ideas for a kit car build required
Discussion
Im looking to undertake a project build with my soon to be 12 year old son, my experience of kit cars is limited but if i give a few pointers then maybe ill get some decent ideas.
My dream home build car is the Ultima GTR - but sadly a 50-60k build is out of reach.
I went out in a Dax Rush cosworth (factory demo) years ago and loved the performance.
Ive also been out in the factory (black rally one) murtaya that was at arden a few years back, what puts me off this car is the potential for the project to nose dive as the brand has an interesting and unstable past - maybe thats resolved i dont know
I do like the cobra reps, equally the RS200 shape is awesome.
The usual 7 style car is an obvious build choice, but if we take a couple of sedate years to complete the build he still isnt going to be old enough to enjoy the full blown experience on a track, so thats a possible consideration - i havent totally ruled it out.
His only experience in a kit car was a little blast in a duratec caterham at silverstone a few weeks ago, he immediately said we need to build one (maybe not the caterham - but you get the idea) he wouldnt be thinking about the practical use of such a car though.
Budget isnt a massive thought as it can be spread over the years of the build, but sub 20k would be good, for me its more about the time spent together during the build rather than buying a car already done.
looks are important - get the ideas rolling please, id love to hear about cars that ive mentioned but also ones ive never considered
thanks in advance
My dream home build car is the Ultima GTR - but sadly a 50-60k build is out of reach.
I went out in a Dax Rush cosworth (factory demo) years ago and loved the performance.
Ive also been out in the factory (black rally one) murtaya that was at arden a few years back, what puts me off this car is the potential for the project to nose dive as the brand has an interesting and unstable past - maybe thats resolved i dont know
I do like the cobra reps, equally the RS200 shape is awesome.
The usual 7 style car is an obvious build choice, but if we take a couple of sedate years to complete the build he still isnt going to be old enough to enjoy the full blown experience on a track, so thats a possible consideration - i havent totally ruled it out.
His only experience in a kit car was a little blast in a duratec caterham at silverstone a few weeks ago, he immediately said we need to build one (maybe not the caterham - but you get the idea) he wouldnt be thinking about the practical use of such a car though.
Budget isnt a massive thought as it can be spread over the years of the build, but sub 20k would be good, for me its more about the time spent together during the build rather than buying a car already done.
looks are important - get the ideas rolling please, id love to hear about cars that ive mentioned but also ones ive never considered
thanks in advance
One thing worth ensuring is that you can deal with the company and they will give you the support you need. It is worth spending a few quid on petrol visiting your short list factories to suss them out. However complete the kit and easy to build it is supposed to be, you WILL be calling the factory several times for help, you need to be sure that they will give you the back up you need. This was one of the reasons I bought from Mark Fisher.
As for others to look into I'd be looking at -
Roadrunner SR2 - Mx5 based se7en kit that I think looks very good and has good build options/reports on ease of buid.
GKD legend - BMW 3 series based se7en, complete packs available including M3 based (need strong underpants for that one!)
Sylva Vectis - more classic design based around the MGF (vvc engine would go very well), handles very well. Anything form the Jeremy Philips stable handles well and is a good kit to start off with (Why I built a Fury)
Raw Striker - Anither se7en with good pedigree, their 20v Toyota twin cam package is a really good one or go for the Phoenix if you like the Fury/vectis look.
The New MEV Replicar - as an alternative to the cobra, an Aston DBR1ish styling with mx5 underpinnings - fit a BMW straight 6 and you will have a very fine car (see thread on this page for images/comments etc.)
Mev/Road&track Sonic 7 or Rocket - an alternative to the se7en and again good reports on aease of build, mainly ford focus based - go for the ST170 and you have a very good car.
(probably get a theme going on here, some of the best quality and designed cars around at the mooent come form either Jeremy Philips or Stuart Mills, can't go wrong with any of their creations for a first car).
As for your original choices - Murtaya have a good reputation and the scooby based should be sound, Cobra - 20k is about lower/middle of the road pricewise but it needs to have a v8 (IMHO)(look for GD/DAX).
Hope this helps
As for others to look into I'd be looking at -
Roadrunner SR2 - Mx5 based se7en kit that I think looks very good and has good build options/reports on ease of buid.
GKD legend - BMW 3 series based se7en, complete packs available including M3 based (need strong underpants for that one!)
Sylva Vectis - more classic design based around the MGF (vvc engine would go very well), handles very well. Anything form the Jeremy Philips stable handles well and is a good kit to start off with (Why I built a Fury)
Raw Striker - Anither se7en with good pedigree, their 20v Toyota twin cam package is a really good one or go for the Phoenix if you like the Fury/vectis look.
The New MEV Replicar - as an alternative to the cobra, an Aston DBR1ish styling with mx5 underpinnings - fit a BMW straight 6 and you will have a very fine car (see thread on this page for images/comments etc.)
Mev/Road&track Sonic 7 or Rocket - an alternative to the se7en and again good reports on aease of build, mainly ford focus based - go for the ST170 and you have a very good car.
(probably get a theme going on here, some of the best quality and designed cars around at the mooent come form either Jeremy Philips or Stuart Mills, can't go wrong with any of their creations for a first car).
