Shapecraft converting cars again?

[pharriso]

I passed through the UK in July & picked up the August issue of Classic & Sportscars. There is an interesting article stating that Clive Smart is hoping to start manufacturing modified elans again.

Here's the article:

ShapeCraft_ClassicSportsCarAug2014.pdf

(776.45 KiB) Downloaded 1095 times

[65ginetta]

This would be definitely worth a look, Clive made two PVT Bentley Racer bodies for me and a friend back in the early 80's and he was so good when I acquired my Alfa 6C in 1984 I got him to do the bodywork and he made a superb job of the car. His workmanship and attention to detail was as good as it gets. At the time he was making the alloy Jaguar bodies for the best C, D and E type retro/clones in between restoring Aston's of all sorts. He would make a super retro of a Shapecraft but even better an IWR Elan Alloy clone.
I haven't seen or spoken to him in over 20 years and I have no commercial or business relationship but cannot speak too highly of the quality of his workmanship. Its very tempting!!

[bigvalvehead]

This is another pic of the car Clive has produced which looks fantastic.

Also some pics of the replica I am putting together.

.Dave Hughes

[Italia 2]

Just had to compliment you on your fine work and what is clearly one of the nicest things ever to happen to the Elan... Look forward to seeing this project progress.
Kind regards
Jim Simpson

[Certified Lotus]

I want to build a car with one of these bodies in the worst way. That is a beautiful design. I wonder what the cost is. Has anyone gotten a quote from Clive ?

[stevebroad]

Of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I consider that Chapman got it right first time and the Shapecraft mods totally destroy the classic lines.

IMO.

[pereirac]

Perhaps somebody could come up with a Lenham type hardtop for the Elan? I used to have one for my MG Midget and it gave the car a nice 'fastback' profile but could be easily removed when I wanted the car as a convertible for the summer..



(Not my car but the same idea...)

Carl

[stevebroad]

And it even manages to make that look worse.

IMO

[pereirac]

And it even manages to make that look worse.

IMO

Ah... but it's easily reversible ..