kit Cars

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#669966" TEXT="#080000" background="5c801573.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>HotV8 Sports Car Buyers Guide</B></FONT>     |     <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="HotV8 Sports Car Buyers Guide">home</A>                                            <B>back to</B>  <A HREF="other_cars.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Other CARS">Other CARS</A></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="sports_car_index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sports Car Index">Sports Car Index</A>   |   <A HREF="editorial.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Editorial">Editorial</A>   |   <A HREF="auto_racing.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Auto Racing">Auto Racing</A>   |   <A HREF="boat_racing.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Boat Racing">Boat Racing</A>   |   <A HREF="about_us.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About Us">About Us</A></div> <div> <I><B>kit Cars</B></I></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" background="4a0d2013.jpg"> <div> <A HREF="ford_flex.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ford Flex">Ford Flex</A></div> <div> <A HREF="mercedes_benz_ml.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MercedesBenz ML">Mercedes-Benz ML</A></div> <div> <A HREF="president_barack_obama_limo.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="President Barack Obama Limo">President Barack Obama Limo</A></div> <div> <A HREF="focus.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Focus">Focus</A></div> <div> <A HREF="mazda.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mazda">Mazda</A></div> <div> <A HREF="abbrh.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="AbbrH">AbbrH</A></div> <div> <A HREF="chrysler_sebring.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chrysler Sebring">Chrysler Sebring</A></div> <div> <B>kit Cars</B></div> <div> <A HREF="avanti_motors.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Avanti Motors">Avanti Motors</A></div> <div> <A HREF="stoddard_dayton.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Stoddard Dayton">Stoddard Dayton</A></div> <div> <A HREF="after_market_add_ons.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="After Market add ons">After Market add ons</A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 width="100%" BGCOLOR="#EEEEEE" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <IMG SRC="2f458900.jpg" border=0 width="600" height="400" ALT="luxurykit.com" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="6" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> A kit-car is an automobile that is available in kit form, i.e. you buy a set of parts that you have to assemble yourself. Usually many major mechanical parts such as the engine and transmission are taken from one or more donor vehicles.</div> <bR> <div> Kits vary in completeness from as little as a book of plans to a complete set of all the components required. The definition of a kit car is usually taken to mean that a number of examples are produced by a manufacturer for sale to the public. A car built at home as a one-off to the designs of its builder is termed a Special.</div> <bR> <div> Kit cars have been around from the earliest days of the automobile.</div> <bR> <div> The Englishman Thomas Hyler White developed a design for a car that could be assembled at home in 1896 and technical designs were published in a magazine called The English Mechanic.In the United States the <A HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lad%27s_Car" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lad%27s_Car">Lad's Car</A> of 1912 could be bought for US$160 ($3000 in 2006) fully assembled or US$140 ($2600 in 2006) in kit form.</div> <bR> <div> It was, however, not until the 1950s that the idea really took off.</div> <bR> <div> Car production had increased considerably and with rust proofing in its infancy many older vehicles were being sent to breaker yards as their bodywork was beyond economic repair. An industry grew up supplying new bodies and chassis to take the components from these cars and convert them particularly into sports cars.</div> <bR> <div> Also, in the UK up to the mid 1970's, kit cars were sometimes normal production vehicles that were partially assembled as this avoided the imposition of car tax as the kits were assessed as components and not vehicles. The <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Lotus Elan</FONT>, for example, was available in this form. Often the cars could be taken home and completed in as little as a weekend.</div> <bR> <div> Current kit cars are often replicas of well-known and expensive classics and are designed so that anyone with a measure of technical skill can build them at home, to a standard where they can be driven on the public roads. The <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC_Cobra" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC_Cobra">AC Cobra</A></FONT> and the <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_7" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_7">Lotus 7</A></FONT> are particularly popular examples.</div> <bR> <div> These replicas look like the original, but their bodies are usually made of fiberglass mats soaked in polyester resin instead of the original sheet metal. These kit cars enable vintage or classic car enthusiasts to possess a vehicle of a type that, because of their scarcity, they may not be able to afford, and to take advantage of modern technology.</div> <bR> <div> Many people are unaware of such vehicles although the Volkswagen based dune buggy appeared in relatively large numbers in the 1960s and 1970s. Many car drivers react sceptically when they first hear about kit cars as it appears to them to be technically impossible to assemble a car at home and also use it on the public roads.</div> <bR> <div> They may also be worried that such a car would not subsequently pass the mandatory quality inspection (road worthiness test) that is required in most countries.</div> <div> Several of today's sports car producers such as Lotus and TVR started as kit car makers.</div> <bR> <div> Factory Five Racing, Inc. (FFR) is an American automobile company that designs and manufactures assembly <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >kits</FONT> for replicars and supercars.</div> <bR> <div> The "<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >kit cars</FONT>" manufactured by Factory Five are sold as components. They are not pre-assembled by Factory Five. They are intended to be assembled by the purchaser or by a third-party.