The classic is back! RADFORD launches limited edition retro Lotus racing car with more than 500 3D printed parts

Guide: Recently, with a long historycarManufacturing company Radford is trying to use3D printingTechnology brings back the classic Lotus 62-2 racing car, fusing the classics of the past with the technology of the future.It is said that the British car manufacturer is cooperating with Stratasys to produce 62 limited edition 1960s iconic cars, each with more than 5003D printingThe components can be customized according to the personal wishes of the car owner. In order to be consistent with the old classic appearance of Lotus, the “Radford Type62-2s” will be ultra-light, weighing less than 1,000 kg, and equipped with a more powerful engine that can output up to 600 horsepower.

Mark Stubbs, the chief designer of this car, said: “We are not just simply designing a car, but also asking customers what color they want, or whether they want different trim levels. They can change the panel and surface as they like. And everything. If someone comes to us with their personalized customization needs, we can design and build a car for them from start to finish. This is the real car manufacturer. If Redford founder Harold Ray Telford had a machine capable of printing titanium and carbon fiber tires in 1948.3D printingMachines, I dare say he would choose to use them at the time. “

△ Radford’s limited edition 62-2 race car’s “golden leaf” decoration.Picture from Redford

Automobile Manufacturing in the 21st Century

Radford was founded by Harold Radford in 1948 and named after him, and later it quickly gained a reputation for building custom Bentleys, Aston Martins and mini cars. The company’s reputation has attracted customers from British pop star Twiggy to Enzo Ferrari, but this did not prevent it from being eliminated in 1966, and its classic legend has since disappeared in the course of time.

However, the 2009 Formula One world champion Jenson Button (Jenson Button) is now collaborating with the TV presenter Ant Anstead to bring back the car manufacturing technology of Radford in the 21st century. . For example, the revived company first launched the Lotus-approved Type 62 car, which is based on the chassis of the Evora GT car launched in 2010, but the technology and materials used to build the car are much more modern.
By working closely with Stratasys, Radford found that it was able to produce highly customized parts for its modified Model 62, and the output was not large.Although the car’s3D printingThe exact nature of the components is still confidential, but it is understood that they are manufactured according to the customer’s specifications, which means that they may be installed inside the vehicle.

△The team behind the Redford revival, including former F1 world champion Jenson Button (right). Picture from Autocar

Taking into account the design optimizations that have been achieved elsewhere in the automotive field, the light stance of the car may also be partly due to3D printingRelated weight loss. Of course, the car’s new aluminum chassis and carbon fiber body will also be related to this, but in any case, the car’s feather-like frame should enable it to drive fast on open roads, really fast.
Although Radford’s
standard
The 62-2 model has 430 horsepower, but the “Golden Leaf” modification (only 12 cars produced) has a 3.5-liter supercharged V6 engine that can produce 500 horsepower, while the ultra-exclusive “JPS” model will produce an astonishing 600 horsepower.

Just last week, on August 13, 2021, Radford showed its 62-2 publicly for the first time at the Quail Hill Show in California. It is now accepting orders and is expected to be delivered in 2022.Although many of these retro cars have been sold, Stubbs says it is this level of exclusivity and their3D printingThe customization of functions makes them more special than ordinary road cars.

“The advancement of technology has brought this long-established craft into a new era, making it possible for us to achieve an unprecedented level of quality and design, and deliver it in a very short time,” Stubbs was accepting “This is Money Added in an interview with the magazine. “This allows us to evoke the spirit of an iconic car with amazing authenticity and provide the owner with the ultimate customization service. This is all to create a feeling of driving a classic car when you drive him onto the road. , It is definitely a unique existence.”

△The fastest version of Radford’s 62-2 is said to be equipped with a 600-horsepower engine.Photo from Redford

Let the classic return

In the past few years, some car companies have adopted3D printingAnd scanning as a means of reverse engineering, and produce rare or discontinued auto parts on demand. In June 2021, Sauber Engineering revealed that it intends to build a spare part3D printingThe business aims to solve the maintenance needs of antique car enthusiasts.

Similarly, SOLIZE announced in March 2021 that it is working with
HP
Cooperate on a similar project for Nissan’s discontinued sports car3D printingSpare parts for NISMO. Using 3D modeling and HP’s MJF platform, SOLIZE engineers have been able to design and print parts of retro vehicles, such as the missing parts of the Skyline GT-R.
Going back to May 2017, the British restoration team Redesign Sport also used3D scanningReverse engineered a classic Ferrari. Using Creaform equipment, the company discovered that it was possible to scan out the parts of the 1952 Ferrari 225 before outsourcing production and prepare for the Goodwood Revival Festival exhibition.

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The classic is back! RADFORD launches limited edition retro Lotus racing car with more than 500 3D printed parts

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