kitcar questions
MrQ
learn the past couple of days on the internet. I have some questions
and hope maybe you wouldn't mind helping me out if you have some
answers. The questions are intended to be generic, but to some degree
they reflect my interest in something like the Factory Five Spyder GT.
I also ran across a web site for Dragon Motor Cars, but I don't think
I've seen any discussion of that company.
I'm trying to define the benefits of going with a kit car instead of
a production car, and also the cons. I don't intend to race my car,
or show my car. I do intend to drive my car. A lot. I don't want
to build my own car for the sake of building it myself, but I will if
it will allow me to come closer to getting what I want for a better
price than I would be able to get by just buying a production car. I
would love to have the eye-catching looks of an expensive sports car,
without needing too much raw power, or too much opulent luxury. But I
want some power, and some luxury, to go with all that attention.
Question 1
There are pictures of the bodies, and forum discussions about what to
put under the hood, but I haven't found much information so far
regarding what's going on in the interior of the car. How much stuff
comes over from the donor car (or the parts shop), and how much comes
from the kit, and how much just goes away. Things like the radio, the
air conditioning, the upholstery, power windows and locks, airbags,
glove compartment, cup holders, etc. Will the kit provide for decking
out a car with all the modern conveniences, or at least allow for those
things if they don't come with the kit but came with the donor car.
Question 2
When it comes to sports cars, I know I shouldn't even ask, but what
about the trunk space. Do any of these race inspired body styles have
any trunk space. Is there a place for a spare. Do I have to drive run
flat tires and do without a spare.
Question 3
Will the car be street legal from the basic kit and donor car, or are
there additional issues that I should be aware of before beginning a
project.
Question 4
Is there another forum about kit cars out there that any of you use.
Thanks for any help you can give me.
Bob P
> I know next to nothing about kit cars except what I've been able to
> learn the past couple of days on the internet. I have some questions
> and hope maybe you wouldn't mind helping me out if you have some
> answers. The questions are intended to be generic, but to some degree
> they reflect my interest in something like the Factory Five Spyder GT.
> I also ran across a web site for Dragon Motor Cars, but I don't think
> I've seen any discussion of that company.
>
> I'm trying to define the benefits of going with a kit car instead of
> a production car, and also the cons. I don't intend to race my car,
> or show my car. I do intend to drive my car. A lot. I don't want
> to build my own car for the sake of building it myself, but I will if
> it will allow me to come closer to getting what I want for a better
> price than I would be able to get by just buying a production car. I
> would love to have the eye-catching looks of an expensive sports car,
> without needing too much raw power, or too much opulent luxury.
Basic kit cars don't have _any_ "opulent luxury" built in. They are
closer to '60s sports cars in execution. You'll have to add it yourself.
> Question 1
> There are pictures of the bodies, and forum discussions about what to
> put under the hood, but I haven't found much information so far
> regarding what's going on in the interior of the car. How much stuff
> comes over from the donor car (or the parts shop), and how much comes
> from the kit, and how much just goes away. Things like the radio, the
> air conditioning, the upholstery, power windows and locks, airbags,
> glove compartment, cup holders, etc. Will the kit provide for decking
> out a car with all the modern conveniences, or at least allow for those
> things if they don't come with the kit but came with the donor car.
See above. Kit cars vary widely on the finished product, but I have the
feeling that your expectations are much too high unless you are planning
to do a lot of custom work.
>
> Question 2
> When it comes to sports cars, I know I shouldn't even ask, but what
> about the trunk space. Do any of these race inspired body styles have
> any trunk space. Is there a place for a spare. Do I have to drive run
> flat tires and do without a spare.
Usually, trunk space is limited and since frequently the front and rear
tire sizes differ, people just bring along a can of Fix-A-Flat.
>
> Question 3
> Will the car be street legal from the basic kit and donor car, or are
> there additional issues that I should be aware of before beginning a
> project.
In the US, every state has their own rules for registration. Some are
easy, some are very difficult. Generally, European countries require
strict adherence to certain design specifications, and some other
countries make it almost impossible to bring in a foreign kit.
>
> Question 4
> Is there another forum about kit cars out there that any of you use.
