Ian Macrae’s Widget

Specifications
Engine: Escort 1.6 ltr… Front Mounted
Length: 3450mm
Width: 1570mm
Height: 1010mm
Wheelbase: 2330mm
Track: 1300mm
Brakes: Disc Front/Drum Back
Seating: 2
Kerb Weight:??

Builder/Designer: Ian Macrae
Year Started: 1988
Year Finished: 1989
Type: Special
Profile Date: August ‘91

The Widget is the sixth car that Ian has built. An earlier car that he built was called the Kacrae Special (see earlier profile). This car like his last is also in the Lotus 7 style.

Ian decided to call it a Widget while attending a computer course and seeing something referred to as a "widget" which was basically a collection of electronic bits and pieces. Ian saw the simile and as his family couldn't think of a better name, so a Widget it became.

The car has a space frame, 18 gauge square tubular chassis and uses mainly Escort mechanicals. The principle exception being its Chevette uprights and disc brakes. The fuel tank was fabricated from stainless steel and the instrument cluster was kindly provided by a Triumph 2.5.

With this car Ian made the plugs for the wheel guards and nose cone. Alex MacDonald took the female moulds off this and produced the parts in fibreglass. If anybody wants access to these moulds should see Ian. All other body panels are made from sheet aluminium. Ian said that he spent a disproportionate amount of time working on the plugs compared to the rest of the car. The finished car is painted in red and the whole car looks professional and is of a very high quality.