Looking for an everyday usable kit car

[BAS231187]

Hi Guys,

just started a new job so have some moneys, and moved to a new area with no friends so have plenty of spare time. I'm thinking of building a kit car and researching options. so far iv had a look and thought about what I would like and come up with:

1. Useable Daily
My dad has a cobra and its barely come out of the garage this year given this summer's weather. I'm thinking of a coupe or a hard top convertible. I'm not interested in a seven type kit.

2. Cheap
I have money coming in but no savings so still need a cheap ish kit car. looking for something in the range of 5K-15K

3. Body + Chassis
I don't want to just rebody a car but as this is my first I also don't want to have to source/fabricate every part. I'm thinking a sporty but rundown donor car given a lightweight chassis and rebody

4. Styling
I don't like the replicas. some are better than others but you can always tell something is off with them, and it would be annoying to explain "no I don't own a Ferrari" all the time.

pretty much in priority order.

So far I really like the look of the MEV X5, fits all the criteria if you use the super light chassis and the coupe body, obviously lotus inspired but not a replica and seems to have positive feedback but there are a lot of kits out there. what can you guys recommend I look in to?

[mirach]

take a weekend out to donington show, 1st weekend in september, even if you don't find anything you want you will still have a good weekend and get to meet a lot of like minded people and manufacturers

[ajprice]

The Sonic7 has an option for a full windscreen and removable roof.

[MG CHRIS]

ajprice said:

The Sonic7 has an option for a full windscreen and removable roof.

Yea pitty it looks rubbish with it on and will leak water. You can buy a used gtm libra for between 4-8k which can and are used as daily cars. Phatom vortex is another option but out of your price range and then there is the zolf but thats 30k. As the previous post said go to the donnington kit car show and see what is there.

For the mev x5 there is no option to put a coupe body on the superlight frame although you could do it yourself but i believe stuart is selling the x5 range to fund his new project.

[KDIcarmad]

Midas would be a good start. Styling is a bit love it or hate it, but is a 2+2. The gold roadster is nice, but I liked the coupe now out of production more. You can still by new Mini Marcos, the mini donor is a small problem.

That everyday part is hard. Marlin do a mid-engine with some usability. The new Razor three wheeler has roof, but that bike engine is loud!

Buy a secondhand MX 5 MK2/3 or Vauxhall VX220 (better than the Lotus? Well no Rover engine problems) if it has to a kit GTM's Libra. You could save up and wait for the new GTM, could be a long wait.

[Furyblade_Lee]

GTM Libra.

[rdodger]

Furyblade_Lee said:

GTM Libra.

Got to be really.

Find a cheap one and make it your own.

[BAS231187]

I Live in derby so Donnington was already in the diary

I like the look of the libra. handnt come across that one yet. doing more research in to it now.

Keep the ideas coming, im looking in to everything your mentioning so i can go to donnington with an idea of what i really want and be able to ask some sensible and worth while questions

[qdos]

KDIcarmad said:

Midas would be a good start. Styling is a bit love it or hate it, but is a 2+2. The gold roadster is nice, but I liked the coupe now out of production more.

Actually, no, they are not out of production.

[Artstu]

qdos said:

KDIcarmad said:

Midas would be a good start. Styling is a bit love it or hate it, but is a 2+2. The gold roadster is nice, but I liked the coupe now out of production more.

Actually, no, they are not out of production.

I imagine he means that the MK 3 Coupe is out of production. Or perhaps you've got around to getting it back into production Kelvin?

[Stuart Mills]

The MEVX5 Coupe body can be fitted on the Superlight chassis. It would involve using the MX5 screen and frame but is not impossible to cut off the donor. The kits are available but we are offering the project for sale too if anyone is interested in becoming a car manufacturer for only 15k, if you are you are surely insane!
We do need the space and the X5 is not moving in any serious numbers compared to the Exocet and the new MEVSTER is already selling even though it is not finished. MEVSTER will have a full screen and soft top BTW, we are selling pre production kits at 3k plus VAT. The development is featured in the next 4 issues of Kit Car magazine. The first part is out now, it has changed somewhat since and is almost complete now.
Can't show piccies yet though, one chance at a first impression and all that.

