RADFORD'S TYPE 62-2 PIKES PEAK CAR IS A BEAST, AND NOW YOU CAN BUY ONE.
The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is one of the world’s most prestigious motorsport events. The race to the clouds brings out the best of the best from many of the world’s automakers and tuning houses in an attempt to secure a class win, and if all goes to plan, an overall win. Many cars are specially tuned for hillclimbs, and so they have uprated powerplants, bespoke suspension setups and the best thing of all, tweaked aero to create the best usable downforce possible. With serious drops off the side of the Pikes Peak hill, cars need the most traction possible, it's a matter of life or death really. The British coachbuilding outfit has been around for more years than most, founded back in 1948. They started out restyling cars from other British coachbuilders like Rolls-Royce and Bentley, and the rest, as they say, is history. For this year’s Pikes Peak, the Radford crew tailored one of their creations, the Type 62-2 which is based on the Lotus Europa Type 62 from the late 60s/early 70s. They shipped the car to the US to race, and as you can see in the video, it’s a properly fast car in the right hands. It seems like the crew was happy with the car’s performance in the hill climb event, and quite possibly more than a few spectators too. There may just have been some positive enquiries regarding the car because Radford recently announced that they would be making a limited number of the Type 62-2 in the same Pikes Peak spec for discerning clients. Of course, it helps that the Radford Pikes Peak Edition took a 1st place win in the Exhibition class at the hands of Tanner Foust with a run of 9:37.326, which was also Faust’s personal best time up the hill.
The Radford Type 62-2 Pikes Peak Edition is powered by a supercharged 3.5-litre V6, and unlike the regular version that has 450 kW on tap, it churns out a much healthier power output of 522 kW. A sequential transmission with steering-mounted paddles sends power to the rear wheels only. The car is obviously fast, it can hit 100 km/h in a mere 2.5 seconds and it has a top speed up at a decent 260 km/h. For the Pikes Peak Edition, the Type 62-2 wears larger AP Racing calipers up front with carbon-ceramic brake discs and an updated pedal box that is now more racecar than a street car. Just like the iconic McLaren F1, the driver has a central seating position which is great for navigating narrow roads at speed because you can see exactly where each wheel is headed. There’s a lightweight carbon race seat that weighs just 3.7 kg, and a host of new 3D-printed parts that also help keep the weight down. Weight is a big thing in racecars, but not in this one because it tips the scales at just 980 kg. Can you imagine how rapid a sub-1000 kg car with 522 kW feels to drive like your life depends on it? Well, there are 12 potential customers that won’t have to imagine anymore. Buyers will also receive a Radford-specific tool kit that includes a state-of-the-art laser alignment system to keep the suspension settings dialled in, and along with that, there will also be a custom-fit Sparco race suit with matching gloves, shoes and a helmet. There will also be specialist tyre support from Yokohama, which will likely be needed as buyers in the US will also have an opportunity to learn how best to drive the car from Tanner Foust. Formula 1 World Champion Jenson Button will also give his invaluable input, all at the Radford Racing School based in Chandler, Arizona. Pricing hasn't been announced yet, but it'll be proper money, the regular version lists at $500,000, and rumours are that this one could cost double that.
Take a look at the YouTube video that shows just how cool this special Pikes Peak Edition of the Radford Type 62-2, and the best way to do that is to show the car's actual performance at the race to the clouds this year with the awesome coverage from one of our favourites, Larry Chen: Radford Type 62-2 Takes on Pikes Peak: Bringing Lotus's John Player Special Livery to Hillclimb | Larry Chen
Be sure to check out our YouTube channel here for more exciting and exclusive SXdrv content! And don't forget to smash that subscribe button!
Article Tags:
Cars Type 62-2 Radford Type 62-2 Pikes Peak Pikes Peak SXdrv Circuit Car Racecar Radford