General

Who is John Bowe?

John Bowe is an Australian Racing personality who has competed at the highest level of motorsport in Australia. John's testing and feedback have been invaluable to the latest iteration of our chassis, suspension and handling package. For more information on John, check out his bio on wikipedia.

What is the approximate wait or lead time on a body chassis unit (basic kit)?

We usually maintain at least 1 body & chassis in stock at all times, so lead times are virtually zero. The same goes with most of our parts. We generally have several complete sets of the first and second stages of our proven sequential build kits in stock at any time.

What base vehicle is the chassis designed from?

The chassis is a clean sheet, specifically designed, CAD modelled, FEA tested, triangulated space frame chassis exclusively designed and manufactured by Roaring Forties, using the expertise of professional mechanical engineers and an internationally renowned race-car engineer. We pride ourselves on our OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) approach to building our cars.

What do I need to do to secure my place on your order book?

We require a deposit of $5000 with the order. This secures your chassis number and initiates the parts procurement for any special orders. The Deposit is fully refundable up until the time the parts are distributed or special orders are commenced.

Can I have a copy of the vehicle build manual?

The manual is viewable on a visit to our factory, but will not be released in it’s entirety before an order is made. An abbreviated version may be available via email or a personal visit to our premises, and will be on our website in the near future.

What sort of budget would I need to allow, to build and register my car?

Depending on your skill level and how much assembly work you arrange yourself, you can build a road registrable car from as little as $90k. We have customers who have done exactly that.

The price and parts list for all the components (assemblies, nut, bolts, etc) to make a complete Australian compliant vehicle are available upon request. Just contact us for these details.

Is it difficult to register the finished RF GT40?

If you have constructed your car in accordance with local and/or federal compliance laws, then registration is very straight forward. Our recommendations on vehicle build and our part & component designs take Australian compliance obligations into consideration. Working closely with our compliance engineer throughout your build will ensure a smooth sign off for registration.

We have a registered engineering signatory working with us so we can accurately guide you through the compliance issues with an absolute guarantee that the vehicle package you end up with is totally compliant for registration within all Australian states and territories.

Can you supply all the parts and components I will need to build the car?

Yes. Roaring Forties supply every part, component, assembly, nut and bolt required to build our car in its entirety. And best of all, it will be totally compliant for registration in Australia.

What does my car get registered as?

In Australia, replica cars are registered as Individually Constructed Vehicles. (ICV’s) They must comply to a series of relevant Australian Design Rules (ADR's), as well as each individual states local transport department’s regulations, and in particular, the exhaust emissions standards.

What engine combinations can I use?

Some States allow recently released motors to be used (ADR 37.01 compliant) - 1999 or later. For these applications the Ford 5 litre Windsor can be used. Other states require motors that comply with the current emission standard (ADR 79.00) - 2003 or later.

Our chassis has been designed to accept the 302 Windsor, Ford Modular 4.6 V8 and the Ford Modular 5.4 V8. Examples of each engine option have been registered in various states of Australia. In addition Roaring Forties have designed an engine/chassis/body/accessory system specifically for these applications. Everything fits together.

We also have high performance variations that are totally compliant for Australian registration at levels of 260kW, 290kW and a supercharged version bringing 373kW to the table. Legally! (Higher outputs are also available, but predominantly for track use)

How hard is it to register the car overseas?

Every country, and even different states, will have varying rules on how to register your car. You should contact the registering authority in your area to ascertain the local requirements.

Do you organise delivery of my car and if so, how much does it cost?

Yes we can arrange freight for your car and we will provide you freight costing on request.

Can you build me a complete car?

It is illegal for Roaring Forties or any other ICV (Individually Constructed Vehicle) manufacturer within Australia to build complete turn key cars under Federal Law. We can, however, assist you at any stage of the build or recommend RF approved build service providers to ensure superior quality and guaranteed compliance.

What happens if I buy a turn key car from someone?

We don’t sell turn key cars, as mentioned above. Manufacturers expose themselves to large fines if they breach these rules. Also, the vehicle in question won’t be registrable within Australia. Further to that, any car that is found to be in breach of these ICV rules runs the risk of being permanently de-registered by government bodies.

How much help is available when building an RF GT40?

As much as you need! We are leading the way in customer support. We offer extensive support from our comprehensive manual, through to phone calls, emails, new website assistance and even one-on-one instruction with our Senior Design Engineer.

We also offer “Build Information” nights at our factory, where current and prospective owners and builders can meet to discuss the vehicle and their builds, as well as learn what new product development is happening within RF. Our engineers also give demonstrations of new products and speak with owners on a one to one basis. Similar builder’s sessions are also held in other states around Australia.

We support our interstate builders by flying our senior engineer out to state capitals to meet with existing and potential customers, and speak with them on all things RF GT40.

We recognise that there may be an area of your build that you’re uncomfortable with, so we have developed a list of trusted service providers to help you if you wish or we are happy to speak with you on the phone regarding different stages of your build and how to keep making progress in any areas you find challenging.

