Is there a Market for an Inexpensive Hillclimb Car ?

[Nero601]

I have recently purchased the Moulds/Rights etc to the McCOY , a classic Mini based Kit Car , I intend to produce an Inexpensive Hillclimb Car based on this , and possibly a Road version in due course


My question really is what does anyone think of this , I am happy to hear constructive input , ideas anything that may help me to put this project out in the marketplace.

for anyone who is unsure , this is a McCOY

[Dan Friel]

Minis aren't cheap anymore, so can't see how this would be a cheap project? It was also be classed as a "kit car", so wouldn't be competitive.

[D_G]

Dan Friel said:

Minis aren't cheap anymore, so can't see how this would be a cheap project? It was also be classed as a "kit car", so wouldn't be competitive.

Sorry to say I agree with Dan. Good luck though.

[tr7v8]

Would also need to be IVA'd or whatever they call it to be road legal, otherwise it'd just be a track only weapon & not allowed in road going. Really needs to be based on something newer as well. Personally I'd want a rear engined Clan type car than the McCoy. Still doable with a FWD say ford or Poxhall lump in the back though.

[Nero601]

Dan Friel said:

Minis aren't cheap anymore, so can't see how this would be a cheap project? It was also be classed as a "kit car", so wouldn't be competitive.

I have written detail build plan , and even with using quality components I can keep the costs down , what would you consider cheap/expensive ?

The aim is to provide a cost effective entry into Motorsport , once established it would be in competition with other McCoys , thus competitive , no ? and in some ways you compete against your own times to a degree.

i am happy for you to counter these thoughts , it is this sort of discussion I am after

[Nero601]

tr7v8 said:

Would also need to be IVA'd or whatever they call it to be road legal, otherwise it'd just be a track only weapon & not allowed in road going. Really needs to be based on something newer as well. Personally I'd want a rear engined Clan type car than the McCoy. Still doable with a FWD say ford or Poxhall lump in the back though.

Plan is to be Motorsport only to start with , then road legal at a later date.

Do you think the Retro looks are a tick against it ?

[Nero601]

D_G said:

Sorry to say I agree with Dan. Good luck though.

Thanks

[Ayahuasca]

Not sure why anyone would convert a classic Mini into one of these.

[rallycross]

The classic mini is not a good donor car these days, good ones are too expensive to break, 2nd hand market for tuning parts is now tiny.

Could you build them up using something newer like Saxo/106 drive train, plenty of breakers for pennies and plenty of tuning bits available used (and new).

[Nero601]

Ayahuasca said:

Not sure why anyone would convert a classic Mini into one of these.

It is not about the conversion of existing Classic Minis , but building with available parts to provide an alternative Hillclimb car that is different to anything else.

[Nero601]

rallycross said:

The classic mini is not a good donor car these days, good ones are too expensive to break, 2nd hand market for tuning parts is now tiny.

Could you build them up using something newer like Saxo/106 drive train, plenty of breakers for pennies and plenty of tuning bits available used (and new).

The car is designed around Classic Mini components (subframes bolt straight to Monocoque) so using other Donor cars whilst it is something i have thought about , would make adapting the moulds expensive.

I have considered Bike engines , but came up against the same problem , i.e. Subframes to take bike motors are v expensive off the shelf, and would take time to fabricate if I could find someone to build them for me.

[heebeegeetee]

Nero601 said:

I have recently purchased the Moulds/Rights etc to the McCOY , a classic Mini based Kit Car , I intend to produce an Inexpensive Hillclimb Car based on this , and possibly a Road version in due course


My question really is what does anyone think of this , I am happy to hear constructive input , ideas anything that may help me to put this project out in the marketplace.

for anyone who is unsure , this is a McCOY

When did it stop being a Clan Crusader?

[Nero601]

heebeegeetee said:

When did it stop being a Clan Crusader?

In the early 80's , when it was designed by John Frayling who also penned the Clan

[Trev450]

As already mentioned, classic minis are no longer that cheap. You also need to consider that the 1000-1500cc classes these days are dominated by m/c engined cars

[tr7v8]

Nero601 said:

heebeegeetee said:

When did it stop being a Clan Crusader?

In the early 80's , when it was designed by John Frayling who also penned the Clan

Nope the McCoy came later designed by Arthur Birchall. It is in some way an inferior car as it used mini subframes where the original was a proper monocoque using no subframes as such. With Imp suspension hung from the shell reinforcements.

[D_G]

Nero601 said:

The car is designed around Classic Mini components (subframes bolt straight to Monocoque) so using other Donor cars whilst it is something i have thought about , would make adapting the moulds expensive.

I have considered Bike engines , but came up against the same problem , i.e. Subframes to take bike motors are v expensive off the shelf, and would take time to fabricate if I could find someone to build them for me.

I suggest you go to a few race meetings and get a feel for what us competitors want, then you can decide what direction you might want to take.
As someone who sprints and hillclimbs I can't see your current path leading to much business. The car will need to be competitive in the class.
Maybe you should concentrate on the road stuff 1st, once you have the IVA cracked you'll likely to get some takers.

[djroadboy]

The Mk1 MX5 is an inexpensive hilliclimb car.

Really can't see any market for this at all. I hope you didn't pay much for this.

[dai1983]

Think you would have to change the donor car and modernise the bodywork. Cheap and common cars with light engines are the Ford Puma and Focus

[Nero601]

tr7v8 said:

Nope the McCoy came later designed by Arthur Birchall. It is in some way an inferior car as it used mini subframes where the original was a proper monocoque using no subframes as such. With Imp suspension hung from the shell reinforcements.

The McCoy was designed by John Frayling , chassis was sorted by Brian Luff , Arthur Birchall "merely" produced it , although they all worked on the Clan.

[Vocal Minority]

Worth bearing in mind that any entry will be in the specialist production car classes for sub 1000 a year production runs, so have one eye on your competitors and that is basically the Caterfield set. As trev says above, there are all manner of light, bike engine cars on the hills these days.

So to win the customes you will need to either

a). Significantly under-cut on price - you need to be an attractive alternative to a used 7 or Ginetta I think
b). Have the scope for fairly extensive modification so people can spend what they want depending on how competitive they want to be.

Those are just my top of the head thoughts.