Detection Techniques

Somewhere in Buckingham, England

Telephone (01280) 816781

This information was taken from Top Car, May 1991, which compared the BBR Turbo with a car equipped with an IHI turbo kit and intercooler owned by Paul Lavin (who is on email, but I can't remember the address).

Paul imported the kit and suspension parts himself as (being an American living in the UK) he travelled a bit! The last I heard, Paul was selling his car to get something with more seats.

The kit fitted to Paul's car is rated at 189bhp and 165lb/ft of torque (!!!). In his own words in an email to me, he described it 'pulling like a freight train to 7,000 rpm in every gear' - not suprising considering the amount of power there for such a small car.

Suspension on his car was a combination of Rod Millen anti-roll bars and Spax UK (01869 244771) adjustable dampers with adjustable spring platforms. These are stiffer than standard and lower the car by about 2". The suspension was set up by Spydersport of Peterborough (01733 203986).

In wet conditions, the car returned a 0-60 time of 7.43 sec (in the same conditions the BBR was giving 8.70 sec), and a 0-100 time of 17.69 sec (BBR 27.90). 1/4 mile came up in 15.69 sec (BBR 16.88).

As mentioned in the article - this shows the difference between conversions performed by an authorised tuner and by a privateer.

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