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"The Ultimate Component Sports Car!" Build a SUPERCAR not Replicar!
Dear Kit Car Enthusiast,
Thank you for taking the time to check out our original design car, The Dragon Roadster!
If you haven't seen Kit Car Magazine's Feature on our "Fire Breather", check out the July Issue article on the Dragon Prototype which was raced to victory in KCI's Run & Gun 2001.
Skip directly to: FAQs
Body Construction The Frame The Suspension The Engine and Transmission
How Does the Car Perform? What is included in "The Basic Kit"? How Much Does it Cost to Build?
Terms and Conditions
Why Did We Develop the Dragon?
Originally, I was just going to buy and build a kit. I wanted a unique, high performance sports car. I wanted stunning looks, race car inspired chassis, low weight, and driver comfort. At 6'2" and 230lbs, a tiny driver's compartment was out of the question. And, since I had never built a car before, it had to be relatively easy to build.
I never did find a kit that fit all my requirements, so I settled for one that met some of them. The car turned out well(see Kit Car Illustrated Aug 2001), but it still wasn't what I really wanted, so I sold it and set out to build my own car.
Two of my best friends became enthused about the project, so we formed a partnership to build our Dream Car, the Dragon.
The Body Style
We love the late '50s through mid '60s sports cars. So, we looked to them for design inspiration. Look closely at the Dragon and you will see influences from the Lister Knobbly, Cobra, Daytona Coupe, Jaguar, McClaren, and Ferrari. We believe that the car looks awesome.
Body Construction
We used an accomplished mold-maker and fiberglass/composite expert to help us translate our vision into final form. Bill Hough is well known to kit car manufacturers, and has been instrumental in developing several bodies which are currently on the market.
Our body is non-stressed, meaning that it is not a structural part. This reduces the chance of stress cracks. Anything structural on our car is bolted to steel, not fiberglass.
The hood is one piece, tilts forward to provide easy access to the engine, front suspension, etc. It comes off by removing the two hinge bolts.
The main body consists of an inner tub that has the footboxes and seats molded into it. This tub is bonded to the outer skin forming a strong, rigid body. By removing a few bolts, the entire body can be lifted off the chassis!
For ease of service and building, we made the tops of the footboxes removable. Headers, sparkplugs, pedal assemblies, carpeting are all easy to get at.
The dash is removable, making installation of gauges, wiring, and switches a snap. We even have a fuse box mount pre-formed. Even the transmission cover is removable making work on the shifter, tranny and driveshaft simple.
Our body is hand-laid fiberglass using vinylester resin, and is finished in sandable gel coat. A typical cost to finish and paint the body is $2500 - $3500.
Finally, when you receive your kit, you will find that the doors, trunk, hood, inner liners aare already installed. No fiberglass work is required.Back to Top
The Frame
We are very proud of our frame. It's strong and beautiful. For its construction, we acquired the services of Fred Rosner of Rosner Race Cars. Fred has been fabricating winning chassis for 40 years! And is a recipient of Nascar's Prestigious Fabricator of the Year Award.
Constructed of period correct round tubing, our 4" round tubes form a perimeter around the occupants. Running parrallel there is 1-1/2" round tubing 8" above the 4" Main Tubes. This forms an incredibly strong truss, which eliminates flex and provides protection for the occupants.
Our car was built on scales. The placement of every component was carefully considered for balance and weight distribution. The result is a near perfect 50/50 weight distribution.
Our frames feature:
With our frame, you sit IN it, not on it, which results is a low center of gravity. And although it looks massive, it weighs only 260lbs.
The frame comes painted with epoxy primer, top-coated with satin black chassis paint. Back to Top
The Suspension
Let's face it, we Chevy lovers have been largely neglected by the Kit Car world. Cobras and Fords dominate. We wanted to level the playing field a little, so we chose Chevy Corvette suspension. Our frame accepts 1988 to 1996 C-4 Corvette A-frames, steering, and rear ends. These parts are used in their standard width so there are no modifications required. We did, however, change from monoleaf to coil-over suspension. This conversion is easy to do and we provide the necessary brackets to do so. They simply bolt in!
front susp rear
Real sports cars have Independent Rear Suspension, and the C-4 Corvette's is arguably the best that is readily available. Also, those aluminum parts are light and very cool.
Some people think that Corvette parts are expensive and hard to come by. This is NOT the case. Typically, you will spend about $1200-$1500 for a complete USED front and rear. Rebuild parts are readily available. For example, Autozone has rebuilt calipers loaded with pads for about $90.00, Rotors are ~$50.00, Steering Racks are ~$200.00/exchange. By the way, the standard Corvette rack is 2-3/4 turns lock to lock and can be used as a manual or powered rack.
Engine
ZZ4 under the Hood
In keeping with the Chevy theme, the Dragon uses Small Block Chevy power, with an all-up weight of 2000 - 2200lbs. It doesn't take big power to produce supercar performance. We have not done performance testing yet, but with a 355hp Chevy ZZ4 engine, quarter-mile times should be in the high 11's at 115-118mph. The ZZ4 is available brand new for ~$3,400, so it's not necessary to spend big money to get big performance.
Of course, the combinations are endless. You are only limited by your imagination and pocket book!
Transmissions
We provide mounts for most popular transmissions, even automatics!
