NEW To Kit Cars - Which one?

[MarcoCarlo]

Good Evening all,

I'm totally new to building kit cars and I'm looking for a kit that supplies EVERYTHING so I'm not digging about for a donor car (I've got an old Capri which has sat in my Uncles garage for about 15 years but don't think there is any kits for that and I don't want to re-build a Capri, not a huge fan of them unless you can change it into a 67 Mustang GT500).

Anyway, it would be nice to have something with a roof (it's wet in Scotland) however I do like the following and could live without a top but would be ideal...
LIKE...
Cobra, GTO, E-type, DAX 427

DISLIKE...
Caterham, Tiger, Locust

I'm no welder and I'm not too keen on re-conditioning parts however I do have an engineering background so I am keen to get stuck in; I just want to keep my first build as simple as possible.

What are my options?

Thanks in advance!

[singlecoil]

MarcoCarlo said:

What are my options?

Thhe best option is to go to a kitcar show and see if something takes your fancy at a price you can afford. There is a show coming up at Stafford. Without knowing a lot more about your requirements and preferences, and financial abilites, no one here is going to be able to provide any really useful advice.

(If I was looking for something with a roof, and I could afford it (and get in it) I would have a Hawk Cars Stratos Replica.)

[Paul Drawmer]

MarcoCarlo said:

....and I'm looking for a kit that supplies EVERYTHING ....

This will make your choices very limited, or put the cost up unreasonably.

Most kit cars use some components from one or more production cars.
By limiting your choices to something that comes complete 'in a box' you will be limiting your choices for indivualisation, and paying someone else to source components for you.

You will also severely restrict the cars available to you.

Do you want to build it yourself? If not, then approach a recommended kit car builder to do the build and sourcing for you, it would probably be less expensive than a manufacturer build.

My suggestion would be to decide on the car first, and then look into how best to build it. Often the best places for info would be the forums (fora?) which are dedicated to particular cars.

[Roman]

If you want an 'all weather' car you may find find the waterleaks and poor demisting frustrating in a replica of an older design. I generally drive my Healey replica with the top down or in 'Surrey top' position when it's raining in the Lakes as the hood amplifies the noise, it leaks and the sidescreens get steamed up anyway. Fine so long as I keep moving!

Some manufacturers are able to sell you a donor parts package along with the kit (such as Hawk with their lovely 289 replica).

I think it would be worth looking at the following:

http://www.sebringinternational.co.uk/exalt.html - produce a good Healey 3000 rep with hardtop and also a modern Healey inspired car which uses a lot of modern off the shelf parts. Very good quality and a little more civilized in wet weather than a car with sidescreens..

http://www.almellingsportscars.com/ - Griffith style car with a self build option

http://www.ginettacars.com/roadcar_range_details.p... - not sure how much..

Have a look at Dave Dax Builders profile for some lovely 427's with hardtops. I'm afraid I don't know much about Eagle E types..

Edited by Roman on Wednesday 5th August 15:18

[Dave Dax builder]

Thanks Roman.

Dax can supply everything bar engine and transmission, but they will put you in touch with someone who can supply a package that will drop straight into a Dax.

[BadgerBill]

Any of these look lovely.
http://www.hawkcars.co.uk/hawk289/index.html

I particularly like the HF3000 myself, but would consider a 289 for sweet looking Ace rep.

BB

[Chris71]

I'd agree with the above that engineering doors and other seals can be very difficult and there's a good chance a hard top won't guarantee you stay completely dry! That or you might get a bit fogged up.

If you wanted to go down the replica route I'd be tempted by a Factory Five Daytonna Coupe or another one based on the AC Le Mans car. If you have deeper pockets a GT40 replica is a possibility. Personally I don't really see the point of the E-Type and Healey replicas as a good one costs a fair portion of the cost of an original. Neither are hugely rare cars so I'd save it for the C and D Types that merely mortals will never get to own.

Struggling to think of contemporary fixed head designs beyond the GTM Libra. The consensus is that this is a very well executed road car, and GTM's attention to detail means it's probably more likely to seal and demist when required.

Of course there is a third option ...get a cheap runaround for wet days then get whatever you like for the rest of the time.

[Meeja]

But then I am biased......

[dugt]

first of all, completly forget the capri idea, kit cars arent built that way anymore

find the car you like, then get the parts, i think welding is mostly gone from kit cars, but it will depend on the kit

also remember to budget for things like paint,

i had a GTM spider for 12 months, and you can use them everyday, althouhg i wouldnt say the spider was totally watertight, but it did demist ok

doug

[Happy Jim]

You probably need to define "everything" a little better. If you want a real "kit in a box" then I think it's Caterham as almost nothing is left to the builder to personalise.
However, most kit manufacturers can sell you about 90% of the components new and point you towards where you get the remaining 10% of new bits, that then gives you the choice of deciding which bits you fancy having a bash at and which bits you'd rather just "bolt in".

I'm biased to the Cobra naturally and all of them have soft tops, most of them can be had with Hard Tops. Pop into a regional meet or two to have a prod/think.

Rgds

Jim

[mikeveal]

I'm going to read between the lines.
When you say you want "everything" from the kit supplier, I'm kind of assuming that you also expect that everything will simply bolt together without needing modification.
( )
I'm afraid that the only two manufacturers who have that kind of reputation are Westfield and Caterham. Unfortunately you have ruled 7 sytle cars out.

I think your expectations do not represent the reality of building a kit. The suggestion of visiting a kit car show is a good one. See what takes your fancy, then contact the owners club. Meet with one or two owners (buy 'em a beer) and ask 'em about the build process.