Locost - Build Your Own Sports Car

The name 'LoCost' refers to a 2-seater sports car, based on the design outlined in the book "Build yourself a sports car for as little as £250", written by Ron Champion. This lens aims to provide a source of information to those who are contemplating or have already started such a project.

A common question people ask is if it's really possible to build a Locost for £250. Most build seems to end up at ten times the amount even if some have succeded in making very inexpensive builds. The Locost book design uses a mk1 or mk2 Ford Escort. Those are hard to find and thus expensive. The cost also does not include all the tools you need for the build. The book gives some hints and tips on how to cut the costs for the build that many builders choose to ignore, some examples are

build the chassis from scrap metal instead of buying new

make your own fibreglass nosecone and wheel arches instead of buying them

use the rear seat from the donor or one from the junkyard instead of buying new race seats

use the donor gauges, steering wheel and rims instead of buying new

buy wrongly mixed paint at a discount and paint the car yourself

find some aluminium sheet metal at the scrapper(for instance from the side of a van) to use for the bonnet

THE BOOK

Build Your Own Sports Car for as Little as £250 and Race It!, 2nd Ed.

by Ron Champion

The first edition of this bestseller inspired so many people to build their own sports car that there now exists a thriving Locost Car Club, and an MSA-approved race series for Locosts run by the 750 Motor Club. This second edition - in full colour - is updated and expanded, with a new chapter on all aspects of racing a Locost, information on how to get through the Single Vehicle Approval test, and builders' own stories.
'a great book designed to get people involved' Motoring News
'an inspiring read' Cars & Car Conversions

Amazon Price: (as of 07/25/2008)

Build Your Own Off-Road Buggy for as little as 100

by Ron Champion

Amazon Price: $21.24 (as of 07/25/2008)

Locost 7 - a small home built sports car

This amazing example (picture right) was built by a young man by the name of Barney from Oundle School in the UK, where Ron Champion, the author of the book, taught. The Locost is being driven by Ron Champion himself. Barney began construction when he was 11 years old! He wasn't old enough to hold a drivers license until well after he completed his car.

Fun

Build your own sports car in two and a half minutes

A quick slide show of the Lethal Locost build, 2-1/2 years, $5700CDN. 1986 Toyota Corolla GT-S donor vehicle, twin cam 4cyl, 5speed. Build is detailed at http://www.geocities.com/g_wellwood/automotive/locost.html

