Best Dino replica.
 

Hi all i'm new to this site so please excuse my possible ignorance. Does anyone know how good the CASCU body shell/chassis is ie anyone actually taken delivery of it. Does anyone know the best and most accurate replica out there. Also i have noticed that the original 246 was quite close to the MR2 MK2 in dimensions. I am very interested in a build and was wondering if anyone knew of a rough price guide on this. Thanks Pierino

body panel swaps and kits
 

Hi
Jhclassic's is producing a kit to fit the mk1 mr2. Looks convincing enough and he has a website.
The cascu body /chassis is really a 246 recreation as it uses a dino246 as a donor!! expensive but very good.
Check out dehavilland,they are using the original jhclassic's moulds, and are hoping to have something at the stonelieghly show. Wouldn't really recomend any others. Look through this site as to who-mentioning no names but members know who they are.
Ian

Ian Is correct CASCU would be the best opton to go for if you are trying to recreate the original. Check out Classic and sports cars unlimited on facebook. they are building a chassis for the GT at the moment. CASCU seem to be very busy, if you have money in your back pocket they are deffo worth seeing, I heard that they will be moving to france soon. Also you will need to have a good mechanical knowledge to make everything work if you are not using original running gear etc. I would suggest that if you have the chance to visit JHC and CASCU you must. I am currently waiting for Dehavilland to have there launch event, Unfortunately they were not at Stoneleigh this year. John Hurst is a really nice guy to speak to, and after all he created the first decent replica in the country and Dehavilland are using the same moulds. there are now some very good options availible. I would advise you to visit and look at all 4 availible options in this country, don't buy the first kit and do all your own checks credit history and minimise all risks. With all of the manufacturers only pay when you receive the goods.
Phil

Hi Phil,
thanks for your help, very interesting. Yes i know that Cascu are very busy as i have tried to contact them about this. If they are moving to France i wonder if they are still going to deal with anyone in the UK. Also last sunday i saw a real Dino in red, on the A2 near the Black Prince interchange, heading towards London, what a sight just magnificent, i havn't seen one on the road for many years, i had almost forgotten how beautiful they look in the flesh. I have checked the car's dimensions on carfolio.com and they are very close indeed to the MR2 mark 2. Also i wonder how strong the fibreglass is around the front screen area on the Cascu model, as with the targa top you loose some strength.
I also think that some parts ie braking system etc could be used from the 308 range and there are a lot of second hand stuff available, as i have contacted Eurospares on this matter. Thanks again Pierino

dino replicas
 

Hi
I visited mark at cascu earlier in the year and although he is in the middle of moving and relocating to france I think he will still be supplying body and chassis packs to those wanting them in the uk. He is hoping to source many of the parts for the dino and sometime in the future offer a complete dino kit.
I know a lot of the dino 308 gt4 parts cross over to the dino 246 but a lot doesn't.The engine and gearbox being one.And a lot of the dino 246 parts are almost impossible to get. And at the moment the 308 seems to be going up in price as well. Worth thinking about.
ian

The best thing to do with the 308gt4 (which is the most hideous looking ferrari out there) is to make it into a 246. Just imagine the proformance from the V8. I don't like what i have seen from cascu, I love it.

Mark (fibreglass), if you looking at this please please please start producing the kits, with a more affordble doner so peaple like me can build the car.

Phil

Hi Phil,
thanks for the reply, takes a lot to scrap even a dull 308 GT4, as i mentioned before, i think its quite possible to contact,say, Eurospares, as they sell second hand parts and it might be another option.

Also as i mentioned before the MK2 MR2 is so close in dimensions, that might be also an option, as you could use it initially but replace the engine, maybe for an Alfa V6 and then replace parts as you locate them.

It all comes down to cost as you can get a good 308 GTS for just under £30K and the best Kit Dino is only ever going to be just that.

Regards Pierino

dino replicas
 

Hi all
As nilfish has said the dino 308gt4 is a horrendous looking car,perhaps only useful for giving up it's parts,but there is people out there that cherish them.
Usable 308 gts are out there for around the 30grand mark, but with the high cost of owning one,running and servicing,insurance etc I guess you takes your choice. I much prefer the dino 246 and if the only way of owing one is a kit then a kit is has to be.Most of us will never own the real thing unless the lotto man comes a knocking. As you've said a kit is just a kit,but then again a 308 gts will never be a dino 246 either.
ian

Pierino

Thanks for the advise on the Mk2 mr2 but the only thing that is close to the original is the wheelbase and tracking, the A posts, targa roof, glass, doors are vastly different in size and unfortuntly this will not give the true proportions. this can easily be seen on the new JHC model. as far as bolt on kits are concerned its a good one but not near the original. However saying that the design of the mk2 is very simular to the 246, not nowhere near the same. the mr2 mk3 could be a much better doner for the GTS as the car is already a convertable. I am no engineer, so i can only look at what is availible on the market. If anyone else has given it a go i would love to know about it.

