Gardner Douglas Press Release

[robert]

Pictures to follow.

Press Release



December 2004



Starts…



Gardner Douglas announces the introduction of a new alternative 427 body shape.



Orders for the company’s GD427 are at an all time high resulting in a current 9 month lead time for their superb semi-monocoque body. To ease the demand on production, GD are working to produce a second set of moulds, but rather than duplicate their existing body, they will be introducing a complimentary shape to their range which will fit either the GDEURO or GDJAG backbone space-frame chassis.



The actual shape is genuine AC coming from MK4 Light Weight, from which tooling was made to provide carbon fibre body shells.



The photographs show the first body shell produced from the carbon moulds, sat in position on a GD chassis, this body has been adapted to the GD inner tub and is now undergoing surface finishing and final preparation before making new GD production moulds.



Even before the moulds are started, GD have secured nine confirmed orders for the new body, which indicates this addition becoming a roaring success for GD and ultimately sharing production with the current sleeker MK3 inspired GD427.



This move will mean Gardner Douglas now offer the complete “one stop shop” offering unrivalled customer choice in selecting their dream car backed up by parts, servicing and after sales that is second to none.



With long lead times GD currently accepts a nominal £200 deposit for anyone wishing to add his or her name to the production list for either the GD427 or GDT70.



An interesting fact file;

The AC Light Weight weighs in at around 1025kg and has a Ford 5.0Ltr Motor Sport engine producing 350 bhp giving a power to weight ratio of 341bhp/tonne. The GD (EURO version) with a standard normally aspirated production GM LS6 (sample only, any SB will fit) weighing 960kg returns a power to weight ratio of 442bhp/tonne running on GD’s standard exhaust system, figures confirmed after recent rolling road testing. Better still, with GD’s proven space frame chassis and modern double wishbone suspension the GD427 rides and handles like no other, bringing the legend in to the 21st century.





…ends

[Miket]

That should be a good seller (depending on cost ), the original shape was the only downfall on a GD, can't wait to see the pictures :thumb: :thumb:

[ldtopham]

What about the new body with side pipes???? Now that would look smart!

[russell_ram]

Great news - makes the kit choice a no brainer IMHO.

Now, I don't want to be picky, but since when has the GD had a spaceframe chassis? It has a tubular backbone chassis.

And, since when has it had a 'semi-monocoque' body - it surely has a non-monocoque body rubber mounted (so there is no-way it is remotely monocoque) to it's backbone chassis.

As I say, I'm not having a go, but this is terminology misuse.

Russ

[robert]

Semi-monocoque literally means half a single shell. Internal braces as well as the skin itself carry the stress. The internal braces include longitudinal (lengthwise) members called stringers and vertical bulkhead.

A monocoque is a whole shell, in this case it would include the roof to form a single monocoque, however because a GD doesn't have a roof, it is a semi-monocoque.

[robert]

Originally Posted by russell_ram

Great news - makes the kit choice a no brainer IMHO.

Now, I don't want to be picky, but since when has the GD had a spaceframe chassis? It has a tubular backbone chassis.

Backbone space frame is the correct terminology, first introduced by Colin Chapman and the D Type Jag used a backbone spaceframe.

[robert]

Originally Posted by ldtopham

What about the new body with side pipes???? Now that would look smart!

Pictures coming shortly.

[Miket]

Hurry up with the pics, you got my taste buds going.

NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN :thumb: :thumb: :thumb:

[robert]

Images attached, the photographs show the first body shell produced from the carbon moulds, sat in position on a GD chassis, this body has been adapted to the GD inner tub and is now undergoing surface finishing and final preparation before making new GD production moulds.

[Miket]

Has it got the rounded rear or have they squared it like the Crendon and the original