Kit car industry and how to revive interest and sales
Discussion
I agree with most of cymtriks' points, but I would say the original and maybe most important reason for buying a kit car was financial. Of course people used to be more practical in the "old days", and today children grow up using computers, etc. which is removing them from the real World, but cars were expensive and used to rust, terminally, leaving still serviceable running gear. Cars were much more expensive in the 1950s, which is why there was a higher ratio of motorcyles to cars then. Now cars are really cheap to own. How many people who are unemployed still manage to pay for an old banger? I bet quite a few. This was unlikely 30 or more years ago.
Now try and sell a kit car for 5,000 Pounds when there is a huge market of available and competent production cars at that price. Where's the motivation to build one, and more to the point, where's the profit for the kit manufacturers?
Thankfully there are still enthusiasts who are willing to do this, but they are a tiny minority.
The only way I can see a revival of the kit market is if production cars become relatively expensive again.
Will that happen? Who knows? I hope so, because there is nothing like the satisfaction of building something yourself. A feeling that is alien to most people because we have enough other distractions in the form of computers, TV, cheap goods, and hectic work schedules.
Now try and sell a kit car for 5,000 Pounds when there is a huge market of available and competent production cars at that price. Where's the motivation to build one, and more to the point, where's the profit for the kit manufacturers?
Thankfully there are still enthusiasts who are willing to do this, but they are a tiny minority.
The only way I can see a revival of the kit market is if production cars become relatively expensive again.
Will that happen? Who knows? I hope so, because there is nothing like the satisfaction of building something yourself. A feeling that is alien to most people because we have enough other distractions in the form of computers, TV, cheap goods, and hectic work schedules.
As modern cars become more complicated, kit cars get left further behind.
ABS, airbags, complicated engine management etc are all beyond the inclination or capability of your average amateur mechanic.
And so kit cars compete more with the classic car market.
Last time I wanted to build a kit, I ended up buying a 1977 Caterham to restore rather than buying new. In one fell swoop I opted out of noise limits, emissions and all the rest of the IVA costs, considerations and inconvenience.
The current classic car price bubble should be making kit cars more attractive. Gone are the days when you could buy an old MG, Alfa, Lotus or TVR for peanuts.
But the kit car market still seems to be struggling.
So what of the future when the classic price bubble bursts and the alternatives to a kit car become even more attractive?
I really do worry for the future. I loved the vibrant kit car industry of the 1980s and it depresses me that so many interesting cars have disappeared.
I am not sure that I accept the view that the younger generation is hopeless. I know lots of young people who love tinkering with old cars or motorbikes. I think the reason why they don't build kit cars is because of the huge incidental cost and hassle involved.
If it wasn't for other commitments, I would love to build a Westfield Eleven or a GP Spyder (remember them...?)
ABS, airbags, complicated engine management etc are all beyond the inclination or capability of your average amateur mechanic.
And so kit cars compete more with the classic car market.
Last time I wanted to build a kit, I ended up buying a 1977 Caterham to restore rather than buying new. In one fell swoop I opted out of noise limits, emissions and all the rest of the IVA costs, considerations and inconvenience.
The current classic car price bubble should be making kit cars more attractive. Gone are the days when you could buy an old MG, Alfa, Lotus or TVR for peanuts.
But the kit car market still seems to be struggling.
So what of the future when the classic price bubble bursts and the alternatives to a kit car become even more attractive?
I really do worry for the future. I loved the vibrant kit car industry of the 1980s and it depresses me that so many interesting cars have disappeared.
I am not sure that I accept the view that the younger generation is hopeless. I know lots of young people who love tinkering with old cars or motorbikes. I think the reason why they don't build kit cars is because of the huge incidental cost and hassle involved.
If it wasn't for other commitments, I would love to build a Westfield Eleven or a GP Spyder (remember them...?)
dandare said:
I agree with most of cymtriks' points, but I would say the original and maybe most important reason for buying a kit car was financial.
I don't think that the main attraction is financial. I think it's about three things; individuality, a tinkering hobby and back to basics performance.Certainly those are the things I'd emphasise if I was given the task of marketing a kit car.
Styling is an obvious area where kits can be very special. Just look at a Caterham, a Marlin, an ultima or a Beauford. No mass market company would ever consider cars that looked like those yet they all look attractive to their target customers.
