Gordon

The fact that Gordon rose from the ashes for the third time is nothing new, after all, we informed you in detail about this event in this article. And because the current owners are serious about the brand, they decided to give Czech roadsters a roof over their heads in the form of a renovated showroom.

By direct invitation, we also arrived on the day of the grand opening and we were not alone. In addition to the Gordon models, representatives of Kaipan, Sigma and K1 Attack also arrived at the site. We didn’t hesitate, and with a glass of chilled Kofola, we set off to explore.

First, it was appropriate to follow the home team, who received a first-series Gordon prototype with a 1.8-liter engine, followed by the first car from the second series equipped with a three-liter six-cylinder engine and accessories made by the owner himself.

And of course, there was also a homologation piece of the third series, which you already know well from our articles. He was the star of the day, admired by visitors and the professional public.

We also asked about the future, which seems relatively sunny. At least three more custom Gordons will be born this year, but if you want your own, you still have a chance to get it under this year’s tree. Other applicants will have to wait until the spring of 2024.

In the same year, a minor facelift is also planned, which includes changing the pillars, roof, side windows, incorporating parts from a 3D printer and the option of a fixed hardtop.

Showroom Gordon in Hornická Street in Roudnice nad Labem is open on weekdays and also on selected Saturdays. It should be noted that these custom roadsters cost from 1.75 million with tax and above, so they are goods for very specific buyers.

Although Kaipan boss Michal Hradský shed his long hair last year, he arrived at the event with a regrown mane. We sat down for a while and debated together about how people actually acquire Kaipans.

Hradský told us that such a purchase usually takes place after several years of deliberation. Rarely does anyone buy Czech roadsters, which are also offered as kits, off the shelf.

In addition to the production of Kaipans, Hradský and his team are involved in the development of a chassis frame for CTU students and are still making progress step by step in the project of a small urban utility vehicle.

Kaipan 57a, currently the brand’s most popular model, arrived in Gordon’s salon from Smržovka. Inspired by the Lotus Seven, this beauty has a 1.8 turbo four-cylinder from the first Octavia, a five-valve from a Ford Sierra and rear-wheel drive. You can read how it works here. And how much does it cost? Kits from 218, 427 and 887 thousand, while the complete set of finished cars is 1.1 million with a refurbished and 1.6 million with a brand new engine.

The history of Sigma is actually about two (at that time) guys who built a racing car as part of a Pilsen student project. They are now paying more attention to Sigma Weekend Racer models and offering them for sale.

In short, they tweaked the prototype for a few years until they could say it was done. The results are respectable. The dry weight of the racing car is less than 600 kg, a turbocharged 16-liter engine paired with a direct-shift six-speed manual.

The power of the four-cylinder is up to 280 hp, the torque reaches up to 340 Nm, there is also a self-locking differential or road homologation. That’s right, the Sigma Motor WR has markings, so you can drive to the circuit yourself or buy a special covered trailer from the manufacturer.

You must have heard about this originally Slovak project, right? However, it is currently in Czech hands, which are modifying and improving it technologically.

At the meeting of Czech sportsmen, even a racing special for quarter-mile sprints arrived. By the way, the car covers this distance in less than 11 seconds. On the one hand, thanks to a weight under 800 kg and also an improved two-liter from the Toyota MR2 with 450 horsepower.

K1 models are currently produced as racing and road variants with license plates, they are sold as kits from 250,000 CZK and also as finished pieces with a price range from one to five million crowns.

However, the representatives of K1 told us that they are not lazy and are preparing a new generation kit that will be innovative in many ways. We will see it this year, so we are looking forward to what the golden Czech K1 hands will come up with.

Do you think Gordon’s are crazy to invite competition into their home? Nowhere. The clientele of Czech roadsters inspired by Aero 30/50 models is completely different from those who buy Kaipans or look for racers like Sigma or K1. Moreover, when you are lucky enough to see in one place domestic small-batch production and people who do their craft from the heart and are not subscribed to any multinational corporation…