MrQ
You may be right about me expecting too much from the kit. I guess
that the accountant in me just wants to make sure I know what I'm
getting for the price. Then if I need more than that, I'll have to
figure out that cost separately.
It also means the pressure is on me to decide what I have to have, and
what I'd like to have, and what I don't really give a darn about
after all.
I know that here in Texas, there is no way I'm driving an everyday
car that doesn't have AC. Or a (soft) top for rainy days.
Does anybody out there want to chime in on what they discovered they
really did have to have that didn't come as part of the kit.
John
"MrQ" <mrquixot...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1124751071.8...@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
Hmm. I think that it's important to understand exactly what you are getting
for the money that you pay. Talk to the kit designer / manufacturer and see
if you have a good relationship. If you don't, then any trouble that you
meet during your build, can be a problem. Support from the manufacturer is
important (I was going to say vital, but it's not always the case).
As for the finished article, it's very much 'you get what you pay for'. If
you want aircon etc. then make sure that your kit can accommodate it. The
same with the top. Spend time and effort thinking about your requirements
and then investigate your options, to find the correct product for you. Also
look at the mentioned web sites and try and find any clubs to talk to.
Remember you'll only get something good if you are prepared to put in the
work. Having said that, the kit needs to be good in the first place.
I
Eugene Blanchard
1. Start from scratch and build the kit yourself - mucho money and time
(years) and space to do it. Find someone in your local area who is
presently completing a kit and talk to him.
2. Buy someone's project who has just run out of time, money and patience.
They've done probably 80 to 90% of the hard work. Usually they cost a
fraction of what purchasing the original kit cost. Again, you need the
expertise (friends) working space and time to complete.
3. Buy a finished kitcar ready to run. Ebaymotors has a kitcar category and
if you monitor it for a while, you'll see that there is a huge range of
kitcars available every week for a wide range of prices. Unless its an AC
cobra kitcar and a few others, the resale value of the majority of kitcars
is poor.
In my opinion, people buy kitcars because they like to build things and
personalize their vehicles. If you don't like building things then a
production car would be a better choice.
ThaDriver
car. That way you have all of the original amenteties, with an exotic
look. You might want to look into the Fiero & Toyota MR2 kits (among
others). They are mid-engine cars to begin with...
~ Paul
aka "Tha Driver"
Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.
V
Mr. Q: Due to your lack of automotive building experience and kit car
adaptability problems in particular, I'd suggest you find a finished kit car
on Ebay that fits your style. After driving it for awhile and attending
some kit car shows, you may gain some knowledge and ideas about what you'd
like to build. Most of the "build from scratch" guys on this forum will
tell you that it takes a lot of automotive knowledge and expertise to build
your own car. Good luck and don't hesitate to ask here first before bidding
on anything on Ebay.
>
David Sharp Tech Agent
lol another is the car itself is usually alot cheaper... then a production
made car.. as for the donor car and ur thoughts of the upholsstry and etc...
it depends on the donor car u buy and the kit u buy and if it comes with
full interrior or not.. if not ull be stuck with the orginal seats from the
donor car.... as most of us do on our kitcar lambos is basicly custom it out
but end up spending quite a bit of cash on it. but its rather your
decision... and how good it runs depends on how good the engine u have in it
is.
Graybeard
I don't post much, but monitor the news groups frequently. Your post stirred
a lot of forgotten memories. About 40 years ago, I was deeply involved
(interested) in the kit cars, and helped a friend build a Mercedes replica
on a Ford pinto donor. I personally had a VW beetle stripped for an electric
hybrid, based on some California hybrid cars running at that time.
In those days, there were dozens of fiberglass kits available, in many
different configurations, and for almost any replica you wanted to build.
Unfortunately, the primary donor car (VW Beetle) disappeared from the scene,
and the popularity of kit cars started decreasing. Those that remained
began increasing in price. Also, I suddenly became older and less able to
work, so I sold my welding equipment (to the guy with the Mercedes) and lost
interest.
I am glad to see that there are still a few people around the world with an
interest in hobby.
Good Luck,
Graybeard
"David Sharp Tech Agent" <techt...@frontiernet.net> wrote in message
news:IU1Gk.18189$I44....@newsfe03.iad...