What future project?
Discussion
This is still some way off, but I'll be moving house soon(ish) after splitting up with 'er indoors. This means I can get a house with a garage and spend my money on whatever I want (after all the boring bills and things of course!)
With this new found freedom I want to get a mad car. I'll only need to run it when I want, and it will be able to live indoors so doesn't really need to be practicle - I can get a shed for that kind of thing. It doesn't need to be mad fast, but fun.
However, I'm not really sure what to look at. It will be used heavily on the track, and B-road weekend driving, but that's it. I'm not really a fan of the Caterfields of this world, but I do like pretty much everything else as long as I can have the wind in my hair, and prefer mid-engine lay outs.
This will be my first build, and whilst I like to think I have an idea about how things work, I'm under no illusions about my skill when it comes to actually making them work. I'm ok with bolts and spanners, but not so good at pre-drilling the hole in the right place at the right angle.
In an ideal world, I'd be able to take my FTO and make it rear-wheel-drive, lighter, and more fun... but I know that'd be overreaching myself somewhat ;-)
So, could anybody tell me how much it really costs (exculding tools) and how difficult is it to build (and how much fun can be had in) a:
Ginetta G12
Marlin 5exi
K-1 Attack
Phantom Vortex (I know it's a hard top, bit it's still very nice)
Westfield XI
Fisher Fury
GTM Libra/Spyder
Anything else that's good but I've overlooked
Cheers guys!
With this new found freedom I want to get a mad car. I'll only need to run it when I want, and it will be able to live indoors so doesn't really need to be practicle - I can get a shed for that kind of thing. It doesn't need to be mad fast, but fun.
However, I'm not really sure what to look at. It will be used heavily on the track, and B-road weekend driving, but that's it. I'm not really a fan of the Caterfields of this world, but I do like pretty much everything else as long as I can have the wind in my hair, and prefer mid-engine lay outs.
This will be my first build, and whilst I like to think I have an idea about how things work, I'm under no illusions about my skill when it comes to actually making them work. I'm ok with bolts and spanners, but not so good at pre-drilling the hole in the right place at the right angle.
In an ideal world, I'd be able to take my FTO and make it rear-wheel-drive, lighter, and more fun... but I know that'd be overreaching myself somewhat ;-)
So, could anybody tell me how much it really costs (exculding tools) and how difficult is it to build (and how much fun can be had in) a:
Ginetta G12
Marlin 5exi
K-1 Attack
Phantom Vortex (I know it's a hard top, bit it's still very nice)
Westfield XI
Fisher Fury
GTM Libra/Spyder
Anything else that's good but I've overlooked
Cheers guys!
Prefer mid-engine? Don't need any practicality? A Sylva R1ot would be worth a look - www.sylva.co.uk/riot.htm
They've engineered them for fiesta/puma engines now as well as bike engines other than the R1. Build costs are fairly modest. There's a guy building an R1-powered one who's doing a build diary - www.r1ot-act.co.uk - and his costs are about 9k. That's relatively high as he's gone for nice things, eg. a £700 digidash rather than using the (cheap) R1 clocks.
Any of the bodied cars will cost a bit more than something basic like the R1ot or a seven clone, just by virtue of needing big lumps of GRP.
Marlin 5exi looks good, but you're looking at 8.5k for a (admittedly quite comprehensive) kit, it would be easy to spend over 10k without many extravagances. I do like how much of the donor parts can come from a single car though.
The GTMs seem great quality, the built ones I've seen have been superb but the price reflects that! It's an even more comprehensive kit but a chunk more expensive again. Clever design adn construction with a composite tub rather than the typical steel frame with GRP draped over.
Phantom Vortex is lovely but a different league - and the sort of build cost would make a secondhand Noble more tempting to me.
Fisher Fury / STM Phoenix / SSC Stylus are all derivatives of the same car, all Jeremy Philips (Sylva) designs but sold off to other companies to make these days. Stuart Taylor Motorsport mainly target bike engines, SSC mainly car engines, Fisher a bit of both. They're all well established with a good following, so if you get stuck there's plenty of people to ask who've already built them. Like any of the others, it can get as expensive as you want but seems about 8k upwards for a build that isn't too penny-pinching.
Fisher do a mid-engined version of the Fury now which looks good. Each of those three are nearly as light as the Seven-type cars, but there's aerodynamic advantages with the bodywork.
With all of these, for a straightforward build on a car that doesn't need to be practical, I wouldn't bother with doors and probably not with a roof or windscreen either. Cheaper, easier to get through SVA and less hassle to build.
What will probably make your life easiest is to pick a manufacturer close to you - inevitably parts will be wrong or missing at some point, or you don't know how something should fit and need to look another car to work it out. Being a short drive away would be a godsend then.
I'm planning to start building a R1ot hopefully this Autumn - by which time I hope some more people will have got some built and SVAed!
They've engineered them for fiesta/puma engines now as well as bike engines other than the R1. Build costs are fairly modest. There's a guy building an R1-powered one who's doing a build diary - www.r1ot-act.co.uk - and his costs are about 9k. That's relatively high as he's gone for nice things, eg. a £700 digidash rather than using the (cheap) R1 clocks.
Any of the bodied cars will cost a bit more than something basic like the R1ot or a seven clone, just by virtue of needing big lumps of GRP.
