With all this talk of cheap cars........

[pigeondave]

where do you find them?

I have seen a few posts on PH recently about getting cheap kits for a bit of fun.
I would like to know where to find them. The ads on PH are ok but im looking at
spending around £1500. I keep an eye on ebay but where else should i be looking?


Thanks

[jonnynorniron]

Its doable but what you end up with probably depends on how dirty you're prepared to get your hands. If you can get stuck into a bit of building then a part complete might be the way to go. A Robin Hood or similar (don't listen to some of the ill-informed nonsense you from some on these) if you keep your eyes on eBay. Try FindIt also (http://www.findit.co.uk/cars/kitcar.php).

You could also look for some older or less obvious models - Duttons, GTM, Spartan and so on. The Jester is a peach if you can find one. When they come up they tend to be very reasonable. I had a short jaunt in one and it was amazing and only 1100cc.

[Black5]

There are a few around for less than £2k - eg:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

It might be worth looking in the classified of the magazines too.

[AdamW]

They're definitely around. We usually have about half a dozen cars in our 'up to £2000' section of the classified in Complete Kit Car.

Adam.

[Chris71]

eBay is definitely a good start. Try also,

http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/kitcar/kitcars_for...
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/list/500/
http://www.totalkitcar.com/am/listings/index.html

What sort of thing are you looking for? Dutton Phaeton's are probably the main candidates at £1,500, Quantum 2+2s/Coupes are superb as daily drivers but perhaps don't offer the excitment of a more extreme roadster, might find the odd GTM coupe in need of a little TLC? If you haevn't seen it already, take a look at this thread about what's around (for a fractionally higher budget, but still peanuts...)

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...

[pigeondave]

Thanks all
It was that thread that made me ask the question.
What type of rear set up would i find for this sort of price (solid or IRS)?

[Chris71]

pigeondave said:

Thanks all
It was that thread that made me ask the question.
What type of rear set up would i find for this sort of price (solid or IRS)?

Dutton wise - the later cars (S2 and onwards) are more plentiful and had leaf springs from the factory as they were more or less single donor Cortina based. However, I suspect a reasonable number will have had 5 link conversions (think I've even seen one with Sierra based IRS).

IIRC the Sylva Leader along with most of the Locaterfields has a 5 link setup (2 paralell links on each side and a panhard rod) I think the vindicator has Sierra IRS (they might dip into the £1.5k'ish price range, although I've never quite understood why they're so cheap )

The GTMs will basically have whatever mini front suspension was (presumably Machpherson strut?) on the back.

Apart from those mentioned above, IRS is unlikely at that price I'd say and my personal oppinion is although IRS is definitely the better system (for road cars atleast, although arguably track cars too) people have spent a lot of time developing good, simple live axle setups. IRS is fairly rare in kit cars at any level and hence less people properly understand the geometry required (in much the same way that injection is always going to be superior to carbs with enough time and money, but many tuners still use carbs as it's where their expertise lies) So I'd find out as much as possible about any IRS systems you encounter, especially if they're a home conversion. It's really not that difficult but you'd be amazed how many people end up with crazy camber angles and so on left to their own devices, in much the same way as a number of older kit cars are famed for bump steer on home grown front suspension systems

Can you really get a Jester for £1500? Seen a mojo for about 2.5k, but assumed that was a typo!

Edit: Just been browsing ebay, so here are a few more possibilities,

MGB based Marlin roadster, very retro, but I quite like them:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Marlin-Roadster_W0QQitemZ130...

Midas Coupe. Metro based FWD, personally I'd get a Quantum (infact I did), but it's another option for an 'everday' kit car.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/midas-coupe-mk-one_W0QQitemZ...

I was half tempted to keep quiet and bid on this one! Nice looking Sylva Leader, just needs a twin cam rather than that Ford lump and it'd be perfect....
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Sylva-Leader-Kit-Car-Red-Con...

Heard nothing but praise for the Leader (handling wise atleast) and that's basically what I think I'll be going for when my current car has gone and I have the space for a new toy. Duttons are far more numerous though and I don't suppose that a good 5 link one would be as agricultural as people make out. I think plenty of tatty cart sprung S3's might have tainted peoples view of them (that and the looks!)

Edited by Chris71 on Monday 23 July 11:07

[Mr2Mike]

Chris71 said:

The GTMs will basically have whatever mini front suspension was (presumably Machpherson strut?) on the back.

