Edition #NINE
From Fantasy to Fabricated
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As we wrap up the month of August, chassis fabrication is in full swing and the last of the time-critical parts (brakes) have arrived, meaning we should begin final assembly of Laguna Prototype #1 in the next few weeks! Kyle and I have been waiting for this moment with so much anticipation that we couldn’t help but build a few of Laguna’s sub-assemblies, which I’m excited to share with you.
But first, a word about Monterey Car Week which concluded last Sunday. Car Week is truly an automotive Mecca where museum pieces from all over the world are trailered and flown in to be enjoyed by nearly 100,000 visitors; the cars you see on the typically sleepy streets of Monterey and Carmel are the most desirable, exclusive, and expensive in the world. Twelve years since my first Monterey Car Week as a fresh high school graduate, I am living out a childhood dream representing Shoreline Bespoke. Sharing what we have been working on with the most passionate enthusiasts and customers was surreal, as was the overwhelmingly positive response to Laguna. Next year it will be driving around, getting photographed by excited teenagers just as I did (and still do). It is a daunting task to find customers for a car that doesn’t yet exist - especially without a track record as a manufacturer - but Laguna speaks for itself through the quality of its components and craftsmanship befitting of a Swiss watch. See for yourself:
Laguna’s six-speed sequential gearbox is operated via a shifter designed to accentuate its purely analogue character. The structure is made from billet aluminum and - unlike any other production vehicle - uses spherical bearings instead of rubber or plastic bushings to deliver an immensely tactile experience. The end result is stunning to look at and interact with. The prototype shift knob features a California Grizzly bear etched into the top and African Mahogany trim (production cars can have any material the client desires). The aluminum structure can be anodized any color, but the way this prototype shifter catches the light in its raw finish is mesmerizing. If you're wondering how a sequential shifter operates versus a standard H-pattern manual transmission, the process is simple: pull the lever towards you to upshift and push away to downshift. Neutral is down and to the left and reverse is just above. You only need to use the clutch pedal to pull away from a standstill - the motorsport ECU cuts power during every gear change so you can keep your right foot planted.
And finally, a sneak peak at Laguna’s space-frame chassis as it nears completion! This structure is by far the single most complex and expensive component of the car and represents thousands of hours of design, engineering, and fabrication. Hundreds of tubes are welded together to create an ultralight and stiff skeleton that provides an incredibly strong occupant safety cell while integrating all of the vehicle’s systems (suspension, steering, powertrain, interior and body). We are proud to say the chassis has been thoroughly vetted and built by one of the most experienced engineers and fabricators in the business, with multiple race-winning vehicles to his name. The craftsmanship speaks for itself… look at those welds!
The roof and a few support tubes are the only things left to fabricate on the basic structure. Once those are done the interior panels (aluminum for now but carbon fiber for the production car) and 100+ tabs will be laser cut and installed so we can bolt all of the components in. After that… it’s go time.
Lastly, our brake calipers have arrived which means we now have everything needed to assemble the rolling chassis. We have felt the pain of lingering supply chain issues with several key items but with the delivery of the calipers we can finally breathe a sigh of relief!
By the next update we should have some serious assembly progress to share. In the meantime, you can visit our website to learn more about our vision for Shoreline Bespoke, reach out, and shop for apparel. By subscribing to our email newsletter, you’ll be the first to know about vehicle updates, upcoming reveals, apparel releases and more… Stay tuned!
Sincerely,
Spencer Beckman
Founder & CEO, Shoreline Bespoke Vehicles