Discussion
Anyone got any new pics of the finished/part finished car? Am looking at getting 1 of these or a Coram if they ever get it finished but could realy do with some more info before I commit. Im looking for something similiar to the XTR2 but with a little more ground clearance as its got to be a daily driver (I will put up with the cold and wet as long as it dosn't drag along the ground) and should accept a car engine....hopefully a Subaru lump...which could make things interesting! 
It's funny you should raise those points, as they were on my wish list too. Although I've nothing against bike engines, as such, I prefer car engines, and also a little more ground clearance would help for everday use.
In the end I decided to make my own, to meet my needs. If you're interested have a look at the work in progress www.desicodesign.com/meerkat/
I agree that the MK looks nice and the price is good too, but I'm sure not everyone will want the bike option.
In the end I decided to make my own, to meet my needs. If you're interested have a look at the work in progress www.desicodesign.com/meerkat/
I agree that the MK looks nice and the price is good too, but I'm sure not everyone will want the bike option.
Here you go, but it doesn't show the car in its latest form. Just the body on a chassis.
www.m-keenan.freeserve.co.uk/
looks good but definately want to see the SVA'd version before parting with the moolah!!
www.m-keenan.freeserve.co.uk/
looks good but definately want to see the SVA'd version before parting with the moolah!!
quote:
Nice one Meerkat, looked at your site a couple of times before. 1 thing that I am curious about is how do you get the body to match from 1 side to the other? How long before you are finished do you reckon?
That's a good question (in fact two good questions
) The side to side matching is done several ways:
1 - Make the basic underlying forms as accurate as possible.
2 - Keep edges sharp as long as possible to measure from. (i.e. don't radius too soon)
3 - Have accurate datum and reference point on the skirt to measure from.
4 - Use templates to match curves (make one good side, then make the template from that)
5 - Use digital photography. Photograph the same feature on each side from the same relative viewpoint, then mirror one image and overlap onto the other to show any discrepancies (sp)
It is inevitable there will be some variation, it's important to minmise it though.
I was going to discuss this on my site soon.
I expect that I will be moulding in about 6 to 8 weeks and then maybe 3 months or so to build it.
Thanks for the kind words, it's very encouraging!
So Smeagol, I see you're keeping an eye on this one, the MK that is. Even you are begining to see that this car really should be a huge sucess, at a very affordable price. Bike engined - well you'll either love it or hate it, I tried a BEC and it does'nt suit my preferred style of driving, but I can recognise something that warrants very serious consideration,but put a heavy car engine in it, (you can't), and you'd kill it, This car, and yes it is still only at prototype stage but not far off,(be at Donington sept),when seen side by side with the XTR2 as they where at Stoneliegh in May, looks much much better. I know it is totally unproven but I think your money would be better placed on this than almost anywhere else at the moment. Should get on the road for about 1/2 to 1/3 of the price of the westy.
Also I am a westfield SS club member and have a certain alliegance but I can see real design quality and VFM.
Also I am a westfield SS club member and have a certain alliegance but I can see real design quality and VFM.
I Certainly am keeping an eye on the Mk1. I'm always interested in good looking projects. I suspect I will be going in September, hopefully CorumLM will be there as well. I do want to see them in real life. The comments I made before was that I wasn't impressed with their website and that Westfield had their product in SVA'd form already. If Mr keenan has got it right then certainly he will give Westfield some competition, however if he just turns up with the "car" in the same form as the photos on his website and no further development then he won't. I just said I wouldn't buy the kit based upon what is effectively a chassis with wheels. Another car that has peeked my interest is the single seater bike engined Lotus22 replica on www.singleseaterracingcar.co.uk/english/index.htm
I think I would suit a bike engined car although I've yet to try one. I've done the cbt (a long time ago mind you) and changing the driving style wasn't a problem.
I think I would suit a bike engined car although I've yet to try one. I've done the cbt (a long time ago mind you) and changing the driving style wasn't a problem.
Sorry to disappoint you guys, but we won't be at Donington now. We issued a statement about a month ago stating this which Pistonheads displayed - it's also on our web site.
