he probably
�    just assumed that that was the car park! :^)).
    
    There was also a Maclaren sportscar replica kit, looked good too.
    The Ferrari had some sort of numeric designation which I heard stated,
    but I forget what it was now.  The car had no engine, but was probably
    still worth some amazing amount of money.
    
    Another little point, the Alitalia Stratos, which had the wider style
    (Group 4) rear arches, would not fit onto the trailer being used until
    the 12-inch rear tyres were changed for something slimmer...
    
    As for the Stratos prepared by GB Engineering for rallying, I was told
    that it now had a shortened wheelbase - when performing course car duties !
    Coupled with the fact that the owner is also out of a job means that
    Graham Bates is none too happy with this arrangement, as a lot of the
    preparation work was free-of-charge, expecting some coverage during the
    motorsport career of the vehicle (a very short-lived enterprise).
    
    J.R.

        What if you wanted to get one in the states ?
    
    Mark
    

�        What if you wanted to get one in the states ?
    
    I know that Transformer have exported cars and/or bodywork, so it
    could be worth calling Gerry Hawkridge to ask him if he has sent any
    to the States...  I gather that most of the Fiat-derived parts will
    be available in the U.S. too ?
    
    If I remember, I'll ask him about exports when I next speak to him.
    
    J.R.
    
    PS I have just found out about someone selling a 'part-built'
       Transformer kit, including a Lancia Thema Turbo engine.
       He supposedly has the parts required to finish the job (so
       why doesn't he ?), so I will go for a look and at least see
       if he wants to sell the 'extras' to me for a fair price...
    
       Unless anyone wishes to buy a wide-arch (Group 4) body, with
       race-spec brakes fitted, including wheels/tyres, engine and
       ancillaries ?  I'll only take a small commission !   ;-)

    John, in your original note you said that nobody had yet built an Alfa
    V6 powered Stratos replica, but something rang a bell and I eventually
    found this note, that I entered 3 years ago!
    
    He was very specific about it being an Alfa V6 as I recall (He seemed
    quite offended when I suggested it might be a Ford! :^)).
    
            <<< MARVIN::DISK$TOOLS:[NOTES$LIBRARY]CARS_UK.NOTE;1 >>>
                            -< CARS_UK conference >-
================================================================================
Note 366.58                         kit cars                          58 of 1039
CURRNT::SAXBY "Set mode/headless chicken"            18 lines  10-JUL-1989 17:27
                    -< How's it going and a Stratos I saw. >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    Hello all,
    
    gone very quiet here. How are those of you building kits (a Cobra
    and a 7 as I remember) getting on.
    
    I was just idly thinking, as you do, and suddenly remembered something
    I encountered on the way to Le Mans. At the Tancarville bridge (for
    those of you who know) I pulled up alongside a really smart looking
    Lancia Stratos replica. The passenger had his window open so I asked
    him about the car. It was running a 3 litre Alfa V6 engine and looked
    absolutely perfect.
    
    He was obviously a bit sensitive about its high visibility (esp
    to the police) as he crossed the bridge very slowly and I soon lost
    him.
    
    Mark

�    John, in your original note you said that nobody had yet built an Alfa
�    V6 powered Stratos replica, but something rang a bell and I eventually
�    found this note, that I entered 3 years ago!
    
    Sounds interesting.  Shame it wasn't in the U.K. otherwise I would
    probably be able to find out about it.
    
    I said that it hadn't been done yet as that is what Gerry (of Transformer
    Cars), others in the Stratos Replica Club, as well as the manufacturers
    of the Corse kit have all told me.
    
    Chatting with Gerry, he did say that they had worked on fitting an
    Alfa V6 to the Beta (or maybe Thema) gearbox some time ago, and that
    it required modifications to both the gearbox housing and to the
    sump of the engine to get them to fit.  The outcome was that it
    *could* be done, but they did not progress to fitting it to the car.
    
