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The Phantom GTR
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One of the most handsome and professionally executed kit cars ever to grace the market made its debut at Stoneleigh in 1998. This car would have looked at home among any exotics of the day. In a 2000 review, Richard Hammond called it a "Superkit". Part of the reason for that level of excellence was in its pedigree.
The Phantom GTR's creator, Norman Morris, had spent a lifetime in the car industry, starting at coachbuilder Mulliner and rising to Chief Design Engineer at Rover. In retirement Mr. Morris founded Phantom Automotive with the aim of offering a supercar in kit form.
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The Phantom GTR in profile
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The GTR was designed by former Jaguar designer, Chris Greville-Smith, and further developed by a world-leading automotive design studio in the UK. The team's commitment to delivering superior performance was demonstrated by the use of wind tunnel testing and chassis finite element analysis.
The Phantom GTR was a 2 seat, mid-engine sports car, powered by a 2.6 Liter Rover V-6 mounted transversely. It makes about 178bhp in stock form. the Chassis is a spaceframe in 16 gauge steel square and round section tubing. A roll-over cage is bonded into the body and bolted to the the main chassis. It also has front and rear crumple zones and has been subjected to finite element computer analysis.
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| Phantom GTR interior |
The suspension consists of double rubber bushed wishbones, cast steel uprights, adjustable coil spring damper units, and an anti-roll bar at the front and a De Dion system at the rear using steel uprights, four rubber bushed trailing arms, a choice of Panhard or Watts linkage, and a rear anti-roll bar. Wheels and tires are 8 X 17" alloys fitted with 205/50 front and 235/45 rear radials.
The company changed its name to Vortex Automotive Ltd in 2008, allowing continued development and evolution on a tested and proven platform. At this point the car rebranded as the "Vortex GTT" and was engineered to accommodate the Ford Duratec 2.0 turbo engine producing 280bhp.
In 2011 the new company ceased production of the Phantom, as a kit, and focused on expanding the range with a new car called the V2. These were to be sold as turn-key cars.
As of 2016, however, their website has been dormant but sources suggest they are still trading apparently.
Sources:
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The Vortex/Phantom GTR, with a pair Marcos in the background...
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Vortex/Phantom GTR
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| Vortex/Phantom GTR interior |
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| Vortex/Phantom GTR Chassis |
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| Vortex/Phantom GTR body shell |
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| Vortex/Phantom GTR interior |
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| Vortex/Phantom GTR |
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| Vortex/Phantom GTR |
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| Vortex/Phantom GTR |
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| Vortex/Phantom GTR |
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| Vortex/Phantom GTR |
This car is still available, having been significantly updated in the past few years. Customers can choose between a kit or a fully-built car. Electric power is also an option: the first Vortex GT-EV was built in 2010, and a new generation is now being developed.
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