The Lotus-inspired kit car explosion has reached the United States from England, and one model, the Diva Speedster from Canadian-based Diva Sportscars (formerly Eva Sportscars), distributed by New York's R MotorSport, has taken the concept to a new level, one in which you'd be hard-pressed to find Lotus or any other exciting design replicated within its sexy exterior. In that respect, the Diva Speedster is not a copy of something that already exists. Buy a Diva and you're unlikely to hear some detractor say, "Hey, is that a real one?"
Although it's changed over the years, the Diva kit is a professionally engineered package with huge performance potential and a nameplate that stands on its own. Chris Williams is the engineer, designer, builder, test driver, and one-man production line from which the Diva Speedster kit emerges. He cuts, assembles, and welds the signature 1.25-inch tubular space frame chassis and lays the fiberglass body, bucket seats, and fenders for each car. Distributor R MotorSport includes Williams' custom suspension, steering rack and column, windshield assembly, trunk lid, hood, grille, and instrument panel as part of a Stage 1 kit. Once built, Diva owners typically like a GM or Ford V-8 under the hood. Stage 2 and 3 kits with additional components are available, or you can source your parts independently.
"It's basically a fun toy," said the affable Williams. "I did my training as an automobile engineer at the Standard-Triumph car company in England. My job was to crash things into walls, make them stronger, and crash them again." After arriving in Canada in the late-'70s, the former prototype tester set about developing a lightweight (200-pound), super-strong, multi-triangulated chassis that could handle big horsepower.
Complementing his chassis is a double A-arm front suspension and a five-link rear suspension with four massive trailing arms and a Panhard rod (NASCAR style). Steering is rack-and-pinion using two Borgeson universal joints and a Wilwood quick-release hub
Williams built his first Diva in 1993. The body is his own design: a cross between a Lotus 7 and Dodge Prowler. However, it's not delicate, like the Lotus, and it'll handle twice the power of the stock Prowler.
The featured Prowler Inca Gold Speedster HR is Williams' ultimate Diva. He built it to demonstrate what you can do with the car. This heavyweight design is one lightweight car, with a curb weight of less than 2,000 pounds.
"What's my dream Diva?" asked Williams of himself. "You're looking at it right there. The "HR" stands for "Hot Rod." It's got a shorter, wider rearend than the standard Diva, and the power is awesome. Unlike the typical hot rod, it handles, too."
The Gold Diva HR features a 350ci GM V-8 built by former NHRA champion Don MacCallum (located conveniently down the road from the Diva factory). Edelbrock Performance components help generate a whopping 450 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. The engine's bolted to a GM TH350 automatic transmission with shift kit, although the Diva will take a manual box. The racing-style suspension uses Aldan billet aluminum coilover shocks, front and rear, with urethane bushes.
A converted Ford Motorsport 8.8-inch axle casing with traction lock and massive 12-inch-wide Mickey Thompson cross-ply tires on 15-inch chrome Bart Racing rims put power to the ground, with 15x9-inch rims on the front. The interior instrumentation is from Auto Meter.
"The car is really a dragster for the road," said Williams. "It's just a super fun machine." That's typical British understatement. "Super fun" doesn't come close to describing the genuine thrill of driving this sexy car.