rx7locost wrote:
The Vectis is based on the J15. The main key, based on the photos shown, is the windshield surround.
Who really knows? A lot of his cars look similar, just minor updates make a new model.
The key difference between the J15 and the Vectis is that the latter uses the MGF as its main donor package, including the suspension components and suspension subframes.
As Dauntless says, the car in the pic above is a J15, which uses Triumph front uprights and fabricated steel rear uprights (and is actually the superior design - but more expensive due to not being single-donor). The J15 was launched with the Ford Sigma engine, but has also been fitted with various others (the one in the pic is clearly a BEC).
For comparison, a pic of the Vectis rear suspension, with MGF subframe, can be seen here:
http://www.sylva.co.uk/sylva-vectis-2/Jeremy Philips (the founder/owner of Sylva Sportscars) is one of the best lightweight car designers in the world, IMO; he has numerous designs and endless race/championship wins to his credit, but has never really received the credit he deserves because he has always operated at the 'budget' end of the market, hence doesn't attract much mainstream press coverage. It's a great loss to the UK kit car industry that he's chosen to retire.