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08/11/24 TORNADO SPORTS CARS CELEBRATE 40 YEARS! October 2024 marks the 40th anniversary of Tornado Sports cars as a component car manufacturing business. The company was formed by the Father and Son team of Alan and Andrew Sheldon initially to produce a replica of the McLaren M6 GT road car of the early 1970’s. In 1989 a Ford GT40 replica was also introduced called the Tornado TS40. Due to the high demand for the TS40 production of the M6 GT replica ceased in 1992 to allow for increased production of the GT40 replica. In 1994 a steel Monocoque chassis version of the TS40 was introduced to compliment the existing steel space frame version. In 1997 Father Alan retired and Andrew took full control of running the business. In 1998 a new model called the Raptor V8 was introduced which was a wide body lotus 7 type car featuring fully independent suspension with disc brakes at all four corners. Engine options included Rover V8 and Chevy V8. One customer even fitted an Audi V8. Production of the Raptor ceased in 2004 once again to allow for increased production of the TS40 GT40 replica car. In 2008 development work began on an all new light weight Aluminium Honeycomb Monocoque chassis option for the now renamed TSC GT40 replica. This was released in 2010 along with a Carbon Fibre Honeycomb version of the same chassis. In 2011 a Ford Coyote powered version of all of the chassis options was introduced. Tornado Sports cars were the first component car company in the World to offer the Coyote engine as an option and the first to fit the Coyote engine in a car not manufactured by Ford themselves. In 2012 due to demand a GT40 MK2 version was added along side the existing GT40 MK1 version. A list of firsts achieved by Tornado Sports Cars includes production of the replica cross over exhaust system, production of adaption hubs to easily convert bolt on to knock off wheels, Aluminium and Carbon Fibre Monocoque chassis and the use of the Ford Coyote V8 engine. 40 years in business now makes Tornado Sports cars the longest established component car manufacturing business in the World still owned and operated by an original founder. We have now been continually manufacturing and developing GT40 replica cars, kits and parts for 35 years and in that time have developed the most extensive range of kit package options and parts available anywhere. Our kits are the most comprehensive available and some packages even include the brake fluid. If there is a part or accessory that can be fitted or used on a GT40 replica we almost certainly manufacture and supply it. Tornado Sports Cars are without doubt the World’s leading manufacturer of Ford GT40 replica cars. Here’s to the next 40 Years!
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01/01/14 2014 marks another great mile stone for Tornado Sports Cars. |
17/12/13 German Registration It seems that some customers are having difficulties registering their completed TSC GT40 for use on the road in Germany. We are now co operating with a company in Germay who are experienced in registering low volume cars for the road in Germany. The cars must be registered for road use in England before German registration is applied for. For further details please contact us at info@tornadosportscars.com |
17/12/13 VOSA Engine Dating Tornado Sports Cars have now been approved by VOSA to issue engine dating certificates which are required for the IVA test. If your car is with us for an IVA test the certificate can be issued at the same time pre test. |
20/08/12 Low Volume Approval Tornado Sports Cars have now been awarded a Low Volume approval manufacturers status by VOSA. This enables Tornado to manufacture a maximum of 300 turn key cars per year for sale direct to customers. These cars will all be powered by the new 2011 Ford Coyote quad cam engine which features Euro V emissions as standard. These cars will be of particular interest to cutomers in central Europe due to the low emission levels which are required there. |
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We have now introduced a replica of the MK11 GT40 which is the car that came 1st, 2nd and 3rd at Le Mans in 1966. MKII specific items that are now available from Tornado include the following. Rear body section All of the above items can be used to build an authentic looking replica of the famous Le Mans winning cars from 1966. These parts can also be used to convert an existing MK1 GT40 replica into a MKII. |
02/01/12 Congratulations to Scott Calabro and his Tornado TSC GT40 for winning a best of
