http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=7309

Finally gone bust it seems.
Supposedly a decent handling car, but warnings about it's "controversial" looks apparently ignored.....

Anyone know if these were the two guys from Rover who went solo?

Could be.

I'm sure they were definitely ex. some big car firm....

I still don't understand why so many people try and re-invent the 2 seater sports car here in the UK. Often they buy an old British name (Lea-Francis, Jensen etc) and make an impractical car. Every time I hear a new one I shudder. What's the point? They're fighting in a market already saturated with 2 seater sports cars MX-5's MG-F's, MR2's etc that are available at a reasonable price 3rd hand. The new cars don't add anything to the equation, apart from a high price tag.

Seven-types are a classic and exempt from any form of logic, other that in it's purest form; minimalist. When Cateringvan did the 21, no-one bought it. MX-5's don't break down. And have windows.

IMHO*, what's really needed is a cheap, high power-to-weight ratio practical RWD car with looks, much in the same veign as the Scimitar GTE. It combined 4-seat estate-like practicality, with cracking good looks and a torque-bastard of a motor (for it's time).

Now if the company who poured a bunker of cash into the Jensen project had tried to pull that off, they might have found a few buyers.

The people making a success of such machine are BMW and Mercedes. Other manufacturers have a go but always compromise on the drivetrain. They base it on a mini-bloody-Metro and stick big alloys on. Hey Presto! A meaningless "Sport" moniker.

BTW, I don't care that Alfa do an estate and Volvo and Rover and SAAB and.. etc and that they're 4WD or FWD. I want a cheap, simple, practical, powerslide-able mini-roundabout fun tools.

That's a winner. I'd stake 4 cans of mild on it.

I could go on about this, but blood pressure and common sense reign me in.

Neil.

I know about Alan B's project and the various others. They're aimed at the U.S. though and they are, err, different. Slightly. In a nice kind of way.


* I'm so worked up, humble is inappropriate. Hothead perhaps?

quote:

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Originally posted by Noodle
......Seven-types are a classic and exempt from any form of logic, other that in it's purest form; minimalist.........

...........I know about Alan B's project and the various others. They're aimed at the U.S. though and they are, err, different. Slightly. In a nice kind of way.......

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So FBS,CCC and TAS have gone tits up in the last few days............motto of the story-don't use 3 letters for your company name.
FBS,the demo car at B'ham last year was woefully finished.Not a great way of enticing £27k out of people.
CCC magazine turned itself into maxpower without the tits..........at least maxpower had the tits printed in it as opposed to writing most of it.
TAS,did anyone ever hear anything good about them?

The last time I read CCC, the tech ti(t)ps section told you which colour needles to use when you had bored your MGB (another 3 letter name!) out to 1801cc!

I think the key to it is the money.

You can build a seven type for six or seven grand.

A decent cobra costs 20k up.

In my view you would be nuts, unless you were a real cobra freak, to spend 20k on a car thats made of second hand bits.

You could but an mx5 and have 3k change for that.

Asking for lots of money for a kit car, in my view, has no mass appeal.

Im building a car, probably 51% because I want to have that experience. 49% is the driving. Joe public in general wants a flashy car without the oily rag, metal bashing bits.

Its a small market.

There are cars like the GTM that are really nice - if they came ready made my wife would have one. BUT - would it cost 11k, have a brand new 115 hp engine, air con, auto lights on, lekky windows, rain sensitive wipers, emergency brake assist a stereo, abs and airbags.

Probably not.

A new renault megane does. Can you build a 2 seater sports for that...without it being a seven - from new parts....I guess not.


Small market and way too many kit providers.


atb

steve

Only the best run businesses survive, unfortunately, running a good business and making a good car are not necessarily the same.
Some excellent cars have gone by the wayside and some real cr4p has survived, particularly around the Mansfield area!

[Asking for lots of money for a kit car, in my view, has no mass appeal.

Im building a car, probably 51% because I want to have that experience. 49% is the driving. Joe public in general wants a flashy car without the oily rag, metal bashing bits.]

This thread makes me realize why Mr.chapmans' simple design is so popular.

Even in the states the seven(especially the locost)is catching on like wild fire.

You guys (meaning the British)really do the two seater right!
I think the biggest threat to the "kit car" industry has been Ron Champions book!

With kit car prices climbing into the exotic car range it does seem like they forgot the point does'nt it.

Fletch

[Edited on 13/9/03 by thekafer]

another good point with the seven is its about the easiest, minimalist car you can build.

Unless you do what I did....




atb

steve

Steve,

We were wondering how you would get to mention your build in this thread!

Oh, is Steve building something a bit different?

its been ages since I used my stock phrase, which im not even gonna mention now....

gimme a break





atb

steve

who is building a morgan look alike based on a locost.


I lied!

See what happens when ya take the pi$$

Funny thing is you aren't the only doing something different.....

Just the only one who gets noticed mentioning it....

Mine's a dead standard book build..... oh yeah......

quote:

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Originally posted by stephen_gusterson
Joe public in general wants a flashy car without the oily rag, metal bashing bits.

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On the subject of Omegas...

My pal was taking the wee out of my omega elite, saying i needed a jag to get real features, and that it was worth paying twice as much for an older car...

So i asked him where his button for the electric rear blind was, he was sick when he saw i had one!

Complete waste of effort though, but good for a laugh! if gloits have their fogs on you can turn yours on, drive with the brake on (auto) and put the blind up!

quote:

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Originally posted by Alan B
Funny thing is you aren't the only doing something different.....

Just the only one who gets noticed mentioning it....

Mine's a dead standard book build..... oh yeah......

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quote:

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Originally posted by stephen_gusterson

.........The complexity of your build made me realise long ago you are made of stronger stuff, are totally nuts, or have deep pockets and lots of time.




atb

steve

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