Superformance MkII-FIA to CSX 2323 #146 Build

[Riverside racer]

I`ll do my best to keep a lengthy post short, so please bear with me.
Hi Tech America was Tom and Tim and is now no longer.Tim joined up with Mike to form Sagebrush roadsters in Casa Grande Arizona.Tom joined Shelby America and is still active on their production side.
In 1993 when Jim Price (Hi Tech Autos South Africa) decided to market his products in America the Hi tech name was already registered, thus Superformance was born. Later the retail side, ie Superformance, was sold to Lance. HiTech remains an independent car manufacturer building cars for anybody.Ie Rossion,Noble,Superformance/Shelby distribution, Perana,Riverside etc to name a few
In 1999 Jim bought in to AC cars and therefore has every single original drawing for the 289 and 427 cobra plus having the opportunity of working with the English craftsmen on the original bucks etc.
When I decided to build the FIA, whilst doing the research, an ad on Club Cobra appeared for the ex American Hi Tech FIA molds.I bought those plus a chassis plus a host of other fittings.It is a whole lot quicker to modify than build from scratch or so I thought! It still took forever! The best part of this encounter was that Tim was so very helpful and gave me access to pics and details that he had collected from working on these cars over the years.These proved to be a huge help in the detailing.Thank you Tim.This goes for a lot of other people who shared their knowledge and were prepared to discuss these cars with me. Thank you all
Hi Tech did the necessary measurements and changes deemed necessary ie rear fenders,hood,nose, door gaps and other necessaries for easier production and fitting.Then new moulds were made.
For the new 289 roadster I did exactly the same again.A splash off an early 260 was sent to Jim who then also gave it the same treatment. Wheel arch symmetry,ride height etc.All the originals differ and faults are quaint but on a reproduction are regarded as bad engineering! COB 6017 was used extensively for cross reference.Jim and his team have put a lot of thought and expertise into these products and I sincerely believe we now have a product that you can be proud to own.I most certainly am. Thank you one and all at Hi Tech.
Thanks for your offer Ron, but I don`t believe I need anything. Kind thought tho`.
Roy and I are trying our best to have the car running properly(WEBERS!!!)for VIR but either way I will be there and look forward to meeting you all.
I have requested pics of your car Ron (06) and some more of yours Kurt(02). Rodney says he will have one or two taken today
I hope this clears the Hi Tech question finally.
Regards
Ross

[Mark IV]

What Ross said!

When I say the new car is not the "old HiTech" car I did nopt mean to imply that there was no previous DNA in the new Superformance/Riverside. I meant that it is just not that product now being built in Port Elizabeth. Ross (and all involved) certainly appreciate all of the help given by Tim G. and the path they blazed.

As Ross said, this has been a multiple year project that has only now come to fruition. It was well worth it! The car is fantastic! Riding shotgun around the old street course at Watkins Glen proved that to me! I want one of our new "MK II Street 289" models for myself.........

[Commissioner]

I met Ross and the "289" at the NE SAAC Regional event in PA last Fall, and we totally impressed with the car with the presentation, fit and finish. I followed him on the driving tour and took from photos thru the windshield of my GT350 and it looked neat on the road. Looked the car over, sat in it to see how 6'2" worked and it was great. I worked 4+ years for a now closed SPF dealership and know and love the HiTech quality and this really is a beautiful car.