Whilst I have not given a lot of thought to this matter, it strikes me that
maybe the Q marque has been hung up on using Ford parts as the donor for too
long. Whilst it may be thought that Golf GTI's are designed for dyslexic
Gits, these cars certainly have a reputation of being Pocket Rockets and we
already have on member making a Fiat conversion so why stay with Ford if
something better is around, particularly if the marque is ongoing? If my
understanding of VAG is correct, they use the same platform between VW,
Audi, Seat and Skoda, the latter these days being an undercover quality
product. MX5's are an interesting alternative if you want a RWD alternative
but would this push it in the direction of the Xtreme? Staying with Ford,
should ideas be expanded up range to look at the Focus as a donor?
If the actual car is considered, one of the most salient strong points for
using the 2+2 concept as a basis for a new car is that it has a sub frame
that a) can be removed and b) can be adapted for different engine and
gearbox combinations. The H4 design has a strong chassis and the removable
targa top has significant benefits as far as security and weather proofing
are concerned. Having battled with IVA inspectors about seat belt anchors,
whatever car is evolved, it will have to have substantial inbuilt frame as I
was informed that fibreglass is not accepted as a load bearing medium for
the test, particularly for safety attachments, i.e. a monocoque approach is
unacceptable unless a full crash test is undertaken and a pull test is
carried out on the seat belt anchors - don't tell me about fibre glass
strength, I sat in on a course about composite plastics in my last year at
college and undertook a number of lab tests that clearly showed the strength
benefits but clearly those who wrote the IVA regs did not know of this
course!
So where does this leave us? From the above, the new car should probably
have the following in no particular order:
1. Bolt on sub frames either end to allow use of different donors. This
could be used to advantage in the design with regards to strength and repair
capability
2. Sufficient clearance under the wings to enable large wheels to be used
without recourse to wheel spacers to avoid clagging the chassis/body
3. A removable Targa and fold down rear screen a la H4
4. A substantial steel chassis/frame where required to meet the regs but
not perhaps quite as heavy as the H4?? Sounds like a Design Project for an
engineering student that may be followed up with with a Finite Element
Analysis to ensure everything is within allowed stress limits
5. Inside wide enough to give elbow room and use of comfortable seats for
long journeys - some of us are getting old!
6. Dash options to include say a pod into which a full set of donor kit
may fit with its printed/flexible circuitry or simply space to fit a plain
wood dash behind which the standard dial are placed or aftermarket
alternatives are fixed
Just a few thoughts for the time being.
Hamish
----- Original Message -----
From: "Eddie" <[email protected]>
To: "Quantum Owners Group" <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 2010 12:08 AM
Subject: [Quantum Owners] Re: Quantum Kit Cars is born.
Hi there
I have just checked and the Ford Puma was in production from 1997 to
2001
this would be a potential problem as the donor car is already 9 going
on 10 years old. This would mean that whilst the donor cars would be
cost effective now, they will soon be hard to find and parts
intresting to get hold of. Not good.
The Fiesta has gone from mk3 1989 to 1997 again now ageing, whilst the
mk4 was built 1995 to 2002. The mk 5 took over in 2002 and went all
the way to 2008
these are more expensive as they get newer and thus ups the price of
the build. Plus the parts changes could cause problems at the design
stage on the Quantum shell.
The Ka however was built from 1996 to 2008 and that gives builders
the option to tailor the age of the donor to their pocket. Also the
suspension is near identical to the Fiesta and Puma. I do totally
agree that the engines are a pain, as most come with the 1.3 Ltr,
however there are some available with 1.6 and 1.7 engines. Work may be
needed at the factory to re engineer the looms to work with bigger
engines but I will have to find out how the IVA test will be affected
by changing the engine over though.
With regard to the thought of changing the Ka into a Quantum, the mk2
Fiesta was much better when changed into the Coupe as the fiberglass
shell was much more ridgid and thus handled better.
If anyone has more thoughts please air them as you input is valuble
for me to make the next 2+2 an absolute winner
thank you
Eddie
If anyone has any ideas about engines
On Dec 13, 9:57 pm, Waterboy182 <[email protected]> wrote:
Hi Ed,
My logic behind it all comes from a couple of different angles for
both you and the end user...
In my humble opinion whatever you base future models on needs to have
a fairly modern and potentially powerful engine range, and an already
established reputation as a sports car will add much kudos if
possible. When looking at a potential base for any kit I always
thought commercially one of the most important things is affordable
donor availability for the immediate future, and of course it is handy
if the donor has a tendency to rust making the car practically
worthless! Hence previous succesful kit periods being mostly based on
Cortina's, Escort's and Mini's... with the occasional Spitfire, Rover
etc thrown in!
There are masses of Puma's out there suffering badly from rot, and
regularly suffering from over exuberant driving so donor's are really
easy to come by and even the interiors are reasonably good, especially
if you can find the leather clad ones. The 1.4 powered version would
be cheap to tax and insure yet still pokey, and the 1.7 with it's
uprated gearbox is probably one of the best engines in some ways put
in a Ford in recent years. Obviously the Fiesta has similar heritage
but will be able to offer less in the way of interior 'cred' and the
engines aren't quite as desirable from the MK4 range which the Puma is
based on, hence the Fiesta boys doing Puma conversions... plus of
course you can take on the Puma's excellent reputation as a drivers
car and a proper fwd sports car! Much easier to appeal to potential
new Quantum enthusiasts by selling them a 're-bodied', tuned and
improved Puma than Ka I would think. I also fear 1.6 Ka donors may be
a bit thin on the ground, now and in the future i'm afraid.
