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Chamonix 550
Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 8:53 pm
by gridgway
Am I alone in likeing Sam's Chamonix 550? Looks really nice and Mrs gridgway said she liked it too!
Graham
Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 8:58 pm
by Disco
these are great cars - absolutely love them - I think these ones are the beck spyder under a different name ( although dont quote me on this ! )
if I had the money and the garage space, one of these would be in it. - must go like a pooh off a shovel too based on the weight to power ratio.
Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2010 9:46 am
by Sam
They really are proper little things.
I'm the first to be sceptical of GRP reps, but it's on another level to most.
Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2010 10:20 am
by Disco
in regards to your GRP point - is there anyone out there that produces an Aluminium body - like the more expensive C&D type reps.?
if not, I reckon there's a business op there....
Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2010 11:15 am
by gridgway
It would be interesting, but I suspect it's not a straightforward exercise and would change the price point massively.
Sam, how representative of the the original in driving terms is the chamonix?
Graham
Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2010 12:45 pm
by Sam
Sadly, I've not had a go in an original.
You could come and try it then nip round the corner and try to persuade MP&P to let you drive a real one.
It's got a 1915cc VW Type 1 motor on what appear to be twin 40s - they look like Webers but are EMPI branded - and purports to make 125bhp. It does get on quite well, much better than I thought it would. It's quite a slideable little thing in this weather too - big lift as you turn in and it's all quite catchable and great fun. You can't keep your foot in to bring it back like you can a 911 though...
The detail is where it wins - painted spears rather than stickers, little coachbuilder badges, leather engine cover straps, hydraulic clutch, just lots of small, carefully considered items that set it apart.
Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2010 4:24 pm
by Sam
in regards to your GRP point - is there anyone out there that produces an Aluminium body - like the more expensive C&D type reps.?
if not, I reckon there's a business op there....
I'm sure I've seen them in the past.
We could happily do it, but it would probably work out at £30k - £35k + VAT to make the body, that's before paint so would end up c. £80k all in.
Once the body was that lovely it would make engine look like the poor relation so you'd probably have to try to source or build a Fuhrmannish thing.
It'd be a brilliant project...
Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2010 6:15 pm
by gridgway
Sam @ PS Autoart wrote:
We could happily do it, but it would probably work out at £30k - £35k + VAT to make the body, that's before paint so would end up c. £80k all in.
Once the body was that lovely it would make engine look like the poor relation so you'd probably have to try to source or build a Fuhrmannish thing.
It'd be a brilliant project...
But well into the land of rapidly diminishing returns. If you set out on a quest for that kind of originality, you'd spend a fortune. If you got a Fuhrmann, it'd probably be very annoying with all that setup.
Still like it as is though! Oh for more garage space. And more money too!
Graham