Kingman - For what it's worth, I've seen Lance's Superformance GT40 MkII after it hit a tree head-on at 50mph. The entire front structure was destroyed, with a 14-inch diameter tree-shaped crater extending rearward to within a foot of the windshield, but the windshield was intact and the doors still closed.... amazing testament to the crumple zones (such as they are) designed into the original GT40 tubs from the start. Obviously, the car was totalled, but Lance only received a bad shaking, no injuries. 4-point belts, no airbag. No way as safe as a new GT, but encouraging. Fuel cells and rollcage are now available, btw....
Part of why I started leaning towards the Superformance replica GT40 instead of the new GT is that I think that the replica, with all of its fuss and noise, will feel much more dramatic and exciting at slightly lower (and hopefully less lethal) speeds. I fear that a new GT is such a monster, and so massively "up to the task" that I will never have the stones to drive it in that sweet area near the edge of its performance envelope, where things get slippy and you have to fight a little. I can get a lot closer to that edge in my Elise, and one can have an absolute blast in THAT car between 40 and 60mph, which I fear would be a complete and total non-event in the new GT.
Kayvan - The CAVs are wonderfully built and engineered, and, like the Superformance, are only provided as turnkey-minus rollers, fully plumbed and painted, but they are not quite true to the original design. The tub is stainless, and has been modified for greater headroom and footroom, and there are many other changes in suspension geometry and such to modernize the chassis. The CAV body, as with many others, is not quite true to the original in a couple of minor areas. It is, like the all-aluminum Race Car Replica cars, a modernized take on the original chassis, and because of this can easily be dialed in to full modern-day race spec.
The Superformance chassis, however, is exactly the same as the 1960's original, warts and all, with the same welded steel tub, zero footroom, and utterly stiff construction. Their bodies are completely accurate, the cars have continuation serial numbers, and are eligible for GT40 and Shelby registries and such. Their paint, fit, and finish are just great. Much lower than anything on the road (the seat bottom IS the floorpan), and running a basically uncorked Roush 353 injected lump in a 2250-pound car, the thing "has five first gears".
I went into the replica GT market with an open mind, prepared to have an RCR car built to spec, but when I saw the finished Superformance car, my mind was made up.
It is the real deal.
Choosing between the new GT and the replica is driving me nutz. I don't think I can rationalize BOTH at the moment, so I'm kind of wondering which to do first... The wife says she'll never ride in the replica, too scary.... (is that a good thing?), and actually wants me to get a new GT or even a GTX1 for nice long drives to the Valley of Fire and such (which would be utterly punishing in the replica, or even the Elise...) The replica might be a little better in the tightest of Malibu canyons, but the noise will certainly not make me any friends with my neighbors... whereas the new GT will actually offer a passenger seat and some touring-style comfort. Plus, GT prices are on the rise, and warranties are running out... hmmm....
Advice? Anyone have both?
Of course, I've never driven either the new or old GTs, so what do I know? I have a 190hp Elise!
