New to Kit Cars and looking for some guidance

[coldel]

Evening, just back home from visiting the parents and my dad is keen on getting a kit car. He has just retired (after being a car mechanic for 50 years) and has some cash to spend on a toy. He has the Nissan Qashqai for doing all the practical stuff but really fancies a kit car he can tinker on. He doesn't want to build one from new, rather buy one done which he can do some small jobs on and enjoy on Sunday mornings out.

He was showing me a V8 Luego Viante I think it was called he had his eye on which was on ebay but someone bid on it last minute for £7k. He liked it because it was wider than normal kit cars and had a few "relative' luxuries like all weather etc. He has a garage so will be stored somewhere warm and dry.

I really know nothing of this marque aside from quoting Caterhams and Westfields - have noticed cheaper Robin Hoods but he liked the idea of a bigger engine rather than a 1.6 or the like. Totally understand the weight to power ratio thing, but there is something great about a V8 right? :-)

If anyone can point me at a decent beginners guide or info area - or if they have some thoughts based on the above much appreciated.

[coldel]

Yes get the light and nimble ethics, thanks for the feedback on that. My dad is 68 years old so unlikely to be hammering it down country lanes sideways - he was thinking more of something he can go for drives in for leisurely fun the weight issue is unlikely to be a problem and he always fancied owning a V8 which is why he was looking at them. I think he doesn't seem interested in the old 2.2 engines etc. I kind of get where he is coming from I owned a VX220 2.2 and although it was a great car the engine even in a lightweight car didn't really excite.

And spelling, well yes, whatever.

I found a website called Locustbuilders? Which seems to have some info. on which was useful. Found this hidden away on here too https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[coldel]

CrutyRammers said:

The whole point is surely whatever you want them to be. A 450Kg bike engined car might get a bit trying if you wanted to do a long road trip, for example.
Anyways OP. Robin Hood don't have the best reputation, though have improved by all accounts in recent years. The thing people usually say about used kitcars is that it's all about the build quality. A badly built Caterham may be worse than a well put together Tiger. It's rather tricky without knowing what to look for, and it wasn't until I built one myself that the mistakes on other cars started to become obvious.

First thing will be to decide what he's after. A seven-style, or something with a body like a Fisher Fury, or something else? Or is the engine the key, in which case that may steer you towards a particular type.

Thanks really useful stuff, although again I will be the first to admit I know very little of kit cars there is something just raising a little red flag about Robin Hoods I cannot put my finger on.

I think what he is after is something like this in some sort of order of importance:

- Something to tinker on, he has been retired 6 months and is bored stless!
- Slightly more space inside, something that has a bit more comfort (in relative terms!) and all weather
- Easier to say what he doesn't want in an engine, certainly not interested in motorbike engines and small engines more into larger engines
- Wants something which structurally is very sound i.e. build quality, if the engine/perishables need regular work thats not a problem (as I say he spent 50 years working on cars from Ferraris to Fords so no problem mechanically maintaining) but he is no bodywork expert!

He did like the VX220 I had, although those have sky rocketed in value of late. I think he has his heart set on giving a kit car a go though.

[coldel]

Just googled those, never heard of them, but yes looks like a good shout and a few for sale on the owners site, thanks!

Another question, and one I am sure I could go away and look at (which I will do today at some point) but any problems with insuring Q plates? I presume he would go through a specialist, I use AF for instance, but no scary high premiums due to Qs?

[coldel]

Great info thanks, I am in Richmond Surrey but my dad who is looking to buy this car is in Hornchurch in Essex so around that way would be helpful. He has the internet and a computer (hurrah!) but isn't too big into signing up to forums etc. so doing some of the leg work for him. But thanks for the advice on the V5, will definitely be looking for something that is good to go once he buys it and isn't left with admin work down the line somewhere.

[coldel]

Thanks again.

He was looking at the V8, but of course could get by on a V6! I think he wanted to avoid the old pinto engines and motorcycle engined cars.

Going to summarise the thread and pop an email over to him later

[coldel]

Getting in and out is fine, up until 6 months ago he was laying under cars, climbing over lorry engines etc. he could be a yoga teacher if he wanted to

I think he wants to spend between £5k-£10k - thats how much he has managed to negotiate to spend of the retirement money with his accountant, AKA my mum.

[coldel]

I think he is literally going to be buying the cheapest Chimeara in the UK on his budget, which I would think is not going to end well

I almost wonder if he is better off going for an MX5 or something - anyhow have given him all the feedback, lets see how he goes, will update if anything is purchased!

[coldel]

Yep tried the MX5 idea he said he didnt want a normal road car. Although he is in his late 60 he is very fit and flexible after 50 years working on cars. He wants a car he can leave in his garage and when he fancies a drive out every few weeks can take it out. Over the years he has owned small roadsters, SUVs, big motorway cruisers and bikes etc. but he is keen to tick the kit car box. He has the Nissan outside and access to a Ford Focus for normal driving around so really getting another mass production car isn't really on the list.

[coldel]

keirik said:

If he's in hornchurch and wants a v8 that's already been built and something a bit larger for cruising in then he should check out the cobra replicas at hallmark and total headturners. Both based in North Weald.

He'll pay top dollar for them, but get good support from them (speaking as a previous buyer/seller)

Thanks, but was looking at the £10k mark which Cobras tend to go for a lot more.

[coldel]

jas xjr said:

How about a reliant scimitar? I really like those

To be honest, given how many cars he has owned over the years (from the original Beetle, to Capris, the Escort Mexico, all the way back to owning a Zephyr etc) I wouldn't be surprised if he hasn't thought about that in the past, possibly owned one just never mentioned it!

He has set his heart on a kit car though, thats the box to tick.

[coldel]

keirik said:

In which case don't buy a cobra. :-)

But I'd also say you'll probably struggle to get a decent v8 kit car for 10k regardless of model.

He saw a really nice well kept V8 Leugo go for £7k the other day, thats what got his interest up. As mentioned, he isnt interested in motorbike engined cars and not too keen on pinto's either, V6 or V8 would be nice but generally just looking around. There is no rush, something will come up, it generally does.

[coldel]

Thanks mate, I am thinking the Marlin would be a good shout or a widebody. He might need a bit of convincing to go for the smaller engine but imagine he might end up doing that anyway.