wayneb1408
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| posted on 30/9/13 at 06:54 PM |
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New car proposal
So a few pics of what im proposing. Using the base of an MX5 for the project. I will be looking at offering kits that will comprise of a body shell
inc doors and bonnet and a chassis. The chassis will bolt to the mx sub frames and the shell will bolt on top. At the moment this is something im
contemplating. So looking for feedback as to weather anyone would be interested.
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CRAIGR
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| posted on 30/9/13 at 07:04 PM |
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Been done think again
http://www.mevx5.co.uk/
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wayneb1408
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| posted on 30/9/13 at 07:49 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by CRAIGR
Been done think again
http://www.mevx5.co.uk/
Think this will be looking a lot different to mine though.
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chrism
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| posted on 30/9/13 at 09:03 PM |
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Is that a mould from a Smart Roadster frontend?
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A little hard work never killed anyone, but why take the risk!
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wayneb1408
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| posted on 30/9/13 at 09:19 PM |
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No not a smart. Something much bigger and a hell of a lot faster lol.
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garyo
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| posted on 30/9/13 at 09:35 PM |
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Looks a bit Sagaris like to me?
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wayneb1408
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| posted on 30/9/13 at 09:37 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by garyo
Looks a bit Sagaris like to me?
Think you could be right on that one. So whats everyone thinking yes no maybe. Everyones opinions count.
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Mr Whippy
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| posted on 30/9/13 at 11:58 PM |
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Thing is, you'll be taking what is essentially a very good sports car as a donor, throwing away 70% of what you bought, spending ages putting it
all together again and then faced with getting through an IVA test to while in the process spending enough cash to have bought a mint Mk3 MX5 in the
first place.
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wayneb1408
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| posted on 1/10/13 at 05:13 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Mr Whippy
Thing is, you'll be taking what is essentially a very good sports car as a donor, throwing away 70% of what you bought, spending ages putting it
all together again and then faced with getting through an IVA test to while in the process spending enough cash to have bought a mint Mk3 MX5 in the
first place.
I think your missing the point of A kit car. Essentially the point of a kit car is to utilise parts that have been designed for a purpose in another
car to build car that is different. Yes I could have bought a mk3 but then I would still be left with just an mx5. The point is to have a bespoke
vehicle which you would have enjoyed building.
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Mr Whippy
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| posted on 1/10/13 at 06:39 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by wayneb1408
quote:
Originally posted by Mr Whippy
Thing is, you'll be taking what is essentially a very good sports car as a donor, throwing away 70% of what you bought, spending ages putting it
all together again and then faced with getting through an IVA test to while in the process spending enough cash to have bought a mint Mk3 MX5 in the
first place.
I think your missing the point of A kit car. Essentially the point of a kit car is to utilise parts that have been designed for a purpose in another
car to build car that is different. Yes I could have bought a mk3 but then I would still be left with just an mx5. The point is to have a bespoke
vehicle which you would have enjoyed building.
Not really but I'll be interested in how many are willing to part with the cash and time
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whitestu
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| posted on 1/10/13 at 07:37 AM |
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I think the market is missing a hard top car that is built along the principles of a seven. i.e light, simple and cheap.
As long as this is kept light enough it should hit the mark.
I'm thinking GTM Libra sized but with an MX5 as a donor.
Stu
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wayneb1408
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| posted on 1/10/13 at 08:19 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by whitestu
I think the market is missing a hard top car that is built along the principles of a seven. i.e light, simple and cheap.
As long as this is kept light enough it should hit the mark.
I'm thinking GTM Libra sized but with an MX5 as a donor.
Stu
Stu yes I think your right and it will probably be a bit lower than the libra in overall height. Once I have a chassis I will also look at alternative
power train setups. Did also toy with the idea of transverse rear engine but not sure in that yet
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rdodger
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| posted on 1/10/13 at 08:24 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by whitestu
I think the market is missing a hard top car that is built along the principles of a seven. i.e light, simple and cheap.
As long as this is kept light enough it should hit the mark.
I'm thinking GTM Libra sized but with an MX5 as a donor.
Stu
I agree. But perhaps not enough car buyers/builder do?
We had the very lovely Epona locost rebody.
Zolfe Orange?
I think the Ginetta is still available but not the other 2 as far as I am aware.
I had a GTM Libra for 4 years. I loved it. The trouble was that even though I spent fortunes making it faster and handle better. Made it more
comfortable and refined it still wasn't what I wanted. It was very pretty though!
It was neither fast enough or handle well enough to really enjoy on a track day. It wasn't comfortable or refined enough to use every day.
I doubt there will be another similar car as they cost too much to produce with doors and opening windows etc
There is too much from the mainstream manufacturers you can buy for much less than the build cost.
I think we need more people doing stuff the same way as MEV. Stuart is making cheap cars from a great donor. Basically you end up with a lighter MX5
in pretty clothes. Exactly the same as the industry used to be!
The market seems to be for cars that can be used on a Sunday blast and track days. Rebodies of MR2's and MX5's as they avoid the costs and
trouble of IVA.
The next thing in my opinion will be closed bodies that fit on existing kit cars, probably 7's. Take a pre registered locost, MAC#1 whatever and
cover it in a pretty body. No IVA, better aero (hopefully!) and a reasonable build cost.
