Superformance and GM unveil their 1963 Corvette Grand Sport

[Excaliber]

AC, PS and, your kidding, power Windows?, for crying out loud??!!! Sheeshhh, yeah that might impact production costs alright!

That being the case there are clearly looking for a limited up-scale market with some exclusivity. It's not a bad game plan.

A mold is a mold, perhaps a bit more contour than some but not a major factor in cost or assembly I would think.

Just a guess as to what the frame would be, round, square, whatever, it's just "stock" you buy from the metal guy. It's not going to be a stamped steel or whatever like GM used originally. It's all the "nice stuff" that will drive the cost up. Insulation for the AC, sound deadening so as not to offend the occupants, more wiring for the all the extra stuff (like power windows, interior lights, etc.), a thicker glass shell than the originals (for strength) and it all add's up to MORE WEIGHT (and cost).

This is gonna be just like in the 60's, any decent Cobra replica worth it's salt is going to kick the ass of this over weighted pig. Of course, the Vette driver won't care, what with the AC on and the stereo blasting as he lowers the window asking for some Grey Poupon.

License fee should be a small item, it didn't have a major impact on SPF Cobra prices after all (and much cheaper than a team of lawyers).

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by Excaliber

This is gonna be just like in the 60's, any decent Cobra replica worth it's salt is going to kick the ass of this over weighted pig. Of course, the Vette driver won't care, what with the AC on and the stereo blasting as he lowers the window asking for some Grey Poupon.

In my best Get Smart (Don Adams) impersonation...."Would you believe the import duties?"

[LMH]

It looks great to me!
Now this "Hi Tech" name SPF now uses bothers me because to those of us who've been around Cobra replicas for a while know of the old HiTech cars and how accurate they were. This isn't the same company though but it still bothers me.
But I do like the GS car.
Larry

[somedayaurora]

Originally Posted by LMH

It looks great to me!
Now this "Hi Tech" name SPF now uses bothers me because to those of us who've been around Cobra replicas for a while know of the old HiTech cars and how accurate they were. This isn't the same company though but it still bothers me.
But I do like the GS car.
Larry

hi-tech is what Superformance South Africa has always been named , they couldn't get the name Hi-tech in the U.S because Mr.Gunning already had it . Then they sold the Superformance name to Hillbank , i think , and started doing what they were always suposed to do be , a manufactor, not a sales company .
SDR
________
Drug Testing Kit

[Excaliber]

2,400 lbs is impressive. I wonder what the original's weighed in at?

[mr bruce]

1870 lbs http://www.grandsportcorvette.com/gs/gsdiff.htmhttp://www.theautochannel.com/news/d...ews005950.html

[rodneym]

Isn't there already a good GS replica out there?
How does it compare to the Superformance GS?

And while I'm asking questions, MkIV mentioned the SPF MkII. That is different than the Riverside Racers FIA, right? Yet all made by HiTech, but not THAT old HiTech.

[Mark IV]

Originally Posted by rodneym

Isn't there already a good GS replica out there?
How does it compare to the Superformance GS?

And while I'm asking questions, MkIV mentioned the SPF MkII. That is different than the Riverside Racers FIA, right? Yet all made by HiTech, but not THAT old HiTech.

The Mongoose replica is currently in the crosshairs of the "New" GM legal staff. Perhaps the IPO will generate enough cash to allow GM to "live and let live"....I dunno, they don't talk to me.

And the vent holes between the tail lamps and the rear fender vents are optional on the SPF street Grand Sports.

One of the points that some have missed is that the SPF cars will carry not just the "trade dress" of the GS as licensed by GM, but also carry the "Corvette" name, a point that I don't think GM takes very lightly!

[Excaliber]

A couple of thoughts; This isn't about SPF nearly as much at it is about their new product, the GS. The various comments here are valid in that regard, some like this, or that, or want it different in some way, but I just don't see that as tieing back to SPF at this point. The same discussion and reasoning would apply to ANYBODY doing this project.

But let's look at the SPF, GM, Duntov "gene" and "pedigree" issue that gives it "credibility" train of thought.

I don't see where the new REPLICA GS has any more pedigree back to GM than an FFR has pedigree back to Ford. In all cases, SPF, Shelby, Kirkham, FFR, ERA, they all have one thing in common, they are REPLICAS. As was noted in the recent law suit Shelby vs FFR in the Judges written opinion. He stated; Essentially there is no difference between a Shelby and an FFR in that they are both replicas. The new GS is a replica as well. It's not made by GM in a GM plant by GM engineers, it's a licensed product, like an SPF Cobra is a licensed product. Like any other endorsed/licensed product, tooth paste, guitars, perfume, motorcycles, the list in endless. To some that endorsement/license deal carries significant weight. Others could care less, it's still a replica...

In this case, and others, SPF likes the idea of a licensed product for the "credibility" it might bring to a product. Licensing, "it's way they roll", it's a valid game plan that targets a specific segment of the market. If it add's value for YOU, that's great, your in that targeted segment. If you see a connection back to Duntov, terrific! It doesn't add value to ME and I don't see that connection. I see a product, now strip away the hype, the marketing, the license. Is it STILL a good product? Anything after that is gravy!

