Hi all
Just an update really following the Dragons Den investment. It took neatly 8 months after the programme went live for both parties to arrive at a set of words that were mutually acceptable and sign the deal. This time saw an awful lot of info flying back and forth between solicitors, more due diligence etc etc.
Anyway deal was signed and this year has been absolutely manic. I have learnt loads, met some really amazing people, attended some very interesting events at Universities, charities and organisations as well as carried on with the day to day running of AB Performance.
I said I had learnt an awful lot, one of these things being regarding car manufacture to that end I stripped the Sabre project back to it's bare nuts and bolts and started again from the ground up in order to properly productionise it. Every component has been drawn and part numbered and dated. Each part has had a machine file, bend file, laser cut profile created depending on it's designation. New 25 mm thick steel plate jigs have been laser cut and assembled and we invested over £10k in having the body and chassis scanned, a geometry report and refinements made. The result is an all new T45 space frame design in accordance with the revamp remit - stronger/ lighter/faster. The new car features all new billet uprights, bespoke billet steering racks and is universal in the sense that it can be converted from rhd to lhd to centre single seater in around 2 hours.
Behind this revamp was the need to productionise to a level where we could maintain a proper degree of customer support and spares and deliver the very best we could
Anyone interested in both the car and the progress through next seasons racing can follow developments on our Facebook Page at AB Performance Ltd, on our new website at www.abperformance.co.uk and there is a live twitter feed under AB_Performance
There is a huge amount planned for next year in the way of shows, events and competitions and we will be releasing details on all these sites and obviously on locostbuilders
In the meantime I would lime to thank all of you for your custom this year, I have enjoyed meeting and working with many of you, I wish you all avery Happy and peaceful Christmas with your families and the best of luck with all your chosen projects
Regards to all
Andy
AB Performance

[Edited on 8/12/12 by Andy B]

[Edited on 8/12/12 by Andy B]

Sounds like very exciting times ahead, best wishes

It sounds like an excellent direction to go in, and one that most if not all kit/low volume car manufacturers will have to go in in the near future. A certain level of computerised PLM can make life so much easier even at a one off level!

Although I haven't had much reason to use your services, I must say I'm very impressed with what you've achieved in a reasonably small time and I wouldn't hesitate if / when the time comes.

Well done Andy. Happy Christmas and happy new year and all the best

quote:

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Originally posted by big-vee-twin
Sounds like very exciting times ahead, best wishes

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Sounds absolutely fab!

I'm guessing all this (understandably) will have added a fair amount to the cost of a car though? What do you see as your competition? Radical?

Sounds like a recipe for a one make race series .............

Good luck!

Sounds brilliant to how things are going!

The help and parts you've supplied me over the year I couldn't think of a more knowledgeable, patient and damn nice bloke.

Hope things just keep getting better for you in the new year!

Lee

Great to see it is all working out for you.

As many will say, you helped me out with no thought of profit to yourself.

Customer service at it's best.

Good luck with all your future ventures.

Well done Andy ! Happy Christmas and all that


Ivan

Hi and thanks for all the feedback, to answer your question Scootz - not really. By way of an explanation I would use the following example. For the last year we have built our own fabricated single seater type pedal box. Cost in materials was minimal. I recently got quotes for sets of water cut pedals and mounts and must admit to raising an eyebrow at the cost of sets especially as we have to buy in volume but then I looked at how long it took to fabricate the steel sets and when you took into account the man hours involved the water cut pedal box worked out way cheaper in the long run. now apply this to the whole project and there are big savings to be made.
Yes we have outlayed a lot but we see this as the necessary infrastructure to underpin the project and are aware that returns come over a longer period of time.
Before the revamp a turnkey top spec RGB Sabre factory built retailed at £25k and this remains the case obviously spec can go up or down but that figure is an indication.
As for our direct competition - anyone building similar cars that we can compete against really
Best regards
Andy

brilliant news Andy - sounds like you are really taking it up a level!

Bet that suit of yours has seen more action this year than ever before!

id say if anyone deserves it to do well its you. i have met some really nice guys through the kit car industry but you have been by far the most helpful!
i do like the sabre a lot but the fact it is a pure race car would be the only thing putting me off.i dont suppose you have any ambitions to make a road going variant? if so id be interested. cheers

Employment opportunities ?

well done Andy hope you and your family have a top Christmas mate . its nice to see a good company on the up and up could not happen to a nicer bloke

cheers

paul

Thanks for all the kind comments, its actually quite easy to run a business when you are
1. doing something you love and
2. surrounded by like minded and passionate people
The thing I like about locostbuilders site is the sheer ammount of knowledge, skill and diversity that is on here and this stands as testimony to why, as a small Island we were always good with the engineering behind motors and motorsport
To answer a couple of questions
Dangle - yup suit is in tatters and now resembles shroud of Turin!
Daniel - car currently complies to IVA requirements in manty respects - jst waiting for someone mad enough to want to put one on the road!
Volvosport - if I can get prroduction up and running this year we will definately nedd to look at employing more staff - Locostbuilders is one of the first places I will look - watch this space

[Edited on 8/12/12 by Andy B]

Sounds like an awful lot of hard work has gone into this

All the very best and i hope it is really successful for you

GOOD WORK FELLA!

All the best for 2013 Andy.

Great to read about a specialist car company so focussed on quality of product and service. Especially one which already has a great reputation in both areas!

Jek

Well done Andy! Thats great news, all sounds very exciting! Will hopefully have a catch up soon mate.

All the best,
Toby

Nice one Andy!
In the current climate, that is an awsome success story!
Well done that man. It does what's left of my old heart good to see this country can still show the rest how to do it and by a small company too.
I wish you and yours all that you would wish for yourselves and very good luck in the future, with the project..

I'll be your test track driver (probably crash test at the same time) for the minimum wage.

Andy.

The success you're garnering is as you say, borne out of your passion for what you do.
The fact that it couldn't happen to a nicer guy makes it all the more gratifying.

See you in 2013.

Best regards, Bob.

Not been on here for ages, but as you know... Keep abreast of your... And sabre's developments... Will defy have t see one of them in the flesh..

Bring on 2013!

Good luck with the future, Andy

All the free advice over the phone is still much appreciated