Regards Phil

Hi Ian,
yes you are of wright without dought, that a Dino is the best and so much nicer than a 308 but i was just considering the cost of building a close replica.

Also Phil, i didn't realise the proportions in the A post etc were that different, maybe you would have to then make use of a Mk3 or maybe if possible, strip off the complete body from the MK2, thanks for that info.

Regards Pierino

Please don't be put off the JHC just because of my comments ( its much easier to pick fault than to praise), most people wouldn't realise the difference. JHC have spent alot of time and effort producing a build manual and seem to be very open and clear to what they have to offer. If performance and reliability are key requirements the MR2 is the way to go, also it would be worth looking at woodsport who specialise in engine conversions for V6 and V8 engines turbo and non turbo, without any doubt you would end up with a supercar in its own right. I have had a go in woodsports demo it is fantastic. check them out online, Paul is very approachable and has a good question and answer forum/site showing his work.

Please keep us upto date with any findings you have.

Regards

best dino replica
 

Hi
take a look on ebay. Jhclassic's dgt2 for sale in red,loads of upgrades
£18,000.
ian

Hi Ian, thanks for the reply really interesting and thanks for letting me know the difference between De Hav and Cascu. Do you know how much Cascu are charging for body or body and chassis. I will look up the Europa thread and do you know anyone using the Cascu for hill climbs as you mention.

Regards Pierino

dino
 

Hi

Sorry I don't know of any one using them personally. It's something I was told.
As to price the replica chassis is around £3400 and the body about the same. To this you'll need a dino 308gt4 at around £12000 upwards for the running gear.

Ian

dino
 

Hi

The price I quoted in my last post is for the coupe gt. The spider or gts is more money.

ian

Hi Ian thanks for the reply, not a bad price really, being that it 's an exact copy. I would use the Alfa engine and gearbox though, as i'm not a great fan of the unreliability of those engines and i love a V6 sound. Also i have found a company called Superperformance and they specialise in Ferrari parts for the Dino, at very reasonable prices. So i could use some real parts here and there on the body ie boot skin, engine lid, sills, bonnet skin, door skin and several bulk head bits too, all in steel. I did contact Eurospares, who are breaking a Dino and i couldn't believe the costs of the same parts i have listed and they are second hand, sorry but i think a joke. Obviously it couldn't be registered with DVLA as a Ferrari but a donor 308 could and see anyway round this. Regards Pierino

CASCU Dino bodies and chassis
 

I just read through this and thought I had better add a bit more info.
The original front bulkhead etc in the 246 are in fact fibreglass not steel as are most of the inner panels. The 308s were the same, many of the inner panels were again made from fibreglass. All our inner panels as well as the main body and chassis were taken from original cars which is why we also supply owners of original 246s with inner panels when they need them.
At the moment we are only supplying the bodies and chassis and not a complete kit until we are able to supply all the necessary parts.
We will be back in the UK soon so will be continuing the chassis build on facebook.
Just a quick note as far as a donor 308 goes, these are about for under £10K or if not then the Mondial is an option for the engine/box and a few other parts. You don't think the breaker yards pay top money for a car and then strip it do you ?

Hi Mark just back from hols now and been given it some thought. Do you do any level of build and would it take the Alfa V6, as it's reliable and finding a Dino V6 would be literally impossible and i am not too bothered about the mechanical side of the car, as i'd want to use it without any reliability issues. I remember also that you said you have supplied around 8 bodies so far and just wondering whereabouts in the Uk. Lastly you mention that you have sourced some Dino parts, would these be on offer too, as to make it look authentic. Kind Regards Pierino

Hi Pierino

Sorry at the moment I would not be able to do any builds especially if it involved an engine/gearbox combination that would require modification of the chassis. I do not know where many of these bodies are now, however one did turn up in Australia a while back complete with chassis but I believe it's now in the USA. There is another one in Berkshire being built using a 328 chassis and 360 running gear. I have lost track of the part built one that I put a few pictures of on my facebook page. I do have many original Dino parts both new and used but these are not for sale as I am hoping to get some of these reproduced and others will probably be kept to build a car myself. There are several other parts I can source new and would be happy to pass on details to my customers.
Hope this helps
Thanks
Mark