Is there a Market for an Inexpensive Hillclimb Car ?
Discussion
I have recently purchased the Moulds/Rights etc to the McCOY , a classic Mini based Kit Car , I intend to produce an Inexpensive Hillclimb Car based on this , and possibly a Road version in due course
My question really is what does anyone think of this , I am happy to hear constructive input , ideas anything that may help me to put this project out in the marketplace.
for anyone who is unsure , this is a McCOY
My question really is what does anyone think of this , I am happy to hear constructive input , ideas anything that may help me to put this project out in the marketplace.
for anyone who is unsure , this is a McCOY
Dan Friel said:
Minis aren't cheap anymore, so can't see how this would be a cheap project? It was also be classed as a "kit car", so wouldn't be competitive.
I have written detail build plan , and even with using quality components I can keep the costs down , what would you consider cheap/expensive ?The aim is to provide a cost effective entry into Motorsport , once established it would be in competition with other McCoys , thus competitive , no ? and in some ways you compete against your own times to a degree.
i am happy for you to counter these thoughts , it is this sort of discussion I am after
tr7v8 said:
Would also need to be IVA'd or whatever they call it to be road legal, otherwise it'd just be a track only weapon & not allowed in road going. Really needs to be based on something newer as well. Personally I'd want a rear engined Clan type car than the McCoy. Still doable with a FWD say ford or Poxhall lump in the back though.
Plan is to be Motorsport only to start with , then road legal at a later date.Do you think the Retro looks are a tick against it ?
rallycross said:
The classic mini is not a good donor car these days, good ones are too expensive to break, 2nd hand market for tuning parts is now tiny.
Could you build them up using something newer like Saxo/106 drive train, plenty of breakers for pennies and plenty of tuning bits available used (and new).
The car is designed around Classic Mini components (subframes bolt straight to Monocoque) so using other Donor cars whilst it is something i have thought about , would make adapting the moulds expensive.Could you build them up using something newer like Saxo/106 drive train, plenty of breakers for pennies and plenty of tuning bits available used (and new).
I have considered Bike engines , but came up against the same problem , i.e. Subframes to take bike motors are v expensive off the shelf, and would take time to fabricate if I could find someone to build them for me.
tr7v8 said:
Nope the McCoy came later designed by Arthur Birchall. It is in some way an inferior car as it used mini subframes where the original was a proper monocoque using no subframes as such. With Imp suspension hung from the shell reinforcements.
The McCoy was designed by John Frayling , chassis was sorted by Brian Luff , Arthur Birchall "merely" produced it , although they all worked on the Clan.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.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 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.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.
EFA
Edited by Nero601 on Wednesday 24th June 14:06
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?
Not really , too expensive at the moment to re jig the Moulds , and probably issues with whomever owns the Clan.Edited by andy97 on Wednesday 24th June 16:48
HustleRussell said:
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.
I have merely answered a few questions/points which have been imo relevant.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
Beauty will always be in the eye of the beholder , so I would not brand you rude if you thought it was not easy on your eye.
thanks for you opinion
Drumroll said:
You really need to do a lot more homework.
What class do you think it will run in?
What is already in that class?
What can you do that will make your car competitive?
Above all read the blue book (the MSA bible) no point in doing anything if the car is not going to comply with that.
I have a Blue Book (as I have competed) but will take your points on board , Thanks What class do you think it will run in?
What is already in that class?
What can you do that will make your car competitive?
Above all read the blue book (the MSA bible) no point in doing anything if the car is not going to comply with that.
Norfolkandchance said:
Nero601 said:
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.Specialist class contains modern Caterhams etc. They will be lighter, more powerful and were designed entirely to be fun and then refined over decades. It would have to be one hell of a mini-based special to be more fun than one of those, in most people's eyes (hence the "probably")
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