First look: Honda-based kit car

SPURRED on by the success of Holden’s Elfin Streamliner MS8 Roadster, Sydney-based kit car outfit Classic Revival has created its own niche road-racer known as the CR4 Sports.

According to Classic Revival managing director Ian Denner, the company plans to build about 25 CR4 Sports annually, pricing it from $68,000.

A prototype of the car has just been finished to comply with low-volume regulations under Australian Design Rules and Classic Revival has already taken two orders.

"We’re targeting the same sort of buyer as the Elfin – people who want it for track days as well as (to) drive around in an unusual road car," he said.

Once the CR4 goes through compliance it will be road-registrable.

The mid-engined sportscar is Mr Denner’s own design, using suspension components and a 161kW/208Nm 2.0-litre 16-valve i-VTEC four-cylinder petrol engine sourced from a Honda Integra Type-R, as well as off-the-shelf headlights and tail-lights.

The engine has a six-speed close ratio gearbox mated to a limited slip differential.

As the CR4 weighs just 600kg, Mr Denner said acceleration was "blistering", with an expected sub-6.0 seconds 0-100km/h sprint and a top speed of more than 200km/h.

"It’s got a good power-to-weight ratio, which makes it perfect for track days," he said.



The CR4 also has up-to-date build technology. The chassis is a handcrafted multi-tubular steel space frame with high-grade aluminium skin bonded and riveted to the chassis. The remainder of the materials are hand-moulded from high-strength composite materials.

The suspension configuration is double wishbones up front with height-adjustable MacPherson struts at the rear. The C4’s brakes include ventilated 300mm diameter front discs and 297mm rear discs. An anti-lock braking system and cruise control are also available.

Apart from the CR4, Mr Denner also builds replicas of the 1960s AC Shelby Cobra and Ferrari 250 GTO. The move into the CR4 was a "left turn" for his company, he said.

"I’d always planned to do it and then the Elfin popped up, except it is front-engined and rear-drive," he said. "I thought there would be strong interest in a mid-engined roadster." The CR4’s mid-engine layout allows for a roomier cabin.

A mechanical engineer by trade, Mr Denner formed Classic Revival in 1998 to market kit cars. The below-average kit cars available prompted his move into the industry at the time.

His cars are designed from the ground up using original equipment items from OE suppliers AC in the UK. He also has an extensive background in the design and building of racecars using aerospace technologies.