Spydersport Maxton GT prototype project car

1992 Spydersport Maxton GT prototype

Spydersport prototype project w Ford Sierra drivetrain and repro Lotus frame

basis for possible autoXer or sport roadster

This rolling and running chassis was constructed in the early 1990s by Spydercars which is a company in the UK who fabricate replacement frames and suspension components for Lotus cars and who produce custom chassis for specialty vehicles. This one-off vehicle was commissioned by Robert Sutherland, a U.S. auto enthusiast who had previously manufactured and sold a series of lightweight Mazda rotary powered sports roadsters called the Maxton Rollerskate. This rolling chassis was to be a prototype for the Maxton GT which was planned to be an enclosed coupe with gullwing doors. It was to be a more powerful and upscale version of the Maxton Rollerskate.

This vehicle is powered by a Ford Sierra Cosworth YB turbocharged and intercooled 16 valve 2 liter motor with a 5-speed Ford Sierra transmission. The engine was built by Terry Hoyle to Group N specifications at an estimated 285 horsepower. The complete powertrain - - engine, clutch, gearbox, rear end and half shafts as well as brakes and instruments - - were sourced from a Ford of England early ‘90s Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500 rally car. The complete wiring harness and engine management system from its donor Ford Sierra rally car are included in this rolling chassis since they had been intended to be used in the full-bodied development prototype. The car is equipped with Koni shocks, Revolution wheels, dual custom aluminum gas tanks, a Corbeau seat, and a Momo steering wheel. The Cosworth YB series motors could be tuned to a reliable 500 HP, and the Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500’s were super competitive in their day in World Rally Championship racing.

This car was featured on the cover and in an article about the chassis construction as well as a description of a test drive in the May, 1992 issue of Cars and Car Conversions magazine. A copy of that issue will be provided to the buyer. Mr. Sutherland had commissioned several technical and styling drawings of both a roadster and gullwing version of the body for the vehicle. A few of those drawings are shown in the pictures above. Those drawings, as well as a Ford Sierra service and repair manual and another book about Sporting Fords Cortina to Cosworth, will be provided to the buyer.

After production and testing in the UK this car was shipped to Denver where it remained until the death of its owner. It has only testing miles/hours of use. Mileage is unknown; I put 100 miles in the details above because eBay requires a numeric amount to be entered. The car has remained in climate controlled storage during its lifetime. The car had not been drivable in my three years of ownership until recently when my mechanic got the car running by cleaning the fuel injectors, replacing the spark plugs, replacing the fuel pump, relay, and fuel filter, replacing transmission fluid and coolant, and wiring an ignition switch. I have only operated the car to confirm its basic operation.

Since this vehicle was constructed as a test prototype it has no VIN, title, or registration. It is not street legal and does not have a body, headlights, horn, turn signals, seatbelts, or many of the necessary components to become street legal. It is being sold on a bill of sale only.

Because of their age it would be advisable to replace items such as belts, hoses, timing belt, tires, fuel lines, hydraulic lines, and all fluids before any further extensive use.

Search the Bringatrailer website for ‘Cosworth Sierra’ or ‘Elan-based’ to see the original article that enticed me to buy this project car.

My plan for the car was to use it in its entirety to replace the chassis and drivetrain of the Lotus Elan Plus 2 that I owned at the time I bought this car. However, the wheelbase and track of the two vehicles did not match up well enough to make that conversion. I later found that the wheelbase and track measurements of a Jensen Healey correspond precisely to those of this car, so I bought a running project of a Jensen Healey with the intention of using its body (and title and registration) to construct a streetable JH with the much more sophisticated chassis of the Spydersport and its double or more horsepower than the JH. I have now sold the JH project car separately.

I am selling because I have more car projects than I will ever realistically complete, so this one has to go.

This car could be made into an autocross car or could be fitted with a fiberglass custom body or the body from a production sports car to construct a lightweight high performance street machine or replica.

Inspection available and welcome in Springfield, Illinois prior to auction end. I can email a cold start video, or I will add the video to this listing if I can figure out how to do that.

Buyer is responsible for pick-up or shipping. I can assist with loading the vehicle to your shipper's vehicle at my location.

$500 deposit via PayPal required within 48 hours.