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.

Why does the sight of a little Mini Moke make every body rock ?

Today's blog is dedicated to Rowdy Mini Moke fan club member 'Archidude' of Brevard NC, who sent me a link to this interesting Mini Moke video.



Designed as a vehicle with military applications in mind the Mini Moke made use of BMC Mini mini parts bin, including the engine, drive train and 10" wheels which rendered the vehicle useless for military off road purposes because the Moke did not have much ground clearance.



However the vehicle produced between 1964 - 1993 did find a niche as a recreational vehicle in the sunny climate of many former British Colonies and was the first vehicle ever used on Pitcairn Islands, of HMS Bounty Fame, becoming the remotest vehicle on earth.



Correction Edited 29 09 19 The above vehicle is an AMC Andersen Cub not a Moke. Thanks to Dean and every one at www.moke.org who helped me correct this error.

Of the 50,000, Mokes made in Britain, Australia, and Portugal some have a competition history which includes Hans Tholstrup and John Crawford who nursed their Moke from London to Sydney in the 1977 Marathon and most unlikely of all Charlie Smith and Barry Seaton who gallantly jumped in their Moke to take on a field of Ford GT40's and Ferrari 250 LM's including winner Andy Buchanan,seen here , co driven by none other than Jacky Stewart at Surfers Paradise in 1966.



Finally Mini Mokes were used as Taxi's in the surreal television series the Prisoner, a catch phrase of which was; Be Seeing You !