    Of course, since the 164 has a transverse engine/gearbox already
    (supposedly based on the Thema gearbox, which in turn is also
    claimed to be based on the Beta gearbox...) I will not have to do
    any mods in that particular area - only engine mounts, driveshafts,
    gear linkage, fuelling system, electrical supply, exhaust system,
    speedo connection, temperature/pressure sensors, alternator mounting...
    
    J.R.

    
    The car was British registered (and driven by a Brit). It was red and
    had the word Stratos on the rear wing in white.
    
    Maybe it still exists here somewhere, but outside of the club?
    
    Mark

�    Maybe it still exists here somewhere, but outside of the club?
    
    Of the estimated number of Stratos Replica kits that are built, it
    seems that about three-quarters of the owners are in this club.
    
    That means that there is a fair chance that this particular one
    would be owned by a member, or that one of the members would know of it.
    
    I will probably put in an 'introductory' letter for the club mag
    and also ask if anyone knows of any Alfa engines in Stratos kits...
    
    J.R.

    
    There was a lovely Stratos replica in full works colours hillclimbing
    at Gurston the weekend before last. I'll see if it appears in the list
    for July or August.
    
    Chris.

    
    If you're interesed in any Fiat 124 dials (excluding clock), my brother
    would be keen to sell some. If so, send me a mail - Tony Bunn @REO
    
    Cheers

�    There was a lovely Stratos replica in full works colours hillclimbing
�    at Gurston the weekend before last. I'll see if it appears in the list
�    for July or August.
    
    Found out who it was yet ?
    
    I've got a back issue of 'Car Builder' magazine that has a write-up
    on a Thema Turbo engined Stratos [Transformer HF2000], built and run
    by John Whalley - who has a Lancia dealership...
    
    That has an Alitalia-styled paintjob and does compete in sprints.
    The engine puts out something around 250bhp (claimed).  Other than
    that, the factory Alitalia-sponsored paintjob is popular with the
    kit builders, since that is how most (?) people will remember having
    seen the car in the past.  Of course, later cars had Pirelli sponsorship
    with a Red, White and Black paint scheme.  Earlier ones still had Marlboro
    sponsorship.
    
    Wonder if Pirelli would pay for the paint job and supply me with free
    tyres if I use their colour scheme ?   ;-)
    
    My idea for a 'wild paint scheme' would be to have the Lancia Martini
    stripes etc in the same style as on the Rally 037 - even though the
    Stratos was never (to my limited knowledge) painted in this scheme.
    
    Other than that, it will have to be a bright colour...
    
    Some way off yet, as the engine is only being delivered to the
    fabricators tomorrow so that engine mounts can be made to suit.
    Then it's a few more weeks for the chassis to be painted, the
    central tub to be fitted and remaining bodywork and chassis parts
    to be put together for delivery to me.
    
    Before then, I still need to sort out the stub axles [and brakes] from
    a Fiat 132 as these uprights are modified as part of the supplied kit.
    I've phoned round the 'Fiat breakers' listed in the Exchange & Mart
    with no success (apart from 'we have a right-hand one, sir').  Looks
    like I'll have to dive around some yards myself.  If anyone knows of
    the whereabouts of a 1977 or later Fiat 132 in a breakers yard, then
    please let me know of it.  Other 'big' item I need to sort out is a
    Lancia Beta coup� at a dirt cheap price.  Don't care about the body, engine
    or gearbox (although I could try to sell them on if ok), nor an MOT,
    as long as the front suspension, front disks, rear brakes and handbrake
    linkage are all present...  If you know of a cheap old wreck, let me know.
    (I will want the registration document too, as it is [sometimes] possible
    to keep this for the resultant git - although it bends a few rules).
    
    J.R.

    Hmm,
    
    A 200+ bhp V6 engined Lancia Stratos...
    
    I would have thought you would still get too much attention if it was
    invisible, let alone in a bright colour!
    
    

    Talking of visibility............
    
    Years ago when I was rallying, someone turned up for a Motoring News
    Road event in a works Stratos.
    
    The thing that sticks in my mind most, was looking into it with the
    door nearest me open, you could see through (yes, I mean through) the
    panelling of the closed door on the other side.
    
