Page 1 of 2

Looks like the GTM Libra & Spider are history

PostPosted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 7:29 pm
by wolfie
Saying this because I went to parents today who live next to westfield factory and the bucks were all outside (1 on top of a skip) and some panels that had been made in the past were in the skip. It's a shame if they are stopping production as I think they are 2 really good looking cars. If they're still there in a few days I might see if they fit on top of a volvo :D

Re: Looks like the GTM Libra & Spider are history

PostPosted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 8:10 pm
by Hans Efde
I thought they were redesigning them with standard Westfield parts? I also heard they were abandoning the GRP monocoque and were going to produce a spaceframe design. Else I don't understand why they bought the GTM stuff, paying for something and then destroying it? That could be done if GTM was a competitor of Westfield, but they are completely different animals, so that would not make sense as well.

Re: Looks like the GTM Libra & Spider are history

PostPosted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 8:10 pm
by manifold
oh dear. thats not nice.

Re: Looks like the GTM Libra & Spider are history

PostPosted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 9:07 pm
by Hans Efde
Another reason to get a modernized Gold on the road! No competition anymore.

Re: Looks like the GTM Libra & Spider are history

PostPosted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 9:16 pm
by wolfie
Hans Efde wrote:I thought they were redesigning them with standard Westfield parts? I also heard they were abandoning the GRP monocoque and were going to produce a spaceframe design. Else I don't understand why they bought the GTM stuff, paying for something and then destroying it? That could be done if GTM was a competitor of Westfield, but they are completely different animals, so that would not make sense as well.


If they're converting to spaceframe then it might make sense in them binning the bucks as they would have to produce all new panels. If that is what's happening I think it's a bit weird with the cost of metal these days I would have thought the monocoque fibreglass design would be much cheaper. The only reason I could see them going spaceframe is if they want to go mainstream competing with Lotus as it would be easier to get through MIRA, TUV etc

Re: Looks like the GTM Libra & Spider are history

PostPosted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 6:57 pm
by manifold
I think all this regulation with MIRA/TUV etc is killing our ability to innovate in Europe.

Car design being one example.

We need a bit of deregulation otherwise we are finished.

The knobs at the top need to wake up and smell the coffee before its too late.

Re: Looks like the GTM Libra & Spider are history

PostPosted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 9:03 pm
by Hans Efde
I do wonder if a Libra/Spyder dashboard fits in a Midas :)

Re: Looks like the GTM Libra & Spider are history

PostPosted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 9:28 pm
by Stuart
Hans Efde wrote:I do wonder if a Libra/Spyder dashboard fits in a Midas :)


They're a fair bit wider, but much easier to work on than the Midas dash

Image

Re: Looks like the GTM Libra & Spider are history

PostPosted: Thu Jun 16, 2011 6:36 am
by Hans Efde
Woulnd't that look pretty in a Gold Convertible? GTM built a LHD version of this one. I've asked the Dutch importer if they can still get hold of these (or perhaps made their own molds). Then it's interesting to see what needs to be modified to get it in.

Re: Looks like the GTM Libra & Spider are history

PostPosted: Thu Jun 16, 2011 9:48 am
by DavidL
That is an attractive layout, and I'd like to see if it could fit into a Mk 3 Gold... :D