Hello all,

I was just wondering if someone could offer a little insight, or perhaps a link to a place with insight.

I've been considering starting a kit car, something to take up my spare time and spare cash, but feel a little unprepared as to what's involved.

I don't have any mechanics experience as such, but have a fair bit of practical know how and am doing this more to learn these things than apply knowledge. However having seen my welding abilities (and lack there of) I think I'm definitely looking at a starter kit with a chassis included. Trying to avoid the 0-aaagh in 6 seconds situation.

Whilst budget isn't a huge problem I'd like to know what I'm getting into first. I was looking at the GTS panther starter kit, and according to the manual you need a donor sierra, a steering rack from a mk2 escort and a radiator from somewhere. Is that right, in that in the basic form (assuming everything works on the donor car) you can then put together a working panther? I appreciate people then spend thousands on other parts, but is that the basics of getting a running car?

Does anyone know of a site with some decent basic information, like the kind of skills I'll need to complete these, perhaps a build diary from a complete beginner like myself?

I think it could be a really fun challenge this, a I'm sure like a lot of people hoping to get my father involved to go for some of that "quality time" the american movies always talk about

Thanks for any input people can give,
Si

where in the world are you? it sounds as if you would be best off dealing with whichever manufacturer is closest to you - you can easily visit and ask questions/see how it is done then as you go along.

Cheers

Mark

Ah I see now - Doncaster, MAC#1 or MK are probably your best bets Sheffield or Worksop.

The Guys at MAC #1 are known for being exceptionally helpful and the MK lot are not bad either

[Edited on 2/8/06 by mookaloid]

The "Hellfire" website has one of the best build diaries I've seen.
This and other build diaries in the links section

David

If you're looking at buying a kit all you really need are a wide(ish) set of spanners and sockets. You'll also need to learn how to do a little basic wiring, but this isn't too hard to learn. Otherwise it's mainly putting bolts in holes. I appreciate to build a really top notch kit requires more than this, but you'll pic up the 1001 little things as you go, as many can't really be explained, just learnt as you go. I'm sure others will be along to help.
Also welcome to the mad house!

Indeed, Welcome To The Madhouse !

And IMO the most informative and helpful site there is for a new builder. No matter
which kit you go for there is all the info and help you need. Just post the Q, the A's will follow.

So in answer to your quest for a site...........
Welcome friend, this is it

this build diary is good.
http://www.mk-indy.nl/

It inspired me to get a MK Indy chassis starter kit. And you need a sierra doner, or you could do what I did and buy the parts needed off the sierra from ebay. Saves having a knackered car on the premises. MK were also very helpful in providing some of the parts from a sierra that I couldnt get hold of too.

IMHO the old rule of thumb applies in the kit car world. "You get what you pay for"
Let me explain what I mean....
At the top end you have the Caterham and at the bottom the locost....
Runs for cover....
What I mean is that if you want a complete car that you just bolt together then caterham will effectively supply this .
The other end of the same scale is the locost where you source and build everything yourself.
Obviously there is a huge difference in the skill sets required in these two extremes.

Most of the main kit manufacturers fall within these two examples and generally the more you pay the less work you will have to do to complete your kit.
However a word of caution...
The price does NOT allways reflect quality.

In my opinion, your best bet, if you don't want to spend heaps of money is to look on here in the for sale section or Ebay for an abandoned project, preferably one with a complete chassis. Just make sure the welding is up to scratch. This way you will get a bit of a head start and usually a load of bits all for a bargain price. All your technical help is available right here on this forum. This is where people have done it all and bought the T shirt!
Good luck,
Jon

quote:

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This is where people have done it all and bought the T shirt!

---

Basically what he ^^^ said! I have yet to ask a question and not recieve at least a few answers! They might not all be the same answer, but as CaLviNx said, what one person sees as a challenge, the next person sees as a design fault; yet others see it as a chance to upgrade, others just a chance to change the colour of something.

See? Look at all the replies already Too many of us with too much time on our hands
Cheers
Jon

Actually I'm waiting for my shift to start!

Welcome to the forum Si.

You're in quite a fortunate position because the Harrogate Kit car show is on the 12th & 13th August. Get yourself along and see what the manufacturers have to offer you. Ask them lots of questions and have a look around their cars outside on the owners pitches.

If you can't wait till then, get yourself down to MK at Langold on Saturday morning and have a look at some of the cars they have to offer. There's usually a decent turn out of Indys if the weathers fine and if you ask, most owners will be only too willing to take you for a short drive as a passenger in either a BEC (Bike Engined Car) or CEC.

Whatever kit you eventually decide to buy, have a read of our website (Just click the link below) and it will give you some idea of whats involved in building one and just what you're letting yourself in for.

Phil

Wow, thanks for all the replies guys, nice to see a place where people are genuinely keen to help!

