The Phantom GTR: A Stylish and Expertly Crafted Kit Car

Rare ONES - England as one of the world's leading sports car producing countries, apparently still has many names that were rarely known to the public before and one of them is the Phantom GTR, a remarkable British kit car, made its debut at Stoneleigh in 1998.

The Phantom GTR/Vortex GTT was a remarkable British kit car of the 1990s, made its debut at Stoneleigh in 1998. (Picture from: RareComponentCars)

It capturing attention with its exceptional design and professional execution. This stunning vehicle could effortlessly hold its own among contemporary exotics. In a glowing review from 2000, Richard Hammond hailed it as a "Superkit." Its excellence can be attributed, in part, to the impressive background of its creator, Norman Morris.

Norman Morris, the mastermind behind the Phantom GTR, boasted a lifetime of experience in the automotive industry. Beginning his career at coachbuilder Mulliner. (Picture from: RareComponentCars)

Norman Morris, the mastermind behind the Phantom GTR, boasted a lifetime of experience in the automotive industry. Beginning his career at coachbuilder Mulliner, he eventually rose to the position of Chief Design Engineer at Rover. After retiring, he established Phantom Automotive with a bold vision to offer a supercar in kit form.

The design of the Phantom GTR/Vortex GTT was entrusted to Chris Greville-Smith, a former Jaguar designer, and further refined by a leading automotive design studio in the UK. (Picture from: RareComponentCars)

The design of the Phantom GTR was entrusted to Chris Greville-Smith, a former Jaguar designer, and further refined by a leading automotive design studio in the UK. The team's unwavering commitment to delivering superior performance was evident in their extensive use of wind tunnel testing and chassis finite element analysis.

The Phantom GTR was an exquisite two-seat, mid-engine sports car. Its power came from a transversely mounted 2.6-liter Rover V-6 engine, generating approximately 178 horsepower in stock form. (Picture from: RareComponentCars)

The Phantom GTR was an exquisite two-seat, mid-engine sports car. Its power came from a transversely mounted 2.6-liter Rover V-6 engine, generating approximately 178 horsepower in stock form. The chassis was meticulously crafted using 16-gauge steel square and round section tubing, forming a robust spaceframe structure. Safety was paramount, with a bonded roll-over cage bolted to the main chassis, as well as front and rear crumple zones backed by finite element computer analysis.

The Phantom GTR/Vortex GTT chassis was meticulously crafted using 16-gauge steel square and round section tubing, forming a robust spaceframe structure. (Picture from: RareComponentCars)

To achieve remarkable handling, the suspension system featured double rubber bushed wishbones, cast steel uprights, adjustable coil spring damper units, and an anti-roll bar at the front. At the rear, a De Dion system was employed, utilizing steel uprights, four rubber bushed trailing arms, a choice of Panhard or Watts linkage, and a rear anti-roll bar. The Phantom GTR rolled on 8 x 17" alloy wheels fitted with 205/50 front and 235/45 rear radials, ensuring exceptional grip and stability.

The Phantom GTR/Vortex GTT is made of composites and excellent moulding allows for a truly beautiful paint finish. (Picture from: RareComponentCars)

In 2008, the company underwent a transformation and changed its name to Vortex Automotive Ltd. This strategic move allowed for continued development and evolution of the tested and proven platform. With the rebranding, the car became known as the Vortex GTT, and was ingeniously engineered to accommodate the potent Ford Duratec 2.0 turbo engine, generating an impressive 280 horsepower. This vehicle may be supplied as a Kit Car from €17,700, without donor car and mechanical parts.

The Virago Coupé is a turnkey car based on Vortex kit-car,  with up to 280bhp and a kerb weight of only 1,200 kg. (Picture from: DrivingYourDream)

In 2011, the company ceased production of the Phantom GTR/Vortex GTT as a kit car and shifted its focus towards expanding their range with a new model called the V2. Furthermore, Virago factory sells a turnkey vehicle for €76.500, there is also the possibility of acquiring a Vortex kit and assembling it yourself or looking for an external company to build it.  These new cars were offered as turn-key vehicles, ready to hit the road. While the company's website has remained dormant since 2016, there are indications that they continue to trade, catering to enthusiasts seeking their exceptional creations.

The Phantom GTR, later known as the Vortex GTT, represents a pinnacle of kit car design and engineering. From its origins in the hands of industry veterans to its evolution into a high-performance machine, this British marvel has left an indelible mark on the automotive landscape. While the production status may have changed, the allure of the Phantom GTR and its successor, the Vortex GTT, remains strong, making them highly sought-after by automotive enthusiasts worldwide. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | RARECOMPONENTCARS | DRIVINGYOURDREAM ]

Note: This blog can be accessed via your smart phone.