There is no shortage of concepts and there are plenty of old kits that might be resurrected (I've always liked the Byers CR90 and the Microplas Mistral). Recently I've been keeping an eye on "3D Engineers" who helped make the Mitchel Special and are currently involved in the Okrasa Special. Either would make a lovely kit. Then there are the old TVR bodies (Now all out of copyright?) and even the Bristol Fighter (molds bought but not used again?).
Equus said:
The vibrant motorsports industry in the UK means that we have a decent supply of engineers with an aspiration to manufacture their own cars, and CAD, 3D printing and rapid prototyping technologies will continue to make very low volume production more viable.
I can relate to that. The trouble is that as you gain experience you realise what a monumental task it is, perhaps the skill is to ignore that bit of your brain that says "don't bother".Equus said:
But you've then got the economics of it: there may well be a handful of people who would like to build a kit car, but that's not enough to sustain a viable business for those who manufacture them. We've already seen a drastic contraction of the market for this reason.
The last gasp will probably be a shift back to 'specials' building and plans-built cars
Agreed, as I'm working through the design of my own car the business model has to consider that tooling should be amortised over a very small number of cars - preferably one, or even better, none. The idea of a 'plans built' car is impressive, like a sneaky idea that you wish you'd thought of yourself.The last gasp will probably be a shift back to 'specials' building and plans-built cars
Perhaps part of the kitcar industry's problem is that back in the '60s, '70s and '80s it was filled with people who had lots of experience in fibreglass. Ask someone who makes things out of fibreglass to design a car, and it will usually come out as a fibreglass car. However that only works if you can sell enough of them, plus there are inherent problems with space, equipment, skills and time. Back in the olden days, when I had hair all the same colour, time was cheap but materials were expensive. Now it's the other way around.
pierrevervaeke said:
There are litteraly thousands of simple tricks that the whole industry misses.
That's exactly right because most cars are built by Engineers and most Engineers have a very low opinion of marketing. As an Engineer this winds me up every day, spending many man-hours perfecting a technical solution and then not pushing it through to a profitable product.The time and energy needed are a luxury.
Kit car and luxury don't sit comfortably in the same sentence.
Driving in public is behavioural. Other people judge from a glance.
Kit mfrs suffer from lack of funds to promote badge value.
A winning season in F1 is an overly ambitious proposition.
Public opinion of car builders would have to be higher for any kind of economic success.
Heroes, all of you.
Kit car and luxury don't sit comfortably in the same sentence.
Driving in public is behavioural. Other people judge from a glance.
Kit mfrs suffer from lack of funds to promote badge value.
A winning season in F1 is an overly ambitious proposition.
Public opinion of car builders would have to be higher for any kind of economic success.
Heroes, all of you.
010101 said:
The time and energy needed are a luxury.
Kit car and luxury don't sit comfortably in the same sentence.
Driving in public is behavioural. Other people judge from a glance.
Kit mfrs suffer from lack of funds to promote badge value.
A winning season in F1 is an overly ambitious proposition.
Public opinion of car builders would have to be higher for any kind of economic success.
Heroes, all of you.
Very true.Kit car and luxury don't sit comfortably in the same sentence.
Driving in public is behavioural. Other people judge from a glance.
Kit mfrs suffer from lack of funds to promote badge value.
A winning season in F1 is an overly ambitious proposition.
Public opinion of car builders would have to be higher for any kind of economic success.
Heroes, all of you.
Pat H said:
As modern cars become more complicated, kit cars get left further behind.
ABS, airbags, complicated engine management etc are all beyond the inclination or capability of your average amateur mechanic.
And so kit cars compete more with the classic car market.
Last time I wanted to build a kit, I ended up buying a 1977 Caterham to restore rather than buying new. In one fell swoop I opted out of noise limits, emissions and all the rest of the IVA costs, considerations and inconvenience.
The current classic car price bubble should be making kit cars more attractive. Gone are the days when you could buy an old MG, Alfa, Lotus or TVR for peanuts.
But the kit car market still seems to be struggling.
So what of the future when the classic price bubble bursts and the alternatives to a kit car become even more attractive?
I really do worry for the future. I loved the vibrant kit car industry of the 1980s and it depresses me that so many interesting cars have disappeared.
I am not sure that I accept the view that the younger generation is hopeless. I know lots of young people who love tinkering with old cars or motorbikes. I think the reason why they don't build kit cars is because of the huge incidental cost and hassle involved.
