Can I ask what the difference between the allora corse hawk Lb kit if any
Can I ask what the difference between the allora corse hawk Lb kit if any
All of them are different under the skin, and there are also differences in the skin of almost every variant...
You're unlikely to find an Allora now, there were only 13 or 14 made and distinguished by the slightly pointy nose.
The Transformer and Hawks are made by Gerry and have changed very little over the years. Mainly one chassis member and double suspension pick up points.
I'll let someone more knowledgable come along to give you the low-down on the Litton/Corse/Napiersport cars which have completely different chassis to the Hawks and LB cars.
Come down to Stoneleigh - that's the place you'll see the differences!
Guy
Last edited by Guy Mayers; 17-02-2022 at 21:38.
Bloody L, where to start....
OK. In the beginning (1986) two Stratos rep kits came out. One was the Transformer, the other was the Allora. The Transformer was a more faithful copy of the original while the Allora, although also taking its body moulds from a genuine car, was more of a homage than trying to be a faithful copy. The Allora sold 14 cars before the company went under, and it was bought by Steve Greenwood who renamed it Litton Cars, and the cars themselves became the Corse, with a totally redesigned chassis. The Transformer, meanwhile, was doing very well with those who wanted to replicate a Stratos as closely as possible.
Anyway, time passed and Transformer became Hawk (same cars and people, just a name change) and Steve G sold the Litton project to Hugh Carson, who carried on with the Corse, but the company was now CAE. Eventually Hugh sold up and the firm became Napiersport, in about 2004.
Fast forward to 2010-11 and Craig White started ListerBell with a completely new take on a Strat rep. Although influenced to a degree by the Corse, there was a whole new chassis and body moulds made to a very high standard, with bespoke suspension and many other parts. The aim was to create a Stratos for the new century using modern components, a sort of "restomod" approach (but obviously not using an original car as a base). This idea seems to have struck a chord with lots of people - previously folk were more interested in making an exact a copy of an original car, but these days there's room for both camps. And all this time, Hawk have continued to make their cars, with a few mods here and there as time went by.
In the last few years Stratos reps have come to be sought after by serious collectors, with the result that prices have shot up. All of them are (or can be) worthy cars, but the quality of the build is everything. You really need to try and see examples of each of them if you can, and you'll have your own ideas about what sort of car you want to build. If it's a close replica you want you'll be looking at a Hawk, but it's a kit from the 80s so not the easiest thing to build. If faithfulness isn't that important then it'll be the others, but remember that none of them, hawk included, are true copies - they all use a steel spaceframe chassis with glassfibre bodies, where an original had a steel centre tub. Although saying that, Hawk have just brought out that very thing, if you're suitably minted...
There's a lot more to be said about all these cars, but this'll be enough to get you started. Try and get along to a garage day that some members occasionally hold - there are always several cars at them - or even the club AGM at Stoneleigh. They're a great place to meet people and get inside info , and also to realise what sad bastards we all areMeanwhile, I'm sure others will chip in with more details.
A follow-up question from me...Originally Posted by Normb666
If I'm looking at general photos (cars on show, cars at a meet etc) are there some easy things to see or to look for which could clearly help identify a Hawk from an LB from an other? It's only recently that I discovered that the originals had fuel filler caps on either side so that helps me there... if I can see them.
STONELIGH - There'll be Hawks. LB's and (possibly) Corse and Allora there too. Just look and learn! Too many differences to list and, even after all these years i struggle to know if it's a Corse or a Napiersport....
Last edited by Guy Mayers; 17-02-2022 at 23:18.
Yup, I’ve been, often, and am still none the wiser hence the question and needing to do an 800 mile round trip to a once a year event is a pretty inefficient way to learn methinks.
I need to get a little bit less than a mile away, to tell which is which.
Hawk is the easiest to identify from an original or an LB - just look for a large block step under the sill about 40mm deep - That will tell you its a Hawk .
LB - its actually slightly harder to tell from an original - but the most straight forward way is to look for the lack of a vertical line in the sill at the back of the door. LB also has crisper cleaner lines
An original - Non block under the sill - vertical line in the sill at the back of the door.
And LHD - RHD naturally
Allora - The body line in the nose is not aligned with the rest of the body line - they have a slight droop snoot
Corse - Very flat profile to the roof spoiler
Last edited by Darkspeed; 18-02-2022 at 15:55.
The next one that comes up for sale will probably set a new bench mark.
You'll probably think the Hawk at the bottom of the garden was cheap.
Yep - I continue to sit on my pile of parts wondering what the smart thing to do is - I have been approached a couple of times but as I have no need to sell and the market still strong and rising - I will just sit tight - plan being this year to actually progress with putting it back together. Should that plan fail then I will probably sell it and buy a G4.
The Scottish Corse price surprised the heck out of me never mind the garden Hawk
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