In July 1993, Unique Motorcars expanded its facility by adding almost 4,000 square feet of warehouse space, which allowed them to double its assembly area and increase production by 50 percent. The Unique Motorcars factory now covers roughly 25,000 feet, all under one roof, and it's broken up into seven divisions (sales, fiberglassing, welding, pre-assembly, parts, component shop, and final assembly).
When you walk into the business and past the showroom and offices, you come into a large room where most of the assembly is taking place. It isn't uncommon to find eight to ten vehicles in this one room going together, all in various stages of completion. To the far right is the fiberglass room, where workers are busy laying up new parts and popping cars from their molds (nearly everything concerning the building of a Unique car is done onsite).
At the other end of the main room is the fabrication and welding facility, and where the all-important chassis jigs are set up, ready to accept more rectangular tubing that makes up the base for Unique's 289s and 427s. Charlie Barnett does most of the chassis welding and, when he doesn't have his welding helmet on, is busy with Unique's newest project: creating the molds for a brand-new '36 Ford cabriolet. Years in development, the Weavers wanted to make this new '36 cabriolet perfect, and it looks like they have. Initial pieces and body sections being popped from their molds are without waves or pinholes, and looking like they only need to be scuffed before being painted! It's that good. Much more complicated than a Cobra body, their new '36 cabriolet bound to make a big splash in the street rod world when it debuts at the Goodguys show in Columbus, Ohio.
Once in the powdercoated frame,...
Once in the powdercoated frame, the Jaguar rear suspension with its adjustable coilover shocks is installed. This suspension has Unique's own trailing link setup that gives the rear suspension the proper geometry to ensure excellent handling characteristics.
Nowadays Unique offers their 427 and 289 replicas in different forms, with their most popular kit being the Deluxe Pallet Kit. It consists of a powder coated chassis with Jag independent suspension out back and twin A-arm front independent suspension, disc brakes all the way round, rack-and-pinion steering, aluminum radiator, 20-gallon fuel tank, with brake and fuel lines installed. The body is bolted to the chassis, and all doors, hood and the trunk lid have been installed, hinged and properly fit. The lights, windshield and dashboard are installed (filled with Stewart Warner gauges), the seats leather upholstered, and all pre-cut and edged rug pieces and door panels are finished and ready for installation. The roll bar is also installed, and the side pipes are bolted in place. The custom headers for your choice of engine are included with the kit as well. Also included are the original style steering wheel, and many other authentic deluxe items.
You can easily finish a Unique kit in about 100 hours or less (no welding, fiberglass work, or fabrication is required as many of the parts, such as the complete front suspension, are already in place). Unique's paint man can prep and paint a body (with stripes), in as little as five 8-hour shifts, so you could be on the road faster than you think. There are also two other kit packages Unique offers that allows the owner to build more of his vehicle, as well as a completed, turnkey version where all you do is pick the paint and upholstery colors.
Unique Motorcars knows it owes its success to its customers, many of whom have returned for more than one car in the nearly 30 years they've been in business. To show their appreciation, the Weavers have organized a homecoming event for each of the past 12 years (except in 2003) and roughly 50 vehicles and their owners (some who drive in from as far as Connecticut) and friends attend the 1-day get together (coverage of the 2004 event will be in the November KIT CAR). It's a friendly relationship between the Weavers and their customers, and something they recognize as a Unique experience!
The front suspension is built...
The front suspension is built up as a bolt on unit. The front cross member receives our custom A-arms, Mustang spindles, adjustable coilover springs and shocks and the original type rack-and-pinion steering setup. There is absolutely no welding required by the customer on a Unique kit.
It's almost a shame to cover...
It's almost a shame to cover up such an impressive motor! Unique can build a motor to your most exacting standards and authenticity.
Unique also fabricates their...
Unique also fabricates their own roll bars, headers, sidepipes and cowl braces. By building these items in-house helps control both quality and production-supply time. The headers were formed while bolted to an engine block of the customer's choice (a standard deluxe kit item, not an extra).
Unique offers rebuilt top...
Unique offers rebuilt top loader four-speed transmissions, too, as an option on their turnkey cars, though it was original equipment in the original Cobras.
The finish on this body is...
The finish on this body is the standard gel coat finish, and they come out of the mold needing little body prep before painting. All the parts are fitted and installed.
In the final assembly room,...
In the final assembly room, or "finish room" is where Unique puts the finishing touches on each car, and it's where the turnkey cars are built. Unique does their own paint work, interior work, and handles the final finish of complete cars down to the last detail of quality accessory items, which is why you end up with a car that looks, sounds, feels, and operates like the car you wanted!