Transformer/Hawk Stratos replica

[goldtop]

Fresh MOT and a very long list of jobs just done at Keith Waite's, from cambelt, aux belt, clutch, oil cooler, flywheel skimming, gear linkage, braided fuel lines, etc. Quite well known to the club (used to be Elliott's and I think he took it to a few events).

Important points:

24V 3.0
dynoed at 240bhp
5 speed box
DTA engine management
heated windscreen
spare front clam (the current one is racing-thin and has a few stress cracks on the surface)
first registered 1998
registered as a "Transformer" on the paperwork



19454

After dropping and recommissioning the engine and transmission and remounting it, Keith thinks the engine sounds 'rattly' from cold and notes that oil pressure drops when the engine is warmed up. So there's a question mark as to whether a bottom end rebuild is needed.

In light of that, and the chance that the next owner might want a 3.2/6-speed with Omex/other management, I'm offering it as-is for anyone who wants to do the spannering themselves.

Price: £35,000 (see new 2026 posts below)

[ProtoTipo]

I'm offering it as-is for anyone who wants to do the spannering themselves.
Price: £45,000

As things are (as in, nobody can get their hands on a Stratos replica kit without a very long wait, or at all), it's worth all of that, and not a penny less.

[goldtop]

Sale paused while we do the engine rebuild.

[Normb666]

Barry, does that mean you've got a buyer who wants the motor done, or have you simply decided to take it off-sale temporarily pending bottom end work?

[goldtop]

The latter.

I've only had a couple of what I guess you might call "long-distance tyre-kickers" so far. And I suppose that it's obvious that the market for a mechanically-sorted car is bigger than one for a needs-work car.

[Normb666]

Think you're doing the right thing there. You're in that odd no-man's-land between "barn find - give it to a specialist for full restoration" and "been standing a few years - needs full service, checkover and polish". A fully-sorted car will appeal to many more people. Just a shame you'll have to have the engine out again....

[LPH_UK]

The rattle would concern me but oil pressure dropping when the engine is warm is perfectly normal isn't it? All the cars I've had with oil pressure gauges show this behaviour.

[Stratos Fear]

I was thinking the same. My oil pressure (3ltr 24V) drops quite low when the engine is warmed up and on tick-over - scarcely above the lowest setting on the guage. (my engine was rebuilt by Autolusso 130 miles ago)

[goldtop]

This is beyond my pay-grade, so I defer to what Keith knows and expects (as he's known the car and Alfa engines so long).

I don't know Alfa engines at all, but on other cars old enough to have proper oil pressure gauges, I've seen that same behaviour. As for the sound, the whole car is so loud I can't tell a "problem rattle" from a "healthy racket". :)

I suppose I am buying peace of mind. But in that case, I should be doing it to get the benefits myself! :-/

[goldtop]

Just to note: I've had two enquires from members in the USA, and in both cases the process has stalled at the same issue: the 25-year-rule seems to preclude the import of any non-approved car into the USA. I found this write-up on a UK-USA shipping company's site: https://www.autoshippers.co.uk/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-25-year-rule

There are some special cases (historic cars, I think, is one), but nothing that applies to a Stratos kit car, as far as I can see.

With this car being registered in 1998, even the though donor car was a mid-1980s Lancia Beta, it looks like US buyers could not import that car until the latter part of next year (2023).

Doncha just love red tape! :rolleyes:

[hollytree]

Hi
Is this still for sale.
Someone at the Keighley Show yesterday spent a long time talking with me and expressed a huge desire to buy a Stratos
Regards
Steve

[goldtop]

Hi Steve. Yes - still available, with teh engine rebuild delayed due to parts availability.

I've been away until today and not had a chance to get it back from Keith's to here (Cambridge) yet. I should be able to do that in a week or so, and will update this thread and outstanding PMs.

[hollytree]

When I was looking at the Stratos journey in 2011 my wife secretly arranged a meet and have a spin in a Stratos to see if I was sure.
The drive was with Elliot, and i was convinced.
The rest is history
Steve19962

[Normb666]

That was really good of her! Bet she didn't have a go herself tho, and she's regretted that ever since.... ;) (this based on Leah's feelings towards my car, but that's tough cos it's going nowhere. Unless I'm driving it!)

