|
Designed specially for
six-footers and over, the latest Dax Rush is longer and has lower floors.
Despite being a mere 5'8", Amy Filby gave the company's new demonstrator Which
Kit?'s full road test treatment.
BACKGROUND:
Since its
launch in the early 1990s, the Dax Rush has carved itself an enviable niche at
the upper end of the ever-popular Lotus Seven-inspired market. It has long been
deemed a top quality kit available at an affordable price. Early on the model
built its reputation for high power engines thanks to some wild demonstrators
kitted out with Cosworth and V8 powerplants, but Ford Pintos and Zetecs are
still the choice for 40% of customers.
The Rush, like its stablemate,
the Tojeiro Cobra replica for which DJ Sportscars is best known, has undergone
extensive detail development at the hands of the company's in-house R&D
team and new features continue to be added each year.
With customers
seemingly getting taller and taller, one of the most recent developments from
the company is the new long-wheelbase option specifically designed for
six-footers plus. Normally the Rush is available with a choice of chassis types
- live axle, fully independent or De Dion. However, only the De Dion chassis
will be available in long-wheelbase form because this assembly far outstrips
the others in terms of popularity and makes the most sense. Specifically
designed for simplicity, affordability and convenience, the De Dion kit uses a
single donor, the trusty Ford sierra with a wide variety of engine options.
Although production of the new chassis began 18 months ago and approximately 15
kits have already been supplied, it wasn't until the recent Stafford show that
the first company demonstrator was unveiled.
THE TEST
CAR
Looking stunning in its gleaming golden yellow livery, our test car
was the first demonstrator to be built using the new long-wheelbase De Dion
chassis. In keeping with its budget LX specification, the yellow peril uses the
donor Sierra's 2-litre Efi engine but features a small number of upgrades
including powder coating and a shiny stainless steel rear hoop. For a classier
look and a small amount of extra cash, chrome front suspension and cycle wing
brackets adorn the front arches.
This car also features deluxe trim
including Dax's latest padded dashboard with, for the first time, colour-coded
instruments. The 16" aftermarket alloy wheels are fitted with 205/45 front and
225/45 rear radials beneath standard narrower rear arches (wider ones are an
option but then you need to spend more on wheels and tyres). E746 JAR was
presented to us in immaculate condition, barely run-in with a mere 130 miles on
the clock.
DESIGN & ENGINEERING 9/10
Styling: The Rush sits long, low and
wider than most of its competitors with an aggressive semi-drag racer look.
Ahead of the long sweeping bonnet perch the square headlights which have always
been an immediate Dax trademark, instantly setting the Rush apart from the rest
of the crowd. Gallons of gleaming chrome and stainless steel give the car a
simple, smart, unclutted look.
The Ford's injection unit popping out of
the bonnet isn't the prettiest of features, but DJ argues that many customers
especially like this feature, unavoidable when using an injection engine. We
have SVA to thank for the slightly odd looking front indicator mounting and
nose-cone 'bumper' bar which protects pedestrians in case of an impact but, in
reality, these don't detract from the great overall appearance of the
car.
Chassis and Suspension:
A top quality chassis is
paramount to almost every aspect of performance demanded by today's discerning
drivers and you don't get much better than this. Underpinning our test car was
a square section steel tube spaceframe chassis lengthened to add an extra 3"
into the wheelbase. Additional stiffness is provided by the bonded and riveted
aluminium floor and bulkheads. Though very similar to its sister models, the De
Dion kit features a number of novel ideas allowing it to utilise Sierra parts
throughout. At the front, instead of retaining the Sierra's cumbersome lower
track control arm and anti-roll bar and fitting an upper rocking-arm, DJ has
created a dedicated double wishbone installation that clamps the standard
stub-axle allowing the track to be widened to increase stability and reduce
body roll. The steering arms and rack are the only components that aren't from
the sierra, these coming courtesy of an Escort Mkll.
At the back the
donor's support frame and semi-trailing arms have been dumped and the diff is
mounted directly on to the chassis. A De Dion tube runs the width of the car
behind the diff, meaning that the rear wheels are no longer fully independent
of each other and are rigidly located in optimum alignment with the road
surface. Laser cut plates are present to accept your choice of brakes, which
may depend on the engine and power output you go for. In the test car's case
discs featured all-round.
Safety:
Safety is an important
concern on many customer's minds so DJ have built a number of safety features
into the chassis design. At the front, the Rush is unique in featuring a
special energy absorbing nudge bar, and combined with use of Ford Sierra's
collapsible steering column, there should be excellent protection in the event
of a front-end shunt. At the rear, DJ has steered clear of the bolt-on roll
over hoops that many manufacturers use and their hoop is an integral, welded
part of the chassis, maximising rigidity and providing protection in the
extremely unlikely chance that the car may roll over.
The company has
drawn on its racing experience to develop a Balance Bar Braking System which
allows the front/rear brake balance to be set with the aim of ensuring maximum
braking performance and avoiding premature wheel lock. With no doors to weaken
the structure and high strength box section rails used for the chassis brace
tubes alongside both the driver and passenger, there is also substantial side
impact protection.
An Explosafe aluminium fuel tank is available at
extra cost. DJ's efforts to develop the Rush are relentless. In-house
development man Gary Saunders is constantly looking at possible detail, styling
and engineering changes which could be made on the car, the results of which
have improved the car immeasurably over the years. |
 |