If it wasn't for other commitments, I would love to build a Westfield Eleven or a GP Spyder (remember them...?)
I agree with you and if your current average car driver has anything to do with some of these Ford commercials in the USA, then any kitcar industry is on the verge of extinction....for good.ABS, airbags, complicated engine management etc are all beyond the inclination or capability of your average amateur mechanic.
And so kit cars compete more with the classic car market.
Last time I wanted to build a kit, I ended up buying a 1977 Caterham to restore rather than buying new. In one fell swoop I opted out of noise limits, emissions and all the rest of the IVA costs, considerations and inconvenience.
The current classic car price bubble should be making kit cars more attractive. Gone are the days when you could buy an old MG, Alfa, Lotus or TVR for peanuts.
But the kit car market still seems to be struggling.
So what of the future when the classic price bubble bursts and the alternatives to a kit car become even more attractive?
I really do worry for the future. I loved the vibrant kit car industry of the 1980s and it depresses me that so many interesting cars have disappeared.
I am not sure that I accept the view that the younger generation is hopeless. I know lots of young people who love tinkering with old cars or motorbikes. I think the reason why they don't build kit cars is because of the huge incidental cost and hassle involved.
If it wasn't for other commitments, I would love to build a Westfield Eleven or a GP Spyder (remember them...?)
USA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BREGDzCCbkM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5AHY3MleOM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Stwz-TM7QuA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-YQWOBGOUg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfO5KHkbSUQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRZCifhjxN4
EUROPE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxDsJgZtypI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONYeMvqM7H8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeVkPIknoCQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ODsoDNWVrQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3XhHZc94zg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HB7sNHaJHZk
After seeing some of these videos it makes you want to go lowtech, lowcost and basic....
New cars bore me to tears, all that stuff to attract techies that we don’t need, what happened to appealing to drivers who want to control a car, not be controlled. Imagine driving cars in the future? No need to concern ourselves with ABS, stability control, traction control or any other feature for drivers that cannot drive. We will just engage autopilot and go brain numb and nod off until… “you have reached your destination”.
What happened to the wind in your hair, replaced with aircon? Not for me thankyou. Aircon in the UK, what a joke, well apart from 4 days a year during which time we should all be lying on sunbeds!
The more tech stuff mainstream manufacturers add the better, they continue to demonstrate that new cars are not for drivers but for those that want to go from A to B in safety and comfort, no wind in the hair, seat of the pants, spirited driving. Boring, well it certainly looks like it that me, kit cars on the other hand………
What is on offer, well comparing kit car projects to something with a similar price tag in the high streets is not comparable at all. Since when did transferring many thousands of pounds to a dealers bank give you that sense of personal achievement, that feeling of elation, that proud moment when you drive a car that you built, not a robot. Every single nut and bolt all done up with your own hands. Can Ford/Mazda offer that in 20k MX5? No way.
We will continue to attract younger builders due to their intrigue in what a car feels like when its balanced and the driver is in full control.
Kits just need to be easier to build so those with little knowledge can learn as they build and experiment without virtual tools or a rest button if they get it wrong.
Younger and inexperienced builders have built many Exocets.
OK so tech cars are our future donors but a 4 pot engine with an aftermarket ECU enabling us to throw all those useless features away is the way to go. Lets face it, late model cars are rapidly becoming economic repair right offs due to some spurious signal telling a processor that the brakes have failed, even when they are perfect. The use of miles of cables in modern cars will ensure a strong likely hood that some will fail to offer continuity. Cheap donors in the future then?
I am beginning to wonder if kit cars are for real men only, (and women of course) not those that cannot resist luxury, comfort and every microprocessor derived gizmo on the planet.
OK we get cold sometimes in kit cars, and we get wet, but we are not made of sugar.
Just my opinion, no doubt others will disagree, but remember even a kit car forum like this one weakens a little every time negativity is banged on about. Not as big as it was granted but dead it certainly is not.
In answer to the OP's title, we can revive/survive by promoting our USP's, some of which are listed above, please add more USP's
What happened to the wind in your hair, replaced with aircon? Not for me thankyou. Aircon in the UK, what a joke, well apart from 4 days a year during which time we should all be lying on sunbeds!
