Looks Ace
Caton, a new coachbuilding start-up based in Coventry, UK, has released a teaser image of its first vehicle, due to be revealed in full on April 13.
The company is an off-shoot of Envisage Automotive, a specialist engineering firm that, working behind the scenes, builds one-off and limited-run cars for bigger manufacturers, most notably Jaguar’s D-Type and XK-SS Continuation series.
Caton will, however, “stand on its own, as a specialist brand, inspired by precision engineering,” according to Envisage’s CEO, Tim Strafford.
“It will offer ultra-exclusive, highly-aspirational British-designed products within the automotive sector and beyond. This exciting new brand will demonstrate what is possible when design and technical development are pushed to the highest possible levels with exceptional luxury creations,” he said.
For starters at least, Caton will offer reimaginings (often called restomods) of existing classics, “guided by asking the question: ‘what would the original creators have done had they had the latest technology and manufacturing methods at their disposal?’”
The shadowy teaser image released by the firm for its first vehicle, which it describes as a “two-seater Fifties British sports car”, appears to show something like an AC Ace, a small British roadster that, after the American racing driver Carroll Shelby shoehorned a Ford V8 engine under the bonnet in 1962, evolved into the fabled AC Cobra.
Whatever the company’s first car is actually based on, Caton said that it has attempted to keep as much of the model’s original DNA as possible, though making exterior and interior design enhancements as well as adding some subtly integrated modern technology and a performance upgrade that it describes as “significant”. As yet, there’s no indication of just what will be powering Caton’s first project.
In developing the car, the Caton team created a full digital model of the car’s body and used Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines to manufacture precision tooling that will be used to build the car and fit the panels to tolerances of 0.2mm — much finer than a car manufacturer would have been able to consistently achieve in the 1950s.
As well as the high-tech tools, the company also uses old-fashioned techniques such as English Wheeling to form the car’s aluminium panels.
“It is this fusion of exceptional precision with the very best in hand-building expertise that makes Caton unique. We use the best possible harmony of tools and techniques; past, present and future,” said Strafford.
What sets Caton apart from its parent is the fact that while Envisage operates on a business-to-business sales model, Caton will operate on a strictly business-to-customer basis.
The backing of Envisage and the use of its facilities will mean that its creations will be built to the quality and standard expected from a larger car maker rather than a small, bespoke coachbuilder, the company claimed.
Caton will have access, for example, to Envisage’s three-dimensional measuring facilities, trim department and paint laboratory as well as other specialist milling and tooling equipment.
“Right from the outset of Caton we asked ourselves: ‘Where are we world-class? And where could we benefit from having a partner bring additional skills?’” said Strafford. “We don’t believe that trying to do every single element yourself always guarantees the best results.
“We can’t wait to take the wraps off Caton’s first product. It is an exciting precision reincarnation of an icon, one that will set new standards in coachbuilding.
“But whatever project Caton undertakes, be it the evolution of a classic or a contemporary product, we will leverage the best possible technology, skill sets, resources and partners to set new standards across the industry.”
With its reveal due on April 13, Caton’s first car will make its debut at the Salon Privé show in London from April 21-23.
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