kit Car Producers - gap in the Market for you

kit Car Producers - gap in the Market for you

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Discussion

Snapper7

Original Poster:

990 posts

258 months

Friday 1st August 2008
quotequote all
I have owned a couple of Caterhams, a Series 2 Lotus Elise and a Series 2 Lotus Exige.

But what I really like is classic coupe styled 2x seater British Sportscars. I really do think that there is a big gap in the market place for this and I am suprised that someone from the kit car world has not filled it.

I really think that there is a big hole in the market that is crying out to be filled, The car wild have classic curved line, run a 2lt 200bhp ford Zetec or a 230bhp duratec engine, modern gearbox, brakes and suspension setup. The car would also have a rear boot opening in the form the rear window raising like the TVR T350 does so that you can just drop enought luggage in for a week or so touring. The nearest thing on the market that is out there would be a BMW Z4 Coupe.

Cars that I really like and would be an inspiration to work from are:

Ginetta G4 (I know Dare still produce them but they are really only interested in exporting them abroad and I have not found one I fit into)
Lotus Elite (To rare for me to be able to afford one)
Triumph GT6 (I would love one of these but on modern running gear, Ford Zetec or Duratec engine, gearbox and brakes)
Opel GT (Yes I know it is not British, but it is a take on a British sports car)


Snake the Sniper

2,544 posts

200 months

Friday 1st August 2008
quotequote all
May I point you in the direction of this thread for the Aeon Epona.


Snapper7

Original Poster:

990 posts

258 months

Friday 1st August 2008
quotequote all
Any news or links to this Aeon Epona and when it will be in production

Snake the Sniper

2,544 posts

200 months

Friday 1st August 2008
quotequote all
Best bet is to either have a look on locostbuilders.co.uk or the Aeon owners website. I think there's a link in one of the Epona threads on here but I'm too lazy to go search for it! :P
Last I heard, Gaz was finishing off the final design of the shell before sending the model off for 3D scanning for the mould. IIRC they plan to have it in production some time early next year.

tribbles

3,970 posts

221 months

Friday 1st August 2008
quotequote all
There's not been a lot of chatter about it on the Aeon Owners Club site - we'll probably get some more when it's in production.

My guess is that it'll be late this year; possibly early next.

wiz 1

2,474 posts

213 months

Friday 1st August 2008
quotequote all
That is a great looking car especially for that kit price smile Like the idea of a removable hardtop.

Have to keep an eye on this.

Since reading the thread on locost and seeing the pics - Keep it hardtop!

Edited by wiz 1 on Saturday 2nd August 21:30

Snapper7

Original Poster:

990 posts

258 months

Friday 1st August 2008
quotequote all
I have had a look through some of the links on the original thread, but a good number don't work now.

rdodger

1,088 posts

202 months

nverona

9 posts

220 months

Sunday 3rd August 2008
quotequote all
Morning snapper, your first Elise is still going strong and now has French plates.

See how and what we're doing on www.FrenchBlat.com (RiF's old place)

Chris71

21,535 posts

241 months

Sunday 3rd August 2008
quotequote all
I'm inclined to agree. I think to really get some use out of a car it has to be practical enough for more than the occasional track day. Although they're not quite what you're referring to I think the GTM Libra (presumably) and the Adrenaline Murtaya (definitely) offer a combination of Caterham-eating performance with a reasonable degree of usability.

Are fixed head coupes more difficult to engineer? (I'm thinking of the dreaded doors...) There do seem to be precious few kit coupes.

Joe T

487 posts

223 months

Sunday 3rd August 2008
quotequote all
[quote=Snake the Sniper]May I point you in the direction of this thread for the Aeon Epona.

Thats a nice looking car, would like to see a shot from the front 3/4, wing height to get a real ideaof the front but still looks really nice.

Coupes I beleive require more thought in the design stage, roof line, height for drivers, rear glass/visibility all make for more work.
Chassis(spaceframe)if originally a soft top should not require much to go to a coupe, but if there were no doors in the soft top design then it starts to get interesting...
Backbone chassis tend to lend themselves better to a flexible body design.