The more tech stuff mainstream manufacturers add the better, they continue to demonstrate that new cars are not for drivers but for those that want to go from A to B in safety and comfort, no wind in the hair, seat of the pants, spirited driving. Boring, well it certainly looks like it that me, kit cars on the other hand………
What is on offer, well comparing kit car projects to something with a similar price tag in the high streets is not comparable at all. Since when did transferring many thousands of pounds to a dealers bank give you that sense of personal achievement, that feeling of elation, that proud moment when you drive a car that you built, not a robot. Every single nut and bolt all done up with your own hands. Can Ford/Mazda offer that in 20k MX5? No way.
We will continue to attract younger builders due to their intrigue in what a car feels like when its balanced and the driver is in full control.
Kits just need to be easier to build so those with little knowledge can learn as they build and experiment without virtual tools or a rest button if they get it wrong.
Younger and inexperienced builders have built many Exocets.
OK so tech cars are our future donors but a 4 pot engine with an aftermarket ECU enabling us to throw all those useless features away is the way to go. Lets face it, late model cars are rapidly becoming economic repair right offs due to some spurious signal telling a processor that the brakes have failed, even when they are perfect. The use of miles of cables in modern cars will ensure a strong likely hood that some will fail to offer continuity. Cheap donors in the future then?
I am beginning to wonder if kit cars are for real men only, (and women of course) not those that cannot resist luxury, comfort and every microprocessor derived gizmo on the planet.
OK we get cold sometimes in kit cars, and we get wet, but we are not made of sugar.
Just my opinion, no doubt others will disagree, but remember even a kit car forum like this one weakens a little every time negativity is banged on about. Not as big as it was granted but dead it certainly is not.
In answer to the OP's title, we can revive/survive by promoting our USP's, some of which are listed above, please add more USP's
USP's are harder to find these days, aren't they?
Kit cars have always been about niches and, now the mainstream manufacturers are all about niches too, there aren't so many left for the kit market. Back in the 80s, cheap, fun sports car was a niche that was largely overlooked by the mainstream, so we had lots of interesting variety in the kit market.
To be honest, I can see the market continuing as it is, albeit maybe slimmed down a little; lightweight, back to basics sportscars (read Sevens, exos and similar) costing <£15k, then a gap to the replicas (Cobra, Stratos, Big Healeys & Jags etc.) that will cost who knows what.
There are lots of good sounding ideas on this thread (and others) but whether any of them would actually work in reality is impossible to predict.
I'd love to see some more variety, but it does present some significant difficulties.
Kit cars have always been about niches and, now the mainstream manufacturers are all about niches too, there aren't so many left for the kit market. Back in the 80s, cheap, fun sports car was a niche that was largely overlooked by the mainstream, so we had lots of interesting variety in the kit market.
To be honest, I can see the market continuing as it is, albeit maybe slimmed down a little; lightweight, back to basics sportscars (read Sevens, exos and similar) costing <£15k, then a gap to the replicas (Cobra, Stratos, Big Healeys & Jags etc.) that will cost who knows what.
There are lots of good sounding ideas on this thread (and others) but whether any of them would actually work in reality is impossible to predict.
I'd love to see some more variety, but it does present some significant difficulties.
Looking back to the fibreglass specials of the '50s and '60s it was an opportunity to get a sporty, modern looking car for not much money. Some went further and gave much better performance and handling - both compared to cars available at the time which wasn't saying much.
Even up to the 1980s it was the same kind of thing but that's because the mainstream manufacturers really weren't much competition.
Now the competition is fierce for that kind of thing with the second hand car market, sporty cars from the early 2000s are still going strong, not that expensive and give plenty of performance and good looks without the feeling they're held together with a load of self tappers and twin & earth wiring.
However there are things that the major manufacturers don't provide:
1. A feeling of going fast. Newish cars that can do 130mph feel like they're hardly moving at 50. Being cosseted for long journeys is essential to avoid driver fatigue, but not all journeys are long ones.
2. Price compared to classic cars. While building a kit is more expensive than a second hand Porsche Boxter, it will be a lot cheaper than an E Type Jaguar or Ferrari 250.
3.
Even up to the 1980s it was the same kind of thing but that's because the mainstream manufacturers really weren't much competition.
Now the competition is fierce for that kind of thing with the second hand car market, sporty cars from the early 2000s are still going strong, not that expensive and give plenty of performance and good looks without the feeling they're held together with a load of self tappers and twin & earth wiring.
