Ronart Lightning

[Mäusekino]

when people see it comin, they go like "hey what's that?" - "it's a jaguar xk8 mk1 " - "no, it's an jag xkr mk1 " - "no, it's... it's the jags ugly cousin "

take a dull engine (4.6L V8 from the Mustang), do some (senseless) work spec it up to 440 hp, drink to much & than build a car, from that you think of, it looks like the jaguar xk mk1.

but let's not forget to put that speced up but still dull engine in what you've created, so you can drive your flabby aluminium monstrosity to the next motorshow, so that you can get some laughers to hopefully come down from your trip...

[Kitdy]

It is a hideous little thing, isn't it. The front looks like a Jag+Aston, and the rear looks like a TVR. The result: crap.

[Ferrer]

It is a hideous little thing, isn't it. The front looks like a Jag+Aston, and the rear looks like a TVR. The result: crap.

For some reason it looks very F-type-ish.

[Coventrysucks]

but let's not forget to put that speced up but still dull engine in what you've created, so you can drive your flabby aluminium monstrosity to the next motorshow, so that you can get some laughers to hopefully come down from your trip...

crap

Yeah, much worse than those cars you made.

Oh, wait, you never even made a car.

But, yeah, look at a pic for 5 seconds and make that judgement.

It's attitudes like that that make UCP what it is today...

[matek]

I like it what about the price?

[Coventrysucks]

I like it what about the price?

I think it was £40,000 or thereabouts.

Not too dissimilar to the Trident Iceni which appeared at roughly the same time.

[Quiggs]

What's so dull about Ford's Mod V8? The 4.6 is a potent little motor with lots of potential.

[Mr.Tiv]

Are there any specs for this beyong that it has 440hp and costs about 40,000GBP?

How's it perform, if the 4.6L that they used the SOHC or the DOHC? What method of chassis construction have they used? I've never heard of this before; I'd rather like to know some more about it.

[Ferrer]

Are there any specs for this beyong that it has 440hp and costs about 40,000GBP?

How's it perform, if the 4.6L that they used the SOHC or the DOHC? What method of chassis construction have they used? I've never heard of this before; I'd rather like to know some more about it.

This might be of help:

http://www.ronart.co.uk/

[Mr.Tiv]

This might be of help:

http://www.ronart.co.uk/

It answered all of my questions, fancy that.

[dydzi]

so umm has it ever made into production? from what i know, no...

What's so dull about Ford's Mod V8? The 4.6 is a potent little motor with lots of potential.

the only thing i don't like about it it's that all the british small manufacturers vowing to put some exotic powerplants end with supplying cars with it...

[CdocZ]

What does it weigh? I liked everything I read but.......if the thing weighs like 1,000kg thats cool.....but if it weighs like 1,500kg then there might be a problem....

[NSXType-R]

It's really not that revolting....

I'm sure you can supercharge that thing and get a nice exhaust note to boot too. Price is a bit high though. 40k pounds can get you a 911 right? This might be faster but basic servicing might be expensive, considering that this is a pretty small manufacturer.

[Ferrer]

It's really not that revolting....

I'm sure you can supercharge that thing and get a nice exhaust note to boot too. Price is a bit high though. 40k pounds can get you a 911 right? This might be faster but basic servicing might be expensive, considering that this is a pretty small manufacturer.

Actually no. The cheapest Carrera Coupe is nearly £61,000.

[Coventrysucks]

has it ever made into production?

Yes, very limited though; they made 6 Lightnings.

They have been building the W152 for 20-odd years, although it is unclear whether you can still buy one, and Ronart also produce Vanwall "replicas" as seen on Top Gear in the "British Racing Green" feature in Nov 2005.

if it weighs like 1,500kg then there might be a problem....

What would that problem be, out of interest?

A quick look reveals the following ratios:

BMW Z4 M Roadster: 338bhp, 1485kg
Mercedes SLK 55 AMG: 355bhp, 1540kg
Porsche Boxster S: 291bhp, 1355kg

Even in the "worst case" scenario, 300bhp and 1500kg = 200bhp/tonne, that's only 20-30bhp/tonne behind those three, so hardly shabby - and that's 8 years since the Lightning was introduced.

Anyway, with a spaceframe chassis and composite bodywork, I would guess it would be in a similar ballpark to TVR - c. 1100 - 1200kg.

Price is a bit high though.

Go back 10 years and find a similar 300bhp sports car for less.