    Knowing my driver's tendency to always arrange to hit things on my side
    of the car, it stuck in my mind as being less than useless for crew
    protection, except possibly to keep the rain off.
    
    Bet it made it light though!
    
    JK

�    Years ago when I was rallying, someone turned up for a Motoring News
�    Road event in a works Stratos.
    
    Actually a 'works' Stratos ?  Or a works-spec version ?
    I know there was/is one of the latter run on occasion by a person named
    Christian Mineeff, based in Cheshire.  Would it be his at all ?
    This was prepared by 'Maglioli', who is the acknowledged *expert*
    in all things Stratos, and worked on most works or near-works
    vehicles that were produced (in Italy).
    
    
�    The thing that sticks in my mind most, was looking into it with the
�    door nearest me open, you could see through (yes, I mean through) the
�    panelling of the closed door on the other side.
    
    Did this door still have the black inner panel ?
    I know the fibre on these cars was never of the best standard...
    
�    Knowing my driver's tendency to always arrange to hit things on my side
�    of the car, it stuck in my mind as being less than useless for crew
�    protection, except possibly to keep the rain off.
    
    Isn't this one of the things that rally drivers are supposed to learn early
    on - if you are going to hit something, do it on the co-drivers' side ?
    
    The doors generally didn't fit well enough to keep the rain out either !
    
    J.R. (who hopes to improve on some of the factory quality)

    Re: scrapped Fiat 132s.
    
    The scrapyard in Bearwood Avenue, Wokingham had some battered old Fiats
    when I was looking for a front indicator unit for my Scimitar SS1
    (I think they had a 132 as I remember scrabbling to undo the indicator
     which was set in its front bumper). I wouldn't trust the owner of the
    yard to give you a good price on secondhand parts, though. It's
    convenient if you live near Wokingham. Also, the cars can be piled 3 on
    top of each other.
    
    Hope this helps,
    Barry.

    Re magazines (under Kit Cars heading I believe)
    
    Just bought Kit Cars International, as it has a large write-up on 'Stratii'
    
    One page giving brief history of the real thing, including a very rough
    guess as to the value (6 figures), then quite a few pages where the
    write used the Bob Pilot/Gerry Hawkridge demonstrator and took part
    in a 'Classic Marathon', along with two other Transformer Stratos kits.
    Then another page describing the services of Bob Pilot, with a few
    more pages that follow on the actual Transformer kit (some of which is
    straight from the glossy leaflet available from Gerry).
    
    The 'readers car' in Which Kit magazine is a Ferrari-engined version,
    based in Guernsey.
    
    One day, I hope to have mine in print...   :-)
    
    J.R.
    
    PS What advert might show the phone number for the ex-Noble Lotus 23 ?
       (if it is in the August issue of KCI)

    I've had an update on the progress of my chassis, with respect the
    'special' engine mounts required to fit the Alfa V6 unit.
    
    Good news for me, the engine and gearbox fit easily.  The driveshaft
    connections are the same as the Beta (and the Thema) and fitting has
    been worked out so that I can use standard Beta driveshafts on both
    sides, with a small spacer being installed on one side.  This is a much
    cheaper alternative to having custom driveshafts made, or modifying
    standard driveshafts.  By all accounts, the Beta shafts are quite
    strong, so the power/torque output should not be too harmful on them.
    
    Now the remainder of the chassis work needs to be done by the
    fabricator (including powder-coating), then it returns to Transformer
    to have the central body tub fitted and other bodywork sorted out.
    Then it should be ready for delivery to me (in about one month, I'm told).
    
    I think I now have some 132 front suspension legs, so the only other
    large component I need to get is a steering column from a Fiat 124
    (of course, there will be endless amounts of small components to follow).
    
    J.R.

    Work is still progressing on the chassis of my kit, including having
    the gear linkage made up specifically for this fitment.  The engine
    has now been mounted in a *slightly* different position, but still
    uses standard driveshafts with spacers.  There is, apparently, plenty
    of room for the exhausts and ancillaries, but the alternator may have
    to be moved.  Still a couple/few weeks till delivery, but I'm not
    going to make Gerry rush things unnecessarily.  He is also making a
    change to the lower rear wishbones, to replace some rubber bushes
    with phosphor bronze items.
    
