Is there a Market for an Inexpensive Hillclimb Car ?

Is there a Market for an Inexpensive Hillclimb Car ?

Author
Discussion

spitfire4v8

3,990 posts

180 months

Wednesday 24th June 2015
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djroadboy said:
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.
You've written exactly what I was thinking! A good MX5 with cage and and a few goodies can be had for well under 5k, and it's a very capable car even for a novice, it's already very well built by Mazda, and is pretty much bullet proof for hillclimbs /sprints.

I think that sadly you've bought the rights to the wrong car. Good luck, but I doubt this will go very far.

guru_1071

2,768 posts

233 months

Wednesday 24th June 2015
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as much as I am a fan of minis, and mini based kit cars, I think you have bought a pup....


the macoy is vile looking - the arches are all wrong for the wheels - look how nice something like a mini based gtm coupe is, plus they are rear wheel drive, so make ideal hill climb / sprint cars

also

the big money for anything mini based now is the cost of the engine/gearbox - realistically a decent power unit is going to be at least 6 grand - so even if the body shell is 'free' its going to be expensive to make a competitive car - the reason that people will still use minis is that they like them - asking them to build the running gear into an unknown kit car that doesn't have any real resale value just isn't going to work.

andy97

4,691 posts

221 months

Wednesday 24th June 2015
quotequote all
I'm with DJRoadboy on this, the MX5 is very capable and can be easily upgraded with ITB etc to give reasonable power in a light and well handling car.

Other cheapest alternative road cars are things like Pug 205s, Saxos etc if people prefer fwd.

One other thing that sh has not been mentioned is that the building of kit cars seems to be on the wane these days, people don't seem to have the time or interest. If they do, they tend to buy a Locaterfields type car of which many seperate proven types exist.

tyre smoke

23,018 posts

260 months

Wednesday 24th June 2015
quotequote all
OP, what do you consider 'cheap'?

As others have said, an MX5 is cheap. And competitive, pretty much from the 'off'.

I would wager for the money for a competitive one of your cars, I could monster the class with a well sorted MX5.

spitfire4v8

3,990 posts

180 months

Wednesday 24th June 2015
quotequote all
^^ and this is probably where the entry level market lies these days .. look at what stuart mills is doing at MEV with mx5 donor base. Simple to build, reliable underpinnings. Just make it prettier wink

Nero601

Original Poster:

1,566 posts

195 months

Wednesday 24th June 2015
quotequote all
andy97 said:
I'm with DJRoadboy on this, the MX5 is very capable and can be easily upgraded with ITB etc to give reasonable power in a light and well handling car.

Other cheapest alternative road cars are things like Pug 205s, Saxos etc if people prefer fwd.

One other thing that sh has not been mentioned is that the building of kit cars seems to be on the wane these days, people don't seem to have the time or interest. If they do, they tend to buy a Locaterfields type car of which many seperate proven types exist.
I was intending the car to be fully built and Hill Ready , but if someone wanted to buy a Shell and build it themselves then that would be an option.

Norfolkandchance

2,010 posts

198 months

Wednesday 24th June 2015
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Have to say I agree with the others. It wouldn't be competitive or cheap. Probably wouldn't be that fun to drive either, compared to other cars in the specialist class. Sorry and wish you luck.

Nero601

Original Poster:

1,566 posts

195 months

Wednesday 24th June 2015
quotequote all
tyre smoke said:
OP, what do you consider 'cheap'?

As others have said, an MX5 is cheap. And competitive, pretty much from the 'off'.

I would wager for the money for a competitive one of your cars, I could monster the class with a well sorted MX5.
I have costed it up and would think around 7 and a bit K built and ready to Hillclimb (low overheads and sensible buying of components) , using a mildly tuned 1380 A series , the power to weight would be superior to a Mk1 MX5 inStd form that is , I do know of an MX5 at Gurston , and although it is Class leading it has had iirc north of 10k thrown at it.


EFA



Edited by Nero601 on Wednesday 24th June 14:06

Edmundo2

1,328 posts

209 months

Wednesday 24th June 2015
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I'm afraid to say you've little or no chance at that money. As has been said you could choose between a Pug 205 gti, Westfield SE, or Mazda MX5 all for sub £5k, all competitive in class, all fun to drive,all pretty, all with good parts supply and support etc etc.

On top of that if you were hell bent on something different you could buy a well sorted hillclimb spec Clan Crusader or Ginetta G15 for £7k ish.

Looks like a non starter to me and I commend your enthusiasm but I think you should try from a different starting with something light, pretty, rear wheel drive if poss and look at bike engine as the best route, ( gsxr engined gtm coupe type machine etc..)

Good luck whatever you do..


Mark A S

1,824 posts

187 months

Wednesday 24th June 2015
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I too admire your enthusiasm but agree with all here, it will not be a competitive car, if you sold 1 for hillclimb use I would be surprised, but sincerely hope you sell many more.

