Stratos kits/replicas

[300bhp/ton]

What's the score on the Stratos replicas these days? Are there many variants? Do you need to rob a bank to buy one?

[ChrisJ.]

300bhp/ton said:

What's the score on the Stratos replicas these days? Are there many variants? Do you need to rob a bank to buy one?

If you want to build a new kit, you have a choice of just two kit manufacturers:
Hawk HF or
Lister Bell STR

Most new kit builders are choosing the Lister Bell product because of it's ease of build.
There are still some new Hawk buyers though.

For some reason, hardly any unfinished kits of any type come up for sale these days?
The last part completed Hawk that came up for sale was "for offers over £8000", and about 1 year ago. The frequency is very low for projects like this though. Expect about 2 to 4 years between unfinished or complete cars coming up for sale. People are definitely hanging onto them.
It's unlikely that any up and running Stratos replica would be for sale at less than £20k. £25k+ would be more the norm.

A couple of finished Lister Bells have sold recently, but you're looking at £40k or more for one of those.


This 'Corse I' was auctioned on 23rd May this year for £20,140 inc. commission.
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/uploads/new/5949967...

An early Hawk HF ('Transformer') currently for sale in the U.S.
http://dallas.craigslist.org/ftw/cto/5167958742.ht...

Edited by ChrisJ. on Saturday 29th August 09:05

Edited by ChrisJ. on Saturday 29th August 09:10

[Fulvisti]

I bought a Lister Bell back in 2012, total cost for a complete kit (almost, minus a few small bits I could source locally) was a bit over £20 000. Mostly thanks to Chris above. I bought the lot up front as I had it shipped to NZ. With you being in the UK you can purchase in stages as you build it up, so,not quite as painful. They go together very quickly with almost everything you require supplied. You'll need to source a powerplant, instruments, door handles and not much else.

I went for the Lister Bell over the Hawk as I didn't want to spend ten years building it, plus it uses more modern donor parts that are easier to source than ols Fiat and Lancia bits used by the Hawk. People say the Hawk is a more accurate replica for that reason, I don't really subscribe to that, a replica is a replica to me. I'd rather keep my car on the road than search the world for parts that are becoming harder and harder to find, then probably have to be reconditioned. If it's left hand drive you'd be doing well to tell either from an original unless you know what you're looking for.

If you have a look at the Lister Bell facebook page or website you'll see they are constanly updating and improving the kit which I think is great. Their customer support has also been fantastic, can't complain at all.

If you had the time I would say from whoa to go you could easily have one on the road in two years, I think the record is seven months.

And no unfortunately mine isn't finished yet but it's not far off. Life kinda keeps getting in the way!

Edited by Fulvisti on Saturday 29th August 09:55

Edited by Fulvisti on Saturday 29th August 09:57

Edited by Fulvisti on Saturday 29th August 10:03

Edited by Fulvisti on Saturday 29th August 10:24

[300bhp/ton]

The Lister Bell looks amazing. Watched an Autocar review before posting this thread. Although prices suggested were more like £30-40k.

Truly wish I could afford one, but sadly a bit too far out of budget. Amazing cars. Maybe I'll have to start saving a bit more.

[Fulvisti]

That 30 to 40k is for a fully built up car. Quite a bit cheaper for the kit, and it can be purchased in stages too, they're quite flexible.