In 1987, this potent Vauxhall was prepared by Dave Cook Racing for the Thundersaloon Championships. It was owned by GM Dealersport for drivers John Cleland and Vince Woodman.
The car was prepared in advance of the new Carlton’s release. Cleland used his Vauxhall dealership connections to work together with GM UK and produce the new Thundersaloon competitor.
Under the rules, almost anything could be fitted as long as they stuck to the basic Carlton bodyshape. GM styling studio revised the bodywork with Kevlar panels over a genuine Carlton body.
The V8 engine is thoroughly revised to produce 570 bhp at 7000 rpm through the use of fuel injection and Bosch electronics. It uses Cosworth pistons, Carillo connecting rods and a BRC steel crankshaft.
Inside the car is completely gutted with a simple dashboard, minimal gauges, Sabelt 6 point harness and an OMP seat. Unique to the car is a rear axle gauge and switch to send cooling.
Throughout the 1987 test season the car won four times and placed third in the championship. This promising first year led to winning the 1988 championship outright.
In Detail
| type | Racing Car |
| built at | England |
| body stylist | GM Styling Studio |
| coachbuilder | Dave Cook Racing |
| engineers | Bill Cleland |
| production | 1 |
| price £/td> | £47,000 |
| engine | Chevrolet Sports V8 |
| position | Front, Longitudinal |
| block material | Aluminum |
| fuel feed | Hillborn Fuel Injection |
| displacement | 6000 cc / 366.14 in³ |
| bore | 101.60 mm / 4 in |
| stroke | 88.39 mm / 3.48 in |
| compression | 11.7:1 |
| power | 425.0 kw / 570 bhp @ 7000 rpm |
| specific output | 95.0 bhp per litre |
| bhp/weight | 495.65 bhp per tonne |
| torque | 650.8 nm / 480 ft lbs @ 4000 rpm |
| redline | 7200 |
| body / frame | Kevlar Body Panels over Steel Monocoque |
| driven wheels | RWD |
| wheel type | BBS |
| front brakes | Ventilated Discs |
| rear brakes | Ventilated Discs |
| front wheels | F 43.2 x 27.9 cm / 17 x 11 in |
| rear wheels | R 48.3 x 38.1 cm / 19 x 15 in |
| f suspension | MacPherson Strut w/Bilstein Dampers |
| r suspension | Ford Live Axle w/Bilstein Dampers, Anti- |
| curb weight | 1150 kg / 2536 lbs |
| transmission | Xtrac 5-Speed |
| tran clutch | Triple Plate |
| top speed | ~270.31 kph / 168 mph |
| 0 – 60 mph | ~4.3 seconds |
| 0 – 100 mph | ~8.0 seconds |
