I suppose Mike Davidson is aware of all this. Then again he's still engrosed in his twin flathead
engined streamliner and renewable energy projects. I'll be watching the replica hotrod scene with interest.
Monday, July 20, 2009
The next hot item.
Well, this is my prediction anyway. With Cobra replicas, GT40 replicas and Clubman sportscars consuming the attention of car builders and would-be car builders around the world, what's next? It has to be Hotrod replicas. It may well have been happening for a while already and I haven't taken it on board to any great extent. Earlier in the year when at the Healey Factory, the Ford coupes/roadsters with beautiful paint jobs and leather upholstery didn't go un-noticed. My last post on the Veskanda didn't attract much interest in the sportscar but a few emails arrived enquiring about the rods in the same picture. Then look at the roadsters that get to the salt racing at Lake Gairdner and all of the early 30s coupes etc. that go on the various rod-runs around the country. I suppose it's like that all over the world. It looks like a huge cult following to me. Some time ago Colin alerted me to the professional way a company in America called Factory Five went about the production of Cobra and GT40 replica kits. Last week, "Winding Road" visited Factory Five to take a look at their latest offering - sure enough, '33 Ford Hotrod replicas. Just look at the chassis and suspension packages and that body. I think it's great. In a way, the concept is not unlike clubman building - same only different.
I suppose Mike Davidson is aware of all this. Then again he's still engrosed in his twin flathead
engined streamliner and renewable energy projects. I'll be watching the replica hotrod scene with interest.
I suppose Mike Davidson is aware of all this. Then again he's still engrosed in his twin flathead
engined streamliner and renewable energy projects. I'll be watching the replica hotrod scene with interest.
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5 comments:
Hey John. Hot Rod replicas have been around since the 1960's when the first glass T buckets were flopped out of moulds. professional fibreglass bodied replicas of other models have been around since the early 1970's in Australia with Chevs, Fords and virtually any thing else including repro chassis. Kelvin Waddington in Castlemaine produces top class steel replica 33/34 bodies and you can buy new steel 32 roadsters in the states. The sophistication of the turn - key rod industry globally should be a lesson to the bespoke sports car industry.
I forgot to say don't you just love this little coupe. need cycle fenders in Oz so the big meaty front tyres require chunky guards but the rears could do with bobbed versions derived from original style 33 units.
The chassis and suspension on this unit is a step forward on most though I think the Kugel independent systems also function well.
I'm very much aware how long this reproduction stuff has been around but I'm predicting a revolution like the clubman phenomena.
Now let me see, one factory Five 33 coupe in black, a Kirkham Cobra replica in polished aluminium, a dozen bottles of Grange and a 935. That should make a hole in my Christmas stocking.
If you go to You Tube and search FFR 33 there are several posts including the launch of the 33 at SEMA 2008. Coupe is easily convertible into a roadster and uses Mustang bits with FFR chassis and suspension. My son in law and I actually considered purchasing a GTM 550 and registering it as an ICV in Australia but the arrival of his Roaring Forties GT 40 replica ended that path.FFR have built thousands of kits. Pretty amazing operation really. Lots of You Tube posts on FFR GTM 550 too as well as their original Cobras and Daytonas. Very professional outfit.
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