Thursday 17 February 2011

Whippin' up a storm - Tornado TSC GT40

A couple of years ago I stumbled across this replica GT40 in the paddock at Castle Combe.



This particular replica marketed under the model name TSC GT40 was manufactured by Tornado Sports Cars of Kidderminster, Worcestershire.



Father and son Alan and Andy Sheldon founded Tornado Sports Cars in 1984 to manufacture self assembly vehicles which could be built by enthusiasts using only simple hand tools.



The first self assembly model Tornado manufactured was the M6GT, a replica of Bruce McLarens well known M6GT road car project which was to take a Can Am Championship Winning McLaren M6 and turn it into a closed cockpit road car for the public to buy. Production of the Tornado M6GT ceased in 1992 3 years after the introduction of the incredibly successful TSC GT40 started.



In 1997 Allan Sheldon retired leaving Andy in charge. Amazingly 22 years after it's introduction the TSC GT40 is still in production with hundreds of kits having been sold in 31 countries.



To my eyes like David Pipers continuation Ferrari P4 the TSC GT40 seems to share rear light cluster designs originating in the humble little FIAT 850.

For further information on the TSC GT40 I recommend visiting the Tornado Sports Cars website which caters for the casual enthusiast like myself and the prospective customer.

Hope you have enjoyed this weeks home built editions of 'Gettin' a lil psycho on tyres' and that you'll join me for a special two for the price of one edition of Ferrari Friday tomorrow ! Don't for get to come back now !

PS If you have not had your fix of Fords today try catching up with the latest on the rumoured new Ford GT with Michele Rahal over on the Drive Channel.

5 comments:

  1. I would like mine with: Carbon Fibre Monocoque &
    Knock off Wheels. Thanks

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  2. That looks like a fun "track-day" car. I would lose my driver's license if I used that one on the public streets! Too cool!

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  3. Sounds like you found a bag of stones JC !

    Maybe a pit lane speed restrictor is an option for road use Racer :-)

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  4. My last ticket was in a 1992 Corolla with 150K miles on it. What did that thing have, maybe 80hp? Can they make a restriction system that's worse than that?

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  5. Wo speeding in a Corolla almost an oxymoron like speeding in a Yugo 55 or Hyundai Pony, you must have done something real nasty in a previous life Racer, may you should keep the TSC GT40 on a trailer :-)

    ReplyDelete