What can you supply me?

We can supply any or all of the required components for you to build your own RF GT40 from start to finish.

Roaring Forties supply every single nut, bolt, part, panel, assembly, etc, to completely build a legally compliant car.

We also provide advice, support and even examples of vehicle builds if necessary. If you need specific modifications to suit your build, we can help you develop those too through one-on-one discussions and our rapid prototyping division.

Can I buy the car in stages?

Yes. The Roaring Forties GT40 replica is well suited to modular building. It has been designed to be built as an individually constructed vehicle (ICV) and the build is available in 4 stages. Each stage comprises a series of detailed kits (160 kits available), each containing every component and part required to complete that stage. Each stage is priced and this information is available on this website. Please contact us for more detail.

Can I buy just the chassis and or body separately?

Yes. Typically, most people will start with Stage 1. This contains the chassis fundamental suspension components and aluminium panel set (Approx. $18,000). You can also get Stage 1 with the Body Kit (Approx. $24,000), Our part and component structure allows the supply of “kits” for all aspects of the vehicle build from just the steel chassis, all the way through to every last nut and bolt.

Can I get the chassis painted or powder coated?

Yes. We suggest that each chassis is etched and powder coated prior to delivery. The primary colour is a satin black, but other colours are available at no extra cost.

Can I get Left Hand Drive?

Yes, we do supply all parts and components to build a LHD Roaring Forties GT40 replica. The LHD option is NOT a conversion of a RHD car, it is designed as LHD from the ground up. This includes LHD dashboard, steering rack, gear shift mechanism, etc., etc. - the lot.

How much does your car weigh?

The standard base level vehicle, equipped with a compliant 302 Windsor engine and 6 speed Getrag O1E transmission & air conditioning, weighs around 1100kg (2440 lbs). The same vehicle with the Modular 5.4 litre V8 is around 1200kg (2652 lbs). Various options are available when you are building the car (see options list) and these may alter the mass of the vehicle.

VEHICLE CONSTRUCTION

What do I have to fabricate?

Nothing. Every basic part is included in the RF kits and stages. Apart from folding the laser cut aluminium sheet metal, if you choose to do this yourself, you actually don't have to make anything. If you're using some non-standard pieces, we can also help you adapt them.

Do you include the nuts and bolts?

Yes. Every fastener required for each kit is included in that kit. There are over 160 kits in total, available to construct the entire vehicle.

Just how much time will construction take?

Expect to spend about 600-800 hours building your RF GT40. Of course, time will vary depending on many factors such as: organisation and layout, skill level in various areas, tools, interruptions, etc. This time is constantly being reduced with RF engineers improving the design of the car and implementing modern production techniques.

Do I use a donor car?

No, we supply all components required to build a RF GT40. Our vehicle is a new car that is required to pass a number of strict design rules for registration, and consequently we have taken and modified the best components from a number of OEM’s in order to get through these requirements safely, while still holding as closely as possible to the original GT 40 design intent.

DRIVE-TRAIN

What engine do you recommend?

In Australia, replica GT40's are considered to be new vehicles and must comply with all relevant Australian Design Rules (ADR's), as well as each individual state’s local transport department’s regulations, in particular, exhaust emissions standards.

Some States allow older motors to be used (ADR 37.01 compliant) - 1999 or later. For these applications the Ford 5 litre Windsor can be used. Other states require motors that comply with the recent emission standard (ADR 79.00) 2003 or later. Our chassis has been designed to accept the 302 Windsor, Ford Modular 4.6 and the Ford Modular 5.4 engine. We have customers who, between them, have various cars running all of these engine variants now. In addition Roaring Forties have designed an engine/chassis/body/accessory system specifically for each of these applications.

In North America or the UK, the Ford 5 litre Windsor engine can be used, or alternatively the Ford Mustang 4.6 or 5.4 litre alloy Quad Cam, as all have been engineered into this chassis/drive-train combination.

How about a Cleveland/other engines?

Because we have engineered the chassis to take engines from the 302 Windsor to the 5.4 lt Modular Ford engine, there is substantial latitude to use varying engine combinations. See above or speak to us about any specific engine that you would like to use.

Can I dry-sump the engine?

The original GT40 used a wet sump system, but a dry sump can be fitted. Several vehicles in the field have already been converted, with many of these visiting race tracks regularly.

What transaxle should I use?

The car is designed around the Getrag O1E (6 Speed) transaxle. Also, all mating components such as adapter plates, clutch assemblies, etc. (every nut and bolt in-fact) are available from Roaring Forties, for this design.

Can I use a different transaxle?

Although Roaring Forties only support the Getrag O1E (6 Speed) transmissions, some customers have elected to fit other transmissions such as Porsche G50 and ZF. Due to the fundamental chassis and body design, not all other transaxles will fit without chassis modifications. Speak to us about your requirements.