We're now launching at Autosport in January 2003 (9-12th).
Of course we're very disappointed ourselves because we really wanted to demonstrate the abilities of the LMP on a proper race track. Unfortunately, due to circumstances outwith our control we can't be at Donington to do this.
Steve.
www.coram-automotive.com
We're now launching at Autosport in January 2003 (9-12th).
Of course we're very disappointed ourselves because we really wanted to demonstrate the abilities of the LMP on a proper race track. Unfortunately, due to circumstances outwith our control we can't be at Donington to do this.
Steve.
www.coram-automotive.com
Smeagol, im in the same boat as you mate, not to sure on the MK GT1 as I would prefer a car engine, the Coram looks just the ticket but until I see some real life chassis and body pic's I will have to reserve judgement. The "As One" featured today looks exactly right....except the price!!! I need a mid engined, open top, bare bones, car engined, kit form car that has some decent ground clearance so I can drive it everyday (I dont mind the wet and cold, but it must be able to go over speed bumps)....Oh yeah and all for under £20k fully built.....Is this to much to ask?
In light of everything contained within this thread I have a few further comments.
First of all, Meercat, that design of yours looks very, very attractive and soundly constructed. I wish you the very best with the project, (sorry I've just viewed your site for the first time and not yet fully digested if its a commercial venture or not).
The Seven thing was a moment in time, either best left alone ie Caterham, and legally or not ,Westfield, ( sorry just pointing to the fact that Big C does have the right to perpetuate this car, the others do not), so anyone choosing to build on the foundations of the 7 needs to signifficantly improve or update it. Now given that it was a design classic in most peoples view, and suceeded in achieving what it set out to do, and more, then it has to be down to updating.
The only cases worthy of serious consideration so far here are such as Meercats project,the XTR2, the MK car, the Dax (as was) Kamala and the CC Cyclone. This is only my opinion and others may argue but I don't care.
I personally have owed 2 Westfields with significant power outputs but have recently changed to the mid engined layout, but in another variety of car, still using my preferred choice of engine. The results are staggering, I could go into detail here but lets just say that I can now put the power into the road rather watch blue smoke in the rear view. I ve got to be carefull here 'cos I am a member of the WSCC and intend to remain so, as it is the best website bar none.
So what is this all about? Well I'm just saying that my Cyclone gives in my opinion a dramatic improvement on the original Seven design, but its clothing could be improved by the likes of such as Meercat.
Some one needs to take up the mantle from here as there is so much more to come.... Brian.
First of all, Meercat, that design of yours looks very, very attractive and soundly constructed. I wish you the very best with the project, (sorry I've just viewed your site for the first time and not yet fully digested if its a commercial venture or not).
The Seven thing was a moment in time, either best left alone ie Caterham, and legally or not ,Westfield, ( sorry just pointing to the fact that Big C does have the right to perpetuate this car, the others do not), so anyone choosing to build on the foundations of the 7 needs to signifficantly improve or update it. Now given that it was a design classic in most peoples view, and suceeded in achieving what it set out to do, and more, then it has to be down to updating.
The only cases worthy of serious consideration so far here are such as Meercats project,the XTR2, the MK car, the Dax (as was) Kamala and the CC Cyclone. This is only my opinion and others may argue but I don't care.
I personally have owed 2 Westfields with significant power outputs but have recently changed to the mid engined layout, but in another variety of car, still using my preferred choice of engine. The results are staggering, I could go into detail here but lets just say that I can now put the power into the road rather watch blue smoke in the rear view. I ve got to be carefull here 'cos I am a member of the WSCC and intend to remain so, as it is the best website bar none.
So what is this all about? Well I'm just saying that my Cyclone gives in my opinion a dramatic improvement on the original Seven design, but its clothing could be improved by the likes of such as Meercat.
Some one needs to take up the mantle from here as there is so much more to come.... Brian.