Marlin 5exi looks good, but you're looking at 8.5k for a (admittedly quite comprehensive) kit, it would be easy to spend over 10k without many extravagances. I do like how much of the donor parts can come from a single car though.
The GTMs seem great quality, the built ones I've seen have been superb but the price reflects that! It's an even more comprehensive kit but a chunk more expensive again. Clever design adn construction with a composite tub rather than the typical steel frame with GRP draped over.
Phantom Vortex is lovely but a different league - and the sort of build cost would make a secondhand Noble more tempting to me.
Fisher Fury / STM Phoenix / SSC Stylus are all derivatives of the same car, all Jeremy Philips (Sylva) designs but sold off to other companies to make these days. Stuart Taylor Motorsport mainly target bike engines, SSC mainly car engines, Fisher a bit of both. They're all well established with a good following, so if you get stuck there's plenty of people to ask who've already built them. Like any of the others, it can get as expensive as you want but seems about 8k upwards for a build that isn't too penny-pinching.
Fisher do a mid-engined version of the Fury now which looks good. Each of those three are nearly as light as the Seven-type cars, but there's aerodynamic advantages with the bodywork.
With all of these, for a straightforward build on a car that doesn't need to be practical, I wouldn't bother with doors and probably not with a roof or windscreen either. Cheaper, easier to get through SVA and less hassle to build.
What will probably make your life easiest is to pick a manufacturer close to you - inevitably parts will be wrong or missing at some point, or you don't know how something should fit and need to look another car to work it out. Being a short drive away would be a godsend then.
I'm planning to start building a R1ot hopefully this Autumn - by which time I hope some more people will have got some built and SVAed!
I got an email from Turner Auto Design's MD this morning through PH pointing to the LMP. I've seen them before at shows but I wasn't looking at a mad car at the time, so I overlooked them.
I took him seriously and checked out the revies and did some digging with google and decided that they look good and the reviews I've seen are good so I'm adding them to my list of potentials.
I have two issues with the car at present though:
1 - They are in deepest darkest Scotland and, well, I'm in the South of England (I've denied it for 2 years, but I can't anymore really if I want their kit). Does anybody have experience of dealing with the kit supplier over such a large distance? What happens if I can't work out where little-screw-six-thousand-and-four goes? Or I'm missing widget 57b-left-hand-side?
2 - The whole kit comes in one. This is good for getting everything in one go, but means I need to store all of it somewhere while I build it; it also means I need to pay for the bulk of it in one go. I prefer the idea of the phased builds, so I can buy part one, and save for part two while build.
For anybody interested: www.turner-auto-design.com/theLMP.
I took him seriously and checked out the revies and did some digging with google and decided that they look good and the reviews I've seen are good so I'm adding them to my list of potentials.
I have two issues with the car at present though:
1 - They are in deepest darkest Scotland and, well, I'm in the South of England (I've denied it for 2 years, but I can't anymore really if I want their kit). Does anybody have experience of dealing with the kit supplier over such a large distance? What happens if I can't work out where little-screw-six-thousand-and-four goes? Or I'm missing widget 57b-left-hand-side?
2 - The whole kit comes in one. This is good for getting everything in one go, but means I need to store all of it somewhere while I build it; it also means I need to pay for the bulk of it in one go. I prefer the idea of the phased builds, so I can buy part one, and save for part two while build.
For anybody interested: www.turner-auto-design.com/theLMP.
Hi,
I live in The Netherlands and I am building a GTM Libra. There is no GTM rep here in The Netherlands. I collected the kit myself with a Luton van. I have no problems because of the fact that GTM are in Coventry and I am in The Netherlands. Most of the information I need I can find on the internet.
There is a VERY good owners club for GTM, and that makes all the difference. Is there such a thing for the LPM ??
When I build my Westfield I ordered the parts needed in several chunks. It is just a question of having enough space / a patient enough wife to be able to store all the parts. Just tell her indoors it will take twice as long as you expect now to build it. It will take twice as long anyway, so there are no unpleasant surprises for her...
Bye,
Bertram
www.gtmlibra.nl
>> Edited by Bertram on Thursday 16th February 22:24
I live in The Netherlands and I am building a GTM Libra. There is no GTM rep here in The Netherlands. I collected the kit myself with a Luton van. I have no problems because of the fact that GTM are in Coventry and I am in The Netherlands. Most of the information I need I can find on the internet.
There is a VERY good owners club for GTM, and that makes all the difference. Is there such a thing for the LPM ??
When I build my Westfield I ordered the parts needed in several chunks. It is just a question of having enough space / a patient enough wife to be able to store all the parts. Just tell her indoors it will take twice as long as you expect now to build it. It will take twice as long anyway, so there are no unpleasant surprises for her...
Bye,
Bertram
www.gtmlibra.nl
>> Edited by Bertram on Thursday 16th February 22:24
Hmmm, having looked into what it takes to build a kit car, I don't think I really have what it takes. I like the driving too much, and some tinkering, but having spent a lot of time helping out a bloke I know making one recently, I think it's a lot of hard work in the (generally) cold, hard garage!
I think I'll just stick to buying fully built ones and go to the kit car shows pretending I know what I'm doing
I think I'll just stick to buying fully built ones and go to the kit car shows pretending I know what I'm doing
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