What about the shift lever and linkages?

The right-hand-drive version mounts the gear lever on the right sill as per the original GT40 design, running the shift rod next to the seat. The kit comes with the shifter stick and all linkages to the transaxle. The gear lever is spring loaded in the 3-4 gate, and has a reverse lockout built in.

The left-hand-drive version mounts the shift lever on the centre console, similar to the original MK3 street cars.

What kind of clutch should I use?

Obviously the clutch choice will be dependant on engine torque. Roaring Forties have a selection of normal and heavy duty clutch assemblies already designed and proven in this application. All mating components such as throw-out bearings, flywheels, spigot bearings, etc., are also available.

What are “Pin Drive” wheels?

The very early GT40’s used narrow wire wheels. These were quickly superseded by cast magnesium wheels secured by a single, central “wing nut”. The rear axles had 6 “pins” protruding from the flange, which the wheel is located on. The torque was transferred from the axle to the wheel via these pins and the clamp load of the “spinner”. Roaring Forties have this “Knock On” design included in the base vehicle package, although a standard 5 stud wheel hub is also available.

What kind of brakes do you use?

Front Braking is provided by 330mm (13”) ventilated and slotted rotors, with floating twin piston callipers as a standard offering. Similarly, on the rear are 315mm (12.5”) ventilated and slotted rotors with single piston callipers.

The handbrake system is an internal drum design, comprising of off shelf OEM parts for easy replacement if required.

As an option we also offer a high performance AP Racing brake system, which consists of four piston front and rear callipers.

With the 17” BRM wheels we have manufactured specifically, we can accommodate brake rotors of up to 365mm in diameter.

PERFORMANCE

What are the performance specs on the RF GT40?

Here is a list of some engine combinations and their performance. All are emissions compliant in Australia at time of writing.

ENGINE	POWER	TORQUE
302 Ford Windsor	320HP / 238kW	310 ftlb / 420Nm
4.6 SVO 2001-2003 Mustang	320HP / 238kW	315 ftlb / 427 Nm
5.4 Modular 260	349HP / 260kW	369ftlb / 500Nm
5.4 Modular Boss 290	389HP / 290kW	391ftlb / 530Nm
5.4 Modular supercharged	500HP / 373kW	406ftlb / 551Nm
5.4 Modular supercharged	603+HP / 450+kW	Nearly 900Nm

How does the car go?

Depending on the engine, 0-100 km/h times will be from 4 to 5 seconds. Top speed is contingent on the final drive ratio, but speeds in excess of 250 km/h and 0-100 km/h times of less than 5 seconds are normal, but with modified & tuned engines, these times can be dramatically improved upon.

How about fuel economy?

Roaring Forties utilizes current model, technologically advanced, modern engines in a lightweight and aerodynamic chassis. Hence, the fuel economy and reliability is excellent; Far better, in fact, than current model family cars with similar engines.

COMFORT

Do you have any interior ventilation?

Natural air ventilation and an efficient air conditioning system are provided for cabin comfort. We have on dash face-level vents on both the drivers and passenger's sides. The side windows have an option of a “snap vent” as used in aeronautical industry, or the option of a window “flap” insert that helps airflow. Examples of these are available in our Image Gallery.

Can I get roll-up windows?

Sorry – this is not an option. The door shape doesn't allow space for a “roll down” window, not to mention the windows are flush with the outside body for better aerodynamics.

I'm tall. Will I fit in your car?

The foot wells have been extended to accommodate an individually located floor mounted pedal box, to assist in fitting drivers of varying heights. A lower seating area, called a “drop floor”, is incorporated in the chassis design for drivers over 6’ tall, and to date we have owners/drivers/racers of our RF GT40 vehicles who are 6’5 tall.

Also available is a door top blister, originally known as a “Gurney Bubble”, after racing driver Dan Gurney (6’5”) who won Le Mans in 1967 in a GT40. This helps provide taller drivers with more head room.

Is it loud inside the car?

Roaring Forties offer two different levels of thermal and acoustic insulation for our GT40. As a result, much road and engine noise can be eliminated from the car and a pleasant ambient noise level is acquired. It is quite easy to have a “normal” conversation in the cabin at highway speeds.

The majority of noise comes from the induction system (air intake) when the throttle is opened!

While the exhaust is not obtrusive, it is audible – obviously the level of exhaust noise depends on the exhaust system used on each individual car.

VEHICLE OPTIONS

What is a “Gulf Flare”?

Roaring Forties offer 2 different rear body clip widths. Our Standard rear clip is the MKIb and matches the 1967 factory flares. The “Gulf Flares” replicate the MkIb rear clip used on the Gulf-sponsored cars of 1969 Le Mans. These flares are reasonably subtle, adding only about 6" to the width of the car, but this accommodates wider wheels and tyres.

Other options are listed on our new website will be updated regularly.

Examples of these are available in our Image Gallery.