For sale - corse stratos project

From the SuperStratos web site, anyone intrested?

FOR SALE - CORSE STRATOS PROJECT

THIS BEING DUE TO IMMINENT RETIREMENT AND CONSISTS OF TOOLING,
TECHNICAL DETAILS AND WITH SUPPORTING INFORMATION.

Anyone interested and
who considers themselves capable of taking on the marketing and manufacturing of
this unique product will be expected to be able to re-assure our accountants
that they are financially in a position to do so.

The price required
being positioned to ensure the continuity of more than 20 years of the Corse
production.

All enquiries to info@superstratos.com and will be
treated in confidence.

I really hope a buyer is found, I would like to know that there is a place that I can get parts from if needed.

Don't hold your breath! I think that there are enough people out there who realise that there are already two manufacturers out there who have more authentic or more developed cars. The market for something that falls in the middle is probably non existent leaving a business opportunity limited to the supply of spare parts for those cars already sold. How about getting together with those owners for a group buy? I'm sure Lionel would take anything rather than nothing but I'd want some assurances as to ownership of the tooling etc first.
Guy

Was made aware of this a couple of weeks ago.
Do I need to say it again?
My advice to anyone would be not to go anywhere near this.
There is a distinct possibility that Napiersport will end up in court over the next few weeks.
This annnouncement is probably little more than a smokescreen to try and avoid that.
Dubious business practices have been hinted at on this site in the past.
Intentional or not, those practices are very real.
For example, in my mind it's dubious in the extreme to tell someone you can get their car restored, take quite a few thousand pounds off them, and then virtually dissappear off the face of the earth without even telling the overseas client where his car is!! And let that situation continue for many months.....
If Lionel ever "owned" anything to do with the Corse (which I personally doubt), then his continued ownership is already much in doubt given that monies are owed well in excess of the value of moulds and tooling which he does not even have in his possession and are unlikely to be returned until such money is paid. Which is likely to be..... err, well, take a guess.
The moulds are not likely to be destroyed so parts will be available I'd guess. The party who has them will keep them if he does'nt get his money back, knows there will be a market of some sorts, but also has a realistic expectation of what that market will be, which is something that has been sadly lacking for years now.
As a product I've always liked the Corse, but I think you would have to have your head well and truly in the sand to believe that the project has ever had a credible reputation.
What it needed when re-launched in 2003/2004 was a period of honest, well managed and consistent production and customer service. Instead it has stumbled on in an ever decreasing spiral of incompetance to the point where it has no real credibility at all.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Guy Mayers

How about getting together with those owners for a group buy? I'm sure Lionel would take anything rather than nothing but I'd want some assurances as to ownership of the tooling etc first.
Guy

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A group buy of the suspension tooling (and other bits and pieces) Guy?
That's sounds like the best plan.

No need to bother with the bodywork?

Well that depends on what you think you'll break over the coming years. It's also dependant upon those who own the tooling being willing to part with it. Based upon some members experiences bodywork is as important as suspension components but break either and all you're left with is a pile of parts that might be of use keeping a dwindling number of cars on the road.
My suggestion would be to get the current owners together to form a consortium willing to finance what's available. No interest from me obviously. You'll need someone willing to store the parts, someone to manage finances and someone capable of remaking whatever is needed from the tooling available.
Parts that need fabrication can probably be remade from pattern - you might not need all the tooling - but I'm sure that there will be some highly specialised parts that are unique!

Good luck!

Guy

So I guess I'm wondering where Ian is involved with this project, or is he simply posting this information as a courtesy?

I think I've posted this before, but my main concern is the availability of suspension components, especially the cast pieces.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tipo158

So I guess I'm wondering where Ian is involved with this project, or is he simply posting this information as a courtesy?

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Me..... Posted for information,

As we have a link to it on our site it's always a good idea to keep a check on whats happening.
I have no connection with Corse, Napiersport, Lionel etc, and run the site from a balanced point of view. A lot of you are owners and builders I thought you may like to know.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Guy Mayers

Well that depends on what you think you'll break over the coming years. It's also dependant upon those who own the tooling being willing to part with it. Based upon some members experiences bodywork is as important as suspension components but break either and all you're left with is a pile of parts that might be of use keeping a dwindling number of cars on the road.
Guy

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Guy,
I'm sure Craig will look after any Corse owner's needs?
There is already one STR bodied Corse.

The most likely thing is someone bending a wishbone. The alloy 'I' uprights are non Corse specific aren't they? If so, you could get hold of those.
You can make a jig from a good wishbone, but it would save a job.
I got a front Transformer/Hawk upper wishbone jig with the ex Martin Kift car. (not made by me!)

There is no tooling or jig fixtures for the Corse suspension components (or any chassis components either). They were made on the bench from drawings.
Actually thats' not strictly true as there is a rudimentary jig in my garage, and that's where it's staying! It was never paid for like so much other stuff.
Like with Corky's problem with his front suspension and missing or incorrect parts, it would always be possible to replicate or supply such components as long as a forum like this exists.
The uprights are, as Chris states, not Corse specific and are used, sourced from and actually manufactured by Gardner Douglas. Are they still used on the Ultima?
They were designed by Steve Greenwood for the Corse, and used by other manufacturers, but as the Corse faltered the other users took the manufacturing on board to keep themselves supplied.
Bodywork is another issue. Two sets of moulds exist, neither of them of startling quality. Neither of these is under Lionels control although he claims ownership of the original Corse moulds. Trouble is they have been farmed out to a sub-contractor who has not had his invoices paid for many months so Lionel is unlikely to see them again.
Craigs bodywork I doubt would fit "in part". A whole set yes.
But as I said neither set of Corse moulds is likely to be lost to existing owners so don't panic into action on that.
My own hunch is that Lionel would like to see the project sold off. On paper it owes him a fortune despite the fact that he has never "owned" it, just had an agreement which allowed him to manufacture and market it.
I seriously doubt that anyone would be foolish enough to pay money for the Corse project when the evidence that anything of value is owned by Lionel is so dubious.
When he announced to aggrieved parties some weeks ago that he was "retiring" and "passing on" the project, I tested out this statement by getting an acquaintance to enquire of Napiersport about the supply of a turnkey car. The reply came back swiftly that, yes, a car could be supplied (in a completely unrealistic timescale and if a substantial deposit was forthcoming immediately, no doubt). So I ask you, "what actually is the truth about the Corse project being up for sale?" or is this, as I hinted earlier, just a red herring to shake off the lawyers?

Completely incidentally, I've been to see Craig today, been completely bowled over by the progress he's made on the STR project, absolutly amazed by the detail and thinking he's worked into every component of that kit. A lesson in HOW TO DO IT!! because I've already seen how not to do it!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by john

Like with Corky's problem with his front suspension and missing or incorrect parts, it would always be possible to replicate or supply such components as long as a forum like this exists.

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Exactly,
The support should be there, one way or the other?

Can I apologize to everyone.
Apparently, every single one of Napiersports problems are MY FAULT.
I'm so very sorry.
(Heavy hint of sarcasm intended)

I Hope that Corse stratos don't disappear and some honest people buy it!

Hi john, Apology accepted :rolleyes:

Hi Tim,
you've made it over then.
Good to see you here!
There is likely to be more posted here. Watch this space.