bolt on kits- like veranti, retroforza ittalia
Discussion
I agree about the Retroforza (MX5 fezza thing)- quite neatly done but too obviously an imitation to really appeal to most buyers.
The thing is, I reckon that there is a very good idea waiting to be exploited there - Having owned an MX5: great fun, dirt cheap ..etc etc. I sold it only because it was so utterly unremarkable in looks and individuality.
A bit of inspired thinking could produce a panel kit with neccesary intakes, bulges and haunched curves to get far enough away from the 'bar of soap' of the MX5. Im thinking of a dinky 'GT' looking car (think if you will of a DB9, new Ferrari 599 etc) but in the spirit of kind of modern day mini-marcos (I think the only car close to my thinking is the Brabus Smart Coupe).
A 'replica' is not the objective, just a handsome lithe hard-top / coupe (www.kitcarworkshop.co.uk have similar thinking on a Fury chassis - click on their 'thoughts for the future' page)
After following the 'future for the kit car industry?' thread, I think this could be a real winner. So long as the final product was of real quality and looked good, the worldwide market could be HUGE.
Would love to hear your feedback before I start sculpting plasticine onto my mazda desk model..
The thing is, I reckon that there is a very good idea waiting to be exploited there - Having owned an MX5: great fun, dirt cheap ..etc etc. I sold it only because it was so utterly unremarkable in looks and individuality.
A bit of inspired thinking could produce a panel kit with neccesary intakes, bulges and haunched curves to get far enough away from the 'bar of soap' of the MX5. Im thinking of a dinky 'GT' looking car (think if you will of a DB9, new Ferrari 599 etc) but in the spirit of kind of modern day mini-marcos (I think the only car close to my thinking is the Brabus Smart Coupe).
A 'replica' is not the objective, just a handsome lithe hard-top / coupe (www.kitcarworkshop.co.uk have similar thinking on a Fury chassis - click on their 'thoughts for the future' page)
After following the 'future for the kit car industry?' thread, I think this could be a real winner. So long as the final product was of real quality and looked good, the worldwide market could be HUGE.
Would love to hear your feedback before I start sculpting plasticine onto my mazda desk model..
I completly agree. The potential market is enourmous. The kit car industry is great, but is inherently limited in the amount of people that want to get involved. The idea of having a decent handling reliable little sports car that doesn't look like 'a bar of soap' is a very appealing prospect. I think the veranti is more the type of direction this 'bolt on' market should go. I think its a classy looking car, however it is not without its drawbacks (the rear light cluster is really are not my cup of tea) I would love to see more things like this and if anyone knows of anything in the pipeline please let us know!
It does, in fact that 'kit' is basically just front and rear bumpers. Only fly in the ointment is the base car is a rare-ish MX-5 Coupe (note metal roof and redesigned 3/4 profile) which was only sold in Japan in limited numbers I believe. It's not currently possible to import one to the UK as there's no model report but rumour is someone's working on that.
More info and pics:
http://barchetta-x.hp.infoseek.co.jp/
>> Edited by flat_steve on Thursday 1st June 21:09
More info and pics:
http://barchetta-x.hp.infoseek.co.jp/
>> Edited by flat_steve on Thursday 1st June 21:09
Ok have calmed down now - An excellent bit of photoshop witchcraft there Steve. I salute you. Blimey it looks good.
Had a good look at MX5s out on the road today - Styling wise, the side profile shows the car is evenly split into 'thirds': Bonnet first third, 'A' pillar & cabin middle third and rear deck last third.
Most GTs are about 1/2 bonnet, 1/2 cabin & tail combined. - Hence the MX5 styling kit would really need a neat rear coupe section to get close to the right 'balance'.
Would happily ditch the convertible option altogether if the result looks like Steve's picture. Wow.
Had a good look at MX5s out on the road today - Styling wise, the side profile shows the car is evenly split into 'thirds': Bonnet first third, 'A' pillar & cabin middle third and rear deck last third.
Most GTs are about 1/2 bonnet, 1/2 cabin & tail combined. - Hence the MX5 styling kit would really need a neat rear coupe section to get close to the right 'balance'.
Would happily ditch the convertible option altogether if the result looks like Steve's picture. Wow.
(sorry - posted before I saw your extra pics & reply. Doh..)
Fascinating bit of kit though and I had no idea a Coupe MX5 was ever made. Goes to show just how 'easy' it would be to create a decent panel-kit with mass appeal and not just in kit car circles.
Surely there is good business to be done here- Take a set of moulds off an MX5 coupe, offer a few contempary front and rear bumper designs (not replicas, just something inspired by them) and then get marketing.
Progression of thought is to add more muscular wing overskins (warming further to the 'GT' theme) as an advanced kit.
Hmmmmm.
Fascinating bit of kit though and I had no idea a Coupe MX5 was ever made. Goes to show just how 'easy' it would be to create a decent panel-kit with mass appeal and not just in kit car circles.
Surely there is good business to be done here- Take a set of moulds off an MX5 coupe, offer a few contempary front and rear bumper designs (not replicas, just something inspired by them) and then get marketing.
Progression of thought is to add more muscular wing overskins (warming further to the 'GT' theme) as an advanced kit.
Hmmmmm.
I agree wholeheartedly - something bolt-on that gives you all the benefits of a kit car (exclusivity, looks etc) but with the advantages of modern running gear (reliability, ease/cost of repair etc). The Ferrari F355 kit for the MR2 is perhaps taking it a little too far but something like the Kaminari or the afforementioned Veranti. Zagota also reskinned an MR2 (pic 4).
Personally I'd love to see something a little more extreme like an Attack total body conversion for MR2 turbo or similar...
Personally I'd love to see something a little more extreme like an Attack total body conversion for MR2 turbo or similar...
Edited by flat_steve on Saturday 10th June 20:04
I noticed at the beginning of the thread that a few of you guys had the opinion that the Retroforza Italia was trying too hard to be a Ferrari. Being the man who brought the car to the UK I hold my hand up and admit that I endowed my first demo with all the stickers and roundels purely to get a reaction and I have had the odd negative comment BUT almost everyone has liked the concept.100% of those who see the car in the flesh have said photos dont do it justice, but is it a Ferrari copy? Not at all, it is just a lovely, Italian inspired shape, harking back to the 60s and just wait for the Coupe!
ITALIA
[FERRARI
V8 ITALIA REAR
ITALIA
[FERRARI
V8 ITALIA REAR
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