The Lamsleys were then loaned a dummy engine block, which they offered up to the Kitten’s chassis. The car would be built around the Duratec, but to avoid future problems with SVA, the original Reliant chassis would be maintained, but highly modified.

    The engine was located right back in the chassis, behind the front axle line – using custom rigid engine mounts of Lamsley design – so the bulkhead and the engine bay would have to be reworked to accommodate this four inch backward relocation. Then to partially support the engine, gearbox and LSD, the Lamsleys designed what are effectively inner perimeter chassis rails that have outriggers connecting out to the original Reliant chassis. It’s a highly effective way of strengthening an OE chassis, whilst boosting its rigidity and making it cope with the torque from the drivetrain. 

    Completing the spec is an integrated custom tubular rollcage which is anchored into the front, middle and rear of the chassis with plenty of cross-bars and it’s incorporated into the Kitten’s dashboard cum bulkhead. “The new ally bulkhead, which gives both strength and lightness, has allowed me to fit a Lotus pedal box from an Elise. Also, because of the way we designed the tunnel, all you have to do is undo some fasteners and the tunnel lifts out; so you can undo the propshaft and bellhousing mountings from inside the car. You can then lift the light gearbox up into the car and pass out through the passenger door – so you can do a clutch or gearbox change without getting under the car.”

    To complete the drivetrain picture, the Duratec was then hooked up to a Ford MT75 five-speed gearbox with a custom gearset housed in an aftermarket bell-housing, feeding power to a Sierra Cosworth plate-type limited-slip differential is a propshaft which Mal had made and balanced by a local company.