01 June 2009 - 11:00
Texas star
TVR may be dead, but the spirit of weirdly styled, big-engined supercars lives on.
In Texas, to be precise. This is the Bailey Blade, a supercar prototype from Texan entrepreneur Neal Bailey which, we reckon, captures much of the TVR approach to car-building. At least, that bit before the Russian chappie took over and messed it all up.
OK, the Bailey Blade might, on the face of it, be another one of those 'bash an AC Cobra around in Photoshop, pick a bunch of big numbers out the air but never actually get round to building it’ garage fantasties, but there are a couple of things here that make us mildly optimistic.
First, it looks cool. It’s not exactly a subtle, understated piece of design, but tell us you wouldn’t be impressed if one passed you on the motorway.
Second, Bailey seems determined to bring the Blade into production – albeit a very limited production. He came up with the design a couple of years back, and now has a generous investor backing the project. He’s hoping to have three prototypes on the road by this autumn, and reckons he could deliver five customer cars next year.
The Blade is expected to be powered by a Roush-sourced 5.8-litre V8 putting out around 480bhp and 450lb ft of torque, though Bailey believes an all-electric version could follow.
Easy there, Mr Bailey. Keep it simple. And best of luck.
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The front and the wheels do remind me of the Viper...
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I hope this car will be put into production because from this angle it looks very cool.
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Good lord...an American car that looks alright. Ya never know, it might even go round corners.
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i was gonna say it looked like a TVR. well topgear beat me to the punch.
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"It looks good because it's styled like a European car." - Jeremy Clarkson.
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Yep. The front looks like a viper gts. thats not a bad thing. I also think the back looks like a Marcos tso. Also a good thing. Hopefully Bailey will make more than 5. Oh, but forget the electric one. Stick with the V8. Just what you need in the recession.
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Yep, definitely a Viper from the front - it's promising. I think we'll have to agree to agree on the back as well - definitely been an affair with Marcos in that department. Finally, we gotta agree on the V8 - no 10 mile range electrics here please Mr Bailey!
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Amazing. I think it's staggering.
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This is the second Bailey Blade I'm aware of. The first renderings came about in January 2008. That might not be a good sign. Or it means they've been developing it for nearly a year and a half, which would be a very good thing. I really like the profile line that goes from nose to tail down the side. Nice 'n' curvy, but sharp-edged, as if it's a '60s curve with a '00s twist.(http://www.carwalls.com/cars/119-Bailey wallpapers.html - old pictures)
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Wotski, you're only showing your own ignorance with that statement.
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I agree with DCalhoun, the first thing that popped into my mind after looking at that was the Dodge Viper. If it's anything close to the real Viper in terms of the driving experience, it'll be good. But chromed alloys, really...!!! a bit 70's i think. But it is an american car so maybe thats justified. I think they should make it look more scary and hardcore, the front's alright but the rear needs to be made more pointy and agressive.
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Wotski, not all of us here in the Great State of Texas are as simple-minded and uneducated as you seem to be. Please have a little respect for your fellow man. And for the record I am not, nor have I ever been a redneck. I have many gay friends who are active in their communities. Nobody that I know wears boots or a cowboy hat except when drinking out in the country. The only person with a pickup I know is a rancher. I have no snakes in my yard, but snake is ok to eat if it's cooked right. And finally, George Bush is a Connecticut yankee-carpetbagger, who bankrupted several companies and our own state government before he ruined the rest of the world. So, if anything, we have hated him longer in this state than the rest of the county and the world did. He's not our fault, blame the people of New England for him. In fact my state is home to a wide array of people and cultures who would probably take great offense at your hateful statements.
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Its headlamps looks like Mazda 3 and its windshield like Mazda MX-5
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wrewrewrewrwerwr
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Going to sound a little odd but is it just me, or are the wheels a little too small for this length of car?
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I think the front looks like a cobra, not like a Viper. There's some likeness to real snakes there. But honestly, since I saw a true Cobra on the road a while back, I don't think anyone will ever build a car that'll look as impressive as the real thing did.
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fantastic and with a hint of lunacy, quite nice.
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where do i buy one, in jet black or british racing green please..........
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three words. i want one!
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three words. i want one!
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The front looks like a Marcos Mantis
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DCalhoun commented on this article
01 June 2009
Is it just me or does the front look like a Viper GTS?
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