Thinking of buying a kit car? Some thoughts on the subject.
Discussion
Thinking of buying a kit car?
Basically there are three ways of becoming a kit car owner-
1) Buying a car already built and ‘on the road’.
First of all, make sure that what it says on the registration document is the same as the car you are looking at. If it looks like an MK Indy, but it says Dutton on the V5, then you are looking at a car that has been cloned. Someone obtained a Dutton or its paperwork and transferred to ID onto their car. This was almost certainly done to avoid the IVA (previously the SVA) test that all kit cars have had to pass before being allowed to register for the road. The test came in in 2000. As far as a buyer is concerned, if you go ahead your new car will be illegal, and probably unsafe. It may have an MOT, but the IVA is much stricter and is a worthwhile test of an amateur builder’s handiwork.
So, don’t buy a car if it is incorrectly registered. If you are not sure, then seek expert opinion on the matter. Post the details here if you have no-one to ask.
Be wary also of cars for which there is little detail available. Kit cars usually require plenty of maintenance, and this can be made more difficult if there is no documentation of which parts have been used. This is especially a problem with the electrical systems. A wiring diagram or colour code chart will save a great deal of time in tracing and rectifying problems, and making additions or changes to the car, but only if it is the correct diagram for the loom actually fitted to the car.
2) Buying an unfinished/abandoned project.
Building a kit car and getting it on the road is not an easy undertaking. It is also expensive, in terms of money and time. People often start building kit cars and find, for one reason or another, that they are unable or unwilling to continue. If this happens they are likely to offer the project for sale, probably on eBay.
Such abandoned projects can represent good savings over buying a kit direct from the manufacturer. Points to watch include being aware that corners may have been cut, and mistakes may have been made. If this is the case, you will need to identify these and rectify them before proceeding.
One point is particularly important. When you submit your finished car for the necessary IVA test (which will cost you at least £450, by the way) it will be up to you to prove that it has been built by amateurs. Good ways of doing this are by submitting photographs of the kit being built in a domestic environment, and you will need such pictures from the seller. Also useful are receipts for parts, of which there should be a good many. If these are not available, and the kit is anything other than barely started, you probably be refused a test, or may have to dismantle the car and then rebuild it, this time with photos to prove that you have done so.
So, if photos and receipts are not available from the seller, be very wary, and better still avoid it altogether.
3) Buying a kit direct from the manufacturer.
This is the most expensive way of acquiring a kit car. It is also the route which will take the longest. It can be a great deal more satisfying and will provide you with far more choices than 1) or 2).
Which kit to choose? Well, you will probably already have a good idea of what sort of thing you are looking for. The manufacturers themselves, kit car magazines, forums such as this one will all help to give you an idea of how much the overall project will cost. You will need to have a decent budget available, and will also need to have plenty of time set aside.
As a very general rule, the more expensive kits from the more established manufacturers will usually be easier to build. It’s one of the things you will be paying the extra for. There’s a huge difference between assembling (for instance) a Caterham starting by opening bags of correctly supplied, complete kits of new parts and bolting these (following the comprehensive instructions) to a chassis which has all the correct holes in the correct places- and putting together a far cheaper and much more demanding kit where you will be refurbishing scruffy donor parts, finding and buying bolts and other fixings, puzzling out which bit fits where, and waiting for somebody to pick up the phone at the manufacturer to explain how the bits fit together (if indeed they do fit, and haven’t been incorrectly supplied).
Visiting kit car shows is a good way of getting to see all the different cars in the same place, and as you narrow the choice, don’t neglect the chance to visit the appropriate club stands and speak to owners/builders who will be able to give you a more accurate impression of what is involved in buying and building your choices. There will also be opportunities for you to check that you can get in, and be comfortable in, the car of your choice.
When choosing the build your own route, you would do well to bear in mind that you WILL lose money if you when the finished car. It’s just the same in that respect as buying a new production car. The way to make it pay is to either realise that building kit cars is a hobby, like any other, and will cost money. The other way is to not sell the car, but to keep it.
All the above- my opinion.
Basically there are three ways of becoming a kit car owner-
1) Buying a car already built and ‘on the road’.
First of all, make sure that what it says on the registration document is the same as the car you are looking at. If it looks like an MK Indy, but it says Dutton on the V5, then you are looking at a car that has been cloned. Someone obtained a Dutton or its paperwork and transferred to ID onto their car. This was almost certainly done to avoid the IVA (previously the SVA) test that all kit cars have had to pass before being allowed to register for the road. The test came in in 2000. As far as a buyer is concerned, if you go ahead your new car will be illegal, and probably unsafe. It may have an MOT, but the IVA is much stricter and is a worthwhile test of an amateur builder’s handiwork.
So, don’t buy a car if it is incorrectly registered. If you are not sure, then seek expert opinion on the matter. Post the details here if you have no-one to ask.