As for your original choices - Murtaya have a good reputation and the scooby based should be sound, Cobra - 20k is about lower/middle of the road pricewise but it needs to have a v8 (IMHO)(look for GD/DAX).
Hope this helps
I'd definitely recommend going to the shows, unfortunately you just missed one of the best ones this year Total Kit Car Live at Blyton where you could ride in the cars out on the circuit and get a really good feel for them together on the same day on the same circuit.
Read the magazines and speak to people who have the cars you're interested in. Take everything you are told with a pinch of salt and form your own opinions. Make a shortlist of the cars you're seriously tempted by and go along to another show and ask the manufacturers all the questions you have about the cars. Then go outside and ask the owners.
People will almost always tell you that the car they've got is the best and the rest are second rate by comparison Have a look also online at the owners clubs websites too and get a feel for the social side of things though there's also a lot of regional clubs that are not affiliated to any specific marques.
When you've made your mind up about 3 different cars go to the 'factory' and speak to the manufacturers again and organise a ride, better still a drive.
Think about it a bit longer and then place your order. It's also good to keep an eye to donor vehicles all the time you're doing this and also consider getting a second hand car which you can do a restoration on. This way you get all the parts and the kit without any where near the amount of mess and of course you'll know what fits and what doesn't as you'll be taking it all off the car.
Best of all though is just doing it. You've got exactly the right motivation there for a very worthwhile project no matter what you choose.
Edit...
I just had a look at your profile there and saw you drive an A6 and are from Oxford. Give Alistair Courtney a ring and pop along to his workshop at Enstone. I'm sure you'll get some very good advice from him. He's doing exactly the same as you're proposing doing with his son too.
Read the magazines and speak to people who have the cars you're interested in. Take everything you are told with a pinch of salt and form your own opinions. Make a shortlist of the cars you're seriously tempted by and go along to another show and ask the manufacturers all the questions you have about the cars. Then go outside and ask the owners.
People will almost always tell you that the car they've got is the best and the rest are second rate by comparison Have a look also online at the owners clubs websites too and get a feel for the social side of things though there's also a lot of regional clubs that are not affiliated to any specific marques.
When you've made your mind up about 3 different cars go to the 'factory' and speak to the manufacturers again and organise a ride, better still a drive.
Think about it a bit longer and then place your order. It's also good to keep an eye to donor vehicles all the time you're doing this and also consider getting a second hand car which you can do a restoration on. This way you get all the parts and the kit without any where near the amount of mess and of course you'll know what fits and what doesn't as you'll be taking it all off the car.
Best of all though is just doing it. You've got exactly the right motivation there for a very worthwhile project no matter what you choose.
Edit...
I just had a look at your profile there and saw you drive an A6 and are from Oxford. Give Alistair Courtney a ring and pop along to his workshop at Enstone. I'm sure you'll get some very good advice from him. He's doing exactly the same as you're proposing doing with his son too.
Edited by qdos on Tuesday 8th October 09:49
thanks for that, ill take a good look at them when i get more than a minute.
Good to hear a decent cobra is going to be more than 20k i can probably rule that out.
The good thing about Dax is its been around 18 years since i went out in the Cossie Rush, so whilst its a great sign they are still going strong, maybe there are more modern cars around - i know they have updated the chassis though.
I did buy a scooby as the base for a mutaya, went the Arden as i said then the wheels looked like they were falling off the project with adrenaline (sp) - id be keen to hear the latest news on the car/future, maybe its an itch that never went away with me, the ease of donors and parts and the 4wd chassis makes a good basis for a great all round car.
Good to hear a decent cobra is going to be more than 20k i can probably rule that out.
The good thing about Dax is its been around 18 years since i went out in the Cossie Rush, so whilst its a great sign they are still going strong, maybe there are more modern cars around - i know they have updated the chassis though.
I did buy a scooby as the base for a mutaya, went the Arden as i said then the wheels looked like they were falling off the project with adrenaline (sp) - id be keen to hear the latest news on the car/future, maybe its an itch that never went away with me, the ease of donors and parts and the 4wd chassis makes a good basis for a great all round car.
Qdos - cheers grerat advice, i did actually drive the Murtaya rally car, albeit on a damp day and that car had no demister fitted so was fogging up a bit and it was dark so couldnt exactly open her up.
When i was considering it i was going to do the build in a single garage - possible but tight, now i have an 1800 sq ft unit with a 2 post lift -so im more than equipped for tools/space - even if the knowledge is lacking, also Arden are about 30 miles from me -sounds like im talking myself into it really - but its still info gaining at the moment.
When i was considering it i was going to do the build in a single garage - possible but tight, now i have an 1800 sq ft unit with a 2 post lift -so im more than equipped for tools/space - even if the knowledge is lacking, also Arden are about 30 miles from me -sounds like im talking myself into it really - but its still info gaining at the moment.
Sorry for the Austin Fopaux. I was under the impression it was used to decribe cars like the Lotus Seven but without using the Seven trademark, bit like the use of LSIS (Lotus Seven Inspired Sportscer). I'll consider myself educated.