Still a little overwhelmed, but in a good way I reckon. I think I'll try and make it up to the harrogate show and try and get a better handle on the whole concept.

Everyone has mentioned different kits, and I appreciate everyone has their preferences. Aside from the aesthetics (which even I can make a judgement on), don't suppose there is a site which lists the differences between them all?

So I appreciate I can spend anything between £250 (sic) and £15grand to come up with my own car, but what's a realistic budget to aim for? I'm trying to convince my dad to buy in with me which will ease the cost, but still less is better. Is £3.5 to £4 grand a reasonable figure, or is going to be more like 6? Assuming I buy a starter kit that is, like I say not mad keen on the welding my own chassis idea.

Thanks for all the input, I'll go spend a few hours tonight rummaging through all the links and trying to get my head around this a bit better. And just curious, why is google so shocking at turning up good search results for kit cars? I think I ended up here through wikipedia, since google was being useless.

Cheers,
Si

Firstly a big welcome from me.

Rule 1 - dont think too hard. Just do it. Im sure if 80% or so of the bods on here who are building / have built thought more at the beginning they would have been put off.

2. not everyone who builds cars are mechanics. If you have some basics the rest you will learn.

3. Go to shows. Speak to owners. Work out what you want. Shortlist suppliers, visit them.

4. I like my Mac#1 ZR and really enjoyed the build process. mac#1 are so helpful. MK and MNR were very close seconds.


There is always someone who knows more than someone else. That is the beauty of this site. The advice and help is worth huge £££££ and costs nowt.
Budget wise - mine was a shade over 7k on the road. Some have built kits for 4K, others have spent 14K. Depends what you want. Most CECS are between 5 and 8K, most BECS are between 6 and 9K ish. This is mainly cos basic BECS engine kits are +1K on the equivalent car engine.

The hardest part by far is working out what you want. Basic Q's;
1. Budget blaster or show car?
2. Road or Track or a bit of both?
3. Does it have to be the fastest car on the planet or a respectable open top fun car?
4. Do you like some comforts or just harsh raw ear splitting power.
These and more Q's will confirm if it is lightweight and track orientated or more std construction with basic car engine. You can then spec brakes and suspension etc accordingly.



Oh BTW - if you ask 10 people what they prefer you will probs get 10 different answers to add to the confusion!

[Edited on 3/8/06 by DarrenW]

Welcome!

As they've said! Don't worry about the lack of mechanical knowledge - we didn't have much when we started and have done fine so far (admittedly with one of the more 'complete' kits available - the Dax Rush)...

Along the way we've picked up loads and now want to do more - for example are learning to weld and will be making our own exhaust (hopefully!). This would be easy to many of the guys on here - but you still won't get laughed at for asking any questions...

As said above, don't think too hard. Budget is pretty much always 1.5 times what you expected it to be, but bear in mind it will be spread over a couple of years and you can go from plush comfortable and pretty quick cruiser (like ours will be) to stripped out mad machine (like a lot of the BECs)....

Do it - don't think about it!

I found Tim and Tom's web pages really useful when I was considering what was involved. They have build a Westfield (quite easy and less individual ) a Dax (little more difficult, but still a lot done for you) and a Fury (no idea at all!)

Chris

Be aware that this site IS addictive!

Hi, You would be amazed at how much of the Sierra you can use and keep the cost down, if you can find a Pinto engined one you can use the engine and even the wiring loom if you wanted.
The GTS Panther is a very nice and well proportioned car and you only need basic tools for just about the whole thing.
At their workshop they have 2 being built with 2litre Duratecs and one being built with Honda S2000 bits. They are a friendly bunch and will always try to help you out of any problems you may find yourself in.
Cheers.

Built mine for about 1500 quid!
Not exactly a showroom example or a high performance car, just loads of fun to drive and built entirely from old scrap, bits from Ebay and whatever I could nick from work!

[Edited on 3/8/06 by jonbeedle]
Rescued attachment DSCF0017.JPG

Hi Si, welcome to the forum from a fellow Doncastrian!
My car, too, cost in the region of £1500 to put on the road, but I built the chassis. If you need inspiration, you're welcome to come for a quick blast in mine. If there's anything I can help with just yell!
I should be going to Harrogate, so poss see you there.

welcome
im in scunny if you want to pop across and see a build in progress
p.s its been in progress 3 yrs now
my motto is " you cant rush a good job "
as was said this site is addictive..............
............. be warned ......................

Welcome to the forum

If you can do a jigsaw (one that comes with instructions!!), you can build a kit.

A good compromise may be to buy the bits you know that (at the moment) you can't make (eg chassis and running gear/bodywork etc) and have a go at fabricating non safety critical items for the fun of it. If they are rubbish, you can always bin them.

Whatever you do, it will be frustrating, time consuming, immensely satisfying at times, and when you're on the road, whether you scratch or kit build you will look like this:



Anyway, welcome again and

ATB

Simon