Snapper7

Original Poster:

990 posts

258 months

Monday 4th August 2008
quotequote all
Hi Norman

Glad to hear the Elise is still going great,




Chris

Just had a look at the Adrenaline Murtaya, I don't wish to be unkind but it looks a bit like MGTF meets Max Power and still does not have that great fast back styling of a Coupe IMHO. But thanks for the suggestion

stig mills

1,208 posts

205 months

Monday 4th August 2008
quotequote all
Doors add significantly to the cost of a kit. Add doors with; hinges/latches/locks/seals/rubbers/glass/winders/sliders/handles etc and then consider double skin panels and shut lines. Fairly easy to get that lot right but the cost of the kit will go through the roof. Unless it's roofless.
Is there a kit available today for 7 money that has doors?
I'm working on a new 2 seat middy at the moment, it has no doors but has an optional hinged hard T top. I will be keeping the price to around 4K for a body/rolling chassis kit.
There is a good market for higher priced kits with all the trimmings but if sales are slow then profits are low.
Thinking about it though it's not often you hear the words "profit" and "kit cars" in one sentence.
Chris71 said:
I'm inclined to agree. I think to really get some use out of a car it has to be practical enough for more than the occasional track day. Although they're not quite what you're referring to I think the GTM Libra (presumably) and the Adrenaline Murtaya (definitely) offer a combination of Caterham-eating performance with a reasonable degree of usability.

Are fixed head coupes more difficult to engineer? (I'm thinking of the dreaded doors...) There do seem to be precious few kit coupes.

fuoriserie

4,560 posts

268 months

Tuesday 5th August 2008
quotequote all
Why not a mid-engine 2+2, just like the new Lotus Evora, but at a more affordable price ?

fuoriserie

4,560 posts

268 months

Thursday 7th August 2008
quotequote all
stig mills said:
Doors add significantly to the cost of a kit. Add doors with; hinges/latches/locks/seals/rubbers/glass/winders/sliders/handles etc and then consider double skin panels and shut lines. Fairly easy to get that lot right but the cost of the kit will go through the roof. Unless it's roofless.
Is there a kit available today for 7 money that has doors?
I'm working on a new 2 seat middy at the moment, it has no doors but has an optional hinged hard T top. I will be keeping the price to around 4K for a body/rolling chassis kit.
There is a good market for higher priced kits with all the trimmings but if sales are slow then profits are low.
Thinking about it though it's not often you hear the words "profit" and "kit cars" in one sentence.
Chris71 said:
I'm inclined to agree. I think to really get some use out of a car it has to be practical enough for more than the occasional track day. Although they're not quite what you're referring to I think the GTM Libra (presumably) and the Adrenaline Murtaya (definitely) offer a combination of Caterham-eating performance with a reasonable degree of usability.

Are fixed head coupes more difficult to engineer? (I'm thinking of the dreaded doors...) There do seem to be precious few kit coupes.
Maybe a Canopy like the old NOVA, could be an interesting solution for a modern mid-engine kitcar.....

fuoriserie

4,560 posts

268 months

Thursday 7th August 2008
quotequote all
stig mills said:
Doors add significantly to the cost of a kit. Add doors with; hinges/latches/locks/seals/rubbers/glass/winders/sliders/handles etc and then consider double skin panels and shut lines. Fairly easy to get that lot right but the cost of the kit will go through the roof. Unless it's roofless.
Is there a kit available today for 7 money that has doors?
I'm working on a new 2 seat middy at the moment, it has no doors but has an optional hinged hard T top. I will be keeping the price to around 4K for a body/rolling chassis kit.
There is a good market for higher priced kits with all the trimmings but if sales are slow then profits are low.
Thinking about it though it's not often you hear the words "profit" and "kit cars" in one sentence.
Chris71 said:
I'm inclined to agree. I think to really get some use out of a car it has to be practical enough for more than the occasional track day. Although they're not quite what you're referring to I think the GTM Libra (presumably) and the Adrenaline Murtaya (definitely) offer a combination of Caterham-eating performance with a reasonable degree of usability.

Are fixed head coupes more difficult to engineer? (I'm thinking of the dreaded doors...) There do seem to be precious few kit coupes.
How about a canopy like the old Nova ?

singlecoil

33,313 posts

245 months

Thursday 7th August 2008
quotequote all
fuoriserie said:
How about a canopy like the old Nova ?
Not much good when it's raining, the inside of the car would get soaked in the time it would take to open the canopy, get out and close it again. Rather getting away from the point of having a closed car.

stig mills

1,208 posts

205 months

Thursday 7th August 2008
quotequote all
A little rain doesnt hurt when I get in my Bond bug.
When people ask "what happens when it rains" reference Mev Rocket, I reply "well we are not made of sugar"

Fume troll

4,389 posts

211 months

Thursday 7th August 2008
quotequote all
[quote=Snapper7]

How about a TVR T350?wink

Cheers,

FT.

singlecoil

33,313 posts

245 months

Thursday 7th August 2008
quotequote all
stig mills said:
A little rain doesnt hurt when I get in my Bond bug.
When people ask "what happens when it rains" reference Mev Rocket, I reply "well we are not made of sugar"
Yes, but we are talking about closed cars here, aren't we?

Anyway, I never said rain hurt, but if getting wet (and cold) didn't matter then there would be no need for closed cars