BLACKJACK CARS ZERO

[fuoriserie]

I like threewheelers, has anyone taken pictures of the new BLACKJACK ZERO shown at the Exeter show?

I know Richard Oakes has been working on this project for quite some time, and wonder how his new kit looks like.

Thanks

Italo

[eliot]

There's a feature on page 8 of which kit.

[gpdude]

My collegue and friend Richard Oakes has continued devellopment of his VW engined, front wheel drive trike. This is the successor of his highly succesful 2CV based trike BlackJack Avion. However, no part of the previous car is identical with the new one.

This example uses a 1776cc engine and 1303 IRS gearbox driving the front wheels.
Front suspension is double wishbones, a swingarm at the rear. Steel spaceframe and semi-monocoque bodyshell.

The idea was to create a trike which feels like a Harley when using it. Therefor we opted for a VW engine built for torque rather than speed.

From now on available as kit or fully build.
For more info, please contact Richard Oakes, Unit 5 Water-ma-Trout Industrial Estate, Helston, Cornwall TR13 0LW

[phone]

[img]www.whosurhost.com/upload/user_uploads/KTTv_front.jpg[/img]

[img]www.whosurhost.com/upload/user_uploads/backquarter.jpg[/img]

[img]www.whosurhost.com/upload/user_uploads/bonnetup.jpg[/img]

[img]www.whosurhost.com/upload/user_uploads/interior.jpg[/img]

P.S.: For those that don't know Richard Oakes, he's an enthousiast car designer and father of such cars as the Tramp buggy, the seventies Nova, Midas, Aston Martin and more recently GTM Libra. Do a google if thes names aren't familiar.

[fuoriserie]

Thanks for the info and I have to say, these are great pictures.

Love the new shape, and always thought that Richard Oakes was an enthusiast first and excelent designer second. Followed his carreer and read quite a few of his interviews.

Will these and other pictures be on the website? prices of the kit? availability?

Thanks

Italo

[docevi1]

that looks spectacular!

[ferg]

Obviously as a Libra owner I hold Richard in very high regard (don't forget the GTM Rossa, Bart), but aside from the styling and the VW engine, how about the quality of the construction!!

[jgmadkit]

Always had the greatest respect for Mr Oakes's work - one of the pillars of the kit car community always coming out with great designs.

I hope the new car has great success. (Will get it on Madabout as soon as I get some gumph on it)

Cheers, John

www.Madabout-Kitcars.com

[gpdude]

Some more pictures for those interested:

www.whosurhost.com/upload/user_uploads/DSC06563.JPG

www.whosurhost.com/upload/user_uploads/DSC06635.JPG

www.whosurhost.com/upload/user_uploads/DSC06636.JPG

www.whosurhost.com/upload/user_uploads/DSC06570.JPG

www.whosurhost.com/upload/user_uploads/DSC06571.JPG

[eliot]

Ok, I might be being a bit stupid here, but how come the car hasn't got 4 reverse gears and one forward gear, i.e. the vw usually sits at the back pushing the car forwards???

Eliot.

[ferg]

eliot said:

Ok, I might be being a bit stupid here, but how come the car hasn't got 4 reverse gears and one forward gear, i.e. the vw usually sits at the back pushing the car forwards???

Think VERY hard about it Eliot and consider the Fiat X1-9, MR2 and all GTM models in the last 35 years.

[Funderbunk]

eliot said:

Ok, I might be being a bit stupid here, but how come the car hasn't got 4 reverse gears and one forward gear, i.e. the vw usually sits at the back pushing the car forwards??? Eliot.

A fair enough question - a stock VW bug transaxle would do exactly that. But there's a simple solution - flip the ring gear in the differential from one side to the other, and you're back to 4 speeds forward, one reverse.

It's a common mod to use vw engine/transaxle combinations in a mid-engine configuration. I think the factory even did it in a few instances (maybe the Porsche 914?)

[ferg]

Sorry Eliot. Now I've bothered to look at the pictures I see the engine's out the front.

As above, changing the final drive sorts it, I seem to recall UVA used to do that with their Montage to make it mid rather than rear engined. It was a long time ago so my memory may be failing me.

[fuoriserie]

Thanks for the pictures Bart, they look great.

Do you have info, on when will it be available as a kit?

Italo

[gpdude]

Exactemundo!
Swapping the ring gear in the diff does the trick! Very smart people in here it seems!

And the kit is for sale... NOW!
He was finalising the prices last week but haven't spoken to him yesterday so best thing is to give him a call 01326 574464 and he'll update you! Buy one and be the first customer ZERO on the road! Go on, you know you want to...

Also, a few of these above pics might find themselves on the website one day or another but they're waiting for better wheather to take some great outdoor shots. I'll post them when I'll get them.

Cheers,
Bart

P.S.: One car is enough for a on,e man business so we (Richard that is but he's sh*t with computers and email so he asked me) are looking for a buyer for the entire BlackJack Avion project. Lot's of potential and unbelievable tooling! Pure quality! Who's has the guts to become a kit-car manufacturer? You know you want to...
Give him a call and find out more...

[fuoriserie]

Wish I had the funds to buy the project, but unfortunately I don't...............

Oh well.................

[sonamor]

Hi Bart/

What do you make of the fuel tank then. Brilliant design eh.

When we gonna see you in sunny Cornwall?

[gpdude]

Hi Ian!

Long time no hear!

Well the fuel tank is a piece of pure art isn't it! You know for well that I like detailed stuff like that! Congrats for doing another great job.
Mmmm I want one. Haven't got the money though...

We are trying to come over soon, I know I've told that before but we're really trying and we want to see the trike too.
And we need you to make some stuff for our house... Oh, and it's almost Christmas so we need some puddings to bring back!

Speak to you soon my friend.

Friendliest regards,
Bart

[sonamor]

ferg said:

Obviously as a Libra owner I hold Richard in very high regard (don't forget the GTM Rossa, Bart), but aside from the styling and the VW engine, how about the quality of the construction!!

The thing that impresses me most about Richards cars is the way that he maintains the highest standards of design and construction from the smallest brackets to the largest componants. Watching him work always reminds me of Dr Charles Emmerson Winchester from TV series MASH when he says " I do one thing at a time, I do it very well and then I move on".
On no level will you be dissapointed with the Zero.