Autotune

Autotune

England

http://www.autotuneuk.com/index.html

Price: Model Gemini: 3,800€ + extras  ( around 8,000€ full extras)

Autotune is a small family run business specialising in all types of Sporting and Historic Cars. Established in 1969 by Anthony and Carolyn Taylor, then joined in 1999 by son Richard, the firm specialises in both the production of high quality replica sports cars, and the maintenance and preparation of Historic Racing cars. Individual marques whose cars Autotune specialise in include Jaguar and McLaren.
In 1983, after many years of race car preparation and high performance road car tuning, the company decided to become a car manufacturer in its own right and produced the Aristocat, a replica of the wonderful Jaguar XK series. This was followed in 1987 by the Gemini, a small and fun two seater based on the bodyshape of the 1950's Elva. Another model, the Can-Am M1, was introduced in 1991 and is a replica of the 1966 McLaren M1.

 Autotune has now established itself as one of the most well known and trusted Kit Car Manufacturers in the UK and examples of our cars have been exported as far afield as Kenya, Russia and New Zealand
Alongside the replica production, Autotune continue to maintain and prepare all sorts of Classic Cars and Historic Racing Cars for clients who come from all over the world. Any visit to the workshop will always find some sort of exotic vehicle being prepared for various events. The McLaren theme has led to various spares being made available to the Historic or Vintage McLaren racer, including bodywork and suspension components.

Autotune Aristocat:

Built with Jaguar's written permission, the Aristocat uses all Jaguar XJ6, SI, SII, SIII, XJS or XJ12 components housed in a steel spaceframe chassis.

Autotune Gemini (First photo)

The Gemini uses mostly Ford Escort Mk1 or Mk2 components housed in a steel spaceframe chassis. The Escort rear axle is modified on an exchange basis with brackets added to mount the four radius arms and the panhard rod. At the front Ford Cortina uprights are used with fabricated double wishbones. Many engines can be fitted, obviously the easy choice is the Crossflow engine from the Escort donor car, however with enough room for even the Rover V8 there are many possibilities. Engines fitted have included Ford Crossflow, CVH, Pinto, Zetec and 2.8 and 3.0 V6, Vauxhall 8V and 16V, Triumph Dolomite, Lotus Twin Cam, Fiat Twin Cam, Lancia Twin Cam, Rover K-Series and V8, etc, etc. The possibilities are endless!

It was also necessary to submit a chassis for testing to the EC Directive Regulation 14, for seat belt anchorages, having a pull test to a load of three tons. The Gemini passed first time on the Rig at Manchester Metropolitan University, organised by Status.
Designed to suit the budget kit car builder, the Gemini can be built using many of the components from the donor Escort, even including such items as the instruments and wiring loom helping to reduce those build costs. Additionally there are various kit options, all varying in cost.
With 15 years of continuous production and exports in most European countries, New Zealand, Scandanavia, etc., the Gemini has shown itself to be a practical, budget sports car with excellent performance and handling.

The Gemini has proven its excellent road holding on the circuits of Europe, including dominating the very first European Kit Car race held in treacherous conditions at Zandvoort in Holland, with only a mildly tuned 1600cc Ford Crossflow engine. Similarly, the over 1600cc Class of the 750 Motor Club Kit Car Championship was twice won by a V6 Ford engined Gemini and Class D of the BRSCC Historic Replicar Championship was twice won by a Rover V8 engined example.



Autotune Can Am M11

Designed and built by Autotune in 1991 the Can-Am is a replica of the famous McLaren M1B or M1C Sports Racing Cars campaigned in the mid 1960's throughout the United States and Canada.

Autotune have long been racing and preparing original McLaren Can-Am cars, and when a series was announced in England for replicas of pre-1966 sports racing cars it seemed natural to produce a replica along the lines of the McLaren M1B or M1C.

Specification

The chassis is a steel spaceframe, skinned in NS4 Aluminium, very similar to the original Can-Am, design albeit using square section instead of round, the chassis is an extremely rigid, lightweight structure.

The suspension features a fully rose jointed double wishbone configuration at the front, using Jaguar XJ6 uprights and a selection of braking options depending on budget. At the rear twin radius arms, reversed lower wishbone and top link locate a purpose made Cast Aluminium upright using a Ford 4x4 or Cosworth hub. Brakes are again varied, depending on budget.

Although designed by Autotune, the full suspension geometry was thoroughly checked and verified by former Chevron and more recently Reynard designer Paul Brown, whose successful designs have included F1, Indy, and Le Mans Cars.

Engine and Transaxle Options
The chassis was designed in order to accept a variety of engines, the most popular choice being the Chevrolet V8 small block, other engines fitted have included the Rover/Buick V8. Transaxle choice depends very much on budget, ranging from the expensive and scarce Hewland DG 300 through the various ZF versions to the cheaper Porsche G50 and Renault 30 designs. All have been fitted and have performed well in their particular use.

Bodyshell Options

Two types of bodywork configuration are available, either the M1B or M1C tail sections must be specified when ordering a Can-Am.

Kit Contents

The Kit can be purchased in various stages right through from a bare chassis and suspension package to a fully assembled race car.

Road Use

Although designed as a race car, one Can-Am was built up to full road car specifications, including the fitment of lights, handbrake and extra instrumentation, etc.

Track Record
The design has proven itself on the circuit with good results in the BRSCC Replicar series, and also in the 750 Motor Club Supersports Series.