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June-08
I got in touch with Doug Potts from Australian Technology Pty. Ltd., we had a very long conversation, regarding my commitment to the project, my ability to design and fabricate the chassis, design criteria, objectives and targets to achieve.
Bearing in mind this is going to be a touring car, I would prefer a wheel base similar to that of a family car but with the spirit of a sports car. After many scotchs and lots of debating with a few mats, I decided on a VZ Commodore as the donor car, (donor car being the vehicle which I will use for most of my parts) this will give me the desired wheel base and all the running gear, my preferred engine at the time was a V6 with a five or six speed manual.
While looking for a car, I started to design my chassis, lots and lots of late nights. The internet was by far my greatest source of information. There are a surprisingly large number of enthusiasts out there, all of them willing to share there knowledge and experience.
I decided to use Solidworks as my design software, the 3D environment would make it so mutch easier. It wasn’t to long before things started to take shape.
I eventually started attending damaged vehicle auctions. Finding a five speed V6 was not as easy as I thought, (at the right price of cause). It wasn’t to long before I realized V8’s were much easier to come across. Even though V8’s are a much larger engine and heavier, not to mention running costs. The thought of all that power, torque and the tone of a well tuned engine was getting the better of me.
17th August 2008, I have a car! 03/05 VZ SV8, 6speed manual limited slip differential, 28000km. The car hit something side on there was no damage to engine or drive train. It was a statutory write off, the fire wall absorbed most of the impact and had buckled. |
