Quantum Sports Cars
Encyclopedia
Early models
Quantum's first car was the Mark1 hatchback (also referred to as the Mk1 coupé) which was based on the Mark1 Ford FiestaFord Fiesta
The Ford Fiesta is a front wheel drive supermini/subcompact manufactured and marketed by Ford Motor Company and built in Europe, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Venezuela, China, India, Thailand and South Africa...
. It reused all of the donor's mechanical and trim components in an elongated, more rounded shape. Due to its reduced weight over the donor vehicle, performance was significantly improved. The Coupé is unusual for low-volume car manufacture in that it has a glass-reinforced plastic (grp) monocoque rather than a separate metal chassis. This approach relied upon the use of computer analysis to ensure that structural rigidity would not be compromised, offering the strength of a steel chassis but without the weight penalty.
The first Mark1 Quantum, bearing chassis number 001, was a development mule and was subject to so much adjustment that the Wooldridge brothers eventually decided the car would be too dangerous to keep on the road. This car was therefore disposed of in landfill. Chassis 002 was later damaged beyond repair in a head-on collision, so chassis 003 is now the oldest surviving example of a Quantum model and the first to be sold, after a short period being used for magazine tests and promotional materials. To ensure this historic car survives, the Quantum Owners Club
Quantum Owners Club
Quantum Owners Club is a club for people who own or have an interest in Quantum Cars, which are a type of Kit car produced by Quantum Sports Cars. The club was formed in early 1990 by Peter Crawford, who having built a white Series One Coupé, decided to form an Owners Club for people who were...
have acquired this car and are in the process of restoring it. The last Mark1 Coupé produced, chassis number 017, is also now owned by the club.
In 1991, a restyled version was introduced, now based on the Mark2 Ford Fiesta and changed the rear-end shape from a hatchback to a saloon. This and other styling revisions led to far greater sales success: a total of 215 saloon models were produced before that model also ceased production.
2+2 Convertible
By 1993 the firm was also offering a 2+2 convertible, also based on the Mark2 Ford Fiesta, which has been Quantum's most successful model with 431 examples built to date. Since the previous model had evolved, at the time the Wooldridges considered this to be their second model: numbering therefore began 'Q2-001'. One 2+2 (numbered Q2-275: pictured), with a two-litre engine rather than the more common Fiesta XR2 one, was widely featured in magazine articles (KitCar magazine August 1999 edition) and also loaned to the BBC's Top Gear magazineTop Gear (magazine)
Top Gear is an automobile magazine published by BBC Worldwide, and named after the BBC's Top Gear television show. It was first published in October 1993 and is published monthly at a price of £3.95. The major presenters of the television series—Richard Hammond, James May and Jeremy Clarkson—are...
for testing. The car was driven by Jeremy Clarkson
Jeremy Clarkson
Jeremy Charles Robert Clarkson is an English broadcaster, journalist and writer who specialises in motoring. He is best known for his role on the BBC TV show Top Gear along with co-presenters Richard Hammond and James May...
and his wife who compared it favourably with mass-market alternatives such as the Mazda Mx5 during the test. The only criticism was based on the smell of new fibreglass.
Another 2+2, number 013, originally assembled by its owner in Pinner, North West London, in 1993, the only one resident outside Europe, now lives in New Zealand. A Ford 1800cc diesel was substituted for the original XR2 petrol engine, and a turbocharger has been added. The vehicle is in daily use, both as a family car and - with or without a trailer - for some of the parcel carrying activities of Allbays Transport, an Auckland North Shore based passenger and courier goods transportion business.
The 2+2 is still in production although plans have been mooted by the current owner to further revise the design to offer more spacious rear seats and switch to a more readily available donor vehicle, the Mk2 Fiesta now itself being quite rare.
H4
By the time this model emerged, Harvey Wooldridge now considered this to be the fourth car he had designed, hence the name H4. The H4 was based on the Mark3 Fiesta and used what is often erroneously referred to as a 'surrey top' roof panel (which could be stored in the boot) and a rear section which could rotate into the bodywork to make a full convertible. At the beginning of development the curved glass for this rear section proved hard to source but eventually an Italian supplier was found.The H4 was produced from 1998 until 2003, when the Wooldridge brothers announced that they were looking to sell the rights to manufacture Quantum cars. As part of the sale, the H4's moulds were sold to an Iranian company. Rights to build the H4 outside the Middle East were retained but without the costly moulds it is unlikely that production will be resumed in the UK.
Current models
There was a change of ownership and a move to Devon in 2001, and around the same time the XTreme model and the Sunrunner were introduced.Xtreme
Lightweight two seater sevenesque sports car
The Xtreme represents a modern interpretation of the Lotus 7 theme. Unusually for this type of car it has practical features such as a sizeable lockable boot and more generous cockpit space. It utilises a stainless steel monocoque chassis. It was the fist Quantum to have rear wheel drive
http://www.quantumcars.co.uk/res/user/2_main-xtreme.jpg
Sunrunner
Modern interpretation of the beach buggy
The Sunrunner was a beach-buggy style of car based on the Mk 3 Fiesta and bought in to add to the Quantum portfolio rather than designed in-house. It is rear engined and rear wheel drive
http://www.quantumcars.co.uk/res/user/1_main-sunrunner.jpg
2+2
Traditional 2+2 soft top
Front engine / Front wheel drive
http://www.quantumcars.co.uk/res/user/3_main-2plus2.jpg
