31 replies to this topic

[techieboy]

Starting to think about shiny new things again and keep thinking about the lure of V8 power whilst there's still some petrol in the world... Seem to recall reading that the Dax version is considered to be the "best" replica from a quality/chassis point of view? Not sure whether I'd do a whole kit or just start from a rolling chassis (and save the grief of stripping a Sierra or Jag, wherever the bits come from), if I went down the self-build route. Anybody have any experience of them?

[kipper]

Havnt had any practical experience of them. However, from the purely financial point of view, I would go for a part finished kit that some else has spent loads of cash on already, but for reasons could not finish the build.

[rob999]

Build an Ultima Matt if your going for V8 power (Not at all helpful I know, I just love them)

Edited by rob999, 08 January 2011 - 10:18 PM.

[ianrm]

Richard at TMS built one. Well I'm sure it was a Dax.

[techieboy]

Build an Ultima Matt if your going for V8 power

(Not at all helpful I know, I just love them)

Nah, not for me. I don't like the look of them at all (though performance is plenty attractive). I don't really want an all out track car otherwise I'd just get even more silly on the VX which this would ultimately replace, if I went down this route. The Cobra might never even get near a track although it would be remiss of me to not try at least once.

Richard at TMS built one. Well I'm sure it was a Dax.

He's no longer at TMS is he, Ian? If you're still in contact with him, I'd be interested to hear about his experience with it.

[techieboy]

Havnt had any practical experience of them. However, from the purely financial point of view, I would go for a part finished kit that some else has spent loads of cash on already, but for reasons could not finish the build.

T'is a good point. I had a brief scout around but, nearly all the Dax cars I could spot where finished, unlike some the other versions. May well be the wrong time of year to be looking and I'm probably not looking in the right places either, though. :

[ianrm]

He's no longer at TMS is he, Ian? If you're still in contact with him, I'd be interested to hear about his experience with it. He has three weeks left before he leaves. I am still in touch and will get an e-mail address for you.

Edited by ianrm, 08 January 2011 - 11:26 PM.

[techieboy]

Top man.

[ianrm]

• Richard - WAS IT BUGGER!!!! Was a Gardner Douglas
• Ian - Techieboy on VX220.org is thinking of a Dax and would like some info on the Dax
• Richard - Depends what he wants to use it for, Dax = looks nice and original bling bling ( side pipes etc..) GD = track day car, proper chassis, brilliant handling and build quility and can actually handle the power, i would seriously look into GD before getting a DAX!

Edited by ianrm, 09 January 2011 - 12:00 AM.

[richard tms]

AHA my old log in still works! Funny how word gets around! www.cobraclub.com all you need to know about Cobra's on there, mostly there a good bunch. As for Dax it really depends on what you want the car for, if you want togo anywhere near a track then theres no other option than a GD, if you want to park up and look pretty ( lots of them do!!) then go for a DAX or AK ! Would try get one with an LS engine as well, Alloy block Fuel injection (30mpg i got out of mine! once...) and very tunable ( www.ls1tech.com ) Let me know if you have any questions, be glad to help Richard P.S Ian like your sig

[Ground Effect]

• Richard - WAS IT BUGGER!!!! Was a Gardner Douglas
• Ian - Techieboy on VX220.org is thinking of a Dax and would like some info on the Dax
• Richard - Depends what he wants to use it for, Dax = looks nice and original bling bling ( side pipes etc..) GD = track day car, proper chassis, brilliant handling and build quility and can actually handle the power, i would seriously look into GD before getting a DAX!

Not really on topic but the name Gardner Douglas rang a bell, i,ve had a vid bookmarked of a GD T70 at the ring for ages.
Sounds superb and looks fast, nice looking replica too

Youtube GD T70

Sam.

Edited by Ground Effect, 09 January 2011 - 12:24 AM.