However there are things that the major manufacturers don't provide:
1. A feeling of going fast. Newish cars that can do 130mph feel like they're hardly moving at 50. Being cosseted for long journeys is essential to avoid driver fatigue, but not all journeys are long ones.
2. Price compared to classic cars. While building a kit is more expensive than a second hand Porsche Boxter, it will be a lot cheaper than an E Type Jaguar or Ferrari 250.
3.
Came across this today https://mobotiq.com/21.html
Maybe the answer is to produce something you cannot buy from a mainstream manufacturer.
Maybe the answer is to produce something you cannot buy from a mainstream manufacturer.
Toltec said:
Came across this today https://mobotiq.com/21.html
Maybe the answer is to produce something you cannot buy from a mainstream manufacturer.
Nothing much new to see here sadly, just another 1 metre wide enclosed scooter trike concept which is too wide to easily lane split like a motorcycle. If you can't lane split then there is little point being narrow. Maximum width should be about 85cm like the Toyota i-Road.Maybe the answer is to produce something you cannot buy from a mainstream manufacturer.
The USPs left for kitcars are:
small
lightweight
simple
styling
unusual
rare
No mainstream manufacturer seems to be capable of making anything that ticks the first three of those. What is really surprising is how much scope there is for those. Just about every car on the market today is absolutely massive compared to the stuff I grew up with. Small, lightweight and simple, compared with the mass market stuff, could still be a 2+2 like the Elan plus 2 was. Small, in todays measurements, does not have to mean cramped.
Styling is another big USP. How many modern pretty cars can you think of? None? Every thread on styling ends up with the same conclusion, that the late 50's to late 60's produced the prettiest cars. I can think of modern cars that will be remembered for looking tough, big, max-power sporty, dramatic, exciting or just plain ugly but I really struggle to think of many pretty ones.
Unusual and rare are other USPs, not everyone cares about having the "right" badge. Some people actually like a rare marque as they like people guessing what it is and then asking what it is and then telling them "I built it".
small
lightweight
simple
styling
unusual
rare
No mainstream manufacturer seems to be capable of making anything that ticks the first three of those. What is really surprising is how much scope there is for those. Just about every car on the market today is absolutely massive compared to the stuff I grew up with. Small, lightweight and simple, compared with the mass market stuff, could still be a 2+2 like the Elan plus 2 was. Small, in todays measurements, does not have to mean cramped.
Styling is another big USP. How many modern pretty cars can you think of? None? Every thread on styling ends up with the same conclusion, that the late 50's to late 60's produced the prettiest cars. I can think of modern cars that will be remembered for looking tough, big, max-power sporty, dramatic, exciting or just plain ugly but I really struggle to think of many pretty ones.
Unusual and rare are other USPs, not everyone cares about having the "right" badge. Some people actually like a rare marque as they like people guessing what it is and then asking what it is and then telling them "I built it".
Gemaeden said:
Nothing much new to see here sadly, just another 1 metre wide enclosed scooter trike concept which is too wide to easily lane split like a motorcycle. If you can't lane split then there is little point being narrow. Maximum width should be about 85cm like the Toyota i-Road.
I meant more the modularity than the vehicle itself. cymtriks said:
The USPs left for kitcars are:
small
lightweight
simple
styling
unusual
rare
No mainstream manufacturer seems to be capable of making anything that ticks the first three of those. What is really surprising is how much scope there is for those. Just about every car on the market today is absolutely massive compared to the stuff I grew up with. Small, lightweight and simple, compared with the mass market stuff, could still be a 2+2 like the Elan plus 2 was. Small, in todays measurements, does not have to mean cramped.
Styling is another big USP. How many modern pretty cars can you think of? None? Every thread on styling ends up with the same conclusion, that the late 50's to late 60's produced the prettiest cars. I can think of modern cars that will be remembered for looking tough, big, max-power sporty, dramatic, exciting or just plain ugly but I really struggle to think of many pretty ones.
Unusual and rare are other USPs, not everyone cares about having the "right" badge. Some people actually like a rare marque as they like people guessing what it is and then asking what it is and then telling them "I built it".
