Top Gear Commissions Its Own Deltawing Race Car

Call it madness or genius, but Top Gear magazine in the UK has commissioned the build of a homespun replica of the Nissan DeltawingNissan DeltaWingJapan, 2012 > present19 photos
3 videos
. The car will be built by UK car customizer Andy Saunders. 

The car's two pods will be built from fiberglass from molds Saunders created for a replica Batboat from Batman. The car will use a WestfieldWestfieldUnited Kingdom, 1981 > present2 models
39 photos
1 video
chassis, which is a Lotus SevenLotus SevenUnited Kingdom, 1957 > 19726 versions
9 photos
replica and be based on just the press photos of the Deltawing. All of the metal and extraneous bits will come from the junkyard. 

Saunders had never seen the Deltawing before Top Gear called him with the project, and he couldn't find dimensions for the car. To figure out the Deltawing's size, Saunders found Michelin's dimension for the front tires and extrapolated the math from there.

So far the car is an amalgam of anything Saunders can find. The wheels come from a Ford MondeoFord MondeoUnited Kingdom, 1993 > present5 series
355 versions
474 photos
1 video
, steering rack from a Hillman ImpHillman ImpUnited Kingdom, 1963 > 19762 versions
1 photo
, headlights from a Peugeot 207Peugeot 207France, 2006 > present190 versions
228 photos
1 video
, hood from the trunk of a Morris 1000Morris Minor 1000United Kingdom, 1963 > present1 photo
and Ford EscortFord Escort (UK)United Kingdom, 1955 > 20007 series
70 versions
28 photos
1 video
rear axle. The rear is made from a Mazda MX-5Mazda MX-5Japan, 1989 > present4 series
79 versions
377 photos
4 videos
rear bumper. There is a NissanNissanJapan, 1932 > present159 models
6957 photos
12 videos
piece on the car- the hood has cooling ducts made from the rear window vents from a BluebirdNissan BluebirdJapan, 1957 > 200514 series
132 versions
224 photos
. 

Power comes from the Westfield's 1.6l FordFordUnited States of America, 1903 > present92 models
2522 photos
11 videos
Crossflow engine with a four-speed manual. 

The car will be built on Top Gear's web site and not be shown in the magazine or on TV, or so it says. 

This seems like a fabulously bonkers idea that more publications should follow. Although, it seems like modifying a Reliant Robin might be easier, but who knows? Next, they should build an Audi R18 replica out of a Mercedes 300DMercedes-Benz 300 D Turbo...Germany, 1981 > present2 photos
and a Pontiac FieroPontiac Fiero 2M6United States of America, 1985 > present. 

Source: Top Gear