Notes from my collection:
(Not written by me - just a collection of information)
High Tech Motorcars (NOT the Superformance builder)
- Now defunct, is said to have used CSX3190 as the mold model. Hi-Tech was started in the early 80's, and built some pretty accurate replicas. Hi-Tech made some aluminum cars, but they were very pricey. They also put aluminum hoods, trunks, and doors on as an option with the 'glass cars.
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- The entire chassis was Tig welded with very neat and clean welds.
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-Hi-Tech made hand built aluminum cars in the late '80s or early '90s. I think that the man behind it was Tom D'Antonio or something like that and based out west, Arizona possibly. I don't know whether there is an affiliation between this Hi-Tech and the SA Hi-Tech.
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- The Hi-Tech replicas made in Arizona in the 80's were a very nice car. Most of them were fiberglass, though a few aluminum versions were built. These cars were made to original Cobra specs - every chassis part for an original Cobra would fit a Hi-Tech (though he did offer an upgrade to a Ford 9" center-section w/IRS). Hi-Tech made 427's and 289 FIA's, and, I believe there was a prototype "street" 289 that was never completed.
- The fiberglass Hi-Tech is really what the 4000 series Shelby 'glass cars are derived from. Tom D'Antonio sold Hi-Tech, and went to work for Shelby in the early 90's when Shelby decided he was going to start making new Cobras. His Hi-Tech design, including the realistic detailing of the tubular frame around the hood and doors, is the basis for the CSX4000 cars.
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- Hi-tech was based in Phoenix and went out of business in late 1998 to early 1999. I have maybe the last cobra they produced in December of 1998. Tom D'antonio sold the hi-tech business to Tim Gunning in the early to mid 90's. The CSX 4000 and the hi-tech are the same cobra except for the IRS 9 inch that hi-tech offered. Hi-tech was taking customer deposits and using those deposits to complete cars that were already paid in full. The scheme ended when not enough new deposits were coming and at the same time paid for cars were not completed. Hi-tech did employ some very good people. The business was constantly out of cash as cash was going out the door to the owners to support there life style. Numerous lawsuits that were filed.
High Tech (The Superformance builder) see this link
Jimmy Price of Hi-Tech Automotive & Superformance - GT40s.com