Pre prod test drive photos

[Duncan]

Thanks to Simon from https://carparrel.com for uploading these photos to his companies instagram page today.

Here are some photos from the phase 2 development test drives in May 2001

Simon's Dad's ex housemate was a test driver back then and took the photos. They are all taken around the Oxford/midlands area. These cars were built in the Broadstone barns by TWR as part of their development of the phase 2.

In case you were asking, all three cars shown in the photos were exported back in 2002. Possibly over to Dieppe?

At least one of them (OY02TKF) still exists in France.

 

[Lankan]

Interesting - thanks for posting Duncan.

The yellow side pods are a bit of an interesting feature on my the last photo. Clearly it wasn't a planned addition to that particular car, so wonder whether they were testing out shades of yellow?

 

[Duncan]

No problem Dulan. Regarding the yellow side pods, I believe its a simpler answer than that. There was a yellow prototype which had silver side pods fitted as a test run for the phase 2 styling. I think these were simply swapped over.

 

[Lankan]

No problem Dulan. Regarding the yellow side pods, I believe its a simpler answer than that. There was a yellow prototype which had silver side pods fitted as a test run for the phase 2 styling. I think these were simply swapped over.

Ah, yes, forgot about the yellow one - cannot see the side pods in that photograph though.....

 

[Kett]

Why is it that the Ph2 pre-production models hurt my eyes...?

 

[Duncan]

No problem Dulan. Regarding the yellow side pods, I believe its a simpler answer than that. There was a yellow prototype which had silver side pods fitted as a test run for the phase 2 styling. I think these were simply swapped over.

Ah, yes, forgot about the yellow one - cannot see the side pods on in that photograph though.....

Believe it or not, I was referring to a different yellow one! There were at least two yellow prototypes.

The one in your photo was a very early mule car which had yellow trophy side pods.

The second which had silver side pods was a later car that was initially silver and used on the car launch, it was later resprayed in spider yellow and used on the cold test. It was rolled at Nardo and crushed. I think the yellow side pods in the above photo are from that car.

 

[10]

Why is it that the Ph2 pre-production models hurt my eyes...?

It's the panel gap in front of the door and the buggered headlights!

 

[Lankan]

No problem Dulan. Regarding the yellow side pods, I believe its a simpler answer than that. There was a yellow prototype which had silver side pods fitted as a test run for the phase 2 styling. I think these were simply swapped over.

Ah, yes, forgot about the yellow one - cannot see the side pods on in that photograph though.....

Believe it or not, I was referring to a different yellow one! There were at least two yellow prototypes.

The one in your photo was a very early mule car which had yellow trophy side pods.

The second which had silver side pods was a later car that was initially silver and used on the car launch, it was later resprayed in spider yellow and used on the cold test. It was rolled at Nardo and crushed. I think the yellow side pods in the above photo are from that car.

Ah, okay, I see - do you have a photograph of the yellow prototype you refer to above?

 

[Duncan]

It was used one of the Cold test cars in Sweden. Here's the most recent photos of it [smilie=icon_eek.gif]

The driver walked out fine!

It was being tested at Nardo, the test driver lost control and hit the barrier. It flipped over at 150mph!

 

[Lankan]

It was used one of the Cold test cars in Sweden. Here's the most recent photos of it [smilie=icon_eek.gif]

The driver walked out fine!

It was being tested at Nardo, the test driver lost control and hit the barrier. It flipped over at 150mph!

Oh! [smilie=icon_eek.gif]

 

[Brett]

180mph crash right there! Shit. :bow: