Not your typical modified Spyder

[Pelican_Racing]

SpyderLovers avert your eyes! I've done extensive work to my Spyder, so much so that the State of California no longer recognizes it as a Can-Am. I'm still deciding on what to call it.




I realize that it won't be everyone's cup of tea, but please be kind. This has taken a year of long hours and late nights, as well as nearly my entire bank account to accomplish.

More details to follow. Questions gladly answered!

Thanks,
Hong

[MarkLawson]

Wow!! Would love to see it.

[DynamoBT]

That looks great!! And you're right. You can hardly tell a Spyder is in there!!

You obviously have talent in design.

[WizardMaster]

Like the Green Lotus Elise there!!!! How is that to drive?

[fastfraser]

Now if i can just decide on a windshield !!

[Pelican_Racing]

Like the Green Lotus Elise there!!!! How is that to drive?

It's okay - for a car...

Of course I kid, but honestly the Elise is our handling target for this vehicle. It belongs to our Vehicle Engineering Lead. He designed both vehicles (well, S1 Elise, but it is essentially the same).

-Hong

[burg650]

I have one word, AWESOME truly a one of a kind hope to see it one day.

[Al Bragg]

I would like to see it too. Cool

What are you doing for stearing? A Wheel or bars?

More pictures please

[Pelican_Racing]

I would like to see it too. Cool

What are you doing for stearing? A Wheel or bars?

More pictures please

I'll let everyone know when we're down in SoCal. I'm looking for Leno.

Steering is similar to a car. Or should I say a go-kart.

[BumbleBee]

A lot of long and hard work has been put into that Spyder/Car

Looks pretty cool and different

[NautiBrit]

I admire your vision.

[Lamonster]

Wow, that's great. Please give us some details.

[LDFIREWORKS]

gotta have one

[SpyderGirl]

WOW.... Very unique!! I'd love to see it in person. You are VERY talented.

Can I have the Porsche??

I used to have a really nice 1985.5 944... sold it after I bought the Spyder.

[Pelican_Racing]

Wow, that's great. Please give us some details.

Thanks Lamonster! Vehicle specifications are probably well known to the Spyder crowd. We keep the powertrain and mechanical bits the same.

Basic idea is a single vehicle donor kit. We sell the chassis and body shell. You take all the parts off your Spyder and put it on our vehicle. Registration varies state to state, but here in California it is considered a new vehicle and gets a new VIN.

We've only gained about 150lbs over BRP's claimed dry weight, and are actually lighter than the new RT model. Performance should remain quite good, with better handling given the longer and wider stance.

We keep all the safety systems (ABS, VSS, EBD, DPS, etc.) and add a bit more insurance in having a tubular steel space-frame surrounding the occupants, roll bars (to be fabricated) and 5 point racing harnesses.

I'm hoping to sell the chassis and body with all necessary parts to do the conversion (pedals, steering shaft, shifter) to current Spyder owners. We can also sell complete vehicles using brand new Spyders for folks who want to go that route.

SpyderGirl,

I'll have to take it out for a NorCal Spyder Rally if you folks will have me.

-Hong

[truck 85]

Way cool. I am sure that you will have many miles of fun and enjoyment. But if you think that we get questions about are spyders look out for this cool machine!welcome

[Lamonster]

Got any idea on the price of the kit? How's the cooling?

Thanks Lamonster! Vehicle specifications are probably well known to the Spyder crowd. We keep the powertrain and mechanical bits the same.

Basic idea is a single vehicle donor kit. We sell the chassis and body shell. You take all the parts off your Spyder and put it on our vehicle. Registration varies state to state, but here in California it is considered a new vehicle and gets a new VIN.

We've only gained about 150lbs over BRP's claimed dry weight, and are actually lighter than the new RT model. Performance should remain quite good, with better handling given the longer and wider stance.

We keep all the safety systems (ABS, VSS, EBD, DPS, etc.) and add a bit more insurance in having a tubular steel space-frame surrounding the occupants, roll bars (to be fabricated) and 5 point racing harnesses.

I'm hoping to sell the chassis and body with all necessary parts to do the conversion (pedals, steering shaft, shifter) to current Spyder owners. We can also sell complete vehicles using brand new Spyders for folks who want to go that route.

SpyderGirl,

I'll have to take it out for a NorCal Spyder Rally if you folks will have me.

-Hong

[NancysToy]

Got any idea on the price of the kit? How's the cooling?

Spyabusa Rex???

[COOLMACHINE]

It's always nice to see new ideas. I can only imagine the hours put in it. Side by side seating. Looks like a heck of a lot of fun and I'm sure it scoots too.
That being said, I'm gonna keep my Spyder but keep up the GREAT work. That's something to be proud of. I'm amazed with what people can come up with. Best of luck to ya !

[Dukester]

I admire people like yourself so much. I wish I had the talent to do things like that. There are so many people on this site that are so talented and knowlegable. I'm so jealous. Well great job and thanks for sharing.

[M2Wild]

I would still consider it as a Spyder .... I can see that the builder stayed true to the Spyder theme and retained most if not all of its parts and highly modified the remaining area. Very original. I am a little suprised to see that you kept the OEM exaust can and didn't go over to the Hindle.

PS. What a beautiful garage. I thought it was Leno's at first look.

[SpyderGirl]

Looks like it might be tricky to get in and out of. I assume you plan on painting it and refining it?

[M2Wild]

Oh yeah .... one question. Does the front wheels canterlever when turning or stays straight up like the Spyder?

[SpyderWolf]

That is a very cool concept brought to life.

[Pelican_Racing]

Got any idea on the price of the kit? How's the cooling?

I'm hoping to keep the kit under $10k, but that might be higher if we continue to fabricate in Silicon Valley, which is extremely expensive.

Cooling shouldn't be an issue because we're going to have a dedicated vent on the passenger side just for the radiator. There is also room to install a larger unit if we need to. The motor is also air-cooled to some degree since it is no longer buried underneath all that bodywork on the Spyder.

I would still consider it as a Spyder .... I can see that the builder stayed true to the Spyder theme and retained most if not all of its parts and highly modified the remaining area. Very original. I am a little suprised to see that you kept the OEM exaust can and didn't go over to the Hindle.

PS. What a beautiful garage. I thought it was Leno's at first look.

As the "builder" I would have to agree with you! The idea is to keep 90% of the Spyder's parts so everything works together as it was engineered and also keeps the final vehicle cost lower.

That was one reason we use the OEM exhaust. The other being that we wanted to stay in compliance with CARB regulations for emissions and smog pollution in California. I don't know if the Hindle has cats inside.

I wish that was my garage, but that angle is only a small part of it. We hope to be in/on Jay's Garage in the near future.

Looks like it might be tricky to get in and out of. I assume you plan on painting it and refining it?

It's quite easy to enter/exit the vehicle once you know the procedure and get a bit of practice. I think it's a lot easier than getting into and out of the Lotus Elise!

Paint and a bit of polish are coming up soon before we release info and images to the media.

Oh yeah .... one question. Does the front wheels canterlever when turning or stays straight up like the Spyder?

All wheels camber in/out to some degree while turning and absorbing bumps due to the SLA suspension design. But we retained the factory geometry and mounting locations, so the suspension is essentially the same. The Spyder components are quite nice, but the key is going to be in the tuning and setup.

Thanks,
Hong