Is there a kit for the total novice?
Discussion
I really am pretty crap when it comes to the old spanners (I'm a chippy) but I'm looking for a kit to build that will help me learn. Is there such a beast? I had a sieries III Landy for a while and managed to take out the gearbox and replace it when it had been fixed, so that's about the level I'm at. I'm pretty good at following instructions though, so a good set with a kit would be important. As to what I want to end up with... well...a hooligan car really, motor bike engine(at least one!) that I can use on trackdays to save on wear and tear on my Noble.
Cheers,
Martin.
Cheers,
Martin.
I have built a Tiger SuperCat which was great fun and I would recommend it to anyone but you do need alot of intrest and its not like a Catherham or westfield which is like a air fix kit. You have too build it and make alot up for it.
If moneys not too tight then a westfield as they are quite easy to build.
Regards
If moneys not too tight then a westfield as they are quite easy to build.
Regards
You'd probably have an advantage with something motorcycle engined - get a second hand engine/box and it will drop straight in. No faffing about aligning clutches/gearboxes, and no lifting gear required (providing you're not an absolute 6 stone weakling 
). Plus, great power-weight without having to get involved in fitting tuning parts. Nice self contained ignition/ecu etc too.....
WB
). Plus, great power-weight without having to get involved in fitting tuning parts. Nice self contained ignition/ecu etc too..... WB
Another vote for Westfield. I build one myself, before I started that the most complicated thing I had done to a car was topping up the oil.
The so called "full modulair build kits" are the thing you are looking for: very comprehensive manual and all the parts you need are in the kit. No searching around for that part that you still need to source / arriving home with the wrong bits.
Westfield will (if you ask them) take the job of fitting all the panels and the brake & fuel lines off you. Makes it even more easy. Ask Westfield for a factory tour, very nice to see how the kit is being made.
Bye,
Bertram
The so called "full modulair build kits" are the thing you are looking for: very comprehensive manual and all the parts you need are in the kit. No searching around for that part that you still need to source / arriving home with the wrong bits.
Westfield will (if you ask them) take the job of fitting all the panels and the brake & fuel lines off you. Makes it even more easy. Ask Westfield for a factory tour, very nice to see how the kit is being made.
Bye,
Bertram
My advice would be to do it in two stages ..
first stage is buy an already-built kit that's dirt cheap and simple .. an old dutton would be just fine and you can pick them up for 500 quid, then take it apart and rebuild it .. not a rebuild as in recondition everything but build it using the same components (sensible things to change would be brake pads, discs, brake hoses though etc for safety's sake) ..
that shouldn't take you more than maybe 5 or 6 weekends to do a phaeton or melos or something equally basic.
Once you're happy with that, sell it on again for the same price you paid, or more if you've improved it and go on to build a kit from scratch.
The motorbike engine/box option is a good one, though more expensive than getting an engine and box and all running gear from a sierra for example. You could pick up a part-finished robin hood and have a car up and running in time for summer with no trouble at all.
best of luck
>> Edited by joospeed on Sunday 13th February 10:27
first stage is buy an already-built kit that's dirt cheap and simple .. an old dutton would be just fine and you can pick them up for 500 quid, then take it apart and rebuild it .. not a rebuild as in recondition everything but build it using the same components (sensible things to change would be brake pads, discs, brake hoses though etc for safety's sake) ..
that shouldn't take you more than maybe 5 or 6 weekends to do a phaeton or melos or something equally basic.
Once you're happy with that, sell it on again for the same price you paid, or more if you've improved it and go on to build a kit from scratch.
The motorbike engine/box option is a good one, though more expensive than getting an engine and box and all running gear from a sierra for example. You could pick up a part-finished robin hood and have a car up and running in time for summer with no trouble at all.
best of luck
>> Edited by joospeed on Sunday 13th February 10:27
Hiya Martin, what are you doing down here?
I am on my third. Second Tiger following on from an Ultima. My best advice is go for a tour of a few factories and get a feel.
You could say that the more you spend the easier it is. I'm sure there are exceptions but this is what I have found. The Tiger R6 (their top model went together far easier than the Cat E1 i built) The Ultima was different league. And over £40K !!!!
Westfield do some very nice packages and are one of the better put together build manuals. You could put together a Sport 2000 (I think that is it's name) without any trouble for about £19-20k. All new components and very well engineeded. They also do bike engined options.
Jools idea is a very good one for the longer game. You would learn a huge amount for very little money. I would steer clear of Robin Hoods myself. I don't want to get into a row over them again though!! A Dutton or even a Lowcost would all fit the bill. Take someone along who knows what to look for when viewing though.
Best of luck and you'll enjoy the results.
Paul.B
I am on my third. Second Tiger following on from an Ultima. My best advice is go for a tour of a few factories and get a feel.
You could say that the more you spend the easier it is. I'm sure there are exceptions but this is what I have found. The Tiger R6 (their top model went together far easier than the Cat E1 i built) The Ultima was different league. And over £40K !!!!
Westfield do some very nice packages and are one of the better put together build manuals. You could put together a Sport 2000 (I think that is it's name) without any trouble for about £19-20k. All new components and very well engineeded. They also do bike engined options.
Jools idea is a very good one for the longer game. You would learn a huge amount for very little money. I would steer clear of Robin Hoods myself. I don't want to get into a row over them again though!! A Dutton or even a Lowcost would all fit the bill. Take someone along who knows what to look for when viewing though.
Best of luck and you'll enjoy the results.
Paul.B
Westfield or Caterham. They are well developed and have a massive customer base to draw assistance from if required.
If you don't like the back to basics element, try the GTM Libra. They are a proper monocoque and should be fairly simple plus lots come up completed judging by the kit car mag for sale columns.
For g*ds sake don't get caught out like I did and end being the first ever person to build the kit. Even the factory demonstrator turned out not to be entirely representative of the production kit. I got there in the end, learned a lot and had quite a sense of achivement doing it though.
If you don't like the back to basics element, try the GTM Libra. They are a proper monocoque and should be fairly simple plus lots come up completed judging by the kit car mag for sale columns.
For g*ds sake don't get caught out like I did and end being the first ever person to build the kit. Even the factory demonstrator turned out not to be entirely representative of the production kit. I got there in the end, learned a lot and had quite a sense of achivement doing it though.
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