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The Wolfrace Sonic Six wheeled supercar. The Sonic was the brainchild of
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The Wolfrace Sonic Six wheeled supercar. The Sonic was the brainchild of
The Wolfrace Sonic Six wheeled supercar.
The Sonic was the brainchild of the alloy wheel manufacturer, Wolfrace. The company boss, Barry Tracey, wanted to create an eye-catching concept car to showcase its new range of Sonic alloy wheels.
Wolfrace approached Nick Butler Auto Imagination to come up with the car. Butler background was in engineering, having trained at Hawker Siddeley at Dunsfold and Kingston. He d worked on The Harrier Jump Jets and Hawk aeroplanes, working on stress analysis and flight testing. In 1976, he left to follow his passion for special cars, setting up Auto Imagination.
The Wolfrace Sonic was an amazing car. Powered by a pair of Rover V8s, controlled by a clever drive-by-wire system, the two seater was certainly blessed with plenty of potential performance. Underneath the Batmobile-style looks, there was a spaceframe chassis, with rear-wheel drive through a Jaguar rear axle and differential. But for most people, the main talking point was the six-wheel configuration similar to the 1977 Panther 6.
Autocar magazine featured the car in 1981, and it made regular appearances on the motor show circuit for a couple of years before disappearing out of view.
It was seen again in 2010, when the original car (two were eventually built) went up for sale for a 1 million pound.
In March 2015, Sonic was sold on eBay for a rather less astonishing 18, 100 pound. According to Wolfrace, the car was a no-holds-barred big budget project made for around 100, 000. It was sold to a private collector by Wolfrace in the 1990s and went on to feature in the opening of the British Grand Prix. It was even sprayed red for a feature in Playboy magazine.
When it was sold in 2015, it was because the then-owner could not keep up with the inevitable maintenance of such a complex vehicle. Sadly, the car had been in storage since around 2005, and had declined into a state of disrepair, needing a full restoration to get it back to its former glory.
It is not clear where this picture was exactly taken.
Picture taken 23rd July 1981
Daily Mirror
Mirrorpix
England
81-4195- 3
Media ID 21817013
© Mirrorpix
Automobile Design Invention Motoring 1981 Auto Sonic
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EDITORS COMMENTS
The Wolfrace Sonic Six wheeled supercar, a true marvel of automotive engineering and design. Created by alloy wheel manufacturer Wolfrace to showcase their new range of Sonic alloy wheels, this eye-catching concept car was the brainchild of company boss Barry Tracey. To bring his vision to life, Wolfrace enlisted the expertise of Nick Butler Auto Imagination. With a background in engineering and experience working on iconic aircraft like The Harrier Jump Jets and Hawk aeroplanes, Butler was the perfect choice for this ambitious project. The result was nothing short of spectacular. Powered by twin Rover V8 engines controlled by an innovative drive-by-wire system, the two-seater Sonic boasted incredible performance capabilities. Its Batmobile-style exterior concealed a spaceframe chassis with rear-wheel drive through a Jaguar rear axle and differential. With its unique six-wheel configuration reminiscent of the legendary Panther 6, the Wolfrace Sonic turned heads wherever it went. Featured in Autocar magazine in 1981 and making regular appearances at motor shows for several years, it captivated audiences with its futuristic design. After being sold to a private collector in the 1990s and even making appearances at prestigious events like the British Grand Prix opening ceremony and Playboy magazine features, this extraordinary vehicle eventually fell into disrepair due to maintenance challenges. This print captures a moment from July 23rd, 1981 when the Wolfrace Sonic was still shining brightly as an emblem of innovation and automotive excellence.
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