Driver's Notebook: Mixed Breed
August 1, 2008
"Everyone loves the way old British racers look, but they are difficult to drive and are always breaking down," says Luke Richards, founder of Lucra Cars, a start-up car manufacturer based in Oceanside, Calif. Besides, he notes, "I didn’t want to build an antique."
To provide the best of both worlds, Richards commissioned Chuck Beck (known for his Porsche 356 Speedster and 550 roadster replicas) to develop a lightweight steel chassis and carbon-fiber body panels that resemble the Lister-Jaguar racers of the late ’50s.
Similarly in 1957, Jaguar built the XKSS—a road-going version of the D-Type—to whet the appetites of hardcore motoring enthusiasts. That same breed will appreciate the LC470’s GM-sourced power train and suspension. Options include a 385 hp ZZ4 V-8 and a 630 hp LS7 V-8. "General Motors spent more than $10 million developing each of these engines," says Richards. "Why would I try to do it better?"
Nevertheless, the company offers upgrades through Guldstrand Motorsports. The addition of Weber carburetors and a custom camshaft increases the ZZ4 V-8 engine’s output to 425 hp, and provides the visceral sound of an old racecar, as I discovered while rumbling toward the freeway. The LC470 held firm to the on-ramp at 50 mph, and the wood-and-aluminum Moto-Lita Jaguar steering wheel offered good feedback.
Richards claims the car will top out at about 200 mph, but the cabin feels like a wind tunnel at freeway velocities, so I was content to take him at his word. The LC470 can reach 60 mph in 3.5 seconds—in the first of its five manually operated gears—but stopping takes a bit longer than expected, as spongy brakes reaffirm that I am not driving the latest Corvette.
"There are no electrical nannies like ABS or ESP, or anything of that other nonsense," says Richards. "This is what a true racecar should be—the purpose of the LC470 is to marry the driver to the engine." Some drivers may not be prepared for that type of commitment, but for others, it could be a match made in heaven. Prices range from $68,000 to $100,000.
Lucra Cars, 866.470.7470, www.lc470.com
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