Kit Cars

[Bludger]

I have now almost completed most of the work I want to do on my Surf, so I am thinking of getting a new project.

After watching Top Gear last series and seeing them build a Caterham from a kit, I thought it would be fun to build a car from the ground up using nice, clean, new parts.

I don't have anywhere near the budget for a Caterham, but would like to get a kit that is UK Road Legal and is fairly cheap.

Does anyone know of any good websites or magazines that cover this topic? I've only so far found sites that sell the finished car.

Anyone who has done a kit car before is welcome to post their experiences and advice. Is it worthwhile?

[surfenstein]

I have now almost completed most of the work I want to do on my Surf, so I am thinking of getting a new project.

After watching Top Gear last series and seeing them build a Caterham from a kit, I thought it would be fun to build a car from the ground up using nice, clean, new parts.

I don't have anywhere near the budget for a Caterham, but would like to get a kit that is UK Road Legal and is fairly cheap.

Does anyone know of any good websites or magazines that cover this topic? I've only so far found sites that sell the finished car.

Anyone who has done a kit car before is welcome to post their experiences and advice. Is it worthwhile?

which kit car monthly would be a good place to start,what sort of budget are you looking at.?

[Sancho]

I have now almost completed most of the work I want to do on my Surf, so I am thinking of getting a new project.

After watching Top Gear last series and seeing them build a Caterham from a kit, I thought it would be fun to build a car from the ground up using nice, clean, new parts.

I don't have anywhere near the budget for a Caterham, but would like to get a kit that is UK Road Legal and is fairly cheap.

Does anyone know of any good websites or magazines that cover this topic? I've only so far found sites that sell the finished car.

Anyone who has done a kit car before is welcome to post their experiences and advice. Is it worthwhile?

I used to know a guy who built Quantum cars and used them as a daily drive with no issues:

http://www.quantumcars.co.uk/

Whole list of companies here

I would go for a Grinnall myself....

[stormforce]

If you help him Mark then he'll have it finished in a few days...

[Chillitt]

westfield do a nice cheap version of a caterham..

[surfenstein]

If you help him Mark then he'll have it finished in a few days...

no thanks mate been there done that.

[Gamedawn]

What about one of these www.dakar4x4.me.uk They look like great fun even if they are LR's underneath

[DaveD]

Locost is a cheapy Locus7 which is a Caterham sort of............

http://www.locostcarclub.co.uk/

Google Locost............

[Morr]

Also check out www.robinhoodsportscars.co.uk for cheap Lotus 7/Caterham/Westfield type kits

[Gizmo]

pilgrim cars do stuff...remember watching Discovery Channel etc when they did an AC Cobra replica.



pilgrim cars http://www.pilgrimcars.com/
westfield http://www.westfield-sportscars.co.uk/
daxcars http://www.daxcars.co.uk/
genetta (or ginetta)


list of kit-car manufacturers in the uk
http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/kitc..._manu_list.php

[s2-wolf]

I've been into kit cars for ages - I built my first, a Dutton B+, in 1976.
At that time there was a very limited choice, with no more than a dozen manufacturers, if you discount the VW buggies. Now there is a huge choice from Lotus 7 types, through Cobras, 4 x 4's, various replicas of desirable motors to modern, innovative designs. The engineering quality has improved also, due in part to the introduction of SVA.
Prices vary as well, from the budget offerings such as Locost etc to the megabucks Cobras and, top of my fantasy wish list, the Ultima!
You also need to decide what you want to get out of kit car ownership. Do you want a summer fun car or a car for everyday use? Will you be taking it to shows or attending track days or even doing a bit of motorsport?
How many people will it need to carry? Are you interested in the engineering/ building side of things or in the driving experience?
I would suggect that before you go any further you get as much information as possible about what is on offer. Various sources are available -

Which Kit Car magazine
Kitcar magazine
Total Kitcar
All these also have websites

The internet - ebay frequently has kitcars offered, with photos - great for seeing what a car looks like.
Kit car manufacturers websites
Kit car club websites and forums - get the real story of how
good a car is and it's ease of build/costs!

Finally I would recommend a visit to the Kitcar Show at Stoneleigh ( near Leamington Spa) on the 6th and 7th May 2007. This is the biggest gathering of manufacturers and owners/clubs in the UK. It's a one stop shop for all the info you need. You can see the models on offer by the manufacturers and also see cars completed by their owners in their own garages and talk to the guys who built them.

