Kit car question.

[uknovice]

ive been reading up now for a couple of month and decided i want to build my own kit car ive been looking at rolling chassis to start from for my first build the company actually installs the engine and gearbox in house for delivery what are your suggestions for first build.

[ugg10]

Can you let us know your budget (complete car), preferred style and what it will be used for so we can narrow down our suggestions.

Generally speaking, the more you get the manufacturer to do, the more expensive it will be (significantly).

IMO you will need a realistic budget of at least £6k for the cheapest kit on the market these days and that is taking into account getting all of the bits from scrap yards and refurbing them yourself. The IVA is £500+ remember.

Once you can give a bit more info then I am sure there will be many suggestions but have a look at the Stuart Mills and Jeremy Philips cars as a starter for ten. Well designed, go very well and sensible build cost using readily available parts, have a look at the Sylva Vectis, Fisher Fury, Raw Striker, Replicar and Rocket/Sonic for a range of styles from these guys.

[gtmdriver]

....... and bear in mind that very few of us actually just build one kit car. Once you start you're hooked.

[uknovice]

am hooked on the ac cobra kit thats a rolling chassis that seems ideal for my first build and i hope i do get hooked haha and about 7 - 10 k over 2 year period

[ugg10]

You may be better with something like this (part built project) -

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Classic-Cobretti-Viper-U...

£7-10k is a very tight budget for a cobra, you are in basic gel coat (not painted) shell, rover 3.5l (not tuned ort americal v8) with minor refurb, probably granada (not Jag) running gear and basic trim territory, and that is if you do it all yourself. It's worth noting that the rolling chassis bit is the easy bit (IMO, big meccano with a decent manual) on a full body kit car like a cobra, you will spend 10 times the effort doing the body work and trim than the chassis/engine/electrics.

http://www.totalkitcar.com/uk/uk-x-ref/ will give you a list of current cobra manufacturers, have a look at their web sites, download the price list, cost up and then add a couple of £k for getting to a rolling chassis. Once you have done that you may need to have a stiff drink and a sit down.

Sorry to be a bit negative but a Cobra is an expensive entry point into kit cars these days so as I previously said a seven, an MEVster or something like a fury/phoenix may be a better starting point. If you like the cobra era can I suggest you look at the MEV Replicar (Aston DBR1 inspired car) which is MX5 based and would fit in your price range (Stuart Mills is the manufacturer and often posts on here).

Fury - http://www.furysportscars.co.uk/
Phoenix - http://www.striker-cars.co.uk/
Mevster & Replicar- http://www.mevltd.co.uk/index.htm
Replicar thread - http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[uknovice]

i saw a part build on ebay and am also looking into these cars you suggested am looking with a total complete kit car ammount if possible

[uknovice]

got to say ugg10 i love the mev ecocatt just contacted to see if they do a total complete kit with everything to get it running so fingers crossed can get it all for under 8k worked out on calculator at £7586 but unsure if thats a complete kit.

[ugg10]

MEV Exocet is a good place to start - take the body and other bits off the MX5 donor leaving the front subframe/engine/gearbox - central spine - rear subframe, then bolt onto the frame and trim. Build manual is on the website showing all fo the main steps. MX5's are easily available, have a look for an import (EUNOS ROADSTER) 1.8 as they normally have an LSD in the back end. Lots of tunig kit available for future updates. There are also a few exocet build diaries on the web. If possible I would strongly suggest a visit to the factory for whichever kit you like (maybe down select two or three), have a test drive and make sure you can work with the factory as you will be ringing them regularly for advice.

Happy hunting.

[MG CHRIS]

Im one of the exocet builders on here and im at 5.5-6k and im finished that's with a lot of additional parts that aren't really needed plus add another 1k to get on the road. So they are well under your 8k you could even get to around 5k mark. Oh and don't forget to sell all the left over parts from the mx5 if you buy the right donor the left over parts are worth money ie soft top/hard top if comes with it/ leather seats/front wings are another popular items I paid 400 quid for my donor and made back around 700 quid.

Pop over on to the mev forums if you want to see more build diaries and advice on them.

[uknovice]

ive contatced them to see if they do a rolling chassis just for the pure reasoning that i dont think i could do with selling the parts and messing around rather find one with with all the bits needed so ive emailed them factory to see if they do such kits for novices

[MG CHRIS]

Mev don't do it just supply the kit but mx5 heaven do what you want but it's cheaper just to buy a 5 and strip it and doing it that way then you atleast know where everything goes and gives you a good understanding of the mx5.

[uknovice]

the main issue is am doing it alone i have no one to help me with the gutting of a car thats the only issue really.

[Fastpedeller]

uknovice said:

the main issue is am doing it alone i have no one to help me with the gutting of a car thats the only issue really.

If you have basic skills and socket set you probably won't hit any problems if you go about it in a structured way. Use a Haynes or similar manual of the donor car, learn a lot and save some more money. As others have said there may be some return cash from selling parts as well! It's what kit cars are about. You'll also get a lot of satisfaction from it.....guaranteed.

[uknovice]

ive contacted mx5 heaven about there rolling chassis as there price is about the same as what mx5's are selling for in my area.

[uknovice]

so if am lucky ill get it under 6k with the donor chassis from mx5 heaven Ive had a crazy idea stuck in my head after seeing a couple of these exocet on you tube and on forums i want to see if its possible and not bank breaking to chrome all the frame that's visable on the car whats your ideas on this guys.

[rdodger]

I think you would be better getting the Chrome powder coat. There is a very nice Rocket out there in that finish.

[uknovice]

would that still give me the same effect.

[MG CHRIS]

rdodger said:

I think you would be better getting the Chrome powder coat. There is a very nice Rocket out there in that finish.

Yes the build is on here to but the guy has sold it know. I wouldn't worry about chrome painting they are meant to be cheap affordable kits when you start doing this the end price sky rockets Keep it simple and on the road before doing anything else.

[Fastpedeller]

uknovice said:

so if am lucky ill get it under 6k with the donor chassis from mx5 heaven Ive had a crazy idea stuck in my head after seeing a couple of these exocet on you tube and on forums i want to see if its possible and not bank breaking to chrome all the frame that's visable on the car whats your ideas on this guys.

To chrome the frame (properly ie.copper/nickel/chrome plate) would cost a small (delete small insert large) fortune. Unless you got a really first class plater (thus increasing that fortune) it would go rusty anyway. The specialist 'chrome' powder coat may be good (I've no experience of it myself), personally I'd use Dulux Weathershield gloss (no I'm not joking) over zinc phosphate primer and an undercoat - About the most durable finish for a chassis, and relatively cheap.

[uknovice]

so just get a simple black powder coat and in future once its on road upgrade it bit by bit looking on ebay and delivery services as at the moment i dont have a car of my own.