Why are folk so snobby about "kit cars"?
Discussion
I'd be interested to know the true definition of a kit car, I get really pissed off when people ask if mine is a kit. Yes I bought a chassis and a body but apart from that nothing was what I'd call Airfix like. Anything that isn't running gear etc. was either made by myself or someone with more engineering skills than I have or it was adapted from other parts. A kit to me is something like a Caterham that comes in a box delivered to your garage (do they still do that) and you just bolt it all together.
jagracer said:
...I get really pissed off when people ask if mine is a kit.
Whatever for? We bought a chassis and body like you did. Its a Stuart Taylor Phoenix Fireblade. We made loads of one-off parts. CNC parts, titanium parts, carbon fibre parts, lots of custom fab parts.
It's still a kit car though and we're proud of it.
Out of interest, what is your car?
So, I've just recieved the moulding back for my car from the moulder.
The chassis is either an Early Clubmans or F1200, but I have so far not identified what it is exactly - a one off, certainly.
I'm fitting an in-line A Series engine and it uses Triumph uprights at the front and a Riley 1500 back axle.
It is, to all intents and purposes, a 'Kit car' (albeit I wish at times I could just buy the bits from a manufacturer!) so I have resigned myself to answering the question even before the car is half built. To my mind, it's NOT a kit car, but to others it is.
Who cares - I'm building / restoring a fun and entertaining car to my taste.
Here's some photos of it 'as bought' and as it is now.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/44645707@N00/sets/72...
What do you think - is this a 'kit car' or not?
The chassis is either an Early Clubmans or F1200, but I have so far not identified what it is exactly - a one off, certainly.
I'm fitting an in-line A Series engine and it uses Triumph uprights at the front and a Riley 1500 back axle.
It is, to all intents and purposes, a 'Kit car' (albeit I wish at times I could just buy the bits from a manufacturer!) so I have resigned myself to answering the question even before the car is half built. To my mind, it's NOT a kit car, but to others it is.
Who cares - I'm building / restoring a fun and entertaining car to my taste.
Here's some photos of it 'as bought' and as it is now.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/44645707@N00/sets/72...
What do you think - is this a 'kit car' or not?
In the fifties, kit cars avoided purchase tax, giving rise to the specials, such as Fairthorpe, Rochdale, Buckler etc. they were kit cars in their day and a cheap way of reviving a worn out Ford.
So one man's kit car is another man's special. Which 50 years later are now highly sort after.
It probably, as has been stated extensively, it's all down to quality of build
So one man's kit car is another man's special. Which 50 years later are now highly sort after.
It probably, as has been stated extensively, it's all down to quality of build
Mistron said:
So, I've just recieved the moulding back for my car from the moulder.
The chassis is either an Early Clubmans or F1200, but I have so far not identified what it is exactly - a one off, certainly.
I'm fitting an in-line A Series engine and it uses Triumph uprights at the front and a Riley 1500 back axle.
It is, to all intents and purposes, a 'Kit car' (albeit I wish at times I could just buy the bits from a manufacturer!) so I have resigned myself to answering the question even before the car is half built. To my mind, it's NOT a kit car, but to others it is.
Who cares - I'm building / restoring a fun and entertaining car to my taste.
Here's some photos of it 'as bought' and as it is now.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/44645707@N00/sets/72...
What do you think - is this a 'kit car' or not?
In the parlance of the day it was just a "special". We all did it by changing engines, bodies and doing exactly what you are doing and as did the other makes noted above. I remember a sit up and beg Popular with a Jaguar IRS rear end, only two seats, and a Chrysler 7.2 lump in it. A "kit car" is just that, a kit bought and assembled at home, like a Lotus 7 or a Marcos. A "special" though is a complete one-off, devised by yours truly, and very well done too. My felicitations.The chassis is either an Early Clubmans or F1200, but I have so far not identified what it is exactly - a one off, certainly.
I'm fitting an in-line A Series engine and it uses Triumph uprights at the front and a Riley 1500 back axle.
It is, to all intents and purposes, a 'Kit car' (albeit I wish at times I could just buy the bits from a manufacturer!) so I have resigned myself to answering the question even before the car is half built. To my mind, it's NOT a kit car, but to others it is.
Who cares - I'm building / restoring a fun and entertaining car to my taste.
Here's some photos of it 'as bought' and as it is now.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/44645707@N00/sets/72...
What do you think - is this a 'kit car' or not?
ETA: and yes, at first one could buy a Lynx in kit form, but few did.
nta16 said:
ow very dare you! my car wasn't a kit car it was factory built, thank you!
I better add here for those that don't know I'm not really upset by that remark, I was often asked how long it took to build - as if I'd travel in a car I'd built, no way
The sequence of questions is usually quite predictable (I had a Westfield):I better add here for those that don't know I'm not really upset by that remark, I was often asked how long it took to build - as if I'd travel in a car I'd built, no way
Them - "Oh, is it a Lotus/Caterham?". Me - "No, it's a Westfield".
Them - "Oh, a kit car (sneering). Did you build it yourself". Me - "No, I bought it built".
Them - Sneer.
Me - "And how many cars have you built?" Most wouldn't have a clue what a spanner is.
My factory built TVRs give me just as many improvement opportunities as the Westfield ever did.
|http://thumbsnap.com/i0Jj9yRc[/url]
spoodler said:
Presumably then, no love would be shown by "Classic" types toward buses, tractors or boats for example. I would have thought that a well built kit in a classic style would be appreciated on here rather than derided.
It is appreciated by many, as are all interesting wheeled vehicles.Unfortunately, as in all walks of life, there are narrow-minded individuals who have their own, almost fanatical idea of what's acceptable.
No prizes for spotting him on this forum.
This seems to have morphed into a "snobby about replicas" thread, not all kit cars are replicas. I've had 2 that were and 2 that aren't.
The Westfield SE and Westfield Eleven are replicas, the Marlin Roadster and Ultima GTR are not, they are all great fun, generate a lot of interest from the general public and are fantastic bang for your buck.
Do I care what the sneery types say (often because they are jealous), no. Those that matter don't care, those that care don't matter.
The Westfield SE and Westfield Eleven are replicas, the Marlin Roadster and Ultima GTR are not, they are all great fun, generate a lot of interest from the general public and are fantastic bang for your buck.
Do I care what the sneery types say (often because they are jealous), no. Those that matter don't care, those that care don't matter.
MKnight702 said:
This seems to have morphed into a "snobby about replicas" thread, not all kit cars are replicas. I've had 2 that were and 2 that aren't.
The Westfield SE and Westfield Eleven are replicas, the Marlin Roadster and Ultima GTR are not, they are all great fun, generate a lot of interest from the general public and are fantastic bang for your buck.
Do I care what the sneery types say (often because they are jealous), no. Those that matter don't care, those that care don't matter.
Agreed..this one is obviously hopeless The Westfield SE and Westfield Eleven are replicas, the Marlin Roadster and Ultima GTR are not, they are all great fun, generate a lot of interest from the general public and are fantastic bang for your buck.
Do I care what the sneery types say (often because they are jealous), no. Those that matter don't care, those that care don't matter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MZ3Rbhui7c
Some people get bogged down in drivel..cars are cars. 4 wheels with engines, few tubes maybe a bit of placcy or tin bodywork….its all about the fun and enjoyment of building, tinkering and driving them…..Some people are obviously not as capable of having as much fun as others…Same goes for all walks of life.
N.
This one is real….The both look good fun to me..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DN4BUBF_Xo
Edited by heightswitch on Friday 15th August 19:30
Edited by heightswitch on Friday 15th August 19:31
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