New GT In Town

Tornado Sports Cars has been producing GT40 replicas for more than 20 years in the UK and now once again has representation in the U.S. in the form of Scott Calabro, Tornado Sports Cars USA, in Southwick, Massachusetts. The Belgian Racing Yellow car shown here is Chris’ RHD demo model that features a 385hp 289cid small-block topped with a set of Weber 44 IDFs and coupled to a UN1-26 transaxle. The car is additionally outfitted with the typical bundle-o-snakes headers, chrome suspension links, lightweight starter, anti rollbars, lightweight alloy radiator, alloy shocks, Wilwood four-piston caliper brakes at all four corners, oil cooler, and BRM knock-off wheels. The car will soon receive the company’s new lightweight cast rear uprights as well. For more details on the car, contact Scott; (413) 977-4408, www.tornadosportscars.com.

For more photos check out the April issue of Kit Car Builder magazine.

June issue sneak peek

Here's a very early look at the new issue just going to the printer today. As you can see by the cover there's a lot to see in this new edition. The story on the sexy Attack alone is worth taking a closer look. There's also a story in there on a scratch-built McLaren made of aluminum and powered by a Honda engine. Also in this issue is an inside look at a new 6-speed transmission, ceramic coatings, show coverage, a hot Daytona Coupe replica, a Lotus 7 cruise, a ride in a Mini Marcos and the first of a new recurring series about tools, among other cool stuff. This issue goes on sale on the newsstands June 1 and subscribers will start getting it in their mailboxes toward the end of April.

TajGarage makeover

We did a little remodeling on our TajGarage this past weekend. To make things as neat as possible we decided to get rid of all the open storage in the space by buying some Craftsman steel cabinets and work benches. The biggest job was redoing the 8-year-old peeling epoxy-painted flooring with Race Deck interlocking tiles. It made the garage brighter and neater and now if we can only keep things clean it should be a great work space. 

New TV show debuts

Be sure to tune in (or set your DVR) to Kit...An Autobody Experience, on Saturday morning, February 21, (early here in Colorado) on Speed. We've been working with the producers to help make this a premier show and we're very excited about the prospects. We've seen some excerpts already and the production values are very high. Your Editor has also been interviewed several times along with the crew doing some shooting in the KCB TajGarage. It should be fun to watch. The TV crew has followed along on four kit car builds from start to finish and will devote four episodes to each car along with lots of other fun stuff. So, tune in.

Reverse air scoop theory

According to Iain Ayre, KCB contributor, "There's no purpose for a hood scoop in an injected car. It just creates drag, slows you down and jams more static air into the hot engine bay. My Ayrspeed EcoCobra's reverse scoop uses the low pressure area in front of the windshield to suck hot air out of the engine bay, important for this car that has a 225bhp turbocharged Miata engine. It also has 320bhp per ton, about twice that of an ordinary Cobra replica with a 302 Ford V8. I'm looking forward to finishing it."

Rolls build-up continues

Our resident expat-Brit Canadian correspondent, Iain Ayre, files the following report on his ongoing Rolls Royce project...

"The Rolls fender is now at the rough disposable mold stage, with a thin impression taken off the original fender. Next step is to make a thick resin and mat positive, that will be the final buck from which the proper molds will be taken. Then I can make the four fenders for the car."

April issue sneak peek

Here's a preview look at the April issue that will be on sale about February 27 and in subscriber's hands in the middle of Feb. It's of course loaded with some cool cars, tech info, lots of news and some surprises. Be patient, you'll be able to have it in your hands shortly.