Debut Duo

There are those who think there is no new car season for kit cars and that the season is all year long, but we at KIT CAR believe that the new car season is twice a year--around September, when Detroit unveils its new cars and replicar builders are looking for a winter project, and in March, when kit and component car enthusiasts are looking for a summer project.

Two exciting, new cars debuted last fall, and we bring them to you here, in a quick look, that we'll follow up with full features later on in KIT CAR.

One of the cars is a sexy, sleek visit of a classic race car from the '50s and the other is a brand-new design inspired by supercars from today's world.

For your pleasure, and as a prelude of full features to follow, here are Shell Valley Companies' '51 Jaguar C-Type Tipo 166 Roadster, and Factory Five Racing's GTM-200.

Jungle Cat
Having built its reputation with solid Cobra replicas, Shell Valley Companies (SVC) has extended its quality line, recently, with the sterling additions of a Cheetah replica, '29 Ford Model A, and new Daytona Series 1 coupe. However, to make this classy lineup even more chic, SVC prowled the racing past and brought in a classic cat to delight kit car enthusiasts.

Added to the SVC car list is their all-new '51 Jaguar C-Type racer, a Scuderia Corsa Tipo 166 that set the racing world on its ear in the early '50s and won at Le Mans in 1951 and 1953, beating the Ferraris and Talbots. It was called a "C-type," with the "C" standing for "Competition." Only 54 originals were built, but you can have one these growling, snarling, fluid-angled kittens, which debuted at last year's Run and Gun and made an appearance at the SEMA show in Las Vegas, just by contacting Shell Valley.

Built on SVC's proven Cobra frame, which has been modified to feature a 98-inch wheelbase and accept a narrowed Ford 9-inch rearend, the '51 C-Type Jaguar stylishly shows off its Jaguar replica front grille, wire wheels, and leather belt hood fastener. While racing windshields are an option, Shell Valley engineered the street-legal windshield you see here, modifying Cobra glass and a Jeep windshield frame. However, following this prototype, the frame, grille, windshield frame, and fiberglass body will be manufactured by SVC.

I have driven this hot cat on the track and all I can say is: Wow. It is fast, elegant, handles like a dream and I can't wait to share it with you.

This one is painted British Racing Green and you will see it featured in an upcoming buildup and feature series, here in KIT CAR.

The SuperCar for the Masses
The much-awaited Factory Five Racing (FFR) "Supercar," the mid-engine GTM 200 Mulsanne, made its debut at the SEMA show in Las Vegas (along with its new Mark III Cobra and a revamped coupe, and the trio "wowed" them at the event, with the GTM taking center stage.

Built on a newly designed, all-original dedicated chassis, and using C5 suspension, running gear and engine, and Porsche G50 transaxle from a 911, the GTM-200 is the second all-original design from FFR, following its GT Spyder.

Calling it the "Supercar for the Masses," FFR's goal is to provide a vehicle that performs like a McLaren F-1 or Saleen S-7 at kit car prices. Engineering advances include a unique chassis design, with a mid-engine layout and 98-inch wheelbase. The kit includes the tubular steel frame, aluminum chassis panels, composite body, windows, doors, trim, interior, coilovers, fasteners, and miscellaneous parts needed to complete the car.

The body is a new laminate "Pre-Preg" (pre-impregnated cloth matrix) epoxy/glass composite. An optional Carbon-Kevlar body is to be released as the car goes to manufacture.

Now, if you've drooled over this beauty, just wait; it will get even better. FFR has taken the car back for fine-tuning, a few engineering tweaks, improvements, and some surprises and will re-unveil the GTM-200 later this year, at which time we will provide you with a full feature article on the finished version. But we felt this baby was just too cool and too new not to tease you with.

We hope you enjoyed these quick peeks at these two awesome new additions to the kit car world, but stay tuned to KIT CAR for full features on them both. KC