Topic: Monty393 - Solved: Lorico Shara MT1 1993 design project

[oko94]

Was the company established after 1980 ?

[Arunas]

The company made kitcars?

[Wendax]

I think I have seen it before and it was quite different to the other cars by that company. Am I right?

[el_monty]

Was the company established after 1980 ?

Yes.

The company made kitcars?

Yes.

I think I have seen it before and it was quite different to the other cars by that company. Am I right?

Quite different, yes.

[Arunas]

Maybe Saier?

[el_monty]

Maybe Saier?

No.

[oko94]

Has the company made replicas ?

[el_monty]

Has the company made replicas ?

Yes.

[oko94]

Does the company name contain the word "Classic" ?

[Oguerrerob]

Lorico Shara M1 1993


The Lorico Shara MT1 was a replica of the Lamborghini Countach . Builders / creators were Otto English from Germany (development, frame) and Alain Galluser (design) from France. The men got to know each other at the "Mulhouse Car & Prestige Show" in Alsace, France, in 1989 and decided to push ahead with the project, with the additional designation "MT1" standing for "Mittlemotor Turbo 1. Projekt".

The basis was a Countach replica chassis with square tubes, unlike the original, which had round tubes. Appearance and annexes were close to 100% of the original, but there was a Targa roof made of glass. The engine in the first copy was a longitudinally mounted mid-engine V8 of Chevrolet , Mercedes or Porsche , the gearbox was flanged, just like the original. The coolers (behind the doors) and the two gasoline tanks (in the sills) also corresponded to the original Countach from their position . There were also considerations for another project called 'Shara MT1', as it was at least as a model, but partly originated in the original

[gte4289]

In actual color:

[el_monty]

Well found Oguerrerob!

[autospeurder]

According to the text from Oguerrerob the Shara MT1 was a Countach replica an this one is the Shara M1.
Why is the name in the heading naming it Shara MT1. I am confused.

[el_monty]

It seems Lorico used the same name for both cars, I suppose the idea was that the second version would replace the first, maintaining the chassis construction and mid-engined layout, but instead of being a replica it would become an original design. They might have also thought about changing the name if the project had progressed far enough, but it didn't. "M1" must have been mistyped by Oguerrerob, since the source of this info only mentions "MT1". I am not going to post the link to this source but if you want to see it, it is extremely easy to find (once you know the name of the car, of course). It is in German, what Oguerrerob posted was an automatic translation.

[Fovea3d]

Hello Everyone,

I've created an account to join the discussion. I'm thrilled to reconnect with Shara after so many years.

Congratulations to Oguerrerob, you got it exactly right.

I met Otto English, the owner of Lorico Sportscars, with a 1/20 scale styrofoam model of the design (my model was called Pulsar).

Back then, I was passionate about the Countach and kept its proportions for this design (wheelbase 250 cm). Otto, who was exhibiting Countach and Cobra replicas, saw the model and was immediately excited about creating a unique body on the chassis base (actually a Countach replica chassis from the English brand Nova, which he was assembling for his clients on order).

I had to modify my initial design to make the cabin spacious enough for headroom, so the car gained 10 cm in height (from 105 to 115 cm).

Construction Details:

The construction didn't pose any particular problems except for numerous special parts for accessories like door hinges, headlight covers, and rounded interior trims. The ergonomics were quite pleasant, very wide at the front around the steering wheel and tapering at the seats, making the seating position very comfortable. The engine chosen was ultimately a 5.7L from a De Tomaso Pantera with a 5-speed manual gearbox, and we opted for a volumetric compressor instead of a turbo, which was too complicated to adapt (so the T in MT should be K for Kompressor or B for blower). Shara is actually Otto's daughter's name.

However, Lorico's difficulties in selling his classic replicas led to the impossibility of further investing in this project due to the need for homologated and triplex glazing. The cost of the master and the first run exceeded the price of the entire investment already made!

I don't know what happened to the brand or the prototype in the photo, and I've lost contact with my client.

Current Plans:

Today, I'm looking to build the car for myself as I retained the copyright in my name. With current 3D printing methods, which I have mastered, and the simplicity of the components used, I think the car could be road-ready in six months . A windshield from a large series SUV or minivan would likely be suitable to solve this problem; back in 1993, this type of windshield was rare and expensive, and we had to make it specially.

Currently, I organize classic car rallies, and the design of this car serves as our mascot, evoking mystery and sparking interest as you can see here : http://alsace-rallye-festival.com/index.php/fr/

Best regards,
Alain Galluser

Additional Photos: https://www.traumautoarchiv.de/html/2962.html
Master: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3Xap6U_FO4

[Carnut]

Welcome Alain and many thanks for the fascinating details you've added.
Enjoy the site!