KITCAR DESIGN sketches/concepts year 2008-10
Discussion
neilrallying said:
YUnfortunately for us there are just not enough hardcore kit enthusiasts around to survive solely on sales from those who understand the difficulties we face and make allowances for them. This is why we are looking at alternative markets such as the Japanese Performance buyers who spend fortunes on their rice rockets, why not put that money into an alternative car instead? the MaxPower boys are another obvious target. OK at the moment they spend silly money converting a Nova or Corsa into, well a Nova or Corsa. But these young guys and gals will continue to spend big bucks on their cars as they get older and we need to be grabbing their attention now with modern designs built with high standards so that as their tastes change they look to us instead of Mr Honda/Nissan for their answer.
Sorry, this is going away slightly from the thread but it is relevant to any new designs coming out.
Neil.
Sorry, this is going away slightly from the thread but it is relevant to any new designs coming out.
Neil.
Very relevant point if you start thinking of future buying trends, and potential niches to be considered in the future .
I believe a nice rebody bolt-on kit built on an exhisting mx5 or mr2 chassis, could be of interest to the MaxPower boys, but also to your kitcar enthusiast.
Some will like this idea, and some will not, but it's about making a business case for a product, and finding future niches in the next 2 to 5yrs...........
We always need to think ahead and take into consideration, demographic changes, buying preferences, and so on, and eventhough the kitcar industry is a niche, these parameters still need to be considered.
I also like the idea of a mid-engine 2 plus 2 or 4 seater set-up.........
cymtriks said:
[
A mid engined seven is entirely feasable, I posted some pictures of a chassis and a body style on locostbuilders a while back. The chassis was FEAed by me and my Focus 1.6 engine will fit under the panels. It doesn't have to look like a wedge or be dominated by angles, my design minimised the effect of the engine height to avoid an overt wedge style. It does not need to be single donor, this is a false economy as you have to ask yourself if you want to use a whole car that someone else has written off. Plus I don't want my drive taken up by a half striped wreck or my garage full of parts I won't need until much later on in the build. Having said that a Ford fiesta or Focus would make a fairly obvious donor car.
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A mid engined seven is entirely feasable, I posted some pictures of a chassis and a body style on locostbuilders a while back. The chassis was FEAed by me and my Focus 1.6 engine will fit under the panels. It doesn't have to look like a wedge or be dominated by angles, my design minimised the effect of the engine height to avoid an overt wedge style. It does not need to be single donor, this is a false economy as you have to ask yourself if you want to use a whole car that someone else has written off. Plus I don't want my drive taken up by a half striped wreck or my garage full of parts I won't need until much later on in the build. Having said that a Ford fiesta or Focus would make a fairly obvious donor car.
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But isn't this niche already catered for by the likes of the Sylva Mojo, R1ot, the new MEV Rocket, the Onyx Mongoose and a few others that I might have forgotten?
The idea is a good one, but the niche is pretty much fullfilled, maybe you could consider still a more basic option, but i'm not sure by how much.
cymtriks said:
[quote=fuoriserie]The biggest unexploited niche is the rear wheel drive four seater. That is the main reason I suggested trying to start with an Elan plus 2 and trying to change the design just enough to stand on its own and distance itself from the spyder conversion while still being able to use some common parts like glass and doors.
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This is an interesting niche, will see if i can work out something............but how about a Shooting break!!!, I've always liked the Scimitar GTE, and why not a modern take on this design.........
Edited by fuoriserie on Friday 18th May 12:02
JenkinsComp said:
We're a little further along with the Veeteor's bodywork now, having decided upon Fiat Grande Punto headlights, not a bad fit in the end, need a bit more work yet to blend them in perfectly, and the hump behind the front wheel will go, a straighter edge will work better. The nose is reminicent of a Maserati MC12 as a result of the lights and grille opening I think, and it's the best part right now. ]
Looking good, and the Grande punto lights blend perfectly in your design.
Zigs said:
Neil, whoooaaa, I saw the Murtaya movies you have up on YouTube, damn that sounds nice. Please do a fast-back man, it would look like an evil combination of a T350 and a baby Viper. Very nice work. Is a fast back planned? Would one of the artistic types do a mock up and post it 
. This is about future designs after all and that doesn't have to mean totally new designs
Zigs
. This is about future designs after all and that doesn't have to mean totally new designs Zigs
I did some sketching over the weekend , and will try to post a few rough sketches. when my scanner starts to work again....
neilrallying said:
I will be interested to see your sketches Italo, get the scanner sorted!
Finally I got the images to work........a few very rough sketches on a Murtaya design update, just by redesigning the front bonnet only, and keeping the rest as is.
A new rear end restyling, but the basic car design is the same as the original Murtaya
GTRene said:
It would be nice to see such car on the road Italo, I like it..it also has a bit AR that new type in it, where they first came on show with 2 and later converted one in a cabrio euhm that red car a nice coupe wich is on sale this year and they only will build a few?
GTRene
Rene you're a good spotter...||||, I did look at the Alfa Romeo 8C for the window line, and the new sketch will have a similar feel in the rear, but more Jag/Ginetta.GTRene
I will be back in about a week, new stuff, this cobra rebody, a Murtaya Coupe and a few more surprises........
Joe T said:
AC did look at a car on a similar platform to the Cobra the Mamba http://www.pistonheads.com/fastcars/ac/mamba.asp
But it didnt seem to be much of a success, not enough to save them anyway.
Maybe if someone like you had penned them something a bit more modern looking Italo.........
JoeBut it didnt seem to be much of a success, not enough to save them anyway.
Maybe if someone like you had penned them something a bit more modern looking Italo.........
Is Ac still in business?, but something more modern could fit intheir lineup, and who knows....
pugster said:
For me something that is missing from the current mass market is a smaller engined rwd two seater coupe (a kind of Z4 coupe with a 2.0 engine if you like) that still offers reasonable performance but greatly reduced running costs over it's larger engined equivalents.
To my mind a big mistake with the MGF was that the mid engined layout prevented further development for offering a modern day BGT.
This leads me nicely into a question surrounding the MX5 that has been knocking about in my head for a while.
Using the Elan shooting brake or say a Lenham Sprite as an example is there a niche market for developing a removable shooting brake type hard top for the MX5 or similar? i.e it still gives the option for removal to enjoy open top motoring in the summer and offers practical benefits for the winter?
I appreciate that the Elan / Lenham examples aren't removable but is a removable option acheivable?
I agree with you, and think the mx5 lends itself nicely to a few body design conversions, and the shooting brake variant is a very interesting one.To my mind a big mistake with the MGF was that the mid engined layout prevented further development for offering a modern day BGT.
This leads me nicely into a question surrounding the MX5 that has been knocking about in my head for a while.
Using the Elan shooting brake or say a Lenham Sprite as an example is there a niche market for developing a removable shooting brake type hard top for the MX5 or similar? i.e it still gives the option for removal to enjoy open top motoring in the summer and offers practical benefits for the winter?
I appreciate that the Elan / Lenham examples aren't removable but is a removable option acheivable?
Working on a few ideas, and will post hopefully soon.........
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