Dax Cars

Dax Cars is a British specialist vehicle manufacturer associated with sports cars, kit cars, replicas and low-volume performance vehicles. The company was founded in 1968 and is based in North Weald, Essex. Its origins were in fibreglass moulding, operating under the name DJ Sportscars International before becoming closely identified with the Dax brand. This manufacturing background shaped the company’s long-standing emphasis on composite bodywork, space-frame construction and the adaptation of donor-car or third-party mechanical components. Dax became notable as the first British company to produce a kit-based replica of the AC 427 Cobra. The resulting model, initially associated with the Tojeiro name and later developed as the Dax 427, became the central product in the company’s portfolio. John Tojeiro, the designer associated with the original AC Ace chassis, joined the company as a director in 1975. His involvement contributed to the model’s identity and engineering development, and the car was renamed the Dax Tojeiro. Over time, the design was continuously revised and ultimately became known as the Dax 427. The 427 platform was offered in more than one chassis and suspension configuration. A De Dion version became available in 2003 alongside the independent-rear-suspension version. The design could be configured for a range of American V8 and Jaguar engines, including Jaguar’s V12, and could be paired with either manual or automatic transmission. Power steering and a leather-trimmed interior kit were among the available options. This modular approach allowed builders to tailor the car’s drivetrain and equipment rather than purchasing a conventional mass-produced vehicle with a fixed specification. Dax also developed vehicles beyond the Cobra-style sports-car format. The Californian, introduced in 1985, was a Porsche 356-inspired design using Volkswagen Beetle components. The Nevada, also announced in 1985, was an off-road-oriented vehicle using a tubular space-frame chassis and a Volkswagen Beetle engine. In 1996 the company launched the Kamala, an original-looking sports car designed by former Ford designer Peter Walker. It used a Cosworth two-litre turbocharged engine and was presented as a high-performance vehicle with a claimed 0-to-60-mph time of 3.5 seconds. Another Dax product was the Rush, a two-seat sports car that could accommodate a wide variety of engines. Configurations included V8 units, turbocharged two-litre four-cylinder engines and motorcycle engines, with the Suzuki Hayabusa being a commonly used choice. The company also produced a one-off chassis fitted with a helicopter turbine engine, although that experimental vehicle was not road legal. Dax continued to display new development work at specialist-car events. A Dax Coupe appeared at the Stoneleigh show in 2018. Although presented as a new model, the Coupe used the established 427’s underlying architecture. Its chassis was lengthened by five inches through the addition of a new space-frame section, while its suspension and engine options were carried over from the existing platform. On 15 August 2017, John Kox acquired production of the Dax 427 from the 427 Motor Company, which had previously been known as Dax Cars and DJ Sportscars International. This transaction marked a change in production responsibility for the company’s best-known model. Dax Cars therefore occupies a distinctive position in the British specialist-car sector: it combines low-volume manufacturing, kit-car construction, replica styling and adaptable performance engineering rather than operating as a conventional high-volume automobile producer.

Dax Cars was established in Britain in 1968 and initially operated as a fibreglass moulding business under the name DJ Sportscars International. The company’s early specialization in composite body manufacture provided the basis for its later work in kit cars and low-volume sports vehicles. Rather than producing large numbers of standardized automobiles, Dax developed bodies, chassis and component packages that could be assembled or configured by specialist builders and enthusiasts. The company’s most important early achievement was the creation of a British kit-based replica of the AC 427 Cobra. The model became the foundation of Dax’s identity in the specialist sports-car market. In 1975 John Tojeiro, known for designing the chassis of the original AC Ace, joined the company as a director. Following his involvement, the car was renamed the Dax Tojeiro. The design underwent continuing development and later became known as the Dax 427. The 427 was engineered as an adaptable platform rather than a single fixed-production specification. Its available configurations included independent rear suspension and, from 2003, a De Dion version. The chassis could accept a selection of American V8 and Jaguar engines, including the Jaguar V12. Buyers or builders could also specify manual or automatic transmissions, power steering and a leather-trimmed interior kit. This flexibility was central to the appeal of the model, allowing different levels of performance and equipment within the same basic vehicle concept. Dax broadened its range during the 1980s. The Californian, launched in 1985, used Volkswagen Beetle components beneath a body styled after the Porsche 356. The Nevada, also announced in 1985, took the company in an off-road direction, combining a tubular space-frame chassis with a Volkswagen Beetle engine. These vehicles demonstrated Dax’s willingness to reuse established mechanical components in new specialist-car formats. In 1996 Dax launched the Kamala, an original supercar-style design created by former Ford designer Peter Walker. It used a Cosworth two-litre turbocharged engine and was promoted as a particularly rapid car, with a claimed 0-to-60-mph time of 3.5 seconds. The Kamala differed from the replica-oriented Californian and 427 by presenting a more contemporary and original design language. The company also produced the Rush, a two-seat sports car with unusually broad engine compatibility. Available engine approaches included V8 power, turbocharged two-litre four-cylinder units and motorcycle engines. Suzuki Hayabusa engines were a common choice among builders. Dax additionally created a one-off experimental chassis powered by a helicopter turbine engine; this vehicle was not road legal and represented an engineering experiment rather than a regular production model. The 427 platform continued to support later derivatives. A Dax Coupe appeared at the Stoneleigh show in 2018. Although described as a new model, it retained the older 427’s basic underpinnings. The Coupe used a chassis extended by five inches through a newly added space-frame section, while carrying over the suspension and engine choices associated with the established platform. A significant change in the company’s production history occurred on 15 August 2017, when John Kox acquired production of the Dax 427 from the 427 Motor Company. The latter had formerly been known as Dax Cars and DJ Sportscars International. The transaction transferred production responsibility for the marque’s best-known vehicle while preserving the 427’s connection with the Dax name. Across its history, Dax Cars has remained associated with Britain’s specialist and kit-car tradition. Its products have combined fibreglass construction, adaptable chassis engineering, donor-car components and a wide range of engine choices. The brand’s historical importance lies less in production scale than in its contribution to enthusiast-built sports cars and Cobra-derived British kit-car design.