Once you have decided which car to go for, join the club! Like this forum, the owner's clubs are an invaluable source of help and information.

If you are thinking about buying second hand, then I would suggest the following -
Buy a car whose manufacturer is still in business, otherwise you are stuffed should you need any spares - body panels in particular.
A part-built, unfinished project might seem like a bargain, but you are buying someone elses problems. Also if the kit was manufactured pre-SVA it is unlikely to pass without modification. This can sometimes be a major stumbling block, especially if the manufacturer is no longer trading. Also the standards of the previous owner may not be the same as your own. I speak from personal experience here as my current project was purchased as a 90% completed vehicle. It was only when I started work to complete it that I found it was a deathtrap! I have had to strip it all down and start again - much more difficult, and time consuming,than building from a new kit.

BE WARNED - kit cars, like Surfs, are addictive! I own two at the moment - a Beauford ( 1930's American style) that I built in the early 1990's and the project mentioned above which is a Covin ( Porsche 911 Turbo look alike)

I hope my ramblings have been of some use to you. If you want to have a chat e-mail or pm me and I will send you my telephone number and will be happy to give you any help that I can.

[Gizmo]

I've been into kit cars for ages - I built my first, a Dutton B+, in 1976.
At that time there was a very limited choice, with no more than a dozen manufacturers, if you discount the VW buggies. Now there is a huge choice from Lotus 7 types, through Cobras, 4 x 4's, various replicas of desirable motors to modern, innovative designs. The engineering quality has improved also, due in part to the introduction of SVA.
Prices vary as well, from the budget offerings such as Locost etc to the megabucks Cobras and, top of my fantasy wish list, the Ultima!
You also need to decide what you want to get out of kit car ownership. Do you want a summer fun car or a car for everyday use? Will you be taking it to shows or attending track days or even doing a bit of motorsport?
How many people will it need to carry? Are you interested in the engineering/ building side of things or in the driving experience?
I would suggect that before you go any further you get as much information as possible about what is on offer. Various sources are available -

Which Kit Car magazine
Kitcar magazine
Total Kitcar
All these also have websites

The internet - ebay frequently has kitcars offered, with photos - great for seeing what a car looks like.
Kit car manufacturers websites
Kit car club websites and forums - get the real story of how
good a car is and it's ease of build/costs!

Finally I would recommend a visit to the Kitcar Show at Stoneleigh ( near Leamington Spa) on the 6th and 7th May 2007. This is the biggest gathering of manufacturers and owners/clubs in the UK. It's a one stop shop for all the info you need. You can see the models on offer by the manufacturers and also see cars completed by their owners in their own garages and talk to the guys who built them.

Once you have decided which car to go for, join the club! Like this forum, the owner's clubs are an invaluable source of help and information.

If you are thinking about buying second hand, then I would suggest the following -
Buy a car whose manufacturer is still in business, otherwise you are stuffed should you need any spares - body panels in particular.
A part-built, unfinished project might seem like a bargain, but you are buying someone elses problems. Also if the kit was manufactured pre-SVA it is unlikely to pass without modification. This can sometimes be a major stumbling block, especially if the manufacturer is no longer trading. Also the standards of the previous owner may not be the same as your own. I speak from personal experience here as my current project was purchased as a 90% completed vehicle. It was only when I started work to complete it that I found it was a deathtrap! I have had to strip it all down and start again - much more difficult, and time consuming,than building from a new kit.

BE WARNED - kit cars, like Surfs, are addictive! I own two at the moment - a Beauford ( 1930's American style) that I built in the early 1990's and the project mentioned above which is a Covin ( Porsche 911 Turbo look alike)

I hope my ramblings have been of some use to you. If you want to have a chat e-mail or pm me and I will send you my telephone number and will be happy to give you any help that I can.

Covin Turbo - remember the piccies in the magazines - White Exteriori with red interior

[Apache]

The Pilgrim Cobra is pretty pricey if you build a nice one though.

How about a replica RS200? Knicker elastic snapping at 500 yards!

[s2-wolf]

Here are some pics of my Beauford to give you an idea of what's available for you to build yourself.
I will try and post some pics of the Covin later.

:I've just seen the odd sizes of these two pics - I really must re-install Photoshop so that I can sort them out LOL

[firemansam1066]

did a robin hood lotus seven replica a couple of years ago, mint fun, but as stated by others, highly addictive, i built mine to a very good spec but still only spent less than 5 grand.