SL-C chassis #53...it's official

I thought I was going to be happy with the GTM I was having built but I could never get the SLC out of my head. It was like I was married to the wrong woman or something. The GTM is a beautiful car with a lot of potential, but I knew early on I wouldn't be able to get the SLC out of my head unless I got one.

It was something about the precision aluminum frame, quality of the welds, roomy cockpit, the feeling of being safer, and the paint ready body that made it a recurring thought in my head like that song that just sticks there no matter what. Rather than keep throwing money into projects I had going I decided to consolidate and build the car I really wanted.

So after a half joking random conversation Fran and I struck a deal.

Here is the story I posted on ffcars about the trip this weekend picking it up:

AllanFFR and I went to RCR on Sunday to drop off my rx7 and pick up my Superlite Coupe, 2 Ricardos with peripherals, and Allan's street tail.

Sunday was cold but otherwise a sunny and pretty day. The drive was smooth and issue free until we hit some wintry weather in Ohio near the Michigan border. It was a little nasty, but not a huge issue until we get about 100 miles from RCR. There we proceed to drive smack in the middle of a blizzard!

The night grew worse as we came to find that Michigan sold all of it's salt trucks and snow plows to pay down some debt. There was about 7 inches on the roads, and we drove by at least 50 cars either in ditches or spun out and stuck on the side of the road. My butt was puckered and I see Allan's knuckles getting whiter by the minute as he is expertly navigating his Jeep with an open trailer swaying in the ruts trying to go it's own direction while Allan is keeping the Jeep out of trouble. I look down at my phone and I see a bunch of missed calls and text's from Fran warning of the weather hitting the area that no one had predicted the day before. Weathermen...

After driving about 25mph for 100 miles dodging spun out cars and idiots driving like they were in the Indy 500, we finally arrive at RCR. With about 10 inches of fresh virgin snow on the ground we make it to the back gate of the shop which Fran had cleared out earlier for us to drop the trailer off. I'm still not sure how Allan did it, but after a few tries and some shoveling in front of the gate he backed the trailer into the shop with about few inches to spare on each side. The only carnage was a kiss from the cement pole to the rear lights on the trailer. Something one of Fran's employees graciously repaired in about 10 mins the next day.

There were times I didn't think we were going to make it that night. Some way some how with God's help (yes I was praying ) and Allan's steady driving we made it to RCR with us and our cargo in one piece.

We dropped off the trailer, got about 4-5hrs of sleep and went back to the shop to find the rx7 already off the trailer replaced with my SLC strapped down by Fran and his guys in the morning. After some good guy car talk, drooling over the new projects, and finishing the paperwork up, we packed the Jeep with the Ricardo's, peripherals, seats, and a set of tires and went on our way.

I want to thank Allan for being enormously generous with his time and efforts, and Fran for making a potentially complicated transaction not only seamless, but a pleasure.

BTW...I also saw the jewel of a case to a new transaxle coming very very soon. I may have a Ricardo for sale this summer.
 
Here are the pics so now one can say it didn't happen:

NO ROTOR!! 700rwhp 2900lbs


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Cool. I picked my car up at RCR too, and enjoyed the process.

Sounds like you both dodged the bullet re the snow. Having a truck slide in ice and snow is bad- but the only thing worse is when it's a truck and trailer rig- this happened to me when I was picking up a new race trailer in Indiana in the middle of a snow storm...

Good luck on the build!
 
Cool. I picked my car up at RCR too, and enjoyed the process.

Sounds like you both dodged the bullet re the snow. Having a truck slide in ice and snow is bad- but the only thing worse is when it's a truck and trailer rig- this happened to me when I was picking up a new race trailer in Indiana in the middle of a snow storm...

Good luck on the build!

Thank you, yes it was scary.

Congratulations! Glad to see you made it in one piece. That case looks real nice too....

Thanks, that is the only pic I'm allowed to show of it. Fran asked me to keep the full pics offline until it debuts. It will be a show stopper worthy of the SLC in both form and function.

RM, congrats! Welcome to the club!

Thanks!:thumbsup:

Good God, I have only one word for you, California!

That's my dream. You have NO idea.


Thanks buddy. Soon to be 2 HKE powered SLCs.:thumbsup:
 
Roberto,
Been thinking about your drive since we talked Friday. MAN that must have been stress city, pleased you made it without needing to go back and get another SLC because the one you were towing ended up in a ditch somewhere.

You guys are wild men! (probably NOT by choice)
 

Fran Hall RCR

GT40s Sponsor
Its always an experience coming to Detroit...especially in Wintertime...
.....Sunday morning 50 deg...Sunday evening a foot of snow...aahh.... the Midwest...

Glad you guys made it home safe and sound...
 
I had to take a second look. I thought those pics of the black SL C were taken from my camera. I drove down from canada on saturday in a dodge viper in beautiful weather. signed the deal with fran and took lots of pictures of the SL C ready for delivery. now I'm counting the days till I take pictures of my SL C being loaded on a trailer.
 
Fran,
If you keep selling cars like this, we'll take RCR public. As a car manufacturer in Detroit, just think what you could do with all that stimulus money.:evil:
 
Congrats on the successful pickup of your new money-pit.

I too got rid of my RX-7 and picked up one of these cars instead. Got tired of the limitations production cars imposed as I new the RX would never be the car I wanted it to be. I also considered the GTM but then saw the light and decided on the SL-C for many of the same reasons you have stated.

Btw, those rims look great and look forward to seeing any progress you may share.
 
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