Dan Carter's 2018 Superlite Coupe

Dreamt up by the folks at Race Car Replicas, Dan Carter's 201 Superlite Coupe gives a nod to the body design of the infamous Mercedes Sauber C9 Le Mans race car—but it’s no stranger to fame itself. The three year build process gained international interest for Carter's Superlite Coupe with fellow car builders in Europe, Australia, and the US.

When you see it you’ll understand why. It’s a mid-engine coupe with a GM LS3/480 crate motor hooked up to a 6-speed transaxle from an Audi R8. It has a monocoque aluminum chassis with CNC-machined front and rear suspension components. The four corners have coilover shocks, but the rear uses an innovative bell crank system that places the coilovers parallel to the ground.

Carter went into the build with big plans that included integrating the wiring harness; installing air conditioning; designing the brake lines, tail lights, seat layout, and instrumentation; and a host of other very cool, deceptively challenging projects.

“I really didn’t know what I didn’t know about cars until I tackled a build like this. The learning curve is straight up,” Carter said. Challenges were quick to surface and problem solving became a must-have skill. “I quickly learned that the plan was merely a place from which to deviate, which of course caused other planning elements to change, creating a snowball.”

Since the Superlite Coupe is a mid-engine design, the intake manifold had to be turned around. The GM engine wiring harness had to be completely torn apart and the wires rerouted to accommodate the new intake manifold position.

The snowball continued rolling with engine and cockpit cooling. Since the engine was in the rear and the radiator was up front, stainless steel tubing had to be cut and welded to create new plumbing that would circulate coolant down the full length of the car. Carter installed a Vintage Air Mini system for cockpit heating and cooling. It was an arduous process, but as Carter laughingly notes, “air conditioning is a must in a car without operating windows in the deep south.”

Carter rolled the “finished” Superlite Coupe out of his garage in December of 2018, but hasn’t given up his tinkering ways. He stresses the Coupe is far from complete. “These cars are never done, I already know I will modify following a complete shakedown,” he said with a laugh.

FAST SPECS
Drivetrain
• GM LS3/480 engine making 500 horsepower
• Stock GM Hot Camshaft
• Stock LS3 cylinder heads
• Reversed stock intake manifold for mid-engine placement
• GM EFI induction system
• Modified GM ECU and wire harness
• Stock LS3 exhaust manifolds mated to custom exhaust system with Magnaflow muffler
• Audi R8 Six-speed transaxle, ratios changed to imitate Z06 Corvette gear ratios

Chassis and Suspension
• Rear suspension with bell crank system and QA1 coilover shocks
• Front suspension with QA1 coilover shocks
• Hydraulic lift kit that lifts nose 4 inches to clear speed bumps and curbs
• Brembo brakes from Chevy Camaro ZL1
• Forgestar F14 Wheels
• Nitto Enzo Tires
• Frame coated with Lizard Skin sound and heat coating

Body
• Fiberglass with gelcoat
• Bottom of rear bonnet modified to hide the transaxle from view
• Round LED taillights
• Fully functional rear wing
• “Superlite” graphic on top side of wing
• Custom struts used to hold the gull doors open
• PPG 1661 Charlotte Red paint

Special Thanks to:
• Eric Chandler and Scott Patterson
• Craig and Jake Taylor
• Ed Gomez
• Darell and Cindy Shadburn
• My wife and family for their moral support on the days when nothing went as planned