Blasphemy! Alex Moulton will be spinning in his grave Most mini front subframes uses rubber cones as the spring mechanism, with a semi-double wishbone layout; the lower member isn't a true wishbone, it's a radius arm and tie rod like many McPherson systems would use. Some minis had the infamous hydrolastic system instead of the rubber cones, but I doubt anyone would ahve fitted this system to a kit car.

[Chris71]

Mr2Mike said:

Chris71 said:

The GTMs will basically have whatever mini front suspension was (presumably Machpherson strut?) on the back.

Blasphemy! Alex Moulton will be spinning in his grave Most mini front subframes uses rubber cones as the spring mechanism, with a semi-double wishbone layout; the lower member isn't a true wishbone, it's a radius arm and tie rod like many McPherson systems would use. Some minis had the infamous hydrolastic system instead of the rubber cones, but I doubt anyone would ahve fitted this system to a kit car.

Ok, apologies to Dr Moulton.

[jonnynorniron]

Jesters do appear to go quite cheap. For example this one recently for a grand

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SYLVA-JESTER-CONVERTIBLE-CAR...

[Chris71]

They've got the engine (or rather the driveshafts) in the wrong place though! That sort of wheel base and no weight would be great fun on an airfield or car park if it was RWD.

[FlossyThePig]

Mr2Mike said:

Blasphemy! Alex Moulton will be spinning in his grave

I certainly hope not as I believe he is still alive and making bicycles.

He also designed the Hydrolastic and Hydragas system so many of you poo poo.

[Sam_68]

Mr2Mike said:

Blasphemy! Alex Moulton will be spinning in his grave

He would if he was dead... last I heard he was alive and well and building bicyles in Bradford on Avon!

[pigeondave]

I went to see that Sylva Leader but I didn’t fit.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Sylva-Leader-Kit-Car-Red-Con...
the seats were too small or my hips too wide. plus I was a bit too far forward.
it was a well looked after car mechanically, and very honestly advertised. Bit of a shame really.

do robin hoods go for around £1500?(I know that they are a bit bigger)
or would I have to buy a part built kit to finish?

[Chris71]

pigeondave said:

I went to see that Sylva Leader but I didn’t fit.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Sylva-Leader-Kit-Car-Red-Con...
the seats were too small or my hips too wide. plus I was a bit too far forward.
it was a well looked after car mechanically, and very honestly advertised. Bit of a shame really.

do robin hoods go for around £1500?(I know that they are a bit bigger)
or would I have to buy a part built kit to finish?

So that's who outbid me

I stopped bidding at £1000 as I don't really have the space for one at the moment and assumed in that condition it would go on to about £2k. Sounds like someone got a bargain.

Decided what I really want is a 2.0 Fiat Twin Cam powered Leader I think....

[pigeondave]

Chris71 said:

pigeondave said:

I went to see that Sylva Leader but I didn’t fit.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Sylva-Leader-Kit-Car-Red-Con...
the seats were too small or my hips too wide. plus I was a bit too far forward.
it was a well looked after car mechanically, and very honestly advertised. Bit of a shame really.

do robin hoods go for around £1500?(I know that they are a bit bigger)
or would I have to buy a part built kit to finish?

So that's who outbid me

I stopped bidding at £1000 as I don't really have the space for one at the moment and assumed in that condition it would go on to about £2k. Sounds like someone got a bargain.

Decided what I really want is a 2.0 Fiat Twin Cam powered Leader I think....

No No it wasn't me.
Though im kind of wishing it was.
Like i said the seats were too small.
I suppose thats a lame excuse.

[Chris71]

I tell you what, that GTM K3 in the classifieds made me think too. Not really what I'm after, but I've always liked them. Heard tales of rather scary handling though, so think I'd be better of with a '7.

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/209084.htm

[Holty_GTM]

Never had any problems with the handling, Alot better when i got toyos and the suspension individualised by talon though.

Edited by Holty_GTM on Wednesday 1st August 18:55

[Chris71]

Cool. Have you done any track work with it? Would like to find out a bit more about them - might even be tempted myself

Another car which might be of interest to people following this thread is this one, currently at £460!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/dutton-pheaton-v8-kit-car-hi...

[pigeondave]

As well as ebay what mag has the best adverts in. Is there one mag that stands out from the others?