Ant Anstead's Miata powered spec series

So the Type 184 Alfa Anstead replicated with Miata power is going to be a spec series in good old Blighty.......New Tipo184 to Launch Entry-Level Race Series – Vintage Road & Racecar (vintageracecar.com)

He wants it to happen in the US as well. 

In reply to Keith Tanner :

I hope it gets off the ground. I'd love to see a gaggle of these things sideways through some chicanes, like the one on the main straight at Goodwood.

I would love to race one of those, having driven some singles dealers on treaded tires In can tell you they are huge fun.

The price of the kit appears to be $23,380 at the current exchange race. No idea how much it would cost for shipping. My thought is probably 2K?

If you built some cycle fenders you could probably track day it as well.

In reply to Tom1200 :

Catalogue - Tipo184

Sort by price-high to low and you'll see the kit costs in Great Britain. It does say something about collaboration with an American chassis builder to save on shipping costs, but doesn't say who that might be.

In reply to DeadSkunk (Warren) :

I found it right after I asked and edited my post above.

I know who the US chassis and body builders are but I'm not sure I'm allowed to say. Let's just say there should be no concerns about quality. I think all the US orders are being fulfilled from the US.

The response took everyone by surprise. I think they expected to sell about 10. I'm a little out of touch (probably should have called Ant back last time he called!)  but I think they're at about 200.

I'd love to see them racing too, although I have concerns about safety requirements for US sanctioning bodies. It would be a fantastically fun track day car as long as open wheelers are allowed. 

I love the idea, even though I don't completely love the specific look of the car.

And I think they'll need some nerf bars to keep them from getting too tangled up with one another on the track.

In reply to Keith Tanner :

I know the couple of groups I run with simply want some kind of fender. Fabricating some cycle fenders wouldn't be to hard.

Overall I love the car but I'd want to dispense with the faux drum brakes and straight eight exhaust.

I think they should offer a couple different style bodies,  just so it doesn't look like a field of nothing but Maseratis on the track - have some Mercedes, Maserati, etc. options.  I'd think it could be done with no changes to the frame or any other parts.

stuart in mn said:

I think they should offer a couple different style bodies,  just so it doesn't look like a field of nothing but Maseratis on the track - have some Mercedes, Maserati, etc. options.  I'd think it could be done with no changes to the frame or any other parts.

This.  With that level of "aero" it shouldn't make any difference to the performance.

stuart in mn said:

I think they should offer a couple different style bodies,  just so it doesn't look like a field of nothing but Maseratis on the track - have some Mercedes, Maserati, etc. options.  I'd think it could be done with no changes to the frame or any other parts.

I believe that is in the long term plan.

DeadSkunk (Warren) said:

So the Type 184 Alfa Anstead replicated with Miata power is going to be a spec series in good old Blighty.......New Tipo184 to Launch Entry-Level Race Series – Vintage Road & Racecar (vintageracecar.com)

It's worth noting that the car in this picture (and almost every other one you see) is not the Miata-based car under discussion. It was built out of an old MG T-something, mostly. There's only one of the Miata cars that I know of and I don't think it's ever run. It was disassembled to allow for "mass" production and to be rebuilt with documentation. It's got some clever touches to it for sure.

If you see pictures of a grey gelcoat body, that's the Miata-based car.

These things are so cool. I would love to see a series where you could use the same spec powertrain/brakes/whatever, but you get to build a replica of any 1930s era car you want. 

Then I remember how much I want to build a cyclekart...

Robbie (Forum Supporter) said:

These things are so cool. I would love to see a series where you could use the same spec powertrain/brakes/whatever, but you get to build a replica of any 1930s era car you want.

this, but Leaf/Bolt... (single Tesla?) powertrains.  (I know, I know)

sleepyhead the buffalo said:

Robbie (Forum Supporter) said:

These things are so cool. I would love to see a series where you could use the same spec powertrain/brakes/whatever, but you get to build a replica of any 1930s era car you want.

this, but Leaf/Bolt... (single Tesla?) powertrains.  (I know, I know)

That would be epic

Are they going to run bias ply tires?

In reply to aircooled :

I would hope so.

It's a British tyre from one of the historical suppliers - Blockley. I forget the spec of the specific tire but I think it was bias ply. Ant basically wants to see a bunch of cars with crazy slip angles doing graceful drifts.

Those who want to open it up to different powertrains do not understand the concept of a spec series :)

I like it in principle, especially with narrow bias ply tires. However, I would have concerns about the price/availability of uncommon tire sizes. The other problem will be making them not sound like Spec Miata.

In reply to Keith Tanner :

A spec series IS the way to go for these. The stock Miata engine will make it go pretty well. It also keeps people from installing 29 way adjustable Oh-Penskelins $4000 a piece dampers on the car.

I've always wanted to race a pre-war car but between the cost of the car and the maintenance it's not ever going to happen.

The appeal for me is  exactly "crazy slip angles" I find that most fun.  

With cycle fenders this could possibly be that elusive one car that does it all for me.

I already tried to preorder, and will be there when it's finally available in the us... 

In reply to accordionfolder :

Preorders opened in January. Are they not taking any more?

In reply to Keith Tanner :

Whhhhhaaaat? I missed it? I fired you an email, but must have missed it opening up...