Locust (car)
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Locust is a Lotus 7 inspired kit car.
The Locust Seven differs from most other sevenesque cars in that it doesn't use a space frame chassis, but a ladder frame and a body constructed from three 8ft by 4ft sheets of 3/4" thick exterior grade or marine plywood alternatively MDF sheets. Once complete the body tub is skinned with aluminum sheet.
The original design was by John Cowperthwaite (who also designed the JC Midge) and it sold as the JC Locust by J.C. Auto Patterns. A copy of the original brochure can be viewed here. Later the production rights was taken over by T&J Sportscars who also introduced a Ford Cortina based version called the Hornet. A copy of the T&J Sportscars brochure can be viewed here. It was then taken over by White Rose Vehicles (WRV) who developed the Locust into Locust ES and also introduced the Ford Sierra based Locust SIII. In April 2000 the Locust ES was taken over by BWE Sportcars who also makes the Hornet and the Grasshopper (electric car for kids) and the Sierra based Series III was taken over by Road Tech Engineering.
The original kit/plans concept was conceived because the shape of a Seven lent itself to this type of body tub construction. The criteria being that there were no compound curves in the main body. The body tub is a small simple tapering box with slab sides. Only the GRP nose cone and wings have compound curves. The body is skinned in aluminum which only has to curve in one plane for the rear panels and the bonnet. The main components of the kit are a set of plans for the body tub and a chassis.
The chassis can be either Ford or Triumph based. The most popular chassis is for Ford components and most are fitted with a combination of Ford Escort MkII and Ford Cortina Mk IV running gear. The original car used either Triumph or Ford Cortina Front Suspension but over the years many variations and subtle changes in chassis design have taken place. There is an option from the manufacturer for double front wishbones and coil over shocks. Any engine that can be squeezed between the chassis rails can be fitted. The most popular are the Ford Kent/Xflow engine. Depending on which engine and carburettor are fitted various holes and bulges will have to be fitted to the bonnet. As the Locust is a plan built kit car, it means no two Locust cars are the same. Each builder will tackle the same area of the build in different ways using different components.
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