Dating my SR8

[shirt]

Not quite a mecanophilia thread, sorry about that.....

I've just bought an SR8 rolling chassis and I'm trying to work out the build year & spec. I've emailed the factory but no response at all, I was rather hoping they'd be able to furnish me with the original build sheet.

The chassis plate reads [just about!] SR800019 which would make it an early car but then it is wearing that later [2009+??] bodywork. It has the Farringdon wheel, Intrax 3-ways and 4 pot brakes - radical branded on the front and hi-spec on the rear. Are these the standard brakes or upgraded? Can't find any photos online showing this floating disc arrangement.

I've no idea where the car was sold originally but being RHD I would guess the UK. At some point it's been brought into Dubai and was raced in the Radical Middle East series, although I don't yet know when it was last run in anger. The previous owner only bought it for the driveline which he's implanting into a crazy project of his, but the chassis [and I'm told the driveline] are in decent condition with no signs of accident, just a few stress fractures on the bodywork.

I bought the car for a song and so I'm planning a full refurb plus the installation of either Subaru EJ20- or a Mazda 13b. The latter has already been done in an SR3 chassis in the states and gives cheap easy power with a low centre of gravity. The latter appeals due to the higher revving nature which would perhaps suit the original ethos of the car. Still deciding though as transaxle choice is key, don't really fancy a H-gate and I want to retain the passenger seat.

Anyway, it would be handy if I could at least put a build date and spec to the car for ordering spares etc. Any ideas?

[parsonsj]

I'm quite interested in any replacement drivetrain project you might undertake. My SR8 engine is just back from an expensive oil-leak repair, and I've been wondering if there's a less expensive setup myself -- when the next refresh cycle is upon me.

[shirt]

The Subaru swap has already been done into an SR3 for largely the reasons you state. Some more info. here:

http://www.missedshift.com/2012/09/latest-project-...

My main gripe on that build is losing the pax seat. That would be a fairly major sacrifice for me and one I will be aiming to avoid at all costs, hence transmission choice being more important at this stage than the engine.

[waky]

I have build number 20 and should be from around 2011, so yours can't be far off.

[Martinbarrymarks]

the wheels are a give away plus the steering wheel, my guess would be more like 2008 almost certainly not the original body

[CharleyH]

I can confidently say that your car is likely a 2006 and possibly 2007. The reason I say this is because Chassis number 10 is a 2006, and Chassis number 31 and 42 are 2007's. The other thing that is interesting about your car is that it looks like the front crash box was changed to the newer design when the updated nose was added.

I hope this helps,
Charley

[CharleyH]

waky said:

I have build number 20 and should be from around 2011, so yours can't be far off.

Are you sure that you have Chassis number 20? and that it is a 2011? As I said in my last post Chassis numbers 31 and 42 were made in 2007 so I would think that Chassis number 20 would be in the 2006 to 2007 range. A 2011 car would be more in the Chassis number 120 range. Could you share some pictures of your car?

Thank you.
Charley

[waky]

Oops just checked my picture from the plate and it's a 0000120 lol