old Kit car magazine question

[Jukebag]

A few weeks ago I was rummaging through a pile of old kit car magazines, and one of the last pages it listed back issues of their magazines with a few details of the cars/builds featured in them. One, dated from I think August 2005, mentions the build of a Jaguar E-Type, which I thought was odd given that's it's a kit car magazine not a classic magazine as such. I thought it was referring to a kit car like the Wildcat or replica like the Challenger, but it just says Jaguar E-Type.

I don't think the magazine is the one that you currently available like Total Kit Car or Complete Kit Car as on the front cover it just says "Kit Cars" or kit car, so could be a magazine that's no longer sold anymore. Can't seem to find any old copies of this particular magazine on ebay.

Edited by Jukebag on Tuesday 12th November 15:02

[Gareth9702]

You mean this one:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kit-Car-Aug-2005-Dax-Ru...

No mention of Jaguar on the cover.

There is also a US magazine with the same title.

[Jukebag]

Late reply.

Yes that's the magazine in question, but I could've been wrong on the date, it may've been May 2005, though the one I found on ebay dosen't mention an E-Type on the front cover either. I don't recall seeing this particular kit magazine for sale, which must mean its no longer made or they've changed the name.

[Gareth9702]

Kit Car magazine ran from the late 70s (?) through to the mid-2000s with three distinct phases, and two high-profile owners. It was always surrounded by intriguing stories of imaginative editorial activity.

[Ozzie Dave]

I wonder what ever happened to the famous writer from Kit car in the 80's and 90's Ray Diator. I really think that was the classic time of Kit cars and will probably never happen again, there was an energy at the time, both in the clubs, the shows and even the manufacturers. I still look at some of the kits from that time and feel that modern versions of them would go down well (ie new running gear etc) some survived (Marlin etc) but some really were hit with the ugly stick and should never have seen the light of day. But above all then it was fun!

[Gareth9702]

A hint about Ray's current whereabouts is given here:
http://www.banks-europa.co.uk/articles/press_wk109...

[Belle427]

He certainly was a cool guy.
I really warmed to him.

[Frankthered]

Belle427 said:

He certainly was a cool guy.
I really warmed to him.

I was always a fan.

[Jukebag]

I've heard too that the 80s and 90s were the boom period of kit cars, why they aren't now I don't know. There are plenty Lotus and Cobra kits/reps about for all different tastes, and it's not as if most people could afford a real Cobra or even a Caterham of Lotus 7 at the prices they go for. A well built Tiger Cat, Dax Rush, Robin Hood, built on a budget of a few grand, can be just as good as a Caterham at 20-30 grand.

[Ozzie Dave]

My own feeling was then we were at a crossroads, kits being often cheap and fun with little regulation, there were some high end kits, such as the original Ultima, the UVA Montage & KVA, then mid level like the Eagle SS and suchlike, a number of "vintage style" vehicles , Merlin, Marlin,Kougar and suchlike, then there was the Duttons & Buggies many of us cut our teeth on. A much wider range of product and price spectrum (and maybe qualities)- but you paid your money and took your choice. Shows were on cricket pitches and suchlike and the people were as varied as the cars. I remember seeing a Nova park up, the roof lift, and an old couple got out and took the walking frame out from behind the seat!
Now many vehicles are 7 reps & Cobra reps with few original ideas, or people willing to take the risk in producing them. too many have taken the risk, had a good base product and with the way regulation and costs are nowadays found it not cost effective to continue as there are insufficient sales to make it viable in the long term.