Barchetta 3500 Specifications:
Barchetta 3500 Specifications:
The Barchetta 3500 is a completely hand
crafted, rolling work of art in the flavor of the 50's exotic, GT and racing machines. These
are not kits: They are award wining,
extremely high performance, limited production
automobiles, that are custom built to your desires. 4 out of the first 7 have gone to very
serious car collectors. Each car takes 4 to 6 months to build, and we typically only build
1 car a year. Our cars very accurate in spirit and looks, except that you have 100
extra
BHP
(with the small motor) than the cars of that era.
Our creations have been examined and received glowing endorsements by several aerospace and race car engineers. Such as Gary Wheeler who was Dan Gurney's chief engineer for 6 years. Who is now a good friend.
The basic specifications are:
PRICE : $80,000 U. S.
Upgrades : 3.9 L ( Rover V-8 ) bumps hp. to around 285 bhp:
4.6 L (Rover V-8 ) ups the hp. to about 330 bhp:
Roll bar: Included N/C
Tonneau cover: $1,000
Performance:
Physics lesson:
Any race car driver will tell you what makes one car out perform all the rest on any given track is lightness. Weight is the number one enemy of any race car designer. Weight and horsepower are interchangeable, if you have more of the first you need more of the latter to maintain the same acceleration numbers, not to mention bigger brakes, (read heavier), heavier chassis, transmission, differential, etc. etc. etc. and before you know it you have a 3000lbs "sports car" that needs 400+ BHP to perform at all. This is a lesson taught well by Lotus, McLaren and Porsche.
The BARCHETTA 3500 at 1600lbs with the small motor of 270 BHP gives a hp to weight ratio of 5.9 lbs. per hp compared to a Porsche Turbo at 8.1 lbs. per hp or even a Porsche GT2 at 6.2 lbs. per hp. Ask yourself what does a Porsche GT2 cost? The BARCHETTA 3500 with the big Rover motor (4.6 L) will make around 330 BHP this equates to a ratio of 4.8lbs per hp. which compares quite well to a McLaren F1 at 5.2lbs per hp or a Ferrari F50 at 5.6lbs per hp. Keep in mind these are million dollar machines we are talking about. Car #003 was built with a small block Chevrolet that dynode at 455 BHP and 505 ft lbs. of torque, this car weighed 1800lbs due to the iron block which gives it a incredible hp to weight ratio of 3.9 lbs. per hp. Its owner Mr. Lon Packard claims he can do 0 to 60 in around 3.2 sec and the performance of the car still shocks him!!!
Engine:
The motor that we typically use is the 3.5 L to 4.6L aluminum V-8 of Rover and B. O. P. origins, not to mention TVR, Morgan, etc. etc. This engine was widely used in the 60's racing scene by the big names of the era; Lola, McLaren and Chevron, and this same motor in Repco form, with SOHC heads bolted on won the 1966 Formula 1 Championship for Jack Brabham. In more modern times it was used very successfully by Rover with TWR to dominate the RAC British Saloon Championship for 6 years. So as you can see it has earned its place in a sports car. We dress the motors with black wrinkle valve covers to look the part. We custom make low profile oil pans and stainless steel headers, and with all those Webers it makes sounds that will give you chills!!!!! There are a multitude of other engines that may be utilized, any thing from an Alfa DOHC 4 to a DOHC 6 ( if you want something more authentic) to a Chevrolet small block.
Quality:
Each car is built to show car standards. They have won trophies every time they have been shown or raced. Approximately 1000 hours goes into creating each car. All of the aluminum is worked by my two hands, there are about 1000 rivets in neat little rows. With the exception of the drive train all the components used in the car are brand new and custom designed for this application. Our first customer (and now good friend) Dr. Enrique Saurez of Caracas, Venezuela (a world renown expert on LASIK eye surgery) was very pleased to add #002 to his sports car collection which also includes a Lamborghini Diablo, Ferrari 512 TR and a Porsche 911 Turbo. And the fact that Mr. Ron Tonkin a well known Ferrari dealer and serious exotic car collector has added #004 to his personal collection which now numbers 44 cars and the fact that he displays his BARCHETTA 3500 at his Gran Turismo dealership along with Ferrari, Vector and Lotus says more about the quality of the Barchetta 3500 than anything that I can say!
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The (red collection) of Dr. Enrique Saurez!
Ron Tonkin's Gran Turismo Showroom