The kit was bought from Stuart Taylor in late 2002 being one of the last square tube chassis. I used a 1993 1.6 efi CVH engined Ford Sierra as a donor car. Although the Pheonix is best known as a race car I decided to build it as a road car and possible track day use.
The engine had a blue print rebuild with rebore, new pistons, bearings etc both static and dynamically balanced. A Kent CVH 22 performace cam was fitted. The CVH engine as used in Escorts etc is transverly mounted but in the Sierra it is longitudinally mounted with the classic Type 9 5 speed gearbox that was retained. The gearbox also getting a rebuild.
Fuel injection was retained with the addition of straight runner throttle bodies ex a Suzuki GSX motor bike and specially designed gas flowed induction manifold.
The exhaust is a 4 branch manifold with straight through silencer. A catalytic converter is not required due to the engine age.
An Emerald 3D programmable ECU manages the ignition and fuel injection. The ECU was set up for road use on a rolling road as was the speedometer calibration.
The rear axle uses a limited slip differential, drive shafts, uprights and disk brakes off a Sierra 4 x 4
The front uprights modified from a Capri with 2 pot calliper disc brakes. Avo coilover adjustable shock absorbers all round.
Steering uses a quick rack with adjustable wheel retained.
Seats were bespoke made with drivers seat adjustable forward/back.
The project started as a hobby to build a well engineered car rather than a cheap quick on the road.
So after 20+ years the car passed the IVA test without issue and was registered on 1 March 2025 with an age related number K148 ENM. Note an MOT will be due 1 March 2028.
Fairly comprehensive build documentation is included.