Already we have the Thruxton Healey ish body, Tigers GTA (Fury copy) the French Westfield body and even Caterham are at it!
Sorry to go off topic!
An MX5 Sagaris isn't a bad idea. Who will buy it though? The MX5 lads spend their money on Turbo's and making them track biased. They
probably can't afford a full rebody.
I wanted a good/light chassis with a pretty closed body. It had to be tracked biased and be a reasonable cost, easy to fix if crashed.
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Not Anumber
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| posted on 1/10/13 at 11:27 AM |
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First of all Wayne its good to see someone coming up with a few ideas and airing them on here.
I see from your number of posts that you haven't been around here for long and this will have an effect on how others on the forum will see you.
Dont be put off its just that new people quite often appear on hera saying they are developing a new kit or concept that will revolutionise the kit
car industry but then disapear after a few posts...
There probably is a market for an MX5 based kit car that DVLA would not need to go through the IVA but just be checked as a modified or radically
altered vehicle.
The IVA requirements are complex and expensive which makes for a very different and more expensive hobby than in the good (bad) old days when a kit
car builder could just weld up something that would pass an MOT and drive it on the donor car's registration.
If you can come up with something that is lighter than an MX5, has been proved on a track, can use some of the existing MX5 body panels to cut costs
but was sufficiently visually different from an MX5 and can benefit from kit car low insurance rates I suspect you would be onto something.
I'm assuming this is the route you are taking and have researched this with the DVLA and the specialist insurance industry as part of your
business analysis.
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Mr Whippy
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| posted on 1/10/13 at 11:50 AM |
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He did say in his first post he was developing a shell and chassis to which the sub frames attach so will require an IVA
There are many body kits already available for the MX5 that retain the existing shell to avoid the IVA some look very similar to the drawing
Tbh I don't see the point in replacing a very good handling and strong chassis that's had millions spend on development which you can buy
tuning parts of the shelf quite cheaply. It's one thing using it for a 7 style donor but for a car that looks almost the same as before. Are
people going to pay for that?
Not trying to negative but it's got to make sense business wise.
[Edited on 1/10/13 by Mr Whippy]
[Edited on 1/10/13 by Mr Whippy]
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wayneb1408
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| posted on 12/10/13 at 05:58 PM |
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Few progress shots of how the shell will sit once its on the new chassis. The car is sitting on blocks with the wheels rested in place.
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jps
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| posted on 12/10/13 at 07:25 PM |
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I like the look and, picking up on some earlier comments, have thought about getting a GTM libra as a daily driver, because I'd like to
drive a fairly unique and fun car all year round, this sort of thing would fit the bill...
I hope your project continues to make progress!
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theduck
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| posted on 12/10/13 at 07:26 PM |
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Interesting project but not a business.
I imagine lea edgar would be interested in we're you got the sagaris moulds from to...
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wayneb1408
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| posted on 12/10/13 at 07:38 PM |
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Im hoping to have the body complete in four months and ready to take a mould. The car will only bare sagaris front lights once completed. The rest
will be changed. Rear lights are being smoothed over and three sinlge lights in a row each side will take their place. Also need to make a rear
diffuser and decide how the exhausts will come out. Im thinking through the centre roughly where the two holes are at the bottom. I will have a single
rear hole in some sort of shape.
The moulds for the sagaris are not available anymore.
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slingshot2000
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| posted on 12/10/13 at 07:51 PM |
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Where are you based, I'd love to come and have a look at this . . . . . .
Regards
Jon
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maccmike
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| posted on 13/10/13 at 12:59 AM |
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Looks good and congrats for having a vision.
Change a few bits so its less TVR'ish so you dont have any lawsuits.
[img]http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2454893/Replica-Bentley-body-kits-banned-judge-says-infringe-luxury-car-firm-s-copyright.html[/img]
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wayneb1408
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| posted on 25/3/14 at 10:38 PM |
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Hi everyone. Will be steaming back into the project in the next few weeks so there will be some dramatic changes made. I have a few ideas up my sleeve
and will make the design far from TVR and completely my own. I have been busy building a new workshop 6mx5m at the bottom of the garden. This will
completed in a few weeks so i can get stuck in regardless of the weather.
Please like and share my page for updates
https://www.facebook.com/widowsportscars
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wayneb1408
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| posted on 1/4/14 at 10:16 PM |
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Wheel spacers for design purpose only not for road use. These are to position the wheels correct for the body design.
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wayneb1408
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| posted on 13/5/14 at 07:47 PM |
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Please like and share https://www.facebook.com/widowsportscars
Thought i would get out and do some today while i have some spare time. I have decided that i will be making this a bolt on kit for the mx5. Rear end
will be a one piece clamshell with a removable targa top. Front end will be a bonnet, front wings and nose cone section as one and door skins. The
front end will use all the original wing mounting points and the bonnet will use the original hinge points. Few shots of todays work.
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wayneb1408
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| posted on 18/5/14 at 07:23 PM |
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Few shots in the sunshine today as it needed a wash. Wheels are spaced out but think i may go another 10mm. I will now be able to work out the correct
offsets for the wheels that will be going on when finished. obviously still needs to be lowered. Thinking coilovers 60mm drop and may need to bring
the arches down a bit and then it should sit right.
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