On the rwd Jap route, similarly there are 100's of MX5's, import and
UK, rusting away all over the UK but with very durable engines and
superb gearboxes! Spares back up is fantastic, and what with people
constantly crashing them as they are not used to a rwd sports car
there are even plenty of later ones coming up for salvage.
Although i'm not much of a mechanic I am pretty ok on research, sales,
purchasing and marketing, if you ever need a hand or a chat please
drop me a line, would be happy to help in anyway I can. I admire you
for taking on a project/dream as big as this one, and thank you for
saving the parts back up for my missus' H4!
On Dec 12, 11:02 pm, Eddie <[email protected]> wrote:
> Good points that.
> The Fiesta and Pumas do indeed share many similarities to the Ka. I
> will obviously be considering as many options as possible. The Jap
> route is indeed a nice thought and RWD would be fun, but it is often
> harder to find cheap sources of parts in the scrap yards on these
> cars.
> Eddie
> On Dec 12, 10:23 pm, Waterboy182 <[email protected]> wrote:
> > Hi Ed,
> > I would like to also wish you all the best with the new venture and
> > look forward to seeing the new models however (and I apologise if this
> > is taken the wrong way)...
> > with SVA the way it is would the newer mark fiesta's, or even a Puma,
> > not be better for the future? With the KA only having a 1.3 as
> > standard won't single donor status be tricky unless the original
> > engine is used, and the rest of the components are a little suspect
> > too (brakes, suspension etc) in comparison to the readily available
> > Fiesta or Puma donors?
> > I for one would especially welcome a move towards a jap based Quantum
> > based on the Almera, or maybe a rwd mx5? Just thoughts, probably on my
> > own with the jap route and may be too much work to achieve!
> > I'd especially love to see a new saloon/coupe, minus sunroof and pop
> > up lights!
> > On Dec 12, 5:21 pm, Eddie <[email protected]> wrote:
> > > Hi all
> > > Thank you for the kind words that have been expressed here about my
> > > taking on Quantum. Some of the comments have been quite humbling.
> > > I have given much thought about taking on Quantum, this decision was
> > > not taken lightly.
> > > I must thank John & Rosemary who have been very suportive of my
> > > taking
> > > Quantum on.
> > > I wil now have everything I need to support all of the older models
> > > from moulds to spares.
> > > It is important to now progress Quantum, and to that end I have
> > > decided that the 2+2 model will have an update. It is looking likely
> > > that it will be re engineered to run on a Ka donar and also have a
> > > styling update. Don't worry, the styling update will be more
> > > evolution
> > > rather than revolution.
> > > I am planning on a factory open day towards the end of June /
> > > begining
> > > of July so that you are able to see the progress.
> > > I look foward to working as closely as possible with the QOC and
> > > giving new life to the cars that we love.
> > > Eddie
> > > On Dec 10, 2:18 pm, vince <[email protected]> wrote:
> > > > I would just like to add my best wishes to Eddie on his new
> > > > venture .
> > > > We all know things are "safe" in Eddie's hands.
> > > > Well Done
> > > > Vince [The Merchandising man]
> > > > You know where to come !
> > > > On Dec 8, 1:59 pm, "Hamish Freeman" <[email protected]>
> > > > wrote:
> > > > > How nice for once to see a logical progression such that someone
> > > > > who has made an effort to provide updates and improvements for
> > > > > the Quantum Marque for some time now has actually been able to
> > > > > buy the company - a touch of Victor Kiam?
> > > > > Congratulations and hope you are able to make a thriving
> > > > > business of it!
> > > > > Hamish & Trish
> > > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > > From: Andy Heaton
> > > > > To: [email protected]
> > > > > Sent: Monday, December 06, 2010 9:11 PM
> > > > > Subject: [Quantum Owners] Quantum Kit Cars is born.
> > > > > Hot off the press.........Quantum Kit Cars is born..........and
> > > > > the new owner lives in Bristol.........often is accused of
> > > > > loosing the plot.......but we no him better as Eddie Ruskin.
> > > > > Eddie and I have had many discussions over the last few weeks
> > > > > and with a little bit of help, Eddie has completed the purchase
> > > > > today........well done and good luck and all being well you
> > > > > should have a smooth handover on the 18th Dec....
> > > > > Eddie will fill you in with further details of what's to happen
> > > > > later.
> > > > > I shall look forward to Saturday Evening when we can open a
> > > > > bottle of champagne at the Southern Area Xmas Bash.
> > > > > Best Wishes
> > > > > Andy Heaton
> > > > > --
> > > > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the
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> > > > > To post to this group, send email to
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> > > > > For more options, visit this group
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> > > > > IMPORTANT NOTE: All information presented herewith is provided
> > > > > on an "As Is" basis, without warranty or the implication
> > > > > thereof. Neither the Quantum Owners Club nor the individuals
> > > > > associated with the Quantum Owners Club or in the preparation of
> > > > > the above information shall have any liability to any person or
> > > > > entity with respect to liability, loss, or damage caused or
> > > > > alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by the instructions
> > > > > contained within this or related message(s).- Hide quoted text -
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IMPORTANT NOTE: All information presented herewith is provided on an "As Is"
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in the preparation of the above information shall have any liability to any
person or entity with respect to liability, loss, or damage caused or
alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by the instructions contained
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IMPORTANT NOTE: All information presented herewith is provided on an "As Is"
basis, without warranty or the implication thereof. Neither the Quantum Owners Club nor
the individuals associated with the Quantum Owners Club or in the preparation of the
above information shall have any liability to any person or entity with respect to
liability, loss, or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by the
instructions contained within this or related message(s).
