3D printers produce more than 500 parts for the Radford Lotus Type 62-2.
With a list of celebrity customers that included all four Beatles, Peter Sellers, Twiggy, and Enzo Ferrari, Radford might be the most renowned coachbuilder you’ve never heard of. Formed in 1948 by Harold Radford, the company made a name for itself by creating customized luxury vehicles for the rich and famous.

Now, with a little help from its friends, Radford has introduced a customized version of the 1969 Lotus Type 62 racecar mounted on a modified Lotus Exige chassis.
Bradford selected Stratasys to supply the 3D printing technology needed to produce more than 500 parts required for the first two prototypes.
“By integrating 3D printing technology into their shop, Radford has been able to bring 1960’s-style supercar automaking into the 21st century with the high-end, hyper-customized style and features that their customers expect in a vehicle of this caliber,” said Pat Carey, senior vice president, Strategic Growth for Stratasys. “It’s an extreme example of something we see every day in the auto industry. Everyone making investments in new vehicles wants a deeper level of customization, and 3D printing is helping make it possible.”
Stratasys provided the Radford design team with a distributed manufacturing solution using a fleet of 20 printers in 5 global locations. The array of 3D printers needed to produce the varied and complex interior and exterior components required included the F900, F770, Fortus 450mc, and the J55.

The firewall, which included intricate mounting features for speakers, a fuel filler mount, and the luggage compartment, was made in two pieces using the Stratasys printer with the largest work bed, the F900. ULTEM 1010 resin, a high-strength, chemical-resistant FDM thermoplastic material common in automotive applications, was used to print these pieces.
Numerous mounting brackets throughout the car and many exterior components, such as side mirror housings, radiator ducts, and body vents, were printed using Nylon 12 carbon fiber and ASA material. Nylon 12 carbon fiber can replace metal in some applications because of its high strength and rigidity. ASA is a UV-stable material used for outdoor applications.
Stratasys is supporting the Radford Lotus Type 62-2 project using all the 3D technology at its disposal, including stereolithography and P3 Programmable Photopolymerization, to provide production parts.
The Type 62-2 is a fully customizable lightweight two-seater coupe that comes equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission. It is powered by a supercharged, 3.6-liter, 600bhp V6 engine and can accelerate from 0-62 mph in 2.9 seconds and from 0-124 mph in 8.4 seconds. During track testing, the car reached an electronically limited top speed of 186 mph. The vehicle has an ultra-lightweight aluminum chassis and is finished with carbon fiber body panels. Production of the Type 62-2 will be limited to just 62 vehicles, and deliveries will begin in Q2 2022.
The company requests that only serious buyers inquire—which means that if you have to ask how much it costs, you can’t afford it!