Be wary also of cars for which there is little detail available. Kit cars usually require plenty of maintenance, and this can be made more difficult if there is no documentation of which parts have been used. This is especially a problem with the electrical systems. A wiring diagram or colour code chart will save a great deal of time in tracing and rectifying problems, and making additions or changes to the car, but only if it is the correct diagram for the loom actually fitted to the car.
2) Buying an unfinished/abandoned project.
Building a kit car and getting it on the road is not an easy undertaking. It is also expensive, in terms of money and time. People often start building kit cars and find, for one reason or another, that they are unable or unwilling to continue. If this happens they are likely to offer the project for sale, probably on eBay.
Such abandoned projects can represent good savings over buying a kit direct from the manufacturer. Points to watch include being aware that corners may have been cut, and mistakes may have been made. If this is the case, you will need to identify these and rectify them before proceeding.
One point is particularly important. When you submit your finished car for the necessary IVA test (which will cost you at least £450, by the way) it will be up to you to prove that it has been built by amateurs. Good ways of doing this are by submitting photographs of the kit being built in a domestic environment, and you will need such pictures from the seller. Also useful are receipts for parts, of which there should be a good many. If these are not available, and the kit is anything other than barely started, you probably be refused a test, or may have to dismantle the car and then rebuild it, this time with photos to prove that you have done so.
So, if photos and receipts are not available from the seller, be very wary, and better still avoid it altogether.
3) Buying a kit direct from the manufacturer.
This is the most expensive way of acquiring a kit car. It is also the route which will take the longest. It can be a great deal more satisfying and will provide you with far more choices than 1) or 2).
Which kit to choose? Well, you will probably already have a good idea of what sort of thing you are looking for. The manufacturers themselves, kit car magazines, forums such as this one will all help to give you an idea of how much the overall project will cost. You will need to have a decent budget available, and will also need to have plenty of time set aside.
As a very general rule, the more expensive kits from the more established manufacturers will usually be easier to build. It’s one of the things you will be paying the extra for. There’s a huge difference between assembling (for instance) a Caterham starting by opening bags of correctly supplied, complete kits of new parts and bolting these (following the comprehensive instructions) to a chassis which has all the correct holes in the correct places- and putting together a far cheaper and much more demanding kit where you will be refurbishing scruffy donor parts, finding and buying bolts and other fixings, puzzling out which bit fits where, and waiting for somebody to pick up the phone at the manufacturer to explain how the bits fit together (if indeed they do fit, and haven’t been incorrectly supplied).
Visiting kit car shows is a good way of getting to see all the different cars in the same place, and as you narrow the choice, don’t neglect the chance to visit the appropriate club stands and speak to owners/builders who will be able to give you a more accurate impression of what is involved in buying and building your choices. There will also be opportunities for you to check that you can get in, and be comfortable in, the car of your choice.
When choosing the build your own route, you would do well to bear in mind that you WILL lose money if you when the finished car. It’s just the same in that respect as buying a new production car. The way to make it pay is to either realise that building kit cars is a hobby, like any other, and will cost money. The other way is to not sell the car, but to keep it.
All the above- my opinion.
Good post from the OP, thanks for that, didnt know about the £450 charge nor the need to prove built by amateurs.
I am looking for a kitcar, like the look off the westfields and tigers etc, like the thought off bike engined too, but I also like some creature comforts, ie a heater to keep me tootsies warm and a hood for when its raining. I want to be able to go out in all weathers, not just a sunday toy. I have sportsbikes, so dont mind the rain if suitably attired and its also a challenge to drive/ride in the rain, also want to take it out when its cold.
I had a tvr chimaera 5litre and am missing the rush, but there is so many to choose from.
I suppose the hunt to find a good one is part off the buying process!!
Any other info or advice I would be glad to read, cheers.
I am looking for a kitcar, like the look off the westfields and tigers etc, like the thought off bike engined too, but I also like some creature comforts, ie a heater to keep me tootsies warm and a hood for when its raining. I want to be able to go out in all weathers, not just a sunday toy. I have sportsbikes, so dont mind the rain if suitably attired and its also a challenge to drive/ride in the rain, also want to take it out when its cold.
I had a tvr chimaera 5litre and am missing the rush, but there is so many to choose from.
I suppose the hunt to find a good one is part off the buying process!!
Any other info or advice I would be glad to read, cheers.
Dave Dax builder said:
Singlecoil.
I can't believe that you missed out "Commissioning a build".
From a build agent, not unlike ourselves.
I'm obliged to my learned friend.I can't believe that you missed out "Commissioning a build".
From a build agent, not unlike ourselves.
Funnily enough, as soon as I saw you had posted on this thread, I realised what I had forgotten.
In my defence, I haven't actually been asked yet, still, you never know. I'd quite like to do an Ultima, if anyone is reading this but doesn't have time to build their own
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