</div> <bR> <div> <B>65 Roadster Mark 3 (MKIII)</B></div> <div> The original FFR Roadster was based on the innovation of using running gear from a single modern donor vehicle, the high performance Mustang. The Mustang running gear was chosen for a number of reasons, but mostly because of high performance relative to cost and ready availiablity of parts through dealers. The earlier <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Mustang</FONT> 302 V-8 is the exact same block that powered the original vintage <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >AC Cobra</FONT> and <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Ford</FONT> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >GT-40</FONT> to World Championships in the 60’s. Over a million Mustangs were built between <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >1987</FONT> and <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >2004</FONT> and the performance after-market for these parts is well established.</div> <div> The donor car path is not the only way to build an FFR Roadster. The remaining mechanical parts can be purchased new or used from a variety of sources. The kit has been modified to accommodate a variety of engine, drive-train, and suspension choices. Over half of the Factory Five customers today build their kit using engine/drivetrain parts from a donor <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Mustang</FONT>, whereas the remainder elect to buy all new parts or a combination thereof.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Challenge Series Racer</B></div> <div> The design for the Challenge Racer started with a stock Factory Five Roadster. Changes were made to make it an effective “Open-Track” vehicle designed with road racing in mind. The welded in <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >SCCA</FONT> derived cage and frame design means it is safer than bolt-on equipment and the <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Mustang</FONT> running gear means it is affordable.</div> <div> The car is commonly referred to as the Spec Racer and qualifies for National FFR-NASA Spec Series. Also held each year is a 2-day National race to determine the over-all series champion. The Nationals are held each year in conjunction with the FFR National Owners Group Meet. Regardless of whether or not the car is raced in any regional series, anyone who owns a Challenge car is eligible to attend the annual championship race and vie for the national title.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Type 65 Coupe</B></div> <div> The FFR Type 65 Coupe is the culmination of four years of engineering and design work. The first prototype was completed in the spring of <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >2000</FONT> and production of chassis kits began September <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >2000</FONT>. In its design, all the FFR racing components are included in a package suitable for street use. The Coupe is a rendition of the famous world championship coupes of the 60’s, but with modern technologies.</div> <bR> <div> <B>GTM Supercar</B></div> <div> The GTM is an V-8 powered, mid-engined car with a composite body shell and an aluminum and steel tube frame chassis. The car uses <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >GM</FONT> Performance engine and suspension parts with four-corner coil-over shocks, large brakes and a <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Porsche</FONT> 911 Transaxle and is foremost a high performance car. The GTM is light and aerodynamic, with excellent weight distribution and precise race-car handling/braking derived from the <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Chevrolet</FONT> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Corvette</FONT> C-5.</div> <div> The car is engineered to be built as a chassis kit by a person at home. Items like A/C, power windows, and complete interior make the vehicle suitable for general use.</div> <bR> <div> <B>The Stalker V6 Clubman</B></div> <div> http://www.bruntonauto.com/index.htm</div> <div> made by Brunton Automotive is a <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >kitcar</FONT> replica of a <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Lotus Seven</FONT> .</div> <div> The drivetrain is based on components from the <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Chevrolet S-10</FONT> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >two-wheel drive</FONT> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >pickup truck</FONT> as sold in the <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >United States</FONT> and <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Canada</FONT> from the mid 1980s through the early 1990s. These components are plentiful, well-built, and inexpensive. The primary motor is the <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >General Motors</FONT> 2.8 L 60° <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >V6</FONT>. Many owners/builders have opted for an alternative 3.4 L 60° V6 engine out of a mid-1990s <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Chevrolet Camaro</FONT> or <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Pontiac Firebird</FONT>, as well as the GM 3800 series L67 V6, in both naturally aspirated and supercharged forms. The <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >torque</FONT> and flexibility of these engines and the overall light weight of the vehicle — 1400 lb (635 kg) — combine to make it very competitive in <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >autocross</FONT> competition. It excels at acceleration, cornering, and braking. However, like all other Seven-styled vehicles, its top speed is limited by poor <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >aerodynamics</FONT>.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Sterling Sports Cars</B></div> <div> http://www.sterlingsportscars.com/</div> <div> is an American automobile company that designs and manufactures <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >assembly kits</FONT> for replicars and supercars.</div> <div> The "<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >kit cars</FONT>" and parts manufactured by Sterling Sports Cars are sold as components. They are not pre-assembled by Sterling Sports Cars. Company sells replacement parts to owners around the world who own a Sterling car also known in other countries as the Nova, or Eureka Kit car. They are intended to be assembled by the purchaser or by a third-party.