Superformance Group's South Africa Factory Visit

[Calbullet]

looks like the M12 GTO

[Mark IV]

Originally Posted by SunDude

Looks like an AC Ace "Brooklands" to me.

DING DING DING!!! We have a winner!

Yes, it is the AC "Ace Brooklands" that Hi-Tech built the stainless steel chassis, aluminum body and delivered to AC painted and ready to finish.

When Lubinski shut down Brooklands there were several of these body/chassis units on the shipping stands that it would appear just got tossed....

[froggyman]

"The framed certificates that Jimmy and Ronnie are holding were made by Randall Thomas and given on behalf of the entire Superformance Owners Association Inc. both for those attending, and those who were not able to, in gratitude for them to allow the attending owners UNPRECEDENTED access to the factory and all of it's contents as well as never seen before secret projects. After a very informative guided tour, the owners were released and were allowed to roam the factory freely, anywhere they wanted without supervision, and without restrictions. They were scattered everywhere. Nothing was denied to the owners, and this is the very first time a group of visitors were granted unlimited access to this extent, who were also allowed to take as many photos as they wanted, of anything they wanted. Normally, cameras are not even allowed inside the factory. This was a historic visit, and this is just the beginning. There is so much more to tell, as well as the very special presentation Jimmy Price, Ronnie Kruger and Lance Stander made later."

[car4jim]

Correct me if I'm wrong...but don't they manufacture cars in this factory. Were are the cars pics????

[froggyman]

car4jim,

The group shot something like 20,000 photos at the factory, all aspects of the factory. They will be rolling out shortly. I will post them as soon as they come to me.

I am as anxious as the next guy. I did not go in the trip so this is a big adventure for me seeing the trip photos as they trickle out.

[RedBarchetta]

Juan,

I think you're doing a great job trickling these photos in this sequence. Builds up some momentum and keeps people coming back to the thread. I've seen factory photos before, but not to this level (i.e. engineering dept, etc.). I have exchanged e-mails with Ronnie Kruger and he was very helpful in providing me a very detailed account of my particular build. A class act.

-Dean

[Mark IV]

Some pictures courtesy Deborah Stander.

Looks like it was "first class" all the way, wish I could have gone!

http://www.superformance.com/Photoal...px?Albumid=123

[froggyman]

"We went on two tours, believe it or not. First we went through with no one there but ourselves. And the managers of the plant as our guides. Then after lunch, we were turned loose inside the plant with everyone working. At this point we were REALLY in their way, but they just moved aside for us and went back to work."

01making_seats



02glass_molds



03mold



04mkIII_body_mold



05mkIII_body_mold



06checking_for_imperfections



01paint

[RedBarchetta]

Juan, did you by chance see the Noble build line?

Several years ago I found the following scrawled on the backside of the passenger dashboard on my build #747:



A note to Ronnie Kruger confirmed that "Pierre Steyn" was part of the two-man build teams back in the earlier days (in this case, March 2000). Back then all Superformance roadsters were entirely hand built by dedicated two-man teams. Nowadays they use more of an assembly line technique, i.e. roll it to the next station. Ronnie went on to say that Pierre was still with the company but "was now working on the Noble line."

Just curious if you ran into this guy? Ronnie did tell me that the next time he was at the factory he would seek him out and tell him that a customer in the U.S. wanted to say "thank you" for building such a solid car.

-Dean

[froggyman]

Some of these same people worked on my SPO 2891 MKIII Roadster and may even have worked on your car. Extremely well trained craftspeople that care about the end result.

01detail-finishing



02hand-finshing



03hand-finshing



04taping_for_paint



What a clean facility, spotless. 04taping_for_paint

[Mark IV]

As Oliver Twist said,

"Please Sir, may I have some more".........

[froggyman]

I am as anxious to see more as you are. The minute I get more photos I will post asap.

[froggyman]

Here is a neat look into what truly makes Hi-Tech so special.

One of many machine shops



Milling



Finshedpart+raw material



Machining_art



Fnished_flanges

[froggyman]

Forming_rollers



All_these_rollers2make_this_one-part



Formed_part



Raw_parts



Raw+machined-parts



Hand_tapped_care



Parts_hi-tech_makes



Precision_measurements

[froggyman]

Attached it a photo of a little Lathe sitting in the hallway of
the factory entrance right across a display of all the parts Hi_Tech
makes from Scratch. According to one of the engineers there, we were
told an amazing little story.

"This little "Maximat V10" machine was Jimmy Prices first lathe in which he utilized to manufacture many parts for Hi-Tech and Superformance cars such as to machine fuel cap housings, suspension bushings, sleeves and basically any part that needed to be turned or milled. The purchase was about $263 back then. It was in use from 1990 through 2007 and was used exclusively up through 1998, or up to Mk-III chassis number 300-400. The original operator was Mike Kretchmer, and he operated the lathe all through his tenure with Jimmy, until he passed away in 2007. The last three or four years before his death which he was nearing the age of 80, he not only continued turning bushings and other pieces on his "little treasure", but in between he refurbished the little machine to its current pristine condition. The lathe is a living memory of Kretchmer, and evidence of the care and pride Jimmy Price, owner of Hi-Tech and the creator of Superformance, takes in all his equipment, his products and his employees."

[froggyman]

[froggyman]

It is liquid glass!!

[froggyman]

01frame



02frame



03fram



04frame



05frame

[froggyman]

These are the most awesome shots of this wonderful recreation of a true legend.

Superformance GT-40

[emberglo66]

More please!!!