Transaxles made for Kit Cars

[LEXUS]

OK I like to know how many people including companies would be interested in getting a Major Transmission Company to make Transaxle for us Kit Car guys so we no longer need to use second hand G50 Boxes which are becoming hard to find.

I have sent a letter off to Aisin the Major Transmission Company in Japan trying to set up a appointment to sort out having a 6-Speed H patten Transaxles and 6-Speed Tiptronic Transaxle made for guys building

GT40 Replicas,
Ferrair Replicas,
Lamborghini Replicas,
Ultima Kit Cars,
GTM's,
Minotaur
and the list goes on.

I plan to keep annoying them until they take notice. I am trying to start a small company here in Japan and transaxles like the G50 are no where to be found and need to be shipped in from the UK or USA.

I have contacted Getrag about becoming a Customer and they have said they are not interested in Kit Car makers, yet from my research there are over 200 Kit Car makings around the world that use the G50 Box, Why none of these major companies are interested in this untapped market I do not know.

If you are interested in this please leave a reply and contact any company or builder you know that uses 2nd transaxles and see if they would be interested in also approching Aisin about getting a transaxle made for us.

If enough builders and companies send off emails maybe they will look in to this and offer us a NEW TRANSAXLE for our builds

It is about time we have a NEW Transaxle for our cars because it is stupid spending over $80,000 building a car yet use a old G50 5-Speed.




Shigure Tatsushige
Japan

 

[domtoni]

You can find a number of different transmission / transaxel makers on this forum. From experience, Aisin is interested in big volume (OEM) quantities.

 

[LEXUS]

I have looked at a number of companies for new transaxles but the prices are stupid. I had a quote of $30,000 from a UK company.

I plan on selling 200 cars a year fully built and want 6-Speed Tiptronic for the cars as driving in Japan is a headache at the best of time, so with the Tiptronic people can use Auto for city driving and Manual for country driving.

None of the companies I have talked to making a tiptronic transaxle. I can rip them out of a Volvo XC90 or a 933 but there are not many of both in Japan.

 

[Kev Farrington]

Hi Shigure,
Try ZFQ. Its what I would use if starting again. Its nothing to do with me, Ive only heard good things about it, theres plenty of info on this site for these and other choices too. Cheers, Kev

 

[Kev Farrington]

Hi again,
I hadnt seen your last post saying you want a six speed tiptronic. I dont know of any but would be interested in knowing more if you find one.

 

[domtoni]

If you want an automatic 6 speed transaxel, I don't think anyone makes one. Maserati re-engineered their Quattroporte to accept the inline ZF 6 speed. Ford and GM budget between $750 - 1000 million to design, tool, build and produce a new automatic transmission.

I think Gearfox and Graziano do electro-hydraulic conversions for their manual transmissions, but remember the cars are AMTs not fully automatic tranmissions. Wanni Albertini is a member of the forum.

 

[Price Walton]

Try Fran at RCR, who seems to have a supply of Ricardo transaxles or Wanni, who supplies units to supercar makers.


and....


good luck!

 

[Alex]

Good luck with that.

Let's be realistic - the kit car market is VERY small. VERY VERY small.

The cost to design, build, and tool-up to build a brand new tranny/transaxle are VERY large. VERY VERY large.

Designing a very expensive product for a very small niche market makes no fiscal sense.

 

Lexus, They may not want to get involved in the kit car industry because of Product Liability Insurance.

 

[Eric]

Shigure<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
<o></o>
My interest level would be inversely proportional to price. For the average person building a car that will be used almost entirely, if not entirely, on the street (i.e., little or no racing), a strong transaxle can be had for $4K USD or less. The fact that it is used is really irrelevant to me, just as the fact that my engine is used. In both cases, a rebuild can be done if necessary to essentially make the unit new.<o></o>
<o></o>
I wish you good luck in your endeavor. If you do get a new transaxle built, please keep us informed. I'm sure I'm not the only one who is always on the lookout for new products.<o></o>
<o></o>
But, not to be a naysayer, I think the numbers are against you. If there are 200 kit car manufacturers and each averages, say, 50 cars a year, that's only 10K transaxles total, then you spread that out over at least the two variants you are talking about. Realistically, you'd probably be looking at a unit price of $20K or $30K USD (or more) to break even, if you garnered the entire kit car market.<o></o>
<o></o>
Again, best of luck in your endeavor.<o></o>
<o></o>
Eric

 

[BruceA]

Just to add info to this, there is a company in Auckland New Zealand that has almost finished its first pre-production transaxle similar to the ZF unit, with the intention of selling to the low volume car market.