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04/10/11 TORNADO XBOX FORZA 4 GT40 Xbox are about to release their latest driving game which is called Forza Motorsport 4 on October 14th 2011. As part of the build up to the release of the game Xbox will be building a Tornado GT40 replica live in the Westfield shopping Centre located in West London UK over a 5 day period begining on October 9th. There is a dedicated Xbox web site now online at Pictures and videos of the build will be posted each day and there is also a chance to win the completed Tornado GT40 in a prize draw at the end of the week. Over the 5 day period there will be a voting system for which parts you think should be fitted to the car and voting results in automatic entry to the prize draw at the end of the week for your chance to win. Items that will be voted on are :- 4 or 6 pot Willwood brakes Steel or alloy shock absorbers Black or White graphics and stripes 15" or 17" wheels and tyres Twin or Single vent front hatch panel There will also be a live web cam covering the build up as it progresses. The fact that this Tornado GT40 is being built Live in a shopping centre with the general public watching in only 5 days illustrates how comprehensive and easy our component packages are to assemble. |
07/06/10 Monocoque Chassis From the Worlds leading manufacturer of Ford GT40 replica cars comes what we believe to be the ultimate GT40 replica chassis. After an extensive 2 years of development our new Carbon Fibre monocoque chassis is now available. This chassis is the most technically advanced GT40 replica chassis ever manufactured and has been designed for us by an ex F1 engineer. The concept was to retain the classic 60's styling of the original Ford GT40 and combine it with a state of the art chassis similar to those used by modern day Supercars resulting in an unbeatable combination of looks and performance. It was designed primarily to be manufactured in Carbon Fibre resulting in the lightest, strongest, stiffest GT40 replica chassis ever manufactured. Due to the high cost of Carbon Fibre we are now also producing a version in Aluminium at a reduced cost. Although most of our standard parts will fit directly on to the new chassis many new light weight parts such as Aluminium rear uprights have been developed to compliment the chassis. For full details please go to the TSC GT40 Chassis page.
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27/03/09 NEW SERVICES FROM TORNADO We have now expanded into another additional unit half of which we are using as a fully equiped CNC machine shop. The additional spare space is giving us spare capacity to offer a wide range of additional services. We are aiming to cater for every single need of anyone building, owning or using a GT40 replica. We are offering a build service for all makes of GT40 replica. This includes full builds, individual jobs and completion from any stage. We have a full body fitting and gapping service available along with paint preparation and paint finish. We now have our own fully equiped paint extraction booth for this. We can also apply stripes and graphics to customers exact requirements. We are offering all upgrades to completed cars including roll cages, suspension, brakes, exhaust systems, gearboxs, engine work, engine lowering, rod gear linkages etc. IVA preperation including completion of paperwork, pre IVA inspection, IVA testing and any rectification work required for a final pass. Take the hassle out of getting your car IVA'd. Repair work including body work, chassis and all accident repairs. We are also a fully approved insurance repairer. 2009 marks our 20th year in the GT40 replica business and with our new expansion plans completed we aim to make it the best year yet. |
01/10/09 Carbon Fibre Monocoque update All design work is now completed and the pre production chassis are now being built. Due to the high cost of Carbon Fibre we will also be producing a version of the Monocoque manufactured in Aluminium at a much lower price. This version of the Monocoque will be approx 1/3rd the weight of other Aluminium Monocoques currently available on the market. We are also working on a new cast alloy rear upright for use on the Monocoque which is also a bolt on replacement for the spaceframe cars. We did look at using original type rear uprights but these are very heavy when cast in Aluminium resulting in an increase in unsprung weight. The original rear uprights were cast in Magnesium which is approx 1/3rd the weight of Aluminium. High costs prevent the use of Magnesium.
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22/05/08 Carbon Fibre Monocoque Chassis We have now started development of an all new carbon fibre monocoque chassis with the help of a qualified design engineer. This is how all F1 Chassis are now manufactured and some of the more expensive road cars such as the McLaren F1. The preliminary design work has been completed including the construction of a 1/4 scale model. If all goes well kit packages based on this chassis will be available for sale by mid 2010. We will be using all of the existing TSC GT40 parts with the exception of the front and rear uprights which will be cast in aluminium. Advantages of a carbon fibre monocoque include very light weight and increased siffness without the disadvantages of corrosion problems which are normally associated with monocoques manufactured in steel or aluminium. We are hoping to produce a finished car which would weigh only 1700 lbs or 780 kgs. Details will be added here as the project progresses. Alternatively please call 01562 820372 for more details. |
01/10/04 Show room now open.....
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07/09/04 We are now in the process of opening a new visitors showroom located opposite the main factory and workshop at unit 32. |
