For sale - corse stratos project

[The Slug]

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.

[tipo158]

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.

[Guy Mayers]

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

[ProtoTipo]

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

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?

[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.
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

[tipo158]

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.

[ProtoTipo]

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

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!)

[john]

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.