SPF makes a nice product, I suspect the new GS will be on par with the company standards, a well built replica.

[Don]

Wonder what the reaction to the SPF GS is on the Corvette and Grand Sport Forums ?

Seeing there are only 5 originals.......it's either a replica or nothing for the enthusiasts where the Corvette is the primary car to own

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by Don

Wonder what the reaction to the SPF GS is on the Corvette and Grand Sport Forums ?

Seeing there are only 5 originals.......it's either a replica or nothing for the enthusiasts where the Corvette is the primary car to own

Are you kidding? The Vette owner is by and large a purist. There is no love lost with the old or new GS replicas. Heck, they turn their noses up when you have a replacement one-piece fiberglass front end on you Vette. Whenever I parked at a Vette show, you would constantly see the purist feeling the bottoms of the fenders to see if you had original panels.

You should have seen their faces when I told them I had a 540ci Dart block with a Tremec TKO600 5-speed, though original appearing.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by ERA Chas

Jack;
A. I have never written that I 'don't like SPF'-nor any other manufacturer in my 7 years here. Stated for your understanding, I have little respect for replica vehicles which have morphed into modern interpretations (and their followers) and go away from the raw-boned experiences Cobras and GS' were. It's missing the point in an expensive way for the ability to be a show-off. The deceased original D&D GS was just such a raw-boned effort and captured the original's character perfectly. I know because I saw and drove one. This car is all about show biz and credentials-GM is throwing marketing money at Cup, Indycar, Sprints and now apparently check-book replica owners. The Duntov connection is without the pivotal player who WAS the real deal-Zora. I feel the same way about countless 4000 pound signature series Mustangs from Shelby and Roush-designed to create hype and extract money from the 'car-guys'. The companies are out to make money-I don't hate them for that.
B. I have written this PRECISELY because people might contemplate buying this. I'm stating clearly that it's my opinion that they will get no real value out of this exorbitantly priced effort and have few eager buyers waiting when the shine wears off. There are many more rewarding automotive experiences for $100K+ than this.
C.We're all allowed to express opinions here, solicited or not. The perceptive among us have learned to ignore an opinion they disagree with or to debate it on the points made with counter views and evidence. In fact, you haven't countered any of my points about expense or anything else I wrote, you just said I'm not a nice player.
D.That's quite a threat there Jack. There are about 6 manufacturers I 'like' so feel free to make any rants you care to. Since I have the most experience with ERA, I'm eager to discuss any criticisms you have, assuming you have the experience to back them up. In a thread of your choosing.

Chas, you wrote a darned nice rebuttal.

[Don]

SPF Grand Sport: Corvette Forum

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c1-a...and-sport.html

[Dan Semko]

Does anyone have Ronnie Kruger's and Jim Price's email addresses? Also, does anyone know if Ronnie Kruger ever finished the book he was writing about the SPF experience?

Thanks,
Dan

[Mark IV]

Originally Posted by Dan Semko

Does anyone have Ronnie Kruger's and Jim Price's email addresses? Also, does anyone know if Ronnie Kruger ever finished the book he was writing about the SPF experience?

Thanks,
Dan

Ronnie is still revising the chapter on you, Dan. I have seen the galleys.........

It took a Corvette thread to roust you from hibernation?

[DaveSemko]

Yeah he did...

[Dan Semko]

Originally Posted by DaveSemko

Yeah he did...

Naw, this is just anoher one of those "fakey do" responses similar to what the REAL ONE used to post.

Randall, I've been waiting for that SPF campaign cobra for months and still no transporter in sight. Kind of like the book that Ronnie Kruger promised with a dedicated chapter!

[poisonsnake]

Hey Randy...Thanks for the info. Now, should I get a Grand Sport or a Parana Z1? lol

[lovehamr]

Why are people on this site being so soft on this? I personally don't care who makes it or how much it costs; it's a f-ing GM plastic frog. Why is it on this site? This isn't "clubkitcar" .com or "clubileghumpSPF" .com, it’s club cobra. It’s where I come to get away from the constant GM barrage and poke gentle fun at those who feel compelled to put a GM lump into a Cobra. Speaking of that, the one good thing about this pig is that it'll give the GM crowd something to put their lumps into other than Cobras. For what it's worth it's any ugly POS as well, looks like it was designed to take off. Granted, Cobras are bricks, aerodynamically speaking of course. But by the time this pile came along they should've known better. Look at the freaky high nose, think some air's gonna pile under there at speed? And what's with the giant Gillette 5 blade razor thing sticking out of the hood? They couldn’t come up with something more functional than that? Or did some GM doucher think that it actually looked good? Face it. It was a still-born POS that was squashed by vaginally enhanced GM executives. End of story. Wana read another chapter on this abortion? Go to a vette site, I’m sure they’re all a twitter about it. You can join in. Tell’em you’re a Cobra convert; that’ll get the whinny juices going.




He he he, that aughta’ get some blood a pumpin’!

PS. a side note here; calling someone a "spf hater" or "bdr hater" or just using the word "hater" in general shows an extreme lack of testosterone and you should probably have your huevos checked by competant medical people.

[rodneym]

GO lovehamr!