Friend with a kit car issue

[TheCarpetCleaner]

Hi,

Thought I would post on here on behalf of a friend of mine - hopefully someone on here will be able to point him in the right direction.

I respectfully ask that you keep this thread on topic, as I have no interest in kit cars myself, or the love or hate that goes with them - therefore have very little interest in debating it.

The situation is, he has a kit car lambo which has been made from lots of doner cars (mainly rover engines it would seem). He took it on as a project but so far is not getting very far. Unfortunately his mechanical knowledge is not as good as is required for this kind of thing, and no garage will touch it as it is not a standard car.

He is not averse to paying someone to help him fix it, on an adhoc "when they are free" basis if required, but he does not know anyone with the right kind of knowledge.

Apparently there is a kit car place up north (parrellel designs or something like that?) but the have a huge waiting list, and will not take the car in to fix it and then call when it is ready as they apparently have nowhere to store it while it is being fixed.

The car is currently not driveable, legally or mechanically due to its many faults.

Can anyone recommend any professional mechanics in the Berkshire area who may be willing to take this work on, or at least asses it?

[530dTPhil]

There is a company called Kitfinishers in Aylesbury; It's run by John Elliott who is on here as 'singlecoil' I believe. He has a website (www.kitfinishers.co uk) but I have no knowledge of workmanship standards etc. Only connection is that John contacted me through PH for oddball windscreen glass.

Edited by 530dTPhil on Saturday 19th December 17:55

[TheCarpetCleaner]

Thats the kind of thing yes!

I have gone to his website and forwarded the details on

[singlecoil]

530dTPhil said:

There is a company called Kitfinishers in Aylesbury; It's run by John Elliott who is on here as 'singlecoil' I believe. He has a website (www.kitfinshers.co uk) but I have no knowledge of workmanship standards etc. Only connection is that John contacted me through PH for oddball windscreen glass.

I reckon he's pretty good. However, I would suggest that the owner of the project put some things in his consideration bucket-

Firstly he should find out how much the project would sell for as is, then add to that figure at least £1,000 in IVA and registration costs, then add the costs of any parts needed, both cosmetic (important with this sort of car) and mechanical, maybe a spray job as well, then add the cost of paying someone else, even someone as highly skilled, hard working and as cheap as the chap mentioned, to do the necessary work.

If the total compares well with the likely value of the finished car (which on the face of it isn't very likely) then the project would be worth pursuing. If it doesn't, then it isn't.


The problem is that kit cars are meant to be assembled by someone who isn't charging, by the hour,for their labour. It is worthwhile having some projects professionally finished when they get stalled for whatever reason, but do the sums first to make sure it's worth it.

[Southways Auto]

I have to agree with everything John said…….. Well maybe not the blowing his own trumpet bit but we'll let him off.

The whole question of viability seems to pass some people by but I suppose if you have had the dream of owning the car, and gotten to the point where it looks like it may not happen, you clutch at any straw.

After John has had first refusal we would be happy to talk with the owner and discuss both the options and viability.

We do have quite a large workshop so may be able to offer the ‘work on it when quiet’ option.
We are based in Fareham Hampshire.


Steve & Paul

Edited by Southways Auto on Saturday 19th December 20:14

[TheCarpetCleaner]

Just emailed your post to him as well

Cheers!