New to Kit Cars and looking for some guidance
Discussion
Yep tried the MX5 idea he said he didnt want a normal road car. Although he is in his late 60 he is very fit and flexible after 50 years working on cars. He wants a car he can leave in his garage and when he fancies a drive out every few weeks can take it out. Over the years he has owned small roadsters, SUVs, big motorway cruisers and bikes etc. but he is keen to tick the kit car box. He has the Nissan outside and access to a Ford Focus for normal driving around so really getting another mass production car isn't really on the list.
If he's in hornchurch and wants a v8 that's already been built and something a bit larger for cruising in then he should check out the cobra replicas at hallmark and total headturners. Both based in North Weald.
He'll pay top dollar for them, but get good support from them (speaking as a previous buyer/seller)
He'll pay top dollar for them, but get good support from them (speaking as a previous buyer/seller)
keirik said:
If he's in hornchurch and wants a v8 that's already been built and something a bit larger for cruising in then he should check out the cobra replicas at hallmark and total headturners. Both based in North Weald.
He'll pay top dollar for them, but get good support from them (speaking as a previous buyer/seller)
Thanks, but was looking at the £10k mark which Cobras tend to go for a lot more.He'll pay top dollar for them, but get good support from them (speaking as a previous buyer/seller)
coldel said:
keirik said:
If he's in hornchurch and wants a v8 that's already been built and something a bit larger for cruising in then he should check out the cobra replicas at hallmark and total headturners. Both based in North Weald.
He'll pay top dollar for them, but get good support from them (speaking as a previous buyer/seller)
Thanks, but was looking at the £10k mark which Cobras tend to go for a lot more.He'll pay top dollar for them, but get good support from them (speaking as a previous buyer/seller)
But I'd also say you'll probably struggle to get a decent v8 kit car for 10k regardless of model.
jas xjr said:
How about a reliant scimitar? I really like those
To be honest, given how many cars he has owned over the years (from the original Beetle, to Capris, the Escort Mexico, all the way back to owning a Zephyr etc) I wouldn't be surprised if he hasn't thought about that in the past, possibly owned one just never mentioned it! He has set his heart on a kit car though, thats the box to tick.
keirik said:
In which case don't buy a cobra. :-)
But I'd also say you'll probably struggle to get a decent v8 kit car for 10k regardless of model.
He saw a really nice well kept V8 Leugo go for £7k the other day, thats what got his interest up. As mentioned, he isnt interested in motorbike engined cars and not too keen on pinto's either, V6 or V8 would be nice but generally just looking around. There is no rush, something will come up, it generally does.But I'd also say you'll probably struggle to get a decent v8 kit car for 10k regardless of model.
coldel said:
keirik said:
In which case don't buy a cobra. :-)
But I'd also say you'll probably struggle to get a decent v8 kit car for 10k regardless of model.
He saw a really nice well kept V8 Leugo go for £7k the other day, thats what got his interest up. As mentioned, he isnt interested in motorbike engined cars and not too keen on pinto's either, V6 or V8 would be nice but generally just looking around. There is no rush, something will come up, it generally does.But I'd also say you'll probably struggle to get a decent v8 kit car for 10k regardless of model.
In addition to the suggesions of NG and Marlin Roadster/Cabrio/Sportster, I'll throw the Marlin Berlinetta in there too - the drawback with a lot of these suggestions will be that many of them will be 4 cylinders (and Berlinettas will usually have Pintos!!)
Another possibility might be a GCS Hawke which might pop up with a V8.
Good luck with the search!
keirik said:
But I'd also say you'll probably struggle to get a decent v8 kit car for 10k regardless of model.
At that price level, the Marlin (or derivatives) would definitely stand out as the most realistic option, I'd say. They're a competent, straightforward and robust design with a lot going for them.coldel said:
jas xjr said:
How about a reliant scimitar? I really like those
To be honest, given how many cars he has owned over the years (from the original Beetle, to Capris, the Escort Mexico, all the way back to owning a Zephyr etc) I wouldn't be surprised if he hasn't thought about that in the past, possibly owned one just never mentioned it! He has set his heart on a kit car though, thats the box to tick.
What has happened to the world when the posters on the kit forum are trying to persuade a keen owner to buy and MX5, Scimitar or TVR
I would suggest buying Complete Kit Car for a few months, keep looking at the adverts and decide what body style to go for. V8s sound nice but all the extra weight doesn't generally help performance much. A Zetec 2 litre is going to give any Seven style car good performance, and should be well within budget.
I have a Caterham, but in the budget range you mention I would be looking for a wide body Westfield, Fisher/Sylva fury, and ifhe would like more creature comforts the Marlins are very good.
A Fury is a good compromise between a seven & an MX5, you're protected with a curved screen & several have been built with V8s - finding one for sale might be a problem though. You could talk to Fury Sports Cars, Steve Hughes might know if there's any for sale. There were also a few V8 Styluses. Look at the Jeremy Phillips Sportscar Club.
As for clubs, he could do a lot worse that https://www.southernkitcars.com/
As for clubs, he could do a lot worse that https://www.southernkitcars.com/
If he's in Hornchurch, tell him to come along & see us at Essex KItcar Club, we meet once a month, last Sunday of the month for a good brekkie up at D's Diner, Hatfield Peverel.
He's unlikely to see many of our cars at this time of year, plenty are without weather protection, but we would be very happy to offer help & advice website with all the details is essexkitcarclub.com - he doesn't need to join the club just to come along & pick our brains!
He's unlikely to see many of our cars at this time of year, plenty are without weather protection, but we would be very happy to offer help & advice website with all the details is essexkitcarclub.com - he doesn't need to join the club just to come along & pick our brains!
A Chimaera isn’t out of reach at £10000 and not a bad shout as it is a glorified kit car.
I went from a Cobra replica to one, and love every minute of it.
They do have a bad reputation but buy one that’s had the niggles ironed out and you will have a very exciting car that is fairly cheap to run and maintain.
I love kit cars but our crap weather would put me off ever buying another.
I went from a Cobra replica to one, and love every minute of it.
They do have a bad reputation but buy one that’s had the niggles ironed out and you will have a very exciting car that is fairly cheap to run and maintain.
I love kit cars but our crap weather would put me off ever buying another.
Paul Drawmer said:
There are many who have tiny cars with big engines and who get on well with them. BUT...I reckon the whole point about a tiny, basic 7esque car is it's extreme light weight and balance. This endows such cars with great handling and balance that can be exploited, explored and generally made to induce grins.
Whilst the straight line performance of a V8 seven type will be blistering, a heavy engine will dull all the other good stuff. It will be less rewarding to hoon in.
Totally agree. And I've had 3 7s. One light and modest power, one with a V8, and one with a Cossie. The V8 was hillarious but the handling was ruinedWhilst the straight line performance of a V8 seven type will be blistering, a heavy engine will dull all the other good stuff. It will be less rewarding to hoon in.
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