</div> <div> The Sterling is also used as a low cost electric conversion option. If appearance is as important as performance this company offers both. Very aerodynamic and space for battery options. Retro European styling from the 70's with modern details. New ST body. At kit car builder</div> <bR> <div> The la Bala is a homebuilt car designed and constructed by Steve Graber. It has a tube frame chassis with a Toyota <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >4A-GE</FONT> in a <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >mid-rear</FONT> configuraton, though most <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >front-wheel drive</FONT> engine configurations can be mounted in it. It was unveiled at the 2007 Knott's Berry Farm National Kit Car Show, shown in the picture above. There are currently more in production, including one with a Volkswagen <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >TDi</FONT> engine</div> <div> http://www.grabercars.com/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/</div> <bR> <div> <B>Frese Motorcars, Inc.</B></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.fresemotorcars.com/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.fresemotorcars.com/">http://www.fresemotorcars.com/</A></div> <div> is an American automobile company that designs and manufactures assembly <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >kits</FONT> for '57 Chevy replicars.</div> <div> Current models</div> <div> The "<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >kit cars</FONT>" manufactured by Frese Motorcars are sold as components. They are not pre-assembled by Frese Motorcars. They are intended to be assembled by the purchaser or by a third-party.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Superformance, LLC</B></div> <div> http://www.noblecars.com/</div> <div>  (Superformance Replicars) is a small <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >American</FONT> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >automobile</FONT> company that builds, designs, and imports <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >supercars</FONT> and replicars. The company was founded as "Superformance International" by <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Hi-Tech Automotive</FONT> Ltd in <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >1996</FONT>. Today, Superformance has 15 authorized dealers in the <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >United States[1]</FONT>and 6 international dealers. SPF cars are sold as "turn-key <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >kit-cars</FONT>" in the <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >United States</FONT> to bypass complex emissions and <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >safety regulations</FONT>. In December, <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >2005</FONT> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Hi-Tech Automotive</FONT> transferred the ownership of its subsidiary, Superformance, to the Hillbank Automotive Group, which is privately owned by Lance Stander.</div> <div> All Superformance cars are originally built at <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Hi-Tech Automotive</FONT>'s 270,000 square foot plant in <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Port Elizabeth, South Africa</FONT> before they are disassembled for shipping.<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >[</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>The Meyers Manx</B></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.meyersmanx.com/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.meyersmanx.com/">http://www.meyersmanx.com/</A></div> <div>  is a <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >dune buggy</FONT> that was designed and produced by Bruce Meyers in Fountain Valley, California, USA, between 1963 and 1971. It debuted in 1964.</div> <div> The car featured a fiberglass body coupled with <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Volkswagen Beetle</FONT> frame and engine. It is a tiny car, with a wheelbase 14 1/4 inches shorter than a Beetle so the frame has to be cut short and welded. It is so small and light that a person of average strength can lift up the front end of the car by themselves. For this reason, the car is capable of very quick acceleration and good off-road performance.</div> <div> The Meyers Manx achieved widespread recognition when it won the inaugural <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Baja 1000</FONT> and beat a motorcycle while doing it.</div> <div> Manxs appear in several movies with stars such as Elvis Presley. One of the more memorable appearances is in original version of the <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >The Thomas Crown Affair</FONT>, Starring <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Steve McQueen</FONT>. In the movie there is a lengthy beach driving scene where a heavily modified Manx equipped with a <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Chevrolet Corvair engine</FONT> is launched over several dunes.</div> <div> Approximately 5,000 of the original Meyers Manx dune buggies were produced, but when the design became popular many look-alikes were made by other companies. Meyers tried to stop the copies but failed to get a patent on his design. Since then countless buggies have been produced and are still being made today. A "full wheelbase Beetle" Buggy kit is still being produced and sold by the Meyers company. Many people recognize the body-type simply known as the "Beach Buggy".</div> <div> Meyers has recently introduced two new models, the Manxter 2+2 and Manxter DualSport. These new models are true to the original design by being sized for a Beetle pan. However, custom orders for higher horsepower engines and other customizations are available. Presently, production and design of new models takes place in <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Valley Center, California</FONT>.</div> <bR> <div> <B>McBurnie</B></div> <div> a US <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >bodywork</FONT> company mostly known for their replicas of <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Ferrari Daytona Spyder</FONT>. The Daytona replicas are based on the <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Chevrolet Corvette C3</FONT> and became very popular because they were featured in the TV series <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Miami Vice</FONT> where the main character Sonny Crocket drives a black Daytona Spyder. <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Ferrari</FONT> reacted and managed to get McBurnie and other replica manufacturers to stop production.</div> <div> Retrieved from "<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McBurnie</FONT>"</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>