Kit Car

Race Car Replica Superlite Coupe Front Front Passenger Side

Superlite Coupe SL-C Super Car- Race Car Replica's Superlite Coupe

Race Car Replica Superlite Coupe Front Driver Side

Under the clamshell out back there is enough space to mount mid-ship any longitudinal-based engine-and-trans package, but the test mule was dialed in with a LS7 427-inch crate engine. Though the internals are stock, the engine was aided by an aluminum radiator, stainless steel headers (with an IMSA-type side exit), and an Optima battery. Helping get the power to the ground is a Ricardo six-speed trans-the same one used in the new Ford GTs.

The fiberglass body is available in colored gel-coat (light blue, black, white, yellow, red, and dark blue) and all of the required handles and latches are included, and all body parts are fitted and aligned with stainless steel pins before it leaves the RCR factory. A DOT windshield is also installed, as are the Lexan side windows (which can be ordered either fixed or hinged) and headlight covers.

Set up with a little more than four inches of ground clearance, the body also comes with a front splitter, side skirts, rear diffuser, and a chassis-mounted adjustable rear wing. For the race package, removable side skirts and front spoiler are also available. Dimensions for the SL-C are: 74 inches wide, 43 inches tall and, excluding the rear wing 168 inches long (which is about 2 inches narrower, 1 inch shorter in height and 15 inches shorter in length than that of a new Ford GT). Hall designed the car to comfortably accept drivers up to 6 foot 4 inches.

Inside the cockpit (egress is through near-vertical-opening scissor doors) you'll find a simple dash highlighted by a DigiDash2 Pro+ electronic data-logger gauge. A "street" upholstery package will be available, but this track car only featured custom fiberglass bucket seats with a six-point belt system. Two vents on the dash supply either AC or heat, but a roof-mounted scoop will feed fresh air into the cockpit, too. And, as per Le Mans spec, a 15-gallon fuel tank is mounted behind the seat (an FIA-spec bladder-style tank is optional). Aiming at a true world market, RCR offers the package with either left-hand- or right-hand-drive configurations.

RCR's Hall believes the kit, as delivered to the owner, should take roughly 200 hours to complete, but it can be ordered finished in any build stage, including as a complete turnkey. Base prices start at $43,995, which includes the suspension hung, steering fitted, brake calipers, rotors, and lines installed, and more.

All you have to supply is the engine, transaxle, and tires. The transaxle used in the test car-the Ricardo six-speed-comes in at roughly $15,000 (used) and the LS7 can be had new for about $14,000 through companies such as Summit Racing. With those numbers, you could be in a well-appointed car that not only sticks to the ground when cornering at high-speed but be able to top out at 200-plus mph for far less than $100K.

Considering that an American LeMans/Daytona Prototype racer costs easily three times as much and is heavier by book rules, you can see where this would be a fun car to own and drive. Testing should prove a 0-60 time of about 3.3 seconds (the Ricardo six-speed allows 70 mph in first gear alone!) and a mid 10-second quarter-mile at about 130 mph.

And another attractive option: you don't have to go with the $30,000 drivetrain, either. You could install a used Honda V-6 or small-block Ford good for 300 hp and a used Audi 016 box and have about as much fun as you could stand for less than $55,000, and that includes the cost of the kit! That's a lot of bang-for-the-buck-something Fran Hall delivers with every car he builds!