I totally agree with you and while reading your post, my mind went to the Liege, a small, lightweight, simple styling and unique design, that mainstream car manufactures would never consider building or sell, it's such a great little car, I love it and need more of these in the future.small
lightweight
simple
styling
unusual
rare
No mainstream manufacturer seems to be capable of making anything that ticks the first three of those. What is really surprising is how much scope there is for those. Just about every car on the market today is absolutely massive compared to the stuff I grew up with. Small, lightweight and simple, compared with the mass market stuff, could still be a 2+2 like the Elan plus 2 was. Small, in todays measurements, does not have to mean cramped.
Styling is another big USP. How many modern pretty cars can you think of? None? Every thread on styling ends up with the same conclusion, that the late 50's to late 60's produced the prettiest cars. I can think of modern cars that will be remembered for looking tough, big, max-power sporty, dramatic, exciting or just plain ugly but I really struggle to think of many pretty ones.
Unusual and rare are other USPs, not everyone cares about having the "right" badge. Some people actually like a rare marque as they like people guessing what it is and then asking what it is and then telling them "I built it".
http://www.liegecars.co.uk/page.php?6
Stuart Mills said:
New cars bore me to tears, all that stuff to attract techies that we don’t need, what happened to appealing to drivers who want to control a car, not be controlled. Imagine driving cars in the future? No need to concern ourselves with ABS, stability control, traction control or any other feature for drivers that cannot drive. We will just engage autopilot and go brain numb and nod off until… “you have reached your destination”.
What happened to the wind in your hair, replaced with aircon? Not for me thankyou. Aircon in the UK, what a joke, well apart from 4 days a year during which time we should all be lying on sunbeds!
The more tech stuff mainstream manufacturers add the better, they continue to demonstrate that new cars are not for drivers but for those that want to go from A to B in safety and comfort, no wind in the hair, seat of the pants, spirited driving. Boring, well it certainly looks like it that me, kit cars on the other hand………
What is on offer, well comparing kit car projects to something with a similar price tag in the high streets is not comparable at all. Since when did transferring many thousands of pounds to a dealers bank give you that sense of personal achievement, that feeling of elation, that proud moment when you drive a car that you built, not a robot. Every single nut and bolt all done up with your own hands. Can Ford/Mazda offer that in 20k MX5? No way.
We will continue to attract younger builders due to their intrigue in what a car feels like when its balanced and the driver is in full control.
Kits just need to be easier to build so those with little knowledge can learn as they build and experiment without virtual tools or a rest button if they get it wrong.
Younger and inexperienced builders have built many Exocets.
OK so tech cars are our future donors but a 4 pot engine with an aftermarket ECU enabling us to throw all those useless features away is the way to go. Lets face it, late model cars are rapidly becoming economic repair right offs due to some spurious signal telling a processor that the brakes have failed, even when they are perfect. The use of miles of cables in modern cars will ensure a strong likely hood that some will fail to offer continuity. Cheap donors in the future then?
I am beginning to wonder if kit cars are for real men only, (and women of course) not those that cannot resist luxury, comfort and every microprocessor derived gizmo on the planet.
OK we get cold sometimes in kit cars, and we get wet, but we are not made of sugar.
Just my opinion, no doubt others will disagree, but remember even a kit car forum like this one weakens a little every time negativity is banged on about. Not as big as it was granted but dead it certainly is not.
In answer to the OP's title, we can revive/survive by promoting our USP's, some of which are listed above, please add more USP's
Stuart I have to say I love your enthusiasm & it is refreshing to see someone with a truly positive view. I agree with pretty much everything you say, but unfortunately I think we have to accept that driverless cars are well on their way, once they become mainstream will we actually even allow people to drive their own cars on the roads? (you & I aren't going to need to worry about this as by then we'll be long gone, or at best incapable of driving anyway!). For the moment whilst we can still produce one off & very low volume vehicles then I'm sure a few of us will continue to do so, but I think we simply have to accept that the boom days of the 70's & 80's in the kitcar world are long gone, & in an increasingly "nanny state" world I don't see it ever being revived. Many of the businesses that take on kitcar projects take them on with ideas of high sales & profits etc etc., in reality, with a few odd exceptions, sales are going to be few & far between & I don't think people have any idea of all the "behind the scenes" stuff that goes on just to get a kit into production in the first place, nor how much paperwork/IT/telephone time it takes just to make one sale & keep that customer happy & to keep on top of suppliers to actually make sure parts are available for the kits.What happened to the wind in your hair, replaced with aircon? Not for me thankyou. Aircon in the UK, what a joke, well apart from 4 days a year during which time we should all be lying on sunbeds!