The standard Corvette has a high 2's to low 3's rear end ratio, the most popular being a 3.07. To utilize this ratio, you need a transmission with a low first gear. The Richmond 4-spd typically has a 2.43 First gear. This is too high, which would require slipping the clutch to get under way. They offer a 2.88 which is better, but still not perfect.
A better choice is the Richmond 5-spd, which has a perfect 3.27 First. The Fifth gear is 1:1 which, with the 3.07 rear is perfect.
The Tremec 5-spd can also be used. Again it has a 3.27 First, but the Fifth is an overdrive. The standard overdrive is 32% which, with the 3.07 rear is too big a reduction. But, they have an optional 16% overdrive which works great with a mild engine such as the ZZ4.
The Richmond 4-spd cost is ~$1400, the 5-spd ~$1900, and the Tremec is ~$2200. Back to Top
How Does the Car Perform?
Prototype @ 2001 Run & Gun
We took the prototype Dragon to Kit Car Illustrated's 2001 Run & Gun Event at St. Louis' Gateway International Raceway. Right off the trailer, we were the fastest car in class. We won the Autocross by over 5 seconds, and we won the Road Race by almost 5 seconds. We probably would have won the Drags, but we broke a brand new U-joint which put us out.
ZZ4 and Ruby427 @ 2002 Run & Gun
The updated Production Dragon looks even better, has more "user friendly" improvements for building it/working on the car, and handles like a slot car. The Ruby Dragon repeated as Street Big Block Class Winner in both Auto-cross and Road Course at 2002 Run & Gun by even larger margins.
On the Roadcourse Run & Gun 2002
The Dragon handles like a race car, and yet the ride is smooth and compliant.
Comfort
Our goal was to create a car that was comfortable to drive and ride in. How many cars have you checked out that looked cool, but were virtually impossible to sit in, let alone drive?
Our seats are molded in and are very comfortable. Designed for myself, 6'2" and 230lbs, they lock you into place. There's an arm rest on either side, the steering wheel falls to hand, the gauges are in plain view and all switches are at your finger tips. If you are smaller, then pop-rivet our optional seat into place or build up the seat with memory foam. Once you slide into the seat, check out the leg room. I sit with my legs almost straight out, and the footbox is wide enough for proper pedal spacing.
Pedal placement can be conformed to you, so whether you're tall or short, you can fit comfortably. Even if you're 6'6", the dash and footboxes can be modified to accommodate you!
Because of the shape of the hood and height of the windshield, you will find the cockpit a comfortable place to be while driving. There is virtually no wind finding its way into the cockpit.
Sit back and enjoy the ride!
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The Dragon can be fitted with heat and A/C. We have designed a built-in mounting location for the unit and there is plenty of room under the dash for vents.
A convertible top is planned and also a hard Targa top, so, soon, the Dragon can be fitted for any type of weather. Back to Top
What Does a Dragon Cost and What Do I Get?
If you choose the $13,900 Dragon Kit , this includes:(other configurations)
We use readily available parts that can be ordered through Chevy, Summit, Jeggs, etc.
Options:
OR Click here to see some other Kit Configurations.
How Much Does it Cost to Build?
To build your Dragon using a ZZ4 motor and Tremec 5-spd Transmission, allowing $2500 for paint and $1500 for wheels and tires, and using our $13,900 Kit, you will spend between $27,000 and $29,000. This is using all new parts except for the USED Corvette suspension pieces.
While this is not cheap, if you shop around, I think you will find that it's a very competitive price. And, I don't believe that you can match our quality or performance for anything close to that amount. Back to Top
Is It Hard to Build?
No car is easy to build. You need basic mechanical skills and a good assortment of tools. If you had auto shop, work on your own cars or like to build things, you can build this car.
We have eliminated the need to do welding and fiberglass work. We recommend that you use a professional to do the body prep and paint.
We have built three cars to date. We've incorporated many improvements and changes into the final kit to make it easier to build.
Also, we are available 9AM to 5PM Monday through Friday to answer any questions.
Our goal is to make you happy. It's only by satisfying YOU that we have a future in this business.
You can build this car!
Our production is limited to approximately one car per month. To reserve a car, we require a deposit of 25% of the Kit Cost. Upon receipt of your deposit, we will send you a contract and confirmation which will clearly state the ship date. You have 10 days to review the paper work. If you change your mind for any reason, notify us within 10 days and we will refund your deposit.
When your kit is complete, we will notify you. Once we receive the Balance Due, then you can pick up your kit or have it shipped(FOB NH). Upon receipt of The Kit, you have 30 days to change your mind. We will return your money, less a 10% restocking fee. The Kit must be returned at your expense in original, undamaged condition to qualify for a refund.
-Crating Charge is $350.00. Freight is FOB Factory.
We know that we're the New Kit in town. We're here to earn your trust and respect. We want to help make building your dream car a great, fun experience.
We hope that you will seriously consider the Dragon!
scale:John(middle) is 6'2", 230 lbs
It has unique, attention getting style, race-car quality frame, Corvette suspension, Chevy Power, 50/50 weight distribution. It's 39" high, 74" wide, 169" long, has a 98-1/2" wheelbase, 5" ground clearance, and weighs between 2000 and 2200 pounds!
If, like us, this is your idea of a SuperCar, give us a call. We'll build one for YOU! Back to Top
Dragon Motor Cars (603) 863-5272