Welcome to Dave Bence's Quantum Xtreme build diary. I'm no expert when it comes to web site construction, but I hope these pages will be interesting or informative to someone.
I've wanted to build a Seven-style kit car for several years. Finally, in the autumn of 1999, I decided to go for it. After reading all the available kit car magazines and surfing various manufacturers' web sites and customers' build diaries, I visited the Great Western Kit Car Show at Exeter on Saturday the 20th of November. Having looked over and sat in the Westfield, Tiger, Dax, Formula 27 and Birkin offerings, the Quantum Xtreme appeared to provide the best combination of interior space, comfort, component quality and value for money. In particular, I liked the generous shoulder room, the neat dashboard layout, the amount of space around the pedals (I have big feet) and the fact that the weather gear (sidescreens and soft-top) could be stored in the lockable boot when not in use. I also thought that the fully welded, stainless steel monocoque chassis was in a different league to the usual space frames. Another big plus point was the height of the windscreen, relevant to the driver's seat. I'm nearly 6 feet tall, with average length legs and a longer than average body. With several cars I sat in, the top of the screen was exactly level with my eyes, which is really annoying. (In one car I tried before the show - the Avon Sprint - the top of the windscreen was about 2 inches below eye level!) In the Quantum Xtreme, my eyes were level with the vertical centre of the screen. Brenda Hoult, Quantum's very helpful representative at the show, gave me the relevant literature about the kit and suggested that I contact the factory to arrange a test drive.
On the following Monday, I rang Quantum Sports Cars and arranged to meet Mark Wooldridge, the MD, on Saturday the 27th at 9.00am, in order to look around the factory, ask lots of questions and to take one of their Xtreme demonstrators for a drive. I set off at 7.30am and arrived, in glorious sunshine, at 8.50. I met Mark and he started by showing me around the Stourbridge site. Luckily, there were several part-built cars and a bare chassis in the large workshop, which I had a good look at. We then had a look at the busy parts department, where I was introduced to Glyn Nightingale, the Parts Manager. Mark was very patient in answering my long list of questions and he then asked if I would like to drive the Xtreme (silly question!). There were two demonstrators - a red one with clamshell wings and a tuned 2.1 litre engine and a blue one with cycle wings and a standard 2 litre engine. As I intended to use a standard engine in my proposed car, I chose the blue one. I fully expected Mark to come with me on the test drive, and perhaps to drive the car himself at first, but he just handed me the keys and a small map of the suggested route and said "off you go"!
Having worked out how to put on and adjust the harnesses (I've never used them before), I adjusted the seat and mirrors, started the engine and headed away from the factory. As driving this type of car was completely new to me (and it wasn't mine), I pottered along very carefully at first. Initial impressions were that it was quite noisy (the rather loud exhaust exits near to the drivers head), firmly sprung (as expected) and very responsive to any steering input. After a few miles and several roundabouts, I was beginning to get the hang of it and started to really enjoy the drive. The handling and road-holding were a revelation - my daily transport is a diesel-engined Renault Clio van, which wallows and rolls and eventually lurches around bends. The Xtreme just darted around corners with a twitch of the steering wheel - no roll, no fuss - excellent. It reminded me of a large go-kart! Engine performance seemed fine - although I was by no means thrashing it - and the brakes worked well, although the lack of a servo meant that the pedal needed a firm push. After about 20 minutes, I arrived back at Quantum's factory, grinning like a maniac and ready to order.
I paid Mark a £250 deposit and ordered a "just add donor" kit. I chose a red one with cycle wings, full weather equipment, interior trim kit and a tonneau cover. Collection date would be March 25th 2000 - this would give me plenty of time to prepare the garage, obtain and strip a donor car and get any extra tools and equipment needed. I was given a build manual to study and I headed back to Bristol a very excited and happy man.