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: £45,000

[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?" :)