History - Pt4

THIS PAGE PICTURES: This is the second factory car, still using the first bodyshape, which was remodelled for all subsequent Cyclones. This car was actively campaigned in competition by both Terry and Leigh.

The Cyclone's eventual production run was surprisingly short. The cars were time consuming to manufacture and sales never reached the volume needed to sustain a full business.

After just 32 cars, the project was pulled in 2000 and Car Craft reverted to the servicing, painting and MoTs that had sustained it throughout the time the Cyclone had been in production.

The project was sold to a couple of guys who formed LG Engineering to market the Cyclone. I met them at the Stoneleigh show that year and they were full of good intensions. Sadly it didn't last, after a big falling out between them, resulting in the moulds and jigs being destroyed in a fit of anger.

At least, that's the story that anyone who contacted them was told. Terry certainly feels this may be the case, but I still have my doubts. Why? Because I saw all the moulds and jigs when they were stacked up at Car Craft, and there was a lot of them. Destroying them is not the moment of an hour or two, but more like a concerted week of demolition! So are the moulds still resting in a lock up (or two) somewhere? Who knows.

Terry and Leigh Whiteman now run Auto Mirage, a dedicated paintshop and repair shop.

Of all the kits sold, two have sadly been written off (both in fires), while all the others are still around, with one or two still requiring finishing. If you fancy buying a second-hand example, they do occasionally come up for sale (see the Cars 4 Sale section on this site) and currently command prices from around £6500 to perhaps just over £10,000 for a very tidy car with high spec engine.

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