Tiff Needell and the Superformance GT40 Mk11

[Andre40]

Hi All,

At the end of January, Tiff Needell , who heads op Channel Five’s Fifth Gear TV programme arrived in Cape Town with his camera crew to film the Superformance GT40 MK11 at the Killarney race track and along coastal scenic routes.

I’ve just phoned the UK and they will let me know on Monday when the programme will be screened. When I get the date I’ll post.

Having witnessed the development of the monocoque car from day one in early 2002 in Cape Town until August 2004 when the whole project was uplifted and taken to Hi-Tech Automotive in Port Elizabeth I had never seen a completed car until I arrived at the circuit. All I can say is STUNNING! Stroked 402 engine, ZF gearbox, 15 ins Halibrands and Jimmy’s right to use the GT40 title. Chassis numbers to continue from the last car produced which means that the car is more a ‘continuation’ car as opposed to a ‘replica.’

IMHO it’s just got to be the best ever GT40.

I suggested to Tiff that he pats his hair down so that he can fit in under the Gurney bubble!!

Enjoy,
André 40

[Andre40]

Setting off for a few laps

[Gregg]

Interesting post Andre. How does Safir and Holman & Moody feel and fit in with the "continuation" car numbering and the right to use the GT40 name?

[Andre40]

Pic 3

[Andre40]

Pic 4

[Andre40]

Tiff and Jimmy's eldest son, Justin, confer

[Andre40]

A view often seen by the works Ferrari drivers!

[Andre40]

Justin Price and car

[Andre40]

Of course Tiff should a grin on his face. He's just completed a few laps of the Killarney circuit in a Superformance GT40!

[Andre40]

Jimmy Price

[J What?]

I was wondering the same thing Gregg. Andre, what is this a continuation of?
Bill

[Keith Hardy]

What a scoop Andre! And a stunning looking car - cracking colour scheme. It looks like the wait has been well worth it. Thanks... [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

PS what's the story behind them having the rights to use GT40? Is that from Safir?

[Keith Hardy]

[ QUOTE ]
I was wondering the same thing Gregg. Andre, what is this a continuation of?
Bill

[/ QUOTE ]

Hmm yes, together with Lee Holman's, Safir's and others continuations this is one heck of a continuity - but they're all different [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

[RobBeddington]

A fantastic car there's no doubt. Thanks for the 'scoop pics'.

Surely any manufacturer could start their chassis numbers where Ford/Safir left off, but it really means nothing, however good the car is. I'm afraid that calling it a 'continuation series' is a real stretch of the imagination.

Regards

[Andre40]

Hi Bill and Keith,

The way I understand it is that the chassis numbers of Jimmy's cars will pick up from the last car built back in the mid-1960s, ie 'continuation.'

I believe that the same applies to the re-born Lola T70 MK111B, ie chassis numbers to continue from the last car built in 1969.

It's well known that Safir have the rights to the GT40 name and once again I understand that there was a deal on the name.

There are always so many stories flying about in this crazy world of specialist car building that it's often difficult to distinguish between fact and urban legend. To make absolutely sure I'll phone Jimmy on Monday to double check and will post THE TRUTH.

Enjoy the week-end,
Andre 40

[Andre40]

Hi Rob,

Missed your post. It kinda slipped in. Will double check on Monday and report.

Hi Keith,

Your comment 'worth the wait' is most appropriate. I wonder how many people out there actually realise and appreciate how complex the development of car of this nature is and I'll quote Jimmy's stock phrase, 'It always takes longer than you think and will cost more money than you think'.
Speak to the guys who developed the Bugatti Veyron and they'll agree!! More than agree, but then the VW group ain't short of the readies to cater for this eventually!!

Jimmy's car started with 1537 original Ford Advanced Vehicle (FAV) photocopied drawings with many measurements unclear. All this had to be re-drawn on CAD and this is not urban legend, I saw it all with my own eyes. I also won't go ito the cost of the press tools for the roof, A and B post sections. MEGA BUCKS.