[richard tms]

• Richard - WAS IT BUGGER!!!! Was a Gardner Douglas
• Ian - Techieboy on VX220.org is thinking of a Dax and would like some info on the Dax
• Richard - Depends what he wants to use it for, Dax = looks nice and original bling bling ( side pipes etc..) GD = track day car, proper chassis, brilliant handling and build quility and can actually handle the power, i would seriously look into GD before getting a DAX!

Not really on topic but the name Gardner Douglas rang a bell, i,ve had a vid bookmarked of a GD T70 at the ring for ages.
Sounds superb and looks fast, nice looking replica too

Youtube GD T70

Sam.

I very nearly built a T70, its a work of art, and a brilliant drive, definitely an ultima chaser !

[richard tms]

Starting to think about shiny new things again and keep thinking about the lure of V8 power whilst there's still some petrol in the world...

Seem to recall reading that the Dax version is considered to be the "best" replica from a quality/chassis point of view? Not sure whether I'd do a whole kit or just start from a rolling chassis (and save the grief of stripping a Sierra or Jag, wherever the bits come from), if I went down the self-build route. Anybody have any experience of them?

Seem to recall reading that the Dax version is considered to be the "best" replica from a quality/chassis point of view?


This certainly is NOT true... take alook at both side by side.

[techieboy]

Hi Richard. Long time no see. Thanks for that. Will go and have a hunt for some Gardner Douglas details. Saw a couple of complete ones on PistonHeads but had never heard of them before and they looked quite expensive in comparison. I liked the look of the Dax (certainly looked better than the Pilgrim) and assumed with it's optional trick camber system that it was probably quite a well developed chassis. Good job I asked. Certainly not going to be an out and out track car but the option to be able to get on a track without killing myself would be good. Have enough trouble meeting noise regs in the VX, so God knows what a 5.7 litre V8 or bigger would be like. Did wonder whether a newer LS type V8 would work instead of an olde worlde carb'd V8, so good to know that's possible.

[theolodian]

I think they're only LHD, but FactoryFive have a good car for a good price - race series and all sorts in the US.

[richard tms]

Hi Richard. Long time no see. Thanks for that.

Will go and have a hunt for some Gardner Douglas details. Saw a couple of complete ones on PistonHeads but had never heard of them before and they looked quite expensive in comparison. I liked the look of the Dax (certainly looked better than the Pilgrim) and assumed with it's optional trick camber system that it was probably quite a well developed chassis. Good job I asked. Certainly not going to be an out and out track car but the option to be able to get on a track without killing myself would be good. Have enough trouble meeting noise regs in the VX, so God knows what a 5.7 litre V8 or bigger would be like. Did wonder whether a newer LS type V8 would work instead of an olde worlde carb'd V8, so good to know that's possible.

You wouldn't get a Dax through noise anyway(side-pipes), GD's have underslung exhaust and have options for a well silenced system, and i never had a problem.


GD have moved on alot since i was involved and have made there cars alot more authentic,( check out the new Mk4 body ) keeps everyone happy i guess but i preferred the bare MK3 body with very little 'bling'


Richard

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[JL37]

Having built and still own a Gt40 replica, i can say don't underestimate the build cost. To do it properly you will need at least £30K and a lot of hours. However i very seriously have looked at cobra's. The dax and GD i would say are the best. The GD has some unique plus's though. The body is so good, with just rubbing to a polish you can avoid the cost of painting, if you wanted to go for gelcoat finish. Also the chassis is mounted on rubber doughnuts which prevents lots of creaks and groans you may get just bolted direct to the chassis.The body on a dax takes a lot of work to get prepared and painting will cost you £3000. The only thing i found with the GD i didnt like was the small area allowed for the pedals, it's a tight fit if you have big feet. As for engines, if i wanted to build a true replica it would have to have a Ford small block (with ally heads). A cobra with a chevy just isnt a Cobra in my book, but you may have a different view. However a new Ls is pretty expensive where a carbed base iron block motor can be built for half the price. Don't get too carried away with the thought that you need 500 BHP, as they become undriveable, 350bhp is easy enough with ony 1200KG or less to move round, easy achieved with a carb iron block. Get yourself to Stoneleigh and try some. The best bit, is that depreciation is none existant, servicing is so simple you do it yourself, and kit car insurance is unbelievably cheap. My Gt40 is £190 a year fully comp! it makes running a vx seem expensive, so dont worry about fuel too much!

