Superformance Group's South Africa Factory Visit

[madmaxx]

Keep them comming!!! Thanks so much!!!! WOW, you can really see the precision even in the tub attachements. No wonder they are so solid!!

[froggyman]

No pun intended with the above title but I just could not resist. One of the delights of having owned 3 Cobras has been the opportunity of appreciating and seeing first hand what a class act is the Superformance / Hi Tech institution. High quality products and services, a given, it's the other hidden details that tells the story best.

Organizational details, that is. The photos below tell the story much better than I could.

The vast range of capabilities in Hi Tech's own parts-making operation is incredible. Self supporting to say the least. Now don't ask me what are most of the parts below, they just look great. One of the tour members can jump in here if you know what these parts are, not the obvious ones of course, at least I know what headers look like.

Whoa, that is just way too much for me to fully digest, I am dully impressed. I can't wait to get in my 2nd Superformance MKIII and feel, with confidence, I made the right choice, again!

[GEE TEE]

I would like to thank Juan for his excellent reporting on the factory tour. I've seen things in this thread that I missed on the tour. I guess I was just overwhelmed by the whole experience.

I do want to clarify the purpose of one of the many jigs in the factory. This photo that appeared earlier in the thread as part of the soft top pin layout is actually used for getting the stripes lined up on hard tops. The aluminum brackets on the front and back have notches that the masking tape is laid into to ensure the stripes on the hard top will line up with the stripes on the body.

[froggyman]

GEE TEE,

Thank you for your feedback. I stand corrected. That is why I wish I had gone on the trip myself. I would have known better. This thread has been my Virtual Trip To Hi Tech, and have enjoyed every minute of it, on my screen, sigh...oh well.

Originally Posted by GEE TEE

I would like to thank Juan for his excellent reporting on the factory tour. I've seen things in this thread that I missed on the tour. I guess I was just overwhelmed by the whole experience.

I do want to clarify the purpose of one of the many jigs in the factory. This photo that appeared earlier in the thread as part of the soft top pin layout is actually used for getting the stripes lined up on hard tops. The aluminum brackets on the front and back have notches that the masking tape is laid into to ensure the stripes on the hard top will line up with the stripes on the body.

[froggyman]

It seems that when I think I have seen all that Hi-Tech and Superformance have created, we come upon the most awesome looking stuff. Took my breath away when I saw these photos. If I had been on the tour they still would be trying to pry me away from the beautiful creation Superformance and Hi Tech have their hands on. Take a look. This is an unprecedented look into the deepest areas of development within Hi-Tech. Totally blew me away, totally.

The Blue car you see here is a raw race car supplied by Duntov Motors and shipped to South Africa for development purposes, and in no way reflects the features or details of the Superformance final product. Even so, it's a pretty neat looking "test jig!"



The Race car is shown here in Superformance's secret out of the way skunkwerks where the planning and development take place and also where few living souls get to see. We were invited in with no restrictions or holds barred.



Here is where everything is tried on, and swapped, and changed, and welded, and drilled, and cut off to start all over again. While modern CAD designing is at the heart of the beginning of any Superformance creation, good ole trial and fit to just see what looks right or not, is still respected and given it's due here.



This prototype differential is fitted in a trial position. There will be many, many countless changes after this photo was taken and before the final product is even envisioned. Perfection does not happen overnight, it is a goal reached by relentless investment over time.



The original Grand Sport molds were purchased and in true fashion of the perfectionist he is, they did not meet Jimmy Price's ultra high standards, and he started back from scratch. Making cars or making a buck is not as important as making it right.



More prototype test body parts were discovered in the skunkwerks. While the raw unfinished fiberglass may look rough, even before finishing, the attention to detail and meticulous lines were impressively present. I can't imagine how cool this car will look finished. I was tempted to grab a blue spray can and quick see for myself.



Jimmy Price has the modern equipment and amazing engineering capabilities to produce just about anything you can imagine in a moments notice... and sometimes he likes to have some fun and enjoy his masterful facilities just like any of us would! Jimmy Price, Hi-Tech Automotive and Lance Stander at Superformance are just full of surprises, and you never know what might be just around the corner...

[somedayaurora]

PANTERA .....car not the band
SDr
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[froggyman]

Here is another look at our US contingent in SA.