[KDIcarmad]

Artstu said:

qdos said:

KDIcarmad said:

Midas would be a good start. Styling is a bit love it or hate it, but is a 2+2. The gold roadster is nice, but I liked the coupe now out of production more.

Actually, no, they are not out of production.

I imagine he means that the MK 3 Coupe is out of production. Or perhaps you've got around to getting it back into production Kelvin?

I meant the gold coupe. Which is no longer offered. Sorry if any of you did not understand that.

[qdos]

KDIcarmad said:

Artstu said:

qdos said:

KDIcarmad said:

Midas would be a good start. Styling is a bit love it or hate it, but is a 2+2. The gold roadster is nice, but I liked the coupe now out of production more.

Actually, no, they are not out of production.

I imagine he means that the MK 3 Coupe is out of production. Or perhaps you've got around to getting it back into production Kelvin?

I meant the gold coupe. Which is no longer offered. Sorry if any of you did not understand that.

The Gold Coupe moulds went to Germany but the club then got them back to keep available for spare parts. However the club then sold the moulds to Alternative Cars (current owners of the Midas Marque) who I'm sure would make a Gold Coupe if someone wanted a new one. It's certainly not dead.

[BAS231187]

Stuart Mills said:

The MEVX5 Coupe body can be fitted on the Superlight chassis. It would involve using the MX5 screen and frame but is not impossible to cut off the donor. The kits are available but we are offering the project for sale too if anyone is interested in becoming a car manufacturer for only 15k, if you are you are surely insane!
We do need the space and the X5 is not moving in any serious numbers compared to the Exocet and the new MEVSTER is already selling even though it is not finished. MEVSTER will have a full screen and soft top BTW, we are selling pre production kits at 3k plus VAT. The development is featured in the next 4 issues of Kit Car magazine. The first part is out now, it has changed somewhat since and is almost complete now.
Can't show piccies yet though, one chance at a first impression and all that.

Will the MEVSTER be shown at Donnington ? ? Please.

http://www.midascars.co.uk/index.html
this seems to suggest the gold is still available. still cant decide if i like or loath the styling. i like the look of the cortez tho.

Im loving the ideas so far, are there any more left? i know the "usable everyday" criteria i made my top priority narrows the choices quite a lot.

[Frankthered]

The Minari Road Sport is available from Peninsula Sports Cars. The doors are a bit of a squeeze, but it could theoretically meet your requirements.

If you were planning a new build, I'm not sure how easy it would be to find a donor these days ...

[Stuart Mills]

I am going to take a panel to Donny from a MEVSTER to tease!

BAS231187 said:

Will the MEVSTER be shown at Donnington ? ? Please.

http://www.midascars.co.uk/index.html
this seems to suggest the gold is still available. still cant decide if i like or loath the styling. i like the look of the cortez tho.

Im loving the ideas so far, are there any more left? i know the "usable everyday" criteria i made my top priority narrows the choices quite a lot.

[Martin A]

How about this!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LOTUS-GS-EUROPA-TWIN-CAM...

[BAS231187]

Just had a fantastic time at a grass auto test. i was "racing" a yaris. but was a passenger in a mk1 mx5 for quite a few runs, not very competative but a hell of a lot of fun. i could get an mx5 for a while. then attack it with a kit when rust becomes too much of an issue.

[Toltec]

Shelsley T2, I bought one precisely because I wanted an everyday usable kit car.

The kit is about £8k though.

[ch427]

sounds as if the libra suits you, nice looking car and quite practical
a cobra build would probably be a money pit, mine was and also does not get used as i dont have a roof.