Which replica???

[Fiat CC]

I don't know if this is the right place to ask, but what are peoples reccomendations in terms of a replica? I want a visually accurate replica, that is fast and competitive in club rallying. Does one stand out from the other (I'm talking Corse and Hawk obviously) or are they both sort of 6 of one, half a dozen of the other? I've been told that the Corse has more modern suspension and chassis design, but in real world driving the car, and looking at it from the outside does one stand out? Any thoughts and ideas appreciated. I'm in Darwin Australia by the way.
Cheers,
Reuben

[Fiat CC]

I should also mention that I'm only interested in the old style Group 4 body work. Don't want a Stradale or the square arch Group 4. Is the rally lamp pod removeable? If it isn't I don't want that either.
Cheers,
Reuben

[chris.richard]

Hi Reuben, you made it here! You'll have read my comments in PistonHeads. Both Hawks and Corses are raced and rallied in the UK. I don't think there's anything other than availability or personal choice to really sway you one way or the other. I don't think I've come across a Corse with the round group 4 body though.
Lamp pods are removeable.

[rutthenut]

I don't think I've come across a Corse with the round group 4 body though.

Tim's car?

And wasn't the other Auto Italia race car also in round arch style?
(Tony Soper, then some hooligan who ran it before crashing it into all and sundry)

J.R.

[pimms]

Tim's car? J.R.

Didn't Tim use a Hawk rear on his Corse?????

[Swamprat33]

Hi guys.

Did not realise that my round arsed ooops (arched) Corse was unique.

My understanding is that the car was bought as a Stradale kit and the round arches were grafted in during construction.
I have the documentation of how the arches were changed.

I do NOT know where the arches came from though.
But i am sure that it was not a Hawk rear end.

Cheers

Tim

[John]

Tim,
your arches came out of the moulds in my garage! We do have both types of arch available. Lee Preistland also opted for the round arches, also Guy Moerenhout has them on his car. Stuart Foster did have then initially but then opted for the square arches. So you are not unique (not arch wise anyway). ;)
Shame we cannot seem to post pictures at the moment, to illustrate the differences.

[Swamprat33]

Thanks for that John.

At lleast no one can question it's parentage now :p

Will you be coming down to Gaydon this Sunday John?

Cheers

Tim

[chris.richard]

I don't think I've come across a Corse with the round group 4 body though.


I do talk some bollox sometimes, don't I! :o

[Fiat CC]

Yeah, I made it over. I think I'm starting to get a picture of the way to go with it. It'll be some time until I can start this project, as I still have to complete the Fiat to a satisfactorily high level, but I'm leaning towards a Hawk for authenticities sake. Some of you will probably think thats silly, but I figure if I'm buying a replica of something because I can't afford or find a real one, then I should aim as close to the original as possible, although I think I'd take a different engine choice, maybe a Ferrari 328, or a 24 valve Alfa v6. I'll keep lurking around and pick up what I can as I go.
Thanks guys,
Reuben

[chris.richard]

If you're looking for as close to original as you can, remember left hand drive!
If you are planning on competing in it, check the Blue Book, 3.0 24v are a bugger to get logbooked.

[SUSIT]

If you're looking for as close to original as you can, remember left hand drive!
If you are planning on competing in it, check the Blue Book, 3.0 24v are a bugger to get logbooked.


Also at the moment the MSA are planning to ban kit cars and the like from 2010 I have also heard that if you dont get a log book before the end of 2007 then you may not get one at all. :mad:

[Fiat CC]

LHD of course! Hadn't even occurred to me I must say. Why do they want to ban kit cars? And for what it's worth, these kits would barely classify, as they are better built (if done correctly, with care) than the original Stratos was anyway. Seems kinda rediculous. What issues are there with the 24v V6? Also, who are the MSA? I don't know what CAMS (the Aus motor sport body) has to say about kit cars etc...
Thanks again guys.
Reuben

[SUSIT]

LHD of course! Hadn't even occurred to me I must say. Why do they want to ban kit cars? And for what it's worth, these kits would barely classify, as they are better built (if done correctly, with care) than the original Stratos was anyway. Seems kinda rediculous. What issues are there with the 24v V6? Also, who are the MSA? I don't know what CAMS (the Aus motor sport body) has to say about kit cars etc...
Thanks again guys.
Reuben


Hi young man,
MSA is the British ruling body for motorsport. The latest rules for special stage rallying are about limiting power output and performance, so they imposed stricter controls on bigger and multivalve engines. They also have weight limits and that's a real bummer, You spend all that time making everything light as possible then find your car has to weigh 1060Kg.
Its meant to be all about litigation & product liability in the event of an accident
All this is purely applicable to cars to be used for special stage rallying in the UK other countries will have different rules but worth checking before you build. Also remember most people take a couple of years or more to build their cars so you need to try and get a handle on any future rule changes
At the present time I would personally recommend anyone wanting to log book a Stratos replica use a 12 valve 3 litre and avoid the 24 valve but that's only my view.
Good luck in following your dream

[lpriestland]

...Lee Preistland also opted for the round arches...So you are not unique
John, didn't you learn anything from school; "it's I before E, except after..." so I'll be a Priestland then :rolleyes:

Pic's of my original, straight out of the mould strade and new round grp4 arches can be found here (http://picasaweb.google.com/lpriestland/Stratos).

[John]

Lee,
my sincere apologies mate! I stand corrected. Spoke to Craig at Donnington last weekend and he told me of the progress. You have been very quiet lately. Hope you are both Ok.

[John]

Lee,
that is quite a nice sequence of pictures showing "how to" fit a set of round wheelarches!

[Sptwoman]

That's quite a handy method of providing a "How to". I was a little shocked to see his pride and joy with no clothes on though. Total unrecogniseable :eek:

[tryphon]

That's quite a handy method of providing a "How to". I was a little shocked to see his pride and joy with no clothes on though. Total unrecogniseable :eek:

Looks more like a kart than a car...

[Swamprat33]

I thought it looked like an off road buggy or one of the US army fast attack vehicles without it's machine gun :D

Tim

[Sptwoman]

MMmmm .. Possibly brings a new meaning to "Beauty is only skin deep" :rolleyes:

[Fiat CC]

Wow!!! I see what you mean about the Corse being built differently. It looks nothing like the uner body photo's I've seen of a Hawk, or a real one for that matter. Not that it really matters as I can see how the modern production techniques and technology, could make this car a little stiffer, and nicer handling than the Hawk (which I'm sure handles like it's on rails anyway). In all honesty I think I'll go with the Corse as soon as funds permit buying another sports car...
Cheers again guys.
Reuben