Roadster

The 1997 Laird was designed and engineered by the current owner's friend Ron Phillips.

The magnificent and shapely aluminum body was created by master fabricator Ron Fournier, who has written two books about sheet metal shaping and fabrication. A task such as this could not be performed without the great skill of knowing how to use an English Wheel. Fournier developed these skills back in 1964, working with Holman and Moody.

The drivetrain for this late 1950s and early 1960s LeMans recreation is a 5.3-liter Jaguar V12 engine mated to a six-speed ZF manual gearbox and neatly tucked into a lightweight, all-aluminum, tubular space frame chassis.

Road-hugging handling comes from modified independent suspension components from a Corvette mounted on each corner. Robert Laird has to be commended for his tenacity in making sure that this six-and-a-half-year project was completed.

The car's Hollywood claim to fame is that it was used as a backdrop prop in the movie 'Ocean's Eleven' starring George Clooney and Brad Pitt. The car looks fast standing still; it would make a great getaway car which, unfortunately, would stand out in a crowd!