Another to add to the list of you want the scooby warble but would like to go a bit more extreme (seven style meets Atom) have a look at the SDR V Storm and if you like this then an audi 1.8T powered Deronda may just be within your £20k budget (one of my favourite kit cars).
Another to add to the list of you want the scooby warble but would like to go a bit more extreme (seven style meets Atom) have a look at the SDR V Storm and if you like this then an audi 1.8T powered Deronda may just be within your £20k budget (one of my favourite kit cars).
If you genuinely want to get your son involved and enjoy building it together, and he loved the looks of the Caterham, then i'd seriously consider a Roadrunner Racing SR2 with a full rollcage. Buy yourself a jap Eunos and enjoy stripping it down together, refurbish the bits then build the kit up together. You will end up with a lovely looking car and your budget will be WAY under your £20k. And then supercharge it....
You'd be hard pushed for £20k Jason, and i'd imagine both those will be high maintainance to keep on the road long term too. And a lot of the technology stuff will probably go way over the head of a teenager, i'd recommend keeping it fairly bolt on and simple to keep his interest? But if its speed at the end result your after, a 230 bhp supercharged SR2 with progressive torque to match would give a Caterham R500 something to think about. 115bhp post IVA would probably be safe to let him drive too on an airfield.
Great project though, I have tried to get my 11 year old daughter interested in cars, but frankly unless it has 1 horsepower, eats grass and s***s a lot she is not interested!!
Great project though, I have tried to get my 11 year old daughter interested in cars, but frankly unless it has 1 horsepower, eats grass and s***s a lot she is not interested!!
just looked at the latest rush price lists and i cannot see where it will cost over £20k to build one, granted they will most likely take more to maintain, what ever we build to satisfy me it will need to be pretty quick, and as much as he will be there to build it with me, i know ill be supervising literally everything so in real terms ill be building it really.
The roadrunner sr2 however does look good, i keep going back to look at it - and im sure with 230-250hp would be pretty nippy too
The roadrunner sr2 however does look good, i keep going back to look at it - and im sure with 230-250hp would be pretty nippy too
Furyblade_Lee said:
If you genuinely want to get your son involved and enjoy building it together, and he loved the looks of the Caterham, then i'd seriously consider a Roadrunner Racing SR2 with a full rollcage. Buy yourself a jap Eunos and enjoy stripping it down together, refurbish the bits then build the kit up together. You will end up with a lovely looking car and your budget will be WAY under your £20k. And then supercharge it....
Certainly well worth considering. The savings in having all the insttruments and dials for the interior and seas and the complete drivetrain already mounted on the underlying frame which carries the engine box dff and suspension. I built my first kit car a Lotus uper Seven collected directly from Colin Chapman himself at the factory and 50 years later and with more than 50 kit cars owned over the years and 15 still in my possession that remains the best kit car I ever had. Sadly I wrote it off. In consequencr I would choose Caterham.
But Furyblade Lee is quite right the MX5 donor advantages would make his suggestion very econically advantageous and a much easier and quicker build. More time for driving the results!
I think you will realistically struggle to build a top notch Rush MC Hayabusa Turbo and road register it for 20k. A busa lump will cost maybe £3k , £1,500 for a dry sump kit, £1,000 for an exhaust, then ££££££ on a turbo kit, engine internals, intercooler, piping, rolling road set up etc. etc. Oh, and the actual car, IVA & registration..... If you fancy this route just check it out first, speak to a few on the bike engined cars website. Not 100% sure you could not do it, but I doubt it from scratch. Be aware you will be building one hell of a fast car so you cannot afford to scrimp on the rest of the components like brakes, LSD etc. Or you wont be able to make the most of that mad engine!!
This is similar to what my father and I did 20 years ago. We built a Westfield when I was 15. Started off with just a 1.3 x-flow to keep it sensible and easy to insure. So the day I passed my test I drove the Westfield. As my experience increased then so did the engine size & power. I am still driving the same car.
Also worth considering that the Sierra donor cars are becoming more scarce which is why a lot of the kit car manufacturers are moving over to mx5/BMW 3 series for longituding and Ford Focus for mid/rear transverse cars.
If you have that sort of budget Westield are currently developing a Honda S2000 powered car which would be an awesome tool. http://www.westfield-sportscars.co.uk/SErange/s200...
This may fit the bill, plenty of power and character, decent residuals (not top of the list but good to know) and ease of builld and factory support should be good.
http://www.westfield-sportscars.co.uk/westfield-me... review says comprehensive kit less engine/gearbox (approx £2.5k ebay) and wheels/tyres (£1k max) goes for £14k, so £17.5k is possible for on the road.
If you have that sort of budget Westield are currently developing a Honda S2000 powered car which would be an awesome tool. http://www.westfield-sportscars.co.uk/SErange/s200...
This may fit the bill, plenty of power and character, decent residuals (not top of the list but good to know) and ease of builld and factory support should be good.
http://www.westfield-sportscars.co.uk/westfield-me... review says comprehensive kit less engine/gearbox (approx £2.5k ebay) and wheels/tyres (£1k max) goes for £14k, so £17.5k is possible for on the road.
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