[hollytree]

Norm
Great women think alike

[Normb666]

Is that "grate" as in "get on yer nerves?" :)

[goldtop]

Revising the details, as I am now selling the car as a project at ?35,000:

Current status:Transformer (Hawk predecessor) built in 1998. RHD. Registered in 1998 as a Transformer with Lancia VIN. 2 former owners. I?ve owned the car since Sept 2013.


Full roll-cage for motorsport, including removable diagonal bars for door cavity. Originally ran with a Lancia Beta 2.0 twin-cam and then later upgraded to a 24V Alfa 3.0 V6; new engine correctly recorded on the V5C registration document.


Dynoed at 234bhp / 236 lbft in 2009.




Bodywork
OK from a few yards away, but needs cosmetic attention in several areas:


some surface cracks in the bonnet clam - because it?s very thin (chosen for light weight when racing, I think). There?s a spare (full thickness) unpainted (grey) bonnet clam with the car.
headlamp pods are not the best fit in the cut-outs
some paintwork flaws





Mechanical
Full engine recommission in 2022:


cambelt
clutch
fuel pump
fuel lines
water pump
oil cooler
spark plugs
temp gauge and sender
engine mounts
bottom-end engine rebuild (big ends, mains, etc)
brakes also overhauled





Selling as a project
Although the car has a new MOT (until Jan 2027) and is taxed, there are a few drivability issues that IMHO need to be resolved:


It is running an older DTA engine management system, which is quite basic. Upgrading to (e.g.) Omex has been suggested and would allow to go distributor-less.
Cold starts are ? a challenge. It?s necessary to prime the fuel pumps a couple of times before pressing the Start button. Then it runs lumpy with quite a few pops and bangs (bug or feature, you decide).
It uses the ?Grumpy Bates? throttle cable arrangement which I don?t like. It places the cable too close to the clutch pedal and fat feet cause a throttle blip when pressing the clutch.
The cooling system needs larger diameter pipework to the front radiator to avoid traffic jam overheating


I'll add a new album of photos ASAP. Here's one as she stands now:

24748

[Guy Mayers]

Hi, your message inbox appears to be full so you're not going to get any offers.... Can you clear the inbox out to make space?

For potential LHD conversion queries I think that this car might be a candidate as it shouldn't have the extra chassis crossmember behind the seats. If the V5 also gives a date of first registration as 1980's then it should be exportable as is to the USA.

Conversion to LHD is complex and compromised, you'll end up with less foot space on the left side than the right as the chassis is built asymmetrically. It can be done but it's a lot of work to move the seats as far across the floorpan as possible and fit new upper seat belt mounts. You'll also need to source a new dash moulding and binnacle from Hawk Cars.

[goldtop]

Hi Guy - yup. I saw that my subscription had lapsed, so I've resubbed now and can get the extra message allowance. Thanks for the nudge. :)

I think there's a 25-year-rule for importing into the USA? Same one that lets them get '90s Nissan Skyline GT-R R34s, etc. As for LHD conversion, that's useful info for potential buyers.

[goldtop]

SOLD!

No doubt it will resurface at some point in the future.

Thanks, all, for your help and advice. :)

[Longtimefan]

Well done, that was quick, will it be staying in the uk?

[goldtop]

^ For now, yes. I had very quick interest from a guy in France, but a little bit of Googling seemed to show that re-registering a kit car in France has now become pretty tricky. Guy's advice on LHD conversion (above) might have made it more interesting, but it's still another registration/inspection step that doesn't apply here in the UK.

[Bernard]

re overheating..... are the louvres installed correctly ?

[Longtimefan]

re overheating..... are the louvres installed correctly ?

Hawkeye Phil.

[john]

re overheating..... are the louvres installed correctly ?

Is it me or are the louvres wrong in the first photo, and right in the second?
Looks like they are removable.

[Guy Mayers]

In the last of the three pictures they're back in the wrong way round...

[john]

Perhaps CJ could do a 'this way up' sticker?!

[Longtimefan]

Is it me or are the louvres wrong in the first photo, and right in the second?
Looks like they are removable.

I agree with that John

[Normb666]

If Chris can come up with a sticker, it could end up as an exhibit in the Louvre :)