Would you drive a car named 'Donkervoort'?

[Chuck Most]

I think I would!

http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/340-hp-donkervoort-d8-gto-dutch-treat-201918581.html

[diymirage]

its been a while since i heard that name

i know they were a big deal back home but kinda in the same way as spyker was, it was something you dreamed off and was proud that it was sculpted from the same klay as you but you never entertained the thought of owning it because of the price tag

still, gorgeous car

[Chuck Most]

Then of course, there is the Gumpert...

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c9/Gumpert_Apollo_Dubai.jpg

[The Creative Explorer]

I drive by Donkervoort's factory at least once per month and I like them. It is like a Lotus 7 on steroids, they even hold trackrecords at the Nurburgring.

[crazyjim]

If somebody gave me one I'd take it, but wouldn't think about buying one. The upper door frame and rear window frame look extremely unfinished to me.

[The Creative Explorer]

Which one Jim?

[gbdolfans]

I would buy one in a heartbeat if I had the money to do so!!!!!

Bare bones is where it is at as far as I am concerned.

[crazyjim]

The Netherlands car.

[The Creative Explorer]

Ok, reason I asked is that it doesn't have a back door and the side-windows are just little add-ons, the car is meant to driven as pure as possible, so there is no roof, no rear window and the sidewindows can be detached for ultimate fun.

So yeah, there is not a whole lot of engineering on on those parts, but don't be mislead, the car is well over-engineered and the quality is superb, better than most other car-manufacturers, I think it would compete with Rolls-Royce on engineering-quality, if not better.

[crazyjim]

Without the add-on side windows the car looks good - very good. If the side window design where such that they blended in to the that rear upright part, it would be better. I sure wouldn't mind taking a test drive in one of those.

[Foxer]

no

[thatz4u]

when is the 1/25th kit due out? LOL

[Guest]

I might would take it and sell it. Then go buy something I really liked. That thing is ugly! It looks too much like an Austin 7.

[Scale-Master]

Cars like that often look a lot better once you have driven them. It looks like it does because form follows function, much like the Super 7 it appears to be derived from.

[Harry P.]

Is "Donkervoort" the Dutch word for "ugly?"

[sjordan2]

Is "Donkervoort" the Dutch word for "ugly?"

Donkey fart.

[Chuck Most]

And just out of curiosity, what's wrong with a Seven? (Lotus or Caterham?) They're a nice design, in a minimalist sort of way.

[Lownslow]

And just out of curiosity, what's wrong with a Seven? (Lotus or Caterham?) They're a nice design, in a minimalist sort of way.

the donkelvort is wider and longer than a seven.

and yes id drive a donkelvort and gumpert if offered the chance

[Junkman]

I would drive a Donkervoort any day. Buy one? Nope.

[Joe Handley]

If I fit in it, could afford it, and could buy it here in the States.............oooooooooooooooooh yea!

They do remind me of a high end Track-T too, guess you could build one for a whole lot cheaper, even if you built it with a totalled Vette.

[fumi]

And just out of curiosity, what's wrong with a Seven? (Lotus or Caterham?) They're a nice design, in a minimalist sort of way.

Legal issues.

Licensing the design from Caterham is out of the question. Birkin tried, and the terms were so bad that they decided to develop their own version instead. Caterham in turn sued them.

While Caterham ultimately lost the case, most companies would rather change the look of the car enough to avoid the lawsuits from the outset.

[Chuck Most]

Okay... I'm asking what is wrong with the styling of the Seven, not why the Donkervoort doesn't resemble it.

As I said, I don't see anything wrong with the way the 7 looks.

[Guest]

Okay... I'm asking what is wrong with the styling of the Seven, not why the Donkervoort doesn't resemble it.

As I said, I don't see anything wrong with the way the 7 looks.

Simple, it has no style Chuck. To me the 7 looks like something someone has built using parts they found in a junkyard or something. I guess they thought if they made it fast enough,no one would notice how ugly it is.

[Rob Hall]

The Lotus 7 is interesting as a vintage pure sports car. If I could have a modern pure sports car today, I'd like to have an Ariel Atom. The Lotus 7 was not about speed or looks, but handling and being a pure, simple, uncompromised sports car.

The 7 and Atom are bit too hard core for a daily driver, though...for a daily driver sports car I wouldn't mind having a Boxster.

Edited December 30, 2011 by Rob Hall

[Greg Wann]

What about the Henweighs?