MX5 based kit cars

MX5 based kit cars

Author
Discussion

restoman

Original Poster:

936 posts

207 months

Saturday 18th February 2012
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Hi all

Excluding 'bodykits' what kit cars are based on an MX5 donor?

Thanks

Restoman

smile

MrGRT

295 posts

162 months

Saturday 18th February 2012
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Mevx5
Exocet I believe


MG CHRIS

9,077 posts

166 months

Saturday 18th February 2012
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Mevx5 is a body kit only the lightweight version has a seperate frame/chassis.

Other kits several 7 type cars use mx5 as a donor mnr, roadrunner to name a few. Can't think of anything else at the moment but im sure there are other mx5 based kits out there.

ajprice

27,317 posts

195 months

Saturday 18th February 2012
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There's an MX5 Westfield

deviant

4,316 posts

209 months

Sunday 19th February 2012
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Furyblade_Lee

4,107 posts

223 months

Sunday 19th February 2012
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Westfield DID do an MX5 SDV kit, as did Cyana with an MX5 based Sylva Phoenix. Both I think sold miserably, maybe a bit before their time and people thinking the MX5 was a bit girlie??
Roadrunner Racing do what I think is the best looking 7 bar a Caterham based on an MX5, looks very nice...
MEV do one too, and I have heard a rumour that another VERY well know manufacturer is about to launch an MX5 tailored version of their car.
In fact, if many Sierra based kits don't soon re-tool to BMW or MX5 then I think their sales will suffer. Beemers and MX5's have the potential to feed the industry for years to come, I would go MX5 if I was in the Market. Love 'em.

deviant

4,316 posts

209 months

Sunday 19th February 2012
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Odd that the MX5 has not been a more popular choice for a lot longer. Most of it can be used in a kit and the donor parts are going to be more powerful than Sierra bits without any modifications.

Woody

2,187 posts

283 months

Sunday 19th February 2012
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Furyblade_Lee said:
Westfield DID do an MX5 SDV kit, as did Cyana with an MX5 based Sylva Phoenix. Both I think sold miserably, maybe a bit before their time and people thinking the MX5 was a bit girlie??
Roadrunner Racing do what I think is the best looking 7 bar a Caterham based on an MX5, looks very nice...
MEV do one too, and I have heard a rumour that another VERY well know manufacturer is about to launch an MX5 tailored version of their car.
In fact, if many Sierra based kits don't soon re-tool to BMW or MX5 then I think their sales will suffer. Beemers and MX5's have the potential to feed the industry for years to come, I would go MX5 if I was in the Market. Love 'em.
They still do - currently still in the brochure.

jason61c

5,978 posts

173 months

Sunday 19th February 2012
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Don't forgot the roadrunner racing sr2.

A good looking car.

BMW based has got to be the way forward though smile

rog3k

149 posts

206 months

Sunday 19th February 2012
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There's a list of donors on: http://www.totalkitcar.com/uk/uk-donor/ which includes the MX5 (approx two thirds down the page) - I've not fully studied it but I see it does include "re'clads" but not to see if it includes all those previously mentioned above or whether it is accurate, etc, etc. HTH

Steffan

10,362 posts

227 months

Sunday 19th February 2012
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IMO the leading brand, and by far the best exponents of MX5 based cars ate Mills Experimental Vehicles and the various kits they offer that rebody the MX5 Alloy frame and create a new chassis.

Much better than any other manufacturer currently that I can find.

Stuart Mills is really leading the way on this: I have driven and viewed several of his MX5 based Kit Cars and they bare far and away the best packages and very well priced.

Take a look at http://www.mevltd.co.uk/

I have been building Kit Cars for over 40 years starting with a typhoon on an E93A Chassis in 1962.

I have no connection with the company other than the respect I have for the products and the value.

By far the best MX5 based Kit Cars in the UK, IMO.

MG CHRIS

9,077 posts

166 months

Sunday 19th February 2012
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Totaly agree with you steffan on mev and i will be building one soon just bought a donor for it to. But im not sure as what to build the lightweight exocet or x5.

Steffan

10,362 posts

227 months

Sunday 19th February 2012
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MG CHRIS said:
Totaly agree with you steffan on mev and i will be building one soon just bought a donor for it to. But im not sure as what to build the lightweight exocet or x5.
Interesting question.

I am precluded from buying one because I have seven cars in bits rebuilding them steadily. Completely mad: that's me.

If I buy another I will be into another divorce and I have had too many of those already.

I really like both cars; vastly better than anyone else. And genuinely a ONE DONOR CAR. superb

If I had to make a choice I would but the MEV Exocet, if track days and sheer performance was my essential concern.

If I was looking for a real road car which I could use for fun drives I would buy the MEV X5. The weatherproofing is clearly more road orientated.

But either would be superb. And relatively easy.

I have been building Kit Cars for over forty years built dozens owned umpteen Still have five and three Classic Mins. Cannot be without a Mini. Owned at least one every year for over 40 years since 1963.

The weight saving IS significant over the original MX5 with either car. The performance is certainly sufficient for me with the standard set up.

I might get one of my Kit Car Mechanic pals to fettle a multi throttle body set for the car if I wanted more usable power for the track or look at a turbo set up but IMO for road use unnecessary.

In my youth I cornered all over the road wrong side all the time. Country lanes. No traffic. Nowadays just unsafe and deadly.

Hence I restrict my racing to Track days. Better for all.

But for quick, cheap, reliable, fun use these MEV kits are easily built from ONE DONOR!! extremely competitively priced and simple to construct.

Well chosen indeed.


covmutley

3,012 posts

189 months

Sunday 19th February 2012
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I really like the look of the mevx5 superlight. I haven't seen the Exocet in the flesh but from pictures I just have a few reservations on the way it looks I think the concept for both is brilliant though.

restoman

Original Poster:

936 posts

207 months

Sunday 19th February 2012
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All answers very helpful - thank you all. Off to investigate some of the suggestions further . . .