Connecting Kit Car (and Replica) Enthusiasts Worldwide | KitCarConnection.com

Tiff Needle: Now you probably know that I’m not very keen on old cars. They’re usually uncomfortable, they don’t handle very well, they’ve got rubbish brakes, and they leak. But there was one old design I was willing to travel 6,000 miles to have a go in. Think of South Africa and you might picture the sun, the sea, Nelson Mandela, the safaris. But I bet you won’t think GT40. The original GT40 was developed by Ford back in the 60’s to teach Ferrari a lesson at Le Mans. And it did the trick.

Tiff Needell: Now I thought I’ve tested just about everything the British sports car industry has on offer.  But an interesting wander around the home counties has revealed some interesting new metal.  Between them this Ultima GTR and Mackus Mantis have over 1000 horsepower.  So which shall I test first?

For the second year in a row, the Auto Futura CAV GT took center stage as the official pace car for the Motor Racing Legends race. This annual race holds an especially prestigious allure as it immediately precedes the legendary Le Mans 24 hour endurance race.

Driving the CAV pace car was Ray Matlock, founder and CEO of Ray Matlock Limited. Considering the fact that he has two British Formula Atlantic championships under his belt, Ray definitely knows his way around a racetrack. He has also won an impressive nine Group C2 world championships.

Ever imagine yourself racing against the cliffs of South Africa in a GT40?  Imagine the waves crashing in the background as you drive around the turns in a car that might have cost you 1 million pounds for an original. That’s what the company Hi-Tech has done by creating a Superformance GT40 Replica that you simply must see to believe. The price might also be the thing that makes your dream come true.

From the very first moment that you lay your eyes on the MDA GT40 Replica - you will know that the car is an absolute classic. From the authentically structured body, and the fine details of the body panels, suspension, and chassis - you can tell that this replica has been crafted to perfection. But aside from its looks, there is so much more to this kit car than you would imagine. Read on to find out more about what lies under the hood, and how easy and financially steady the construction process can be.

Whether you're in the beginning stages of actually building a replica car, or still doing your research and fact-finding with plans to build in the near future, one of the subjects you will undoubtedly devote the most time to is your new car's engine. And, most people begin this process by first determining if they want to custom-build their engine to their unique specs or install an assembly-line produced crate motor.

Both have advantages, with custom building yielding the results you specify and factory-made engines taking the guesswork out of the overall process.

With this in mind, ROUSH Performance, the leader in Ford powertrain development, has an impressive line of "crate motors." Painstakingly crafted by the winningest name in racing, these motors are not mass produced, but built to a certain stage, after which you can customize it to meet your individual needs.


The engines can be ordered from a catalog as are most crate engines, with customers given the ability to choose many of the engine's components. The engine is then hand-assembled by an experienced engine builder.

Talk about a win-win. It's the best of both worlds expertly brought together and blended by a proven, reputable team.

According to ROUSH Performance, the company offers nine base models of Ford engines, and 22 different variations. Carbureted and fuel-injected, as well as short and long-block versions are available. The base model, the 327SR puts out 350 horsepower and 350 lb.-ft. torque. From there, it only goes up to an impressive 1,050 horsepower and 400 lb.-ft. torque in the 588RX.

The same article also says that all ROUSH engines are available "with a natural finish or fully polished (this includes cylinder heads, intake manifold, front cover, water pump, valve covers, thermostat housing, pulleys, brackets and alternator if ordered with the package)." Additionally, any or all of the engine and components can be custom painted or completed with special finish (such as anodize, chrome or powder coat).

"ROUSH engines have been the best thing that has happened to the Superformance MKIII, Shelby Daytona Coupe and GT40. We have been using ROUSH engines for the past four years in our cars on the track and the street. They have a large range of engines that are reliable, powerful, well built and the support from the ROUSH team has been incredible. I personally have a 427SR in my own GT40 and can say that it’s awesome," said Lance Stander, president of Superformance LLC, Shelby Distribution USA and CEO of Hillbank Motors Inc. in a news release posted on the ROUSH Performance website earlier this year.

All ROUSH Performance crate engines come with a 2-year/24,000 mile warranty and each engine is sold as a complete package which includes air cleaner, oil pan, flywheel, flex plate and front end accessories.

It should also be noted that all of the ROUSH engines are shipped and ready to be dropped into the engine compartment and each comes with a CNC-engraved "Powered by ROUSH" plaque showing the engine's figures, along with the model and individual serial number. This plaque is designed to be mounted into the engine compartment.

The Big and Tall version of the sportster is now here so all you John Wayne's can finally have your share of fun on the road with the rest of us 'shrimps'. If there was anything John Wayne ever demanded from his ride, it was a lot of horsepower and this car can definitely deliver that. The RCR-40 sportster is the real man's version of a kit car replica and it, not only has some power but many other things to bring to the racing table.

The RCR Company, which was first started by a family of racing enthusiasts, has now introduced the next generation of GT40 replicas and the manufacturers can certainly boast that they have the most authentic replica body ever produced along with a superb project for any builder. This speedster has the exact look of its early muse with both aluminum monocoque chassis and front and rear chassis extensions. Although it can accommodate a big driver up to six foot, four inches tall, there are also a lot of other benefits here. First off, it can accommodate any Chevy or Ford V8 engine and these certainly have some big and tall qualities themselves. The RCR Company supplies mounts for each of these options as well as a ton of other accessories on the car. This isn't just a replica, this is also the spitting image of the Ford GT racer from the 60's with extremely high performance capacity to boot.

The RCR-40 comes in both an MK1 and an MK2 kit and the high horsepower capabilities along with the available options makes it an attractive project to any build enthusiast. The kit comes with everything you need including the chassis and all the accessories. You can relax because you won't need to search the old junkyards every Saturday and Sunday looking for parts. John Wayne never liked spending his time scavenging around for anything except maybe a bit more horsepower and you certainly won't need that with this car. The RC-40 certainly has everything a big man could dream of so the John Wayne's of the sportster world can feel right at home behind the wheel of this beautiful cavalry of horses.