retro style mx 5 rebody

[Steffan]

Ozzie Dave said:

simpsondesign.net may be worth a look, the original designer for the retroforza I believe, its still available in the us

Good find: well spotted.

Given the concerns that the OP has expressed about meeting Belgian registration requirements I would suggest that using an American kit could be a real conundrum for registration. But I am no expert on the registration of kit cars outside the UK. I do register several kit cars within the UK each year because I am comfortably retired and thoroughly enjoy building kit cars. Best of luck to the OP and his searches.

[Ozzie Dave]

Its like here, within limits you can do some things, the design means replacing the bonnet/forward front wings, and grafting a skin over the boot. It also leaves the basic unity structure completely intact. Simpson have the build files as a downloadable on their site. Its always been a good looking vehicle.
Not sure about the 95K for their 250 replica built, on a S3 MX5 if you supply it yourself, I suspect that the Tribute 250 on a Z3 will be a cracker but would want it without a roof here for rego reasons.

[headrush]

Simpson design kits are ludcirously expensive and I thought after all the hype there 275 style and now SWB are disappointing (albeit a high class of disappointment!)

Ozzie Dave is right - the Tribute 250 swb looks fantastic and is well thought out. First cars are nearing completion and should be at Stoneleigh

Edited by headrush on Thursday 26th March 09:17

[Steffan]

headrush said:

Simpson design kits are ludcirously expensive and I thought after all the hype there 275 style and now SWB are disappointing (albeit a high class of disappointment!)

Ozzie Dave is right - the Tribute 250 swb looks fantastic and is well thought out. First cars are nearing completion and should be at Stoneleigh

Edited by headrush on Thursday 26th March 09:17

Interesting news to me. I will look around the show I think I will be over there on two days, with a bit of Luck!

[Baron Greenback]

Dam the ITALIA 3 SWB is gorgeous shame the cost and only turnkey! Do love the Mev car!

[jeank]

Hy Wayne,

I allready visited your website and Fb page before this thread.
It is really a very nice car. But I'm looking to keep the open top. Maybe there is a roadster in your plans?
Kind regards
Jean

[wayneb1408]

Hi Jean my post above was removed. No advertising but I guess the other links above are okay. Well for rules sake. I won't mention the cars name but there is atarga top version possible plans for convertible as well.

[headrush]

I think there is a company called Widow Sportscars that have nearly completed a TVR-esque body conversion for the MX5 with plans for a targa. Very interesting looking project - try Googling Widowsportscars

[Camoradi]

as stated above, just paint a Mk1 in the right colours?

[vx220]

Camoradi said:

as stated above, just paint a Mk1 in the right colours?

One of my bosses has one in this colour scheme, looks good!

[rolymo]

This should have achieved a much better impact on the british kit car but for some reason it just did not take off, why do you think that is ?

[rolymo]

rear end view of the "Italia"

[rolymo]

Variation on the same theme in metal finish

[rolymo]

Rear styling same car " Italia " MX 5 body kit

[rdodger]

rolymo said:

This should have achieved a much better impact on the british kit car but for some reason it just did not take off, why do you think that is ?

I seem to remember supply was an issue and cost.

[qdos]

It wasn't marketed here by anyone in the UK. I think it needed to be built here really to have made it viable. It's something I would have been interested in, it's a smart car.

[Steffan]

rdodger said:

rolymo said:

This should have achieved a much better impact on the british kit car but for some reason it just did not take off, why do you think that is ?

I seem to remember supply was an issue and cost.

qdos said:

It wasn't marketed here by anyone in the UK. I think it needed to be built here really to have made it viable. It's something I would have been interested in, it's a smart car.

Interesting alternative design and I too like that car. Relatively easy build too I would think and in this case presumably there really would be no need for an IVA since I presume that both the chassis and the mechanical parts are original? Could be later swoops for other drive units but there are so many upgrades and specialist parts around already for the basic Mazda components that upgrading the car would seem more cost effective. Possible weight saving as well?

I can well understand enthusiasts choosing that shape it is a nice looking car. I suspect the competition from long established kit car businesses is too great to make entry into this market attractive. Interesting to see that Qdos, who certainly does know kit cars, and builds them, raises that point. Will it return? Wait and see time I think!

[headrush]

It was kind of marketed in the UK under a different name and stirred up a bit of a fracas with Simpson Design I believe. Don't know whether it was a straight splash of the Simpson or a licensing agreement fall out but it was called the Retro Forza in the UK. It was mag featured at the time IIRC



I seem to remember that Retro Forza were starting to develop a hard top along the lines of the Simpson one before Simpson got anywhere near doing it.

Edited by headrush on Monday 13th April 08:36

[Fellatthelast]

I built an Italia.

I finished it last April, with a lot of help from a lot of people. Mine has a V6 and bespoke interior and is the Italia MK1 front clam which is now out of production.

The newer versions have the frip-front, TVR type front Clam which makes for far easier engine access. I bought my kit from retroforza but things went badly very quickly. It is a long story but in the end I had to contact Jim Simpson direct to get help to finish the kit.

As it turned out Jim wasn't very pleased with Retroforza either (for many legal reasons) and we got talking. In the end, myself and my buiseness partner, Dave Burkinshaw from Deepcar Autobodies took on the UK licencee for the Italia kit and imoported the first of the flip-front bodies for the MX5 MK1. So if there is anything you need to know, get in touch.

The car itself is stunning. I drove it to Le Mans and back last year and it didn't miss a beat and truned heads wherever it went. Granted, it wasn't cheap but if you are sticking with your original mechanicals, you can have a superb car for relativwely modest layout.

[headrush]

How much is the kit?