 

[Price Walton]

I can't believe I missed this one;

Contact Chris Melia on this forum, for whom (or with whom, or somehow) Quaife manufactures a transaxle with this market in mind.

 

[Ron Earp]

Moved up to the transaxle forum. Thought it might be a good idea to pull it out of the paddock.

R

 

[LEXUS]

[quote=Freewheel;267661]

I can't believe I missed this one
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com<img src=" /><o></o>
Contact Chris Melia on this forum, for whom (or with whom, or somehow) Quaife manufactures a transaxle with this market in mind.[/quote]
<o></o>
<o></o>
I sent a letter of to Quaife in the UK .. and I will Quote a reply
<o></o>
<o></o>

We would not normally offer a discount to non account customers but we are happy to offer you 20 percent discount to get things started and once certain volumes are reached on selected products we will then be able to offer you 30 – 40 percent.

<o></o>
I am still waiting on information if they do a 6-speed H pattern and Tiptronic Transaxle.


<o></o>
I plan on producing 300 Cars a year here in Japan, 3 models 100 of each to be rolled out, and most people I have spoken to want <I>Tiptronic</I> as it is now the most common transmission used in Japan.


I have contacted companies about transmission and they all are the same, not interested in small or new companies, when you are selling 10,000 cars a year then they will look at you.
<o></o>
<o></o>
How can you start selling new cars when you are using a USED transaxle and how can you get up to 10,000 cars a year if you do not have a Gearbox/transaxle to place in the car in the first place.

<o></o>
We are about 2 years away from putting the first car on the road, it will have a full Aluminum Space Frame and Carbon Fiber body, it is a Replica of the Lotus 7, the next vehicle is a <I>Replica of the Lamborghini Countach but redesigned for 2010, running a New VVT-i Twin Turbo Toyota V8 </I>and the last vehicle is a Ferrari F355 with a 3.5L Supercharged V6.

<o></o>
People I have spoken to want 6-Speed H Pattern or as an option Tiptronic in all cars.


The Lotus 7 Replica is no problems as I will use Lexus IS gearbox and diff.

The Ferrari F355 Replica is no problems as I will use the Engine and Transaxle out of a Toyota Aurion.


But the Countach Replica is the killer, there is no transaxle out of toyotas that can be used for it, I was thinking of East/West V8 but no Toyota Transaxle will hand it so it has to be North/South which means a transaxle like the G50.

<o></o>
Getrag makes a Tiptronic Transalxe but are not interested in new companies, but you do not start off BIG, you start off small!


Aisin also make a Tiptronic Transaxle. Aisin Group here in Japan claims they are always willing to help new and small companies, that is why I have contacted them. Aisin is part of Toyota, so with any luck they will come to the party.

<o></o>
I read on the Lamborghini Forums in the UK and guys are having trouble finding transaxles now days because so many people are buying them.

There are a lot of small car manufactures in the UK that sell production cars and they use transaxles, but are not willing to let you know who they are getting them from.
<o></o>
<o></o>
The Australian Company JOSS has a new supercar that they plan to sell for over $180,000 and it uses a 2<SUP>nd</SUP> G50 box, the thing looks like a Factory Five GTM in my books, The question is how can you sell a new car for $180,000 when it uses 2<SUP>nd</SUP> hand parts?

<o></o>
Ricardo supplied Bugatti with a transaxle for the Veyron so I have made contact with them on Saturday (JST), waiting on a reply.

<o></o>
I just think it is really stupid that small companies need to try and sell new cars with 2<SUP>nd</SUP> hand transaxles in them until they reach 10,000 sales a year before the larger transmission companies look at you!




BTW EFNFAST : If you think the kit car market is small then you do not know much about the kit car industry.


The Lotus 7 Replica is produced by 160 Companies around the world, the price of a turnkey range from the factory starts at $40,000US (UK Company) to $160,000US (Swizz Company).