That's why it was such a pleasure to see Tiff bombing about in the final product. To draw an analogy I was probably like an onlooker standing next to a mid-wife and watching a mother painfully giving birth to child that turned out to be a beautiful child.

We must press on rewardless!
Andre 40

[Daryl Adams]

Andre,

Thanks so very much for that post! It could not have been more timely for me. I have had a Superformance GT MKI on order for well over a year now. It's now gotten to the crucial time for ordering the engine and ZF, and I'm starved for any information at all about the cars. I have been enduring withering criticism from the "purist snob" element of the car clubs I belong to, usually on the theme of "all your other cars are genuine collectables, so why are you wasting money on a cheesy kit car?" Your positive comments are very reassuring, and I cannot wait to see Tiff's road test. When you talk to Mr. Price, tell him he has a guy in Chicago going bonkers in anticipation of getting his MKI. Thanks again.

[Strobe]

Andre,

Did you take the photos? I guess not since it took this time to post them!

Hope Jimmy is paying more than the ~6000Rand that Robert was...

STUNNED that they seem to have fixed all the glitches that were evident in previous posts on its debut!!! and guess that their position on manufacturers corner shall be re-instated with positive threads now!

Wonderful PR for the industry..

Hope they fix the tail though!

Cheers!

[Andre40]

Hi Steve,

Yes, I took the pics with my 35 year old, steam driven Nikkormat camera. Great quality lens but perhaps you should remind me of the digital era!

You see I got Tiff to grin and smile. No doubt he was so amazed at a Nikkormat facing him that he couldn’t help himself.

No, Jimmy has never paid me anything as all my posts on his car have been in journalistic/messenger mode and my decision only. I believe in returning favours and I’ll always be eternally grateful to him for one specific offer of help and support.

After CAV was formed in September 1999 to build the GTD cars under licence and we were waiting for the container to arrive from the UK with all the bits, I took the opportunity to fly to Port Elizabeth to meet the icon of South African car building.

When I arrived at his office he met me in the reception area and his first words were, ‘Listen buddy, I’m going to be building a GT40 sometime in the future, so be warned. If you are happy with that come into my office for a cup of coffee.’

My reply, ‘Thanks for the warning. What the hell, we build a few, you build a few and we don’t collectively scratch the surface!’

I stepped in and from that day a firm friendship was formed.

Now for the kind offer. One day when we spoke on the phone he said that I must get our secretary to communicate with his export people for advice and guidance and all export and shipping procedures. I said, ‘Jimmy do you know what you have just said. You are actually offering help to what could be your opposition.’

He said, ‘Doesn’t bother me, I’ll always help the good guys in the industry.’

That counted a great deal with me but since then there have been many changes and dramas in the industry. And did his prediction come true? Yes.

We have another joke between us. He says I have ‘history’. I’m six years older than Jimmy and when I joined Porsche in 1962 he was still at school. I say ‘history’ might be interesting but it means buggerall and doesn’t buy the whisky (whiskey in Irish).


I say that he is a relative late comer in the industry, ie about 1990 and since then he has become the largest replica manufacture in the world and either the second or third largest privately owned sports cars manufacturer in the world. Morgan and TVR may be ahead of him, I’m not sure.

I believe that you live about a mile from me. We must meet to chew the fat over a beer or two. How about Peddlars on the Bend, the Boer ‘n Brit at the Alphen Hotel, or a pub of your choice. Land line 712 0030 or cell 082 723 5632.

Regards,
André 40

[Mark Worthington]

[ QUOTE ]
I say that he is a relative late comer in the industry, ie about 1990 and since then he has become the largest replica manufacture in the world and either the second or third largest privately owned sports cars manufacturer in the world. Morgan and TVR may be ahead of him, I’m not sure.

[/ QUOTE ]

I find it hard to believe that Superformance is bigger than Factory Five Racing here in Wareham, Massachusetts, at least as measured by number of chassis delivered. Are you sure about this? Or are you excluding FFR because they don't manufacture turnkeys?

The SPF looks great; I'd really like to see one up close, preferably a Mk I.