What is the most common replica?

Mowerspecial · Aug 22, 2011

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ontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> Based on existing replica cars, which of the companies will you think sold most kits in US and UK? When was GTD established and do they still make replika-kits ?

YerDugliness · Aug 22, 2011

Mowerspecial said:
Based on existing replica cars, which of the companies will you think sold most kits in US and UK?

Tornado claims to be the leading manufacturer of GT40 kits, and they are right in your neck of the woods.

Cheers from Doug!!

Wreckage · Aug 22, 2011

Tornado been doing them since 1989. That makes them the longest around.

fastdruid · Aug 22, 2011

ITYM the longest still around!

The GT40 Replicas

Mowerspecial · Aug 22, 2011

Thanks, - what about GTD, when did they get into the business?

YerDugliness · Aug 22, 2011

fastdruid said:
ITYM the longest still around!

The GT40 Replicas

It would be quite interesting to find out which company has the most COMPLETED kits on the road/track.....IIRC the last time I heard Tornado had built the most kits (the OP's question was "....most kits in US and UK"), but there are factors that might give the nod to most completed and on the road/track to other manufacturers. For example, the Superformance product takes SO much less work to get road/track ready since they are sold only as a TK minus, so I'd suspect the completion percentage is higher than the full-on kits.

As far as longest still around, what about Fiberfab's Avenger/Valkyrie series? The Valkyrie was mid-engined, V-8 powered, and while not a very accurate GT40 replica, that was the target; the Avenger was VW powered and used the same body, I think. Fiberfab is still in business (or, perhaps, in business again...I'm not sure if they went out of business and were reformed or not, someone else may know). As an afterthought, Kellison probably made GT40 replicas before even Fiberfab, is Kellison still in business??

Cheers from Doug!

brianstewart · Aug 22, 2011

There was a poll done in this years ago here. Probably worth bring up again for an update...

http://www.gt40s.com/forum/all-gt40/11508-poll-what-type-gt40-poll.html

fastdruid · Aug 22, 2011

If Fiberfab Valkyrie - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia is to be believed Fibrefab stopped making them but a new company is using the name and making them again from 2003.

YerDugliness · Aug 22, 2011

fastdruid said:
If Fiberfab Valkyrie - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia is to be believed Fibrefab stopped making them but a new company is using the name and making them again from 2003.

That is true...there was a writeup in one of the kit car magazines regarding the "new" Valkyrie just about 4 years ago. I do think Fiberfab went out of business, don't know if the business was bought by someone else or if Fiberfab just emerged from whatever financial issue caused it to stop production.

We have had a couple of members on here who were trying to piece together old Valkyries, but were having trouble figuring out how to get the transaxle to work, something about too much angle for the half-shafts (IIRC, the original Valkyries, or at least the one I saw, used a SBC in a mid-engine configuration and a "flipped" Corvair transaxle, not the longer ZF/Porsche/Audi varieties that are common in the more modern 40 replicas).

My introduction to 40 replicas was a Valkyrie on a used-car lot in Denver, CO back in the late 1970's. I saw it after the business closed for the day, made a quick U-turn and stood there and drooled over it for about 30 minutes. I knew I could not afford it, but that didn't stop me from WANTING!!! The current crop of 40 replicas are much more accurate and now I would not be inclined to attempt a Valkyrie, at least not one of the older ones. I have no idea if they have "improved" the drivetrain alignment issue, that wasn't really discussed in the article I read.

Cheers from Doug!!

true · Aug 22, 2011

Fiber Fab US is still going... they moved from eastern Washington to middle of Oregon. Their bodies are a very good quality and are now offered with an aluminum chassis. They also offer their own design engine cradle and hubs. Google them at Fiber Fab US. The owner is a computer guy and the web site is very good. I have an older Avenger body on a custom chassis with a V6.
true

molleur · Aug 22, 2011

They are still around Doug. www.fiberfab.us And making a "new" Valkyrie.

What is the most common replica?

Morty

Doug S.

The protoplasm may be 72, but the spirit is 32!

George

CURRENTLY BANNED

David

Morty

Doug S.

The protoplasm may be 72, but the spirit is 32!

Brian Stewart

David

Doug S.

The protoplasm may be 72, but the spirit is 32!

Richard

Jack

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