1957 Aston Martin DBR2 Le Mans racer
I’ve never seen a real 1957 Aston Martin DBR2 Le Mans racer, but a company out of Phoenix, Ariz. called Rikz Auto is building a high-end replica based on the original lines of the ’57. Company founder Wa-el Rizk says the car uses a monocoque carbon chassis, carbon-nomex body panels and seats based on the legendary Herman Miller Aeron office chair.
Rikz has his history of aerogel not quite right, but, interestingly, he saves his most glowing praise for the material:
This product, the first breakthrough technology incorporating Nano-tech science is called Aerogel. It is the most advanced insulating technology in the world. The success of Aerogel has been so spectacular, that NASA created a company to commercialize the product.
RA is the first passenger vehicle to use Aerogel as its primary insulating material. The entire engine bay and underside of the vehicle is covered in this space age hydro-phobic (water resistant) compound. The light weight and extraordinary attributes of Aerogel make the RA the most technically advanced vehicle in the world when it comes to heat insulation.
This isn’t one of those kit-cars based on an old VW frame and engine. Rikz offers engine options of Jaguar straight-6 cylinder with triple SU or Weber Carburetor, a Jaguar V-12 Cylinder with triple SU or Weber Carburetor, or a fuel-injected Corvette LS3 V8 Engine.
Neither the speed those engines put out or the price tag are for the faint at heart. The whole package will run you about $160,000-$180,000 plus another $40,000-$50,000 if you want an real Aston engine.