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Dave Osborne's Locost Build Diary: The book, inspiration, Stuart Taylor Ltd., photo galleries, finished car, links, insurance quotes and SVA.
Yahoo Groups: Locost: Mailing list for discussion and help on the building of the Locost.
Glen's Locost Car: Photo and build diary, cost and links.
Locost Builders: General construction discussion, specific forums, inspired, completed cars and chat.
Locost7-Online: Build gallery, links, books, CC engine services, tools required, costs, contact, Craven Motor Club, donor and sponsor.
My Car Project: Build pictures and parts list of a Locost 7 vehicle.
Simon's Locost Clubman: History, status, the dream, building a project in Australia, donor parts, engines, Damien's car, tools and equipment, specifications, photos, links and contact.
The LoCost Car: Design, problems and costs.
Rob Lane's Locost 7 Car: Build story, photos, data, axles, wheels, gearboxes, rust, growing up, links, suppliers and contact.
Chris Gibb's Locost: Links, tips, build story, specifications, news, Pinto information, photos, GRP guide and SVA.
Building a Sports Car: Introduction, 3D models, drawings, powertrain, assembly, budget, builders and contact.
Mark's Locost Build: Diary, costs, donor, CAD files and links.
Gibbons Sports 7: Build story, modifications, picture gallery, links, test, shows, meets and MK Indy SVA.
LocostCars.co.uk: Builders and cars, cd rom, overview, contact, build photos, parts and links.
Oggies Locost Home: Home of the Locost File Mirror. Introduction, diary, links, physics of racing and downloads.
DIYSportsCar.org: The design of a mid-engined Locost.
Peter's Locost: Costs, photos, New Zealand regulations, errors diary, contact and links.
Richard Marsden's Locost Page: A Honda Fireblade powered vehicle using a chassis from Stuart Taylor Motorsport. Pictures and build diary.
Alex Roebuck's Loco Ninja: Dated photos and diary of the build, article, costs, links and contact.
RonChampion.net: The book, car, about the author, Buggy, book shop, build tips and links.
Alan's Locost: Author's car, specifications, costs, photos, SVA test fail and pass information, racing, Stoneleigh 2001, links and registration.
Home Made Car: Donor, chassis, the welder, painting the engine, rolling chassis, seats, the finished car, racing, winter rebuild, dashboard and tubular manifold.
Locost Racing Holland: Information about the book.
The Meerkat Project: Documents the build of a mid-engine Locost. Gives specifications, build diary, list of parts used, and links.
Mike's 250lb Locost: Introduction, build diary, donor and new parts, tips, gallery, downloads, links and contact.
Dick Lukoszek Building the Clubman: Photos and build diary.
Anthony Pralet's LocoRAGE: A build based on a Toyota 4AGE. Diary, costs, SVA test, photos, links and contact.
Eddy McClements' Locost Page: Build diary and photos of a project using a Toyota 4AGE.
Simon Rook's Locost-Esque: About the builder, contact, why 4X4, image gallery, diary, costs, suppliers, donor, wanted, history, specification and links.
Project Locost: About the car and builder, updates, contact, specifications, diary, costs, books, links and glossary.
Gordon Hynes Locost Build.: Donor, chassis, welder, painting the engine, fitting the car out, seats, finished car, racing, winter rebuild and new dashboard.
Ron's Locost Seven: Pictures and diary of a build using a Mazda rotary engine.
MK Indy-blade Kit Car Project: Chronicle using a chassis from MK Engineering. The donor, trial fit and build-up.
Rob's Locost Build Page: Based on a '88 Mazda RX-7 with Independent Rear Suspension and a limited slip differential.
Matthew Clements - MK Indy - Fireblade: Introduction, the build, pictures, inventory, the drive and links.
Building an MK Indy to Race: Diary, test driving a sample car, engine work, chassis, rear drive train, zetec conversion and aluminum bellhouse.
A Texas Locost: Background, build diary, Quad and progress photos, links and some thoughts.
Greg's Locost Clubman: The car, current build, technical reference, links and contact.
John's Locost Build: Offers information on Locost Build in Northern Ireland. Also on The Ulster Kit Car Club.
David Irvine's Locost: Photo album of the donor and the build.
Craig Chamberlain's Locost: Background, objectives, fundamental design choices and diary.
The Morgan Locost Pages: The story, links, contact, disclaimer, donor, preparation and making fibreglass parts.
The Far End: Build diary of a MK Indy Blade. Introduction, the build, pictures, inventory, driving and links.
Martin R1: Donor and engine, chassis, seats, wheels, Setubar Portugal, photos and links.
Les's Locost Area: Modified parts, fuel injection, final engine installation, chassis, bodywork and links.
Bruce Borrows' Locost: About building the project, engine, donor, links, specifications, pictures and contact.
Another Locost Site: Nosecone plans, the Celica donor and drawings collected by George Cushing.
JC's Locost Page: Build news, photo record and events.

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How to Build a Cheap Sports Car

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Nobody should buy any single book and expect it to answer every question they have. People planning to build a Locost should expect that they are going to be swimming on their own once in a while. Yes, this book doesn't show you how to build a chassis from scratch. It doesn't show you plans for mounting a Miata dif. It doesn't tell you a lot of things that you'll want to know. Champion's book is missing a lot of useful detail as well. No book is going to answer all your questions, which is why there are so many different books available for sale! Keith's book answers a lot of questions for me and gives me plenty of ideas that I'll use on my own build. I wish other builders would publish similar books - I'd buy them in a heartbeat!

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