by 5 people |
Kit cars come in many shapes and sizes, from fire breathing supercars to three wheeled bubble cars. And everything you could possibly imagine in between.
On this website we are trying to cut through the hype and bring to you all aspects of choosing, buying and building kit cars.
Beauford Kit Cars
Waaay back when I was just a humble Bolton electrician I used to pass the Beauford garage in Upholland. They always had a number of tourers on display and they looked truly stunning.
The Beauford Tourer combines elegant 1930s styling with modern reliability. And this is probably why so many Beaufords are being used as wedding cars, instead of the standard White Rolls Royce. There's so much room in the back of a Beauford Tourer that it's almost like stretching out on your sofa! Visit the Beauford website for full specifications.
Kit Car Builders Handbook
The Car Builder's Handbook: Tips and Techniques for Builders of Kit Cars and Street Rods
Amazon Price: (as of 01/06/2010)
With the basic techniques, tips, and background info you need to make every kit cars project a success, this Car Builders guide includes sections on Planning, Chassis, Powertrain and Drivetrain, and Interiors.
Perfect for anyone engaged in a partial or ground up kit car or street rod project, or anyone who wants to improve his basic automotive skills.
Sites About Kit Cars
- Buying A Used Car
- Whether you're looking for a cheap second car, or (more likely) a good quality donor car for your latest kit car project, don't get scammed. Download this free PDF guide to buying a used car and know what to look out for.
- Cobra Kit Cars
- Cobra replicas are by far the most popular kit cars available, and for good reason. The original Shelby Cobra was powerful, stylish and handled like a dream. It was also beyond the wallets of the average guy. So what better than to build your own replica cobra!
Dakar Kit Cars
Some men like to play golf on a Sunday afternoon while others prefer rolling around in the mud. If that's you, then you're going to love Dakar kit cars.
Based on the Range Rover, the Dakar retains all the power while losing around half a ton of excess weight. And these cars are tough! Don't miss the Dakar Kit Cars video. Visit the Dakar 4x4 website.
Books about Kit Cars
Cobra (Motorbooks Classics)
A Motoring Classic, Cobra tells the story of Carroll Shelbys legendary sports/racing car with hundreds of great photos taken by the Shelby team photographer. You can see why so many kit builders fall in love with the cobra. This book is essential reading for anyone building cobra kit cars as the photos are excellent!
Amazon Price: $17.79 (as of 01/06/2010)
The Kitcar Manual: The complete guide to choosing, buying and building British and Amercan kit cars
The kit car industry has increased in size over the past few years, in both the UK and US. A growing number of enthusiasts are attracted by the prospect of driving a car that they have built themselves, and the huge range of designs available guarantees that there is a vehicle to suit all tastes, from replica classic sports cars to specialist track-day machines. This book, written in a humorous, down-to-earth style, provides all the information required to choose a suitable kit and complete it successfully to produce a safe, roadworthy car.
Amazon Price: (as of 01/06/2010)
How to Build & Modify Sportscar & Kit Car Suspension & Brakes for Road & Track (Speedpro Series)
Amazon Price: (as of 01/06/2010)
Dax Kit Cars
Build a Tiger Avon
How to Build Your Own Tiger Avon Sports Car for Road or Track (Speedpro Series)
Amazon Price: (as of 01/06/2010)
The Tiger Avon is one of the more successful clubman type sports kit cars available in the UK.
This book provides a step by step guide to building your own Tiger Avon. The build instructions are based on the Ford Pinto engine, but other units will fit and some of these are shown.
Grinnall Scorpion Kit Cars
The Grinnall Scorpion is one of a handful of manufacturers who get engines direct from BMW as OEM units, thanks to the high quality of their finished cars. Visit the Grinnall Cars website
GTM Libra
Stick in a 2.5 litre Rover engine and the mild mannered Libra powers from 0-60 in around 5 seconds, and then on to a blistering 150mph. Get the GTM Libra on the track and watch it embarrass many Lotus Clone boy racers!
But don't worry, the GTM isn't just a one trick (or should that be track?) pony. It is equally at home driving around town or cruising along on the weekend Owners Club rallies. Visit their website here...
Ultima Kit Cars
Ultima kit cars hold several speed and performance records,including the prestigious 0-100mph-0 sprint and will give most of the current Italian exotica a run for their money, while costing about a tenth of their price. Not convinced? Check out the video!
Westfield Cars
Westfield are one of the UKs largest kit car manufacturers and produce a number of sports models styled on the ever popular Lotus Seven.
Their range includes several motorcycle powered kits that combine blistering performance with road hugging suspension to create a high performance car equally at home on the road or on the track. Visit the Westfield Cars website.
More Recommended Kit Car Books
Build Your Own Sports Car for as Little as £250 and Race It!, 2nd Ed.
Build a roadworthy two-seater open sports car for a fraction of the cost of a kit car! Using standard tools, basic skills and low-cost materials sourced from car boot sales or autojumbles, this volume shows you how to make the chassis, suspension and bodywork, and advises you on how to modify and use inexpensive but serviceable mechanical components. Contains sections on improving handling, information on how to get through the Single Vehicle Approval test, and builders' own stories.
Amazon Price: (as of 01/06/2010)
Your Kit Car Assembly Manual
This is the most complete text on the subject of building and modifying 7-type cars I have ever found. There are hundreds of detailed, zoomable pictures that make the descriptions even more understandable than what is explained in the text. This book has information on things I had never even thought of. Gary Brizendine clearly has a complete, if not absolute, knowledge of how to build a winner for the track, street, and show.
Amazon Price: $20.95 (as of 01/06/2010)
How to Build a Cheap Sports Car (Motorbooks Workshop)
Share in the trials and tribulations of turning a bare frame and wrecked Miata into a racetrack demon, and learn how to build a sports car of your own along the way. This book provides specific answers to common questions and covers the entire building process, including the post-build fine-tuning of the car that is necessary to extract the car's full performance (and fun) potential.
Amazon Price: $19.77 (as of 01/06/2010)
Kit Car Insurance
Make sure your kit is covered!
Luckily there are now a number of specialist companies offering kit car insurance.
So whether you are building a Lambo replica or a Dune Buggy, they can also insure your kit as you build it.
- Adrian Flux
- Adrian Flux is a Specialist Insurance provider in the UK offering insurance for all risks including hot hatch, modified, american, kit cars, motorbikes, motorhomes, classics and imports.
- MSM Insurance
- Backed by a winning combination of the UK's leading insurers and a family run general insurance brokers, MSM aims to provide a quality service using it's professional expertise and over 15 years experience to your advantage.
More Great Kit Car Stuff!
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