DangerousB
Some very valid points, what do you think of the "AS ONE" www.automotivesolutions.de ? I know its only a CAD drawing but why cant one of the UK manufacturers put out something like this in kit form at a reasonable price? It should have enough space in the back to fit most 4/6 cylinder engines either N/S or E/W and enough ground clearance to be a daily driver. The MK is so close but it just looks a little weedy (but thats only IMO of course), the XTR2 looks the business but just too low, if Coram can get it all together and produce on their promises they will clean up. Personaly, if someone can bring out something like the "As One" in kit form for under £10k I will be beating a path to there door....
>> Edited by tuffer on Saturday 17th August 22:02
Some very valid points, what do you think of the "AS ONE" www.automotivesolutions.de ? I know its only a CAD drawing but why cant one of the UK manufacturers put out something like this in kit form at a reasonable price? It should have enough space in the back to fit most 4/6 cylinder engines either N/S or E/W and enough ground clearance to be a daily driver. The MK is so close but it just looks a little weedy (but thats only IMO of course), the XTR2 looks the business but just too low, if Coram can get it all together and produce on their promises they will clean up. Personaly, if someone can bring out something like the "As One" in kit form for under £10k I will be beating a path to there door....
>> Edited by tuffer on Saturday 17th August 22:02
DangerousB
Thanks for the kind words, which I know are meant
(I followed the Toniq-r thread and know you say what you mean, which is good) I have previous experience of low volume car production in the past, but never had time to build something for myself, hence the Meerkat project. As it progressed it has become more certain in my mind that it will go into production. In fact I have UK distibution already lined up.
It is now fairly obvious why the MK, Coram and XTR2 interest me although unlike those I'm going for the car engined market initially for numerous reasons that I won't elaborate on here.
I guess I'm playing it the absolute opposite to Coram (I understand and respect their philosophy) by publishing the entire development program warts and all. When the first body parts leave the moulds, you'll know When then wheels first turn under power, you'll know
Tuffer
I expect to hit the your target of under 10k when it does hit the streets.
There, I've gone and done it now
Thanks for the kind words, which I know are meant
(I followed the Toniq-r thread and know you say what you mean, which is good) I have previous experience of low volume car production in the past, but never had time to build something for myself, hence the Meerkat project. As it progressed it has become more certain in my mind that it will go into production. In fact I have UK distibution already lined up. It is now fairly obvious why the MK, Coram and XTR2 interest me
although unlike those I'm going for the car engined market initially for numerous reasons that I won't elaborate on here. I guess I'm playing it the absolute opposite to Coram (I understand and respect their philosophy) by publishing the entire development program warts and all. When the first body parts leave the moulds, you'll know
When then wheels first turn under power, you'll know Tuffer
I expect to hit the your target of under 10k when it does hit the streets.
There, I've gone and done it now
We may be at Donington in an unofficial capacity. Obviously the competition interests us greatly and we have to keep abreast of any new developments...
However, it seems that we may have to keep a low profile because the show organisers weren't particularly pleased about us pulling out. But at the end of the day we will only launch our car when we are confident that it will demonstrate the potential that has been promised so far.
In saying that, the Autosport stand has been booked and we WILL launch there in January.
Steve.
www.coram-automotive.com
However, it seems that we may have to keep a low profile because the show organisers weren't particularly pleased about us pulling out. But at the end of the day we will only launch our car when we are confident that it will demonstrate the potential that has been promised so far.
In saying that, the Autosport stand has been booked and we WILL launch there in January.
Steve.
www.coram-automotive.com
If anybody wants the style of XTR2/MK GT1/Coram,there was a very nice car at donington in white gel-coat.
Shame i never found out who the builders were but i did find that the Chassis is a modified MK Indy one,engine bay is wider to take cosworth turbo and rear is changed too.
The car was stunning IMO,very much panoz like.
The good point here is car engine and in the front,so its an easy doner and kit.
Regards
bob
Shame i never found out who the builders were but i did find that the Chassis is a modified MK Indy one,engine bay is wider to take cosworth turbo and rear is changed too.
The car was stunning IMO,very much panoz like.
The good point here is car engine and in the front,so its an easy doner and kit.
Regards
bob
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