E Type Jaguar replica opportunity
Discussion
We are a small company working towards launching a S1 E Type replica onto the market. Our car is pretty accurate as far as modern demands allow and is certainly visually correct, it will be a quality product at an achievable price. Our team of four includes a Jaguar trained E Type mechanic who has restored numerous E Types from the ground up and can be considered an authority on the cars. We also number a CAD engineer, a toolmaker / boat builder with 40 years experience in creating plugs, moulds and GRP structures and a sales guy with detailed experience of the kit car and replica market. We have workshop / R&D premises in Dorset. In short having worked on the project on a part time basis around other jobs we now know the market exists and are ready to focus on the project full time. We are in need of some incoming investment (Circa £50k) and are prepared to give a way a reasonable amount of equity to achieve this. Ideally we are seeking an enthusiast who apart from assisting with the finances can have some input into the project and bring a little more than money to the table. This needn't impact on your day job but may just be an interesting (and lucrative diversion).
We are open to any ideas and discussions
Thank you
We are open to any ideas and discussions
Thank you
Part of me is tempted to give you £50K in return for one, but then I think 'fibreglass replica...' - not sure. You'll have to compare your pricing against what a real one would cost and yours will have to be a lot lower I fear. If you can't get the pricing right it won't fly no matter how good and keen you all are.
How long has the company been in operation? Has it got several years of profitable trading in other things?
Peer-to-business lending (rebuildingsociety.com for example) would work if you have profitable trading history without giving away equity. If not Crowdfunding (seedrs, crowdcube) would give you a good marketing platform as well as quickly raise the funds but of course giving equity in return OR a car for anyone investing the right amount.
Peer-to-business lending (rebuildingsociety.com for example) would work if you have profitable trading history without giving away equity. If not Crowdfunding (seedrs, crowdcube) would give you a good marketing platform as well as quickly raise the funds but of course giving equity in return OR a car for anyone investing the right amount.
Hi
Thank you for all your comments which are all valid of course.
To answer the points generally, yes we do have a good trading record including international sales and some sizeable orders to date. We are looking at forming a new company for the E Type as the other product is in the marine sector.
We are exploring all avenues re funding including crowd funding, private ventures, equity release etc etc and welcome any comments please. Of course one of the early cars could go in the direction of the investor as part of any deal. We are all knowledgeable enthusiasts through and through and the car will be as close to original as possible within the constraints of keeping the price point realistic and achievable to the average customer.
We are (very) familiar with the Challenger and have driven a number of the cars in the past - there are some elements we perceive as very good and some that current technology will allow us to improve on. We know the kit car market well (although this may not be our prime target audience) and have sold into this market in the past
We do not have a demo car yet but have a clear path to achieve this but need the funding in question to do so.
Thanks again for the general feedback and comments
Thank you for all your comments which are all valid of course.
To answer the points generally, yes we do have a good trading record including international sales and some sizeable orders to date. We are looking at forming a new company for the E Type as the other product is in the marine sector.
We are exploring all avenues re funding including crowd funding, private ventures, equity release etc etc and welcome any comments please. Of course one of the early cars could go in the direction of the investor as part of any deal. We are all knowledgeable enthusiasts through and through and the car will be as close to original as possible within the constraints of keeping the price point realistic and achievable to the average customer.
We are (very) familiar with the Challenger and have driven a number of the cars in the past - there are some elements we perceive as very good and some that current technology will allow us to improve on. We know the kit car market well (although this may not be our prime target audience) and have sold into this market in the past
We do not have a demo car yet but have a clear path to achieve this but need the funding in question to do so.
Thanks again for the general feedback and comments
If you are looking at the crowd funding route I know of a company that would be willing to help you with the marketing video. Owners dream car is exactly what you are proposing to do. They also do a lot of motorsports video work so know how to film a car. Pm me if you want to talk to them.
There are a number of Zealia Engineering e-types that have been on the market for a long time.
There you have a reworked real e-type with GRP bits added.
Personally if I wanted a plastic e-type I would have a preference for one of these over a 'replica'
and don't open the can of worms of what is a replica or a copy or an evocation etc.
There you have a reworked real e-type with GRP bits added.
Personally if I wanted a plastic e-type I would have a preference for one of these over a 'replica'
and don't open the can of worms of what is a replica or a copy or an evocation etc.
TheBMWDriver said:
Also google Eagle E-Type, they do some very nice work.
Yes indeed:http://www.jaguarspeedster.com/
Our target is for the customer to be able to have a completed car to a good standard for around a £15k budget. We believe this brings ownership of such a cult car (all be it not a £100k original) possible to quite a wide audience and in particular those of a generation who grew up admiring the E type and aspiring to one day own one but now see prices for an original at an unachievable level. Of course we are familiar with Eagle and all the similar companies but whilst of course their products are amazing once again they are not really financially achievable to the masses. We will bridge this gap.
The engine will be Jaguar and the body work material will be announced in due course.
Thank you
The engine will be Jaguar and the body work material will be announced in due course.
Thank you
Well I can't argue with the price!
However I still see a credibility gap, and the biggest reason new ventures fail is that the owners have too much belief in their product. You believe in it, but so too must prospective customers.
You descrbed the E-Type as a 'cult car' - I'd say the E-Type is above that, it's an automotive icon. Your product, in the nicest possible way, is not. So I think you have to stop seeing it as an affordable E-Type and try instead to advance from the current position, zero, to cult - because cult followers don't follow normal rules. How about starting a race series (like Ginetta) to get an interest base?
However I still see a credibility gap, and the biggest reason new ventures fail is that the owners have too much belief in their product. You believe in it, but so too must prospective customers.
You descrbed the E-Type as a 'cult car' - I'd say the E-Type is above that, it's an automotive icon. Your product, in the nicest possible way, is not. So I think you have to stop seeing it as an affordable E-Type and try instead to advance from the current position, zero, to cult - because cult followers don't follow normal rules. How about starting a race series (like Ginetta) to get an interest base?
sideways sid said:
OP, the problem you'll have at this end of the market is that you effectively pass quality control onto your customers. The product may be great but we have all seen kit cars for sale at half of their cost, with doors hung badly, poorly-aligned panels, etc.
To be fair, I've been in a few TVR's at twice that price with the same issues
£15k sounds very interesting for something like this - I'd actually suggest putting the price up to just under £20k and making it ace - especially the interior. A lot of replicas look great on the outside but look terrible on the inside. I'd love one in black with a carbon / aluminium interior please
OP, do you have a business plan that you can share, detailing what you want to spend the money on, when you need the money, and when you expect to return money to investors?
Also, I think you said that you don't yet have a car or tooling for the bodyshell. There are some complex pieces to do an E-Type right in fibreglass.
I genuinely wish you the best of luck and would like to see you succeed with this, and will pm you now with some thoughts/help.
Also, I think you said that you don't yet have a car or tooling for the bodyshell. There are some complex pieces to do an E-Type right in fibreglass.
I genuinely wish you the best of luck and would like to see you succeed with this, and will pm you now with some thoughts/help.
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