The more tech stuff mainstream manufacturers add the better, they continue to demonstrate that new cars are not for drivers but for those that want to go from A to B in safety and comfort, no wind in the hair, seat of the pants, spirited driving. Boring, well it certainly looks like it that me, kit cars on the other hand………
What is on offer, well comparing kit car projects to something with a similar price tag in the high streets is not comparable at all. Since when did transferring many thousands of pounds to a dealers bank give you that sense of personal achievement, that feeling of elation, that proud moment when you drive a car that you built, not a robot. Every single nut and bolt all done up with your own hands. Can Ford/Mazda offer that in 20k MX5? No way.
We will continue to attract younger builders due to their intrigue in what a car feels like when its balanced and the driver is in full control.
Kits just need to be easier to build so those with little knowledge can learn as they build and experiment without virtual tools or a rest button if they get it wrong.
Younger and inexperienced builders have built many Exocets.
OK so tech cars are our future donors but a 4 pot engine with an aftermarket ECU enabling us to throw all those useless features away is the way to go. Lets face it, late model cars are rapidly becoming economic repair right offs due to some spurious signal telling a processor that the brakes have failed, even when they are perfect. The use of miles of cables in modern cars will ensure a strong likely hood that some will fail to offer continuity. Cheap donors in the future then?
I am beginning to wonder if kit cars are for real men only, (and women of course) not those that cannot resist luxury, comfort and every microprocessor derived gizmo on the planet.
OK we get cold sometimes in kit cars, and we get wet, but we are not made of sugar.
Just my opinion, no doubt others will disagree, but remember even a kit car forum like this one weakens a little every time negativity is banged on about. Not as big as it was granted but dead it certainly is not.
In answer to the OP's title, we can revive/survive by promoting our USP's, some of which are listed above, please add more USP's
I have sold as many complete cars as I have kits & of the kits several are still unbuilt despite it being probably one of the simplest cars to build, we probably need to supply kits more along the way Westfield & Caterham do with a pile of new parts ready to build rather than relying on second hand bits from a donor vehicle, that's all very well if you have a production run of a few hundred a year, not such an easy prospect when your production run is 5 or less.
People may have more leisure time than they've ever had, but they also have more demands on that time than ever b4, we have families which are likely to be spread around the UK, or even abroad whom we have to fit in visits to, we spend (waste?) hours on social media (irony?), blogs, websites & general websurfing, there are more different varieties of "hobby" or leisure pursuits than ever b4 - when I was a kid, you couldn't do a skydive in a windtunnel, go skiing on real snow in a giant fridge, go sand or kite surfing, do a bungee jump, zip wires etc etc - even something like a go kart track was a novelty & they certainly weren't indoors.
Many houses have had their garages converted to accommodation, or are built in walkway positions without a garage or garage space & there are more flats now - not a conducive space for building a kitcar
One of the problems is that if vehicles are to be individual then it requires the individual to get involved, whereas the younger generation today tend to regard a car a bit like domestic white goods & just want something off the shelf & ready to go.
I'm not negative about the industry, but I do feel we have to be realistic in terms of aspirations, life & the world has moved on & we have to try to move along with it
One positive thing I have noticed in recent years, & I'm guessing it's scarcity driven is that completed, correctly registered kit prices are a lot higher than a few years back, even less desirable stuff like Spartans & the like appear to be selling for £thousands rather than hundreds & a really nicely specced & finished car can easily make between £10k & £20k
Russ Bost said:
there are more different varieties of "hobby" or leisure pursuits than ever b4 - when I was a kid, you couldn't do a skydive in a windtunnel, go skiing on real snow in a giant fridge, go sand or kite surfing, do a bungee jump, zip wires etc etc - even something like a go kart track was a novelty & they certainly weren't indoors.
It's astonishing that we ever survived really!1000 posts later and after lots of effort I congratulate all for contributing. Not sure we have found the answer to the OP q yet. One way to survive is to find replacements for lost kit car show opportunities, instead of looking at what we have lost, just look at what is available. 100,000 packed Silverstone Classic last weekend. It was a great show.
Kit car exhibitors however comprised of MEV & GBS only.
Kit car exhibitors however comprised of MEV & GBS only.
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