Good Luck.

andy97

4,691 posts

221 months

Wednesday 24th June 2015
quotequote all
M
Nero601 said:
tyre smoke said:
OP, what do you consider 'cheap'?

As others have said, an MX5 is cheap. And competitive, pretty much from the 'off'.

I would wager for the money for a competitive one of your cars, I could monster the class with a well sorted MX5.
I have costed it up and would think around 7 and a bit K built and ready to Hillclimb (low overheads and sensible buying of components) , using a mildly tuned 1380 A series , the power to weight would be superior to a Mk1 MX5 inStd form that is , I do know of an MX5 at Gurston , and although it is Class leading it has had iirc north of 10k thrown at it.


EFA



Edited by Nero601 on Wednesday 24th June 14:06
I'd wager that an mx5 with ITB could be built for about that or less and would easier to run with great spares availability.

And to put this in perspective I have recently bought a Phantom Clubmans rolling chassis that is having an Vauxhall Red Top and 4 speed quaife gearbox in it. So far it owes me £5k and I expect to get it on track for about £7k.

You can buy a Vauxhall Lotus for about £7k and have a great deal of fun and you can buy a Zetec F Ford for less. Not necessarily the most competitive things in their respective classes but proper racing cars, actually very cheap to run, excellent resale potential and easy to work on with bullet proof mechanicals.

Can the project be re-engineered as a Clan? May actually be more slightly more interest in it that way in a very niche market for those that need spares for the ones they have, or look on that car with some fondness?

Edited by andy97 on Wednesday 24th June 16:48

Edmundo2

1,328 posts

209 months

Wednesday 24th June 2015
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This

https://racecarsdirect.com/Advert/Details/60160/ad...

+ this

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1999-PEUGEOT-406-EXECUTI...

+ This

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Twin-Axle-Car-Transporte...

+ a bit of haggling and your not far away...Obviously loads of race spec mx5s around if you wanted to bring the whole lot in under £7k


Nero601

Original Poster:

1,566 posts

195 months

Wednesday 24th June 2015
quotequote all
andy97 said:
Can the project be re-engineered as a Clan? May actually be more slightly more interest in it that way in a very niche market for those that need spares for the ones they have, or look on that car with some fondness?

Edited by andy97 on Wednesday 24th June 16:48
Not really , too expensive at the moment to re jig the Moulds , and probably issues with whomever owns the Clan.

Nero601

Original Poster:

1,566 posts

195 months

Wednesday 24th June 2015
quotequote all
Norfolkandchance said:
Probably wouldn't be that fun to drive either
Not sure why you think that , it was always praised for it's handling back when it was first produced.

claryclan

35 posts

183 months

Wednesday 24th June 2015
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I suggest you look at the current Clan developments as regards engines to see where you are wasting your time. I'll admit to being a bit biased.


Nero601

Original Poster:

1,566 posts

195 months

Wednesday 24th June 2015
quotequote all
claryclan said:
I suggest you look at the current Clan developments as regards engines to see where you are wasting your time. I'll admit to being a bit biased.
Would I find this info on the Imp/Clan Forum , or elsewhere ? smile

coppice

8,561 posts

143 months

Wednesday 24th June 2015
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Not wanting to be rude but the Clan I owned in the late 70s (chassis no 4 )was an awful lot better looking . I really don't think there is much of a market- as said MX5s, Seven type cars and modified Hatches cover a lot of bases and if one wanted to buy a custom built hill climb car then the Jedi type route is far more appealing surely ?

andy97

4,691 posts

221 months

Wednesday 24th June 2015
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Have you asked your question on the Uphill Racers forum?

You may get a different view???!!

HustleRussell

24,602 posts

159 months

Thursday 25th June 2015
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No positivity at all for this yet.

OP you seem quite determined to rebut everybody's comments and justify your belief in the idea (which is commendable), however ultimately the viability of a project such as this is determined by consumer's belief in the project, not yours.

The facts are that making the moulds good and commissioning production of the McCOY will require a large initial investment, the bought in donor parts are now scarce and very old so simultaneously expensive and of variable quality, and on top of all that the market is awash with alternatives which are cheaper, more competetive, more readily available, better supported, easier to run and repair etc etc.

And then there's the subjective matter of attractiveness upon which I won't comment for fear of being branded rude.

In summary, is there a market for an(other) inexpensive hillclimb car? not really. Is there a market for that hillclimb car? almost certainly not.

Edited by HustleRussell on Thursday 25th June 02:51

Nero601

Original Poster:

1,566 posts

195 months

Thursday 25th June 2015
quotequote all
andy97 said:
Have you asked your question on the Uphill Racers forum?

You may get a different view???!!
Not as yet (it was on the list) , but I will , Thanks smile