Last, but not least, the new Dragon Series II body is the result of thousands of hours of designing and hand-shaping that not only continues the heritage started with the Series I, but also succeeds in evoking the passion that was so evident in British and Italian styles of the early '50s and '60s.
The body is a non-stressed lightweight skin that is able to slide over the completed rolling chassis and mounted in about 30 minutes. The nose tilts fully forward, allowing for unlimited access to anything from the engine, suspension, and exhaust. To eliminate the need for immediate paint and bodywork, the new body is available in one of four fiberglass Gel-Coat Finishes (red, blue, yellow, and green). If you decide later to have the car painted, prep work would be a snap!
With many of the innovations brought into the new Series II body, a decision had to be made on whether the car would be made with opening doors. Dragon concluded that, since the car measures only 24 inches from the ground to the point where the door top would be and, due to its design, there is no wide sill to step over to gain entrance to the car, the body would be stronger and easier to mount if there were no doors. And, with a higher framerail (giving the chassis greater stiffness), there is increased side-impact protection for the cars occupants.
If it sounds like the crew at Dragon Motor Cars has been hard at work to create something truly unique for the kit car owner, you're right. By being able to utilize an endless parts source from an easily obtainable donor car and melding it with a technologically advanced chassis and an alluring body design, the Dragon Series II is poised to pounce on the kit car industry. Watch for the new Dragon Series II roadster to make the rounds starting early this year, and it won't be long before you will be able to check out a finished car right here on the pages of KIT CAR.