Chris Thomas

Email: chris_thomas11@hotmail.com
Town & State: Scottsdale, Arizona

Type of car: Diablo SV from D&R
Body: D&R Replicars
Chassis: 1985 Fiero SE
Engine: 1996 Corvette LT4 with some performance modifications
Transmission: Porsche 915 with 930 differential and 930 hubs
Starting Date: 5/2001
Projected Finished Date: Unknown

Influences: Dale’s web site is what originally caught my attention. Email correspondence with both Dale and Endre “Andy” Bujtas inspired me to journey down this path. Of course some positive encouragement from my wife Karen was a huge boost as well.

Occupation: Software Engineer
Hobbies: Use to be golf, now the kit car and kids

4/13/03 The history of my build as well as short term plans are as follows:
1) I got interested in this hobby when I cam across Dale's site a few years back. I asked him several questions and decided I wanted to build a Diablo as well.

2) I purchase an Exotic Rebodies kit 2 years ago now.

3) I then purcahsed a local 1985 SE Fiero which is planned for the donor. It has been stripped and is ready for the stretch.

4) I obtained a 1996 LT4 from a wrecked Corvette and have totally rebuilt it.

5) Also have a Porche 915 transaxle which was rebuilt with the ring gear flipped. Also added 930 differential and hubs as Andy suggested for strength.

6) I have the adaptor plate, clutch compoents and started which was obtained from Renegade.

7) Sometime last year I realized that the Exotic Rebodies kit was more than I was willing to handle. What I mean by that is you only get the fiberglass body (for the most part). I would need to obtain or fabracate all assesories (Wndshield, hinges, struts, lights, weather stripping etc.). After doing a little math, I determined that it would probably cost about as much to obtain all of these parts as it would have to purchase a more complete kit. Besides that it would take a bit more time, which seems to be my rarest commodity with two young girls (3 and 5 years old). So I sold it on ebay this past November.

8) I had toured the D&R shop last fall and realized this is the kit I really wanted. So, when they started advertising a sale a couple of weeks ago, I decided to pull the trigger and get the kit. I actually put my 50% deposit down last Friday on the SV kit. I am suppose to fly out to Allentown, PA and rent a truck to bring it back on May 9th. I will then drive it back to Phoenix. I am pretty excited about getting this kit, it should help accelerate my schedule from many years to only a few.

9) I have also been talking to Dave Held from HeldMotorSports. Actually he sold his business abut 2 weeks ago. The new owner will not be providing the cradle, so I am working with Dave to make one for me on the side. He planned on keeping that part of the business for his spare time. So it may be a few weeks before I am able to obtain the cradle and frame extension from Dave. This is what I need for my next step in my build.

10) I am also leaning toward purchasing the Held Salom Front Suspension and brake system from the new Held owner. Still need to work out the details there.

Anyways that is my story in a nutshell. Sorry it was so long. One of these days I will post my pictures on the Support Center Diaries. I am a slow mover on my build so I don't want to post and show so little progress.

Regards,
Chris