Robin Hoods in the UK sells over 200 kits a year, Caterham and Westfields both have agents in Canada, Australian and the UK sell even more.

 

[Jac Mac]

The Countach Replica should be the easiest of the lot, simply copy the original Countach layout. Lexus Motor ( Or Whatever lights your fire...BMW V12 would be another ) & Auto trans from RWD Car, thru drop gears & back via shaft alongside the trans & pan to the Diff from a Toyota Supra Or Nissan 300/350/370ZX.

That way the shifter is exactly where you want it.

Normally I offer advice freely on this site, but since you plan to become Mega rich from this venture, perhaps you would care to make a sizeable donation to GT40's.com, At least that will keep Russ Noble of my back!!

 

[Phil]

I believe an Aussie company builds their own heavy duty version of the G50 - Hollinger. I don't have link for them sorry. They specialise in racing gearboxes.

 

[LEXUS]

LOL @ Jac Mac,

Mega Rich, I wish!

Aussie Boy here mate, Retired from CPP work and moved to Japan in 2003, started a small Aussie Pie shop and now time to do what I love.

I love sports cars and want to be able to make cars like the Countach hit the road again.

Built a Westfields and Cobra back in Perth in the early 1990's, started on a Countach from IFG in the US but divorced and the x-wife took the car.

The new wife will take over the pie shop and I will start playing with cars. Have a Westfield that we are redisgning so she is a little bigger and longer, it will run a 1.8L Turbo VVT-i Engine through a Lexus IS 6 speed Gearbox.

The Chassis is Aluminum and the body is Carbon carbon fiber. Will have electric powersteering and that is about it.

Plan on selling them for about $50,000 if all goes to plan, but things never do.

You can buy second hand Westfields and Caterhams here running Ford Engine for $60,000 for street car to $80,000 for track. I have looked at the track cars and they are just street cars made a little lighter and without plates how they sell them at $80,000 is beyond me, but they do and people pay for them.

This is a Price of Lotus 7 Replicas from around the world.

Australia – Caterham Cars
SVR 120 1.6L 4 Cylinder 85kW Ford Sigma Engine – From $51,944
CSR 200 2.3L 4 Cylinder 147kW Cosworth Engine – From $97,113
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</o>
<o></o>
<o>From what I have read the new IFR Aspid will cost you about $150,000 without a Radio!</o>
<o></o>
<o></o>
<o></o>
<o></o>
<o></o>
<o>I have seen 1 GT40 from the UK for sale and it was in the $150,000 and it was a Replica that must have been built by a 10 year old kid. But because they are not common place they sell for stupid money!</o>
<o></o>
<o>The starting price for a Ford GT40 Replica here is about $130,000 I do not know if that is good or bad as I am not really a GT40 type of guy</o>

 

[Ian Anderson]

Perhaps try Elite

Elite Racing Transmissions : Gearboxes

IAn

 

[Bram Boekestein]

Most secondhand Lotus Seven replica's are under $15.000 in the UK.
Donkervoort isn't a kitcar, it's based on a Lotus Seven, but it's a production car with type approval, you can't buy them as kits and you don't net to go through SVA or something.

A ZFQ cost 10.500 pounds IIRC, that's $17300 that's cheaper and easier than your idea, although no tiptronic. Why do you want tiptronic?

How can you expect so many deals? There are many many seven replica companies way cheaper that you. Most new seven's are around $25/30k. I don't know where you get those prices? Catherham and Donkervoort are a different story but a robin hood or so is cheap although low quality.

 

[Scott]

I'm sorry I've found this thread rather humerous and have gotten quite the chuckle from it. All OEM suppliers deal in volume, not thousands of pieces but ten's and hundred's of thousands of pieces. Not only that but it has to be reasonably priced?

This is why kit car builders and manufacturers look to existing parts bins to find something that already exists.

If you must have a 6 speed tiptronic (it's a Porsche registered trademark BTW) I'd look into the Volkswagen, Audi, or Porsche parts bin. You'd have to develope an aftermarket controller but that would be alot less expensive then spending millions designing your own gearbox. Or use a common 6 speed manual transmission and make an auto shifter for it.