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M6 mclaren replica project on ebay
Fred W B - 31/1/07 at 11:09 AM

M6 PROJECT

One somebody else built earlier




[Edited on 31/1/07 by Fred W B]

3GEComponents - 31/1/07 at 11:41 AM

Wasn't it UVA?

macnab - 31/1/07 at 12:18 PM

yip.

nice example

designer - 31/1/07 at 03:45 PM

This bloke is trying to sell the project that Tornado have been trying to sell for years.

I bet he hasn't bought it yet, and will only do so when he has sold it on!

I spoke to Tornado a few years ago and they wanted silly money for it. These people selling projects want fortunes for models they themselves have sold very few of.

A project that doesn't sell is NOT worth a lot of money.

Confused but excited. - 31/1/07 at 05:24 PM

Looks too much like a Marcos for my tastes. Like the wheels though.

kb58 - 1/2/07 at 01:09 AM

quote:
Originally posted by designer
This bloke is trying to sell the project that Tornado have been trying to sell for years.

I bet he hasn't bought it yet, and will only do so when he has sold it on!

I spoke to Tornado a few years ago and they wanted silly money for it. These people selling projects want fortunes for models they themselves have sold very few of.

A project that doesn't sell is NOT worth a lot of money.


Sadly, this is very common in the kitcar industry. Someone builds a car, and some people say, "I'll buy one of those if you sell them." The builder gets all excited, sure that he's on the edge of Something Big, so at great expense, he builds molds and chassis, and puts together a manual (or not.)

And then, he waits for the phone to ring - and it does, from hundreds of "interested buyers" who want more free information. However, all these interested buyers suddenly realize they don't have the money. As the saying goes, "Their eyes are bigger than their stomach."

The problem is, there's a big difference between having the enthusiasm to build a car, and having the business smarts to market it and make money. Many, many builders are blinded by their own creation, sure that the world will beat a path to their door. While the builder thinks his is the most beautiful car in the world, literally 99.99999% of people aren't interested. The real issue is that the builder is not a hard-nosed businessman, aware of all the direct, and indirect costs.

It is very hard to make any money in the kit car industry. There is no shame in carefully evaluating, objectively, the chances of a car really taking off, and deciding it's not worth it. Some people argue that, if you don't try, you've already failed. Not exactly, the difference is about $200,000 that's still in the bank!

thomas4age - 1/2/07 at 02:27 PM

Hey all,

Bas from Speedon Carworks in holland owns one, a white one with gulf orange striping on it, he took it to le-mans last year and there where literally people making worshiping sings (touching the ground with your nose while on your knees) in the middle of arnage. so there's plenty of people still finding it very nice.

iirc he sold a chassis and body kit a few weeks back for a very reasonable price to a fellow dutchy, but he's hasn't got any more.

I'm quite surprized that this survived from tornado as it is quite a while back since they made the kit.

rcr also do one I think however that has a alloy monocoque chassis.

the M6bis a brilliant car and very very quick, just make sure it has aircon when drivven in warm wheather, hahaha ask Bas for details on that matter

grtz Thomas

Dick Bear - 2/2/07 at 07:55 AM

I think kb58 hit it on the nail but the failure rate for small start up business is pretty sad with 80-90% of them failing while those that succeed have an equally bad record between simply not failing and becoming very successful. The failure and real success rate for start-ups is not limited to the kit market, but is generic to all.

Actually, if you like the style of this unit , it's not a bad price assuming that his reserve price is somewhere below his "Buy it now". Even the Buy it now price in not that bad when you compare it to anything else you can buy these days with two or more wheels.

The real issue for anyone wanting to offer a built or partially constructed vehicle to those interested in having one is the fact that most who are interested posess some skills and therefore feel that they could make their own better and cheaper. It doesn't matter whether they could or couldn't accomplish the task nor does it really matter that they never will begin.

What matters is the fact that this group never will buy and those who mistakenly identify them as their market are doomed before they begin.

Dick Bear

kb58 - 2/2/07 at 02:08 PM

Good point Dick, I forgot that one. Customers of a kit car will always be people handly with tools... good enough that they will believe they can do a better job. And you're doubly right that it doesn't matter whether they can or not. The perception that they can means they won't become a customer. (What they overlook is the *huge* amount of work needed to fabricate the shell, be it composite or aluminum.)

I forgot to include that in the 99.9999% factor above. How many people have the skills and tools to build a car, want to build a car, but only want to build someone elses? I'm afraid it adds another few "9s" to the number .

[Edited on 2/2/07 by kb58]

turbo time - 4/2/07 at 08:16 PM

I'd just get this one and be happy :
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1969-Mclaren-M6-Coupe_W0QQitemZ260081590780QQihZ016QQcategoryZ6472QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Doug68 - 5/2/07 at 12:42 AM

Any one got any idea what to chain sprocket is for:



KB and Mr Bear I think whilst I agree that any small startup business is more than likely going to fail, I think that your location in the USA skews your view point at bit.

I don't think that there's been a tradition of kit car building in the US in the same way that there has been in the UK for many years.

I think that this is one reason (apart from liability) that low volume produces in the US sell mainly complete cars rather than kits.

In the USA there is a lot of "kit" and custom fabrication going on but this is obviously aimed at motor sport applications. And the cost of going local circle track racing in a Dwarf or modified are very cheap compared to track racing in Europe.

In the UK the vast majority of Kit cars never get raced and probably never go on a track at all, either because the owners aren't interested or can't afford it.

So my point is I think it would be harder to get a street based kit car company going in the USA than the UK.

The Locost phenomena is an interesting one as it takes the kit car experience that stage further for people. It is my wild guess though (and please correct me if you've figures to back it up) that true home builds of any type make up 5% at most of the total kit car market in the UK.

The idea of designing, building then selling your own cars is a powerful one to many people. Which has a <1% chance of success to get from start to finish. However thats a lot better odds than the lottery!


[Edited on 5/2/07 by Doug68]

Syd Bridge - 5/2/07 at 10:37 AM

As a fair indicator,

When I was doing the 911 Porkers, some 18-20 years ago now, the majority of output was finished cars. More than 50~60 %.

Of the 50% or so remainder, I would say that very few were 'kits'. Nearly all left the workshop as rolling cars, and a great number only needed paint and upholstery, and electrics.

I would think that todays market, ignoring the plethora of Locost type cars, is little different.

Cheers,
Syd.

sept - 24/2/07 at 07:02 PM

have a look at the website off speedon www.speedon.nl is a nice car.

kb58 - 25/2/07 at 03:54 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Doug68
Any one got any idea what to chain sprocket is for:
[Edited on 5/2/07 by Doug68]


My guess is a drive to an alternator or oil pump, though I don't understand why it wouldn't be a belt instead of a chain. What you'd ever want to drive back there with zero slippage and a lot of transmitted power, I don't know.

violentblue - 26/2/07 at 05:08 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Doug68
Any one got any idea what to chain sprocket is for:
[Edited on 5/2/07 by Doug68]


optical pickup for an electronic speedo?

Doug68 - 26/2/07 at 05:59 AM

An intriguing idea but don't think so.
It looks like a 520 or 530 sprocket so it'd weigh a few lb's it even looks like steel to me and greasy so I think it's being used for something substantial.

rpmagazine - 26/2/07 at 06:11 AM

traditional on old sports racers to drive the alternator from there...never seen a chain though.