User:Kumboloi/sandbox/Guanci SJJ-1
| Guanci SJJ-1 | |
|---|---|
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| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Guanci Automobiles |
The Guanci SJJ-1 is an American sportscar produced in Woodstock, Illinois by Guanci Automobiles. Only three copies of the mid-engined coupe were produced between 1979 and 1981.
History
The SJJ-1 is the brainchild of American industrialist John Guanci, whose company manufactured industrial ovens in the 1970s. Guanci personally drove European sports cars such as the Lotus Elite, but was dissatisfied with their poor build quality and in 1977 decided to develop a comfortable and reliable sports car using American technology. In this Guanci was following the example of his role model, American automobile execitive John DeLorean.
Started work in 1977. RT article.
MT article. Fire at the factory destroyed first set of bucks and molds.
Development work on Guanci's sports car began in 1978. The SJJ-1 development team included Bob McKee, Michael Williams, Steve Norcross and Dick Kleber. They constructed a massive ladder frame made of welded steel elements. The drive technology and the chassis were obtained from General Motors. The engine was installed in front of the rear axle at right angles to the direction of travel. The first prototype was powered by a 350 cu in (5.7 L) small block Chevrolet (SBC) V8 engine that developed 220 hp (164.1 kW). The second vehicle received a turbocharged 231 cu in (3.8 L) Buick V6 engine with an output of 189 hp (140.9 kW).[1] A third car was retrofitted with a 244 cu in (4.0 L) DOHC Northstar L47 V8 used in the Oldsmobile Aurora.[2] A three-speed automatic transmission from General Motors served as power transmission.
GUANCI (US) c.1978–1990
Guanci Automobiles Inc., Woodstock, Illinois.
The Guanci SJJ-1 was a mid-engined sports car with turbocharged Buick V6 or Chevrolet V8 engines. It was an attractive 2-seat coupé design with European styling.
HP
[3]
GUANCI (USA)
Introduced in 1978, the Guanci SJJ-1 was a two-seat mid-engined coupé which looked a little like a Maserati Bora. It had all-independent suspension and a transverse turbo-charged Buick V6 engine which drove through a three-speed automatic gearbox. By 1980 a 220bhp Chevrolet V8 was fitted and the company wa stressing the excellence of its seating (a bad sign for a sports car). Despite this, and dated styling, it was still in limited production in 1990.[4]
- Two cars built with Chevy L82 engines. Oldsmobile Tornado transaxle. ref??? MT article says transaxle in first prototype was from Buick Riviera. Later mentions
- German Wikipedia says Oldsmobile V8, and Russian Carkoom says Aurora V8. The L47 was only available from 1995 to 1999.
- MT article tested fourth prototype. First - 350 SBC, second Buick V6, third turbocharged, fourth 350 SBC, Cross-fire injection (L83?)
The body was designed by John Guanci and Mike Williams. It consisted of glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) and was similar in shape to the Maserati Merak designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro. On the gently sloping front section there were hydraulically operated hidden headlights; Underneath, a narrow cooling opening ran across the entire width of the vehicle, into which two chrome-plated decorative struts were embedded. The first prototype, like the Merak, had free-standing struts behind the driver's cab that sloped towards the rear of the vehicle. The rear side panels of the later cars were glazed. An independent design feature was the large, straight air inlet behind the doors.
The first two prototypes made their public debut at the 1979 Chicago Auto Show; further show participation followed. In a 1981 interview with Motor Trend magazine, John Guanci claimed that he had invested a total of $600,000 in the development of his car and that he plans to produce about 50 cars a month. The start of series production was set for 1982; the purchase price for an SJJ-1 should be US $ 63,000.[1]
In 1982 Guanci decided against starting series production for economic reasons. The reason for this was General Motors' unwillingness to deliver engines at a discount.
By 1982 three SJJ-1s had been built. All three still exist. The first prototype is now in the Netherlands. The other two cars are owned by John Guanci.
MT article says transaxle was THM325-4L. Engine transverse? THM325 is for longitudinal mount. Changed in 1986.
MT article says the door "inners" were from the Chevrolet Monza.
McKee engineering site has picture labelled "SJJII".[5]
Features
Technical Data
| Guanci SJJ-1: | Prototype 1: | Prototype 2: | Prototype 3: | Prototype 4: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine: | 90° V8 cast iron block | 90° V6 | 90° V6 | 90° V8, cast iron block |
| Displacement: | 350 cu in (5.7 L) | 231 cu in (3.8 L) | 231 cu in (3.8 L) | 350 cu in (5.7 L) |
| Bore × Stroke: | 4.001 in × 3.48 in (101.6 mm × 88.4 mm) | 3.8 in × 3.4 in (96.5 mm × 86.4 mm) | 3.8 in × 3.4 in (96.5 mm × 86.4 mm) | 4.001 in × 3.48 in (101.6 mm × 88.4 mm) |
| Maximum power: | [convert: needs a number] at rpm | |||
| Maximum torque: | [convert: needs a number] at rpm | |||
| Compression ratio: | :1 | |||
| Valvetrain: | Single cam-in-block, pushrods, 2 overhead valves per cylinder | |||
| Induction: | Naturally aspirated | Turbocharged | Naturally aspirated | |
| Cooling: | Water cooled | |||
| Transmission: | 4-speed Automatic transaxle | |||
| Steering: | Rack and pinion | |||
| Brakes f/r: | 11.75 Disc/11.75 disc | |||
| Suspension front: | Upper and lower A-arms, coil springs over telescopic shock absorbers | |||
| Suspension rear: | ||||
| Body/Chassis: | ||||
| Track f/r: | 62 / 63 in (1,575 / 1,600 mm) | |||
| Weight distribution f/r: | ||||
| Wheelbase: | 102 in (2,591 mm) | |||
| Fuel capacity: | 22 US gal (83.3 L; 18.3 imp gal) | |||
| Wheels: | 16×9 inch Center Line wheels | |||
| Tires f/r: | 225/50VR16 BFGoodrich Comp TA | |||
| Length Width Height: |
177 in (4,496 mm) 75 in (1,905 mm) 47 in (1,194 mm) | |||
| Weight: | 3,350 lb (1,519.5 kg) | |||
References
- ^ a b Auto Katalog Nr. 26 (1982/83), S. 153.
- ^ Classic Cars, Heft 10/2011, S. 72 ff.
- ^ Georgano, Nick, ed. (2001). "G.T.M. (GB)". The Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile — G–O. Vol. 2 (2nd ed.). Chicago, Illinois: Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers. p. 653. ISBN 1-57958-293-1.
- ^ Lawrence, Mike (7 October 1996). "Cox (GB)". A to Z of Sports Cars, 1945-1990. Motorbooks. pp. 148, 149. ISBN 978-1870979818.
- ^ "Portfolio". Wolverine Custom Concepts.
Further reading
- Rusz, Joe (January 1982). "Guanci SJJ-1". Road & Track. pp. 76–?.
- Booij, Jeroen (October 2011). "Chicago Bull — Driving the Guanci SJJ-1". Classic Cars. pp. 72–?.
- Smith, Kevin (March 1985). "Driving Impression — Guanci SJJ1 GT". Motor Trend.
- "Guanci SJJ-1". SuperAuto Illustrated. November 1985.
- Motor Trend. January 1982.
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External links
Category:Cars introduced in 1979 Category:1970s cars Category:Rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive vehicles Category:Sports cars Category:Group 4 cars Category:Coupés