[richard tms]

Having built and still own a Gt40 replica, i can say don't underestimate the build cost. To do it properly you will need at least £30K and a lot of hours. However i very seriously have looked at cobra's. The dax and GD i would say are the best. The GD has some unique plus's though. The body is so good, with just rubbing to a polish you can avoid the cost of painting, if you wanted to go for gelcoat finish. Also the chassis is mounted on rubber doughnuts which prevents lots of creaks and groans you may get just bolted direct to the chassis.The body on a dax takes a lot of work to get prepared and painting will cost you £3000. The only thing i found with the GD i didnt like was the small area allowed for the pedals, it's a tight fit if you have big feet.
As for engines, if i wanted to build a true replica it would have to have a Ford small block (with ally heads). A cobra with a chevy just isnt a Cobra in my book, but you may have a different view. However a new Ls is pretty expensive where a carbed base iron block motor can be built for half the price. Don't get too carried away with the thought that you need 500 BHP, as they become undriveable, 350bhp is easy enough with ony 1200KG or less to move round, easy achieved with a carb iron block.

Get yourself to Stoneleigh and try some. The best bit, is that depreciation is none existant, servicing is so simple you do it yourself, and kit car insurance is unbelievably cheap. My Gt40 is £190 a year fully comp! it makes running a vx seem expensive, so dont worry about fuel too much!

True, forgot about mentioning the body, see my attached picture, thats not painted!! just rubbed down and polished.

GD now do a different firewall for those of you with 'big feet' ! Although its a small area, i never had a problem with it, they also offer and adjustable pedal box which can easily be adjusted for the 'wife to drive' ( yer right...)

GD's more than capable of running 700BHP+, easy to drive, i ran 550BHP through my LS with no problems and with it only weighing 1050 KG's it was QUICK!

Edited by richard tms, 09 January 2011 - 11:48 AM.

[techieboy]

Thanks guys. Turning into a proper minefield - a bit like the NA vs Turbo debates (although the SC conversion resolves that argument ). At some point during the night I did read that the Dax gelcoat finish wasn't perfect and required more work before it was ready for spraying. Quite a major cost saving if a gelcoat finish is feasible with the GD (all of the other kits seem to advise you budget circa £4k for paint). Richard, did you get any ground clearance problems with the exhaust? From what I could tell, that was one of the reasons behind the side pipes (although I guess the bling factor was quite a biggie) option? I _think_ I'd really like the satisfaction of putting the whole thing together but do worry that it'll turn into a never ending project, if I lose interest in the build. I think waiting until Stoneleigh is probably a wise idea. Whatever else, it's definitely not a cheap option.

[richard tms]

Thanks guys. Turning into a proper minefield - a bit like the NA vs Turbo debates (although the SC conversion resolves that argument ). At some point during the night I did read that the Dax gelcoat finish wasn't perfect and required more work before it was ready for spraying. Quite a major cost saving if a gelcoat finish is feasible with the GD (all of the other kits seem to advise you budget circa £4k for paint). Richard, did you get any ground clearance problems with the exhaust? From what I could tell, that was one of the reasons behind the side pipes (although I guess the bling factor was quite a biggie) option?

I _think_ I'd really like the satisfaction of putting the whole thing together but do worry that it'll turn into a never ending project, if I lose interest in the build. I think waiting until Stoneleigh is probably a wise idea. Whatever else, it's definitely not a cheap option.

Occasionally, but its like with any sports cars, you just always take it easy over speed bumps. The center box does sit in a recess between the body and chassis but is still the lowest part of the car, if you twist Andys arm at GD he will sell you side pipes, but be warned they will rob BHP from you, and give you a bad ear ache but only in one ear...