    
    
    A had a fairly lengthy chat with Hugh Carson, of CAE, who make and
    sell the 'Corse' kit.  There is a large write-up in recent Kit Car
    magazine on the build-up of one of his kits (I think it covers the
    build of his Ferrari-engined version), which will continue in the
    next issue or two.  Since I am keen on the kit being *close* to the
    original, I am better off building the Transformer version, but the
    Corse would be worth considering if someone were not bothered about
    having different suspension design, with detail parts that are not
    the same as the originals.  Some of the points that Hugh came up with
    do sound quite reasonable - as seen from 'the competition'.
    
    In the magazine article it said that CAE could procure Ferrari 308
    engine/transmission units if required.  When I asked Hugh about
    this he said that he has contacts with one or two 'breakers in the
    London area who sell Ferrari units.  The price ?  About 4 grand for
    a unit of unknoqn condition, give or take 500 pounds.  Gaskets and
    bearing shells cost around 500 quid, which is really the least you
    should do when getting one of these, isn't it ?  Sounded like a
    fair price to me, apparently many of these are from GT/4's which
    are not often worth the expense of fixing/rebuilding when crashed...
    
    For anyone building a Countach replica, the same person can get hold
    of Lamborghini engines for about 8 grand !  Of course, if that needs
    any work doing to it, you have to multiply the price of parts by 12 !
    
    
    Anyhow, Hugh is hoping to have his Ferrari-engined Corse at Castle
    Combe circuit for the 'Kit Car Action Day'.  I believe that a number
    of the Stratos Replica Club members are expected to turn up too, so
    there should be a few of these about (mostly Transformers, it seems).
    
    J.R.

    
    When is the Kit Car Action day?
    
    Mark

    Well, after however-many [not unexpected] delays, I am to receive
    delivery of my kit tonight.  Then I can get to burning the midnight oil !
    
    Mine is the first to be designated the 'HF3000', since it has the
    engine mounts/driveshaft adaptors and gear linkage for the Alfa V6.
    
    Gerry (Hawkridge Developments/Transformer Cars) is making the new
    parts available as a conversion kit for anyone who has the 'HF2000',
    which seems to be a popular idea (but that may not necessarily relate
    to any sales).  As a result, he is extremely keen (even 'excited')
    about my particular kit - being the first of its kind.  For my part,
    it means that I haven't been charged the development costs for the
    new engine fitment, as he hopes to sell either conversion kits, or
    the future sales of the chassis in this new configuration.
    
    His sales literature is being updated now (or quite soon) to refer
    to the model line-up as follows (price increase about now too) :-
    
    	HF2000		2-litre Beta engine/gearbox as donor
    			(or 2-litre Thema Turbo unit)
    	HF2400		2.4-litre Ferrari Dino engine/gearbox
    	HF2700		2.7 Honda/Rover V6 unit
    	HF3000		3.0 Alfa Romeo (164 donor)
    
    On any new enquiries, Gerry is recommending that the 3-litre option
    is the best engine fitment for this kit (above that of the Dino).
    
    It is possible to mix-and-match the old (GTV6) 2.5 litre engine
    onto the 164 transmission if anyone wishes to do so (there is some
    interest in this idea - or using the 155 V6 - as this makes the
    capacity almost the same as the original [Dino engine]).  From my
    view, why throw away the additional torque and power available
    from an extra half-litre engine capacity ?  I'd be more inclined to
    get a 3.3 or 3.5 litre conversion (from AutoDelta) and use that, if
    money were not the object that it always is :-)
    
    J.R.

    Hello,
    
    I'm a Yank irregular here - may I ask if anyone knows whether
    Transformer cars are still producing Stratos kits? I have a Beta
    Spider that I think is too rotted to save, but it might make a good
    donor for an HF2000.
    
    Thanks,
    Chuck Schneider