• 2018

  Dax Coupe appears at Stoneleigh

  [1]Dax Carsen.wikipedia.org

  The Coupe is presented as a new model derived from the established 427 platform, using a five-inch longer space-frame chassis.

• 2017

  Production of the Dax 427 changes hands

  [1]Dax Carsen.wikipedia.org

  John Kox acquires production of the Dax 427 from the 427 Motor Company on 15 August.

• 2003

  De Dion 427 variant becomes available

  [1]Dax Carsen.wikipedia.org

  A De Dion version of the 427 is introduced alongside the independent-rear-suspension model.

• 1996

  Kamala launches

  [1]Dax Carsen.wikipedia.org

  The Kamala, designed by former Ford designer Peter Walker, enters the range with a Cosworth two-litre turbocharged engine.

• 1985

  Californian and Nevada are announced

  [1]Dax Carsen.wikipedia.org

  Dax expands beyond the 427 concept with the Porsche 356-inspired Californian and the Volkswagen Beetle-powered Nevada off-roader.

• 1975

  John Tojeiro joins the company

  [1]Dax Carsen.wikipedia.org

  John Tojeiro, designer associated with the original AC Ace chassis, becomes a company director and the principal Cobra-derived model is renamed the Dax Tojeiro.

• 1968

  Dax Cars is established

  [1]Dax Carsen.wikipedia.org

  The British company is founded and begins with fibreglass moulding activity under the DJ Sportscars International name.

A British specialist and kit-car marque focused on high-performance, low-volume sports cars, adaptable chassis systems and replica or enthusiast-oriented vehicle construction.

• Cobra-inspired sports-car kit

  Dax 427 / Dax Tojeiro

  Dax’s best-known model is a British kit-based replica inspired by the AC 427 Cobra. After John Tojeiro joined the company as a director in 1975, the car was known as the Dax Tojeiro before later development led to the Dax 427 name. The platform was offered with independent-rear-suspension and De Dion configurations and could accommodate American V8 and Jaguar engines, including the Jaguar V12. Manual or automatic transmissions, power steering and a leather-trimmed interior kit were available options.

• Classic-inspired sports-car kit · 1985

  Dax Californian

  Launched in 1985, the Californian was a Porsche 356-inspired specialist car using Volkswagen Beetle components. Its design combined recognizable classic-sports-car styling with a readily available donor-car mechanical basis, consistent with Dax’s broader kit-car and component-car approach.

• Off-road vehicle · 1985

  Dax Nevada

  The Nevada was an off-road-oriented vehicle announced in 1985. It used a tubular space-frame chassis and a Volkswagen Beetle engine, applying Dax’s lightweight construction and donor-component methods to a more utilitarian vehicle format.

• Performance sports car · 1996

  Dax Kamala

  Introduced in 1996, the Kamala was an original, aggressively styled sports car designed by former Ford designer Peter Walker. It used a Cosworth two-litre turbocharged engine and was described as capable of reaching 60 mph from rest in 3.5 seconds.

• Two-seat sports-car kit

  Dax Rush

  The Rush was a two-seat sports car designed to accept a broad range of engines. Known configurations included V8 engines, turbocharged two-litre four-cylinder units and motorcycle engines, particularly the Suzuki Hayabusa engine. Dax also produced a one-off, non-road-legal experimental chassis using a helicopter turbine engine.

• Sports-car kit · 2018

  Dax Coupe

  Shown at Stoneleigh in 2018, the Coupe was presented as a new Dax model based on the established 427’s mechanical underpinnings. Its space-frame chassis was extended by five inches through a new section, while the suspension and engine options were carried over from the 427 family.

• 2018

  Dax Coupe developmentProduct launch

  Background

  Dax developed a new Coupe using the established Dax 427 architecture.

  Action taken

  The Coupe was shown at the Stoneleigh show with a five-inch longer space-frame chassis and retained 427 suspension and engine options.

  Aftermath

  The available reference confirms the public appearance of the model but does not establish its subsequent production status.

  Source

• 2017

  Transfer of Dax 427 productionM&A

  Background

  The 427 Motor Company, formerly known as Dax Cars and DJ Sportscars International, held production of the Dax 427 before the ownership change.

  Action taken

  On 15 August 2017, John Kox acquired production of the Dax 427.

  Aftermath

  Production responsibility for the marque’s principal model moved to John Kox. The available reference does not establish the subsequent corporate structure or production volume.

  Source

1. 1Dax Carsen.wikipedia.org