John Bonnett
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| posted on 2/7/06 at 12:51 PM |
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It shouldn't happen to a kit
I think the words kit car are very often a misnomer. I am generalising but using my JP Phoenix which was sold as a kit as an example, it cannot be
built from parts taken from a donor car with other parts available from the manufacturer. You the builder are faced with making parts such as in this
case chassis brackets for the rear flexible brake pipes, handbrake mechanism, electric fan mounting bracket etc. There is no proper build manual and
it is mostly a case of guessing what was in the mind of the designer. My chassis was supplied powder coated so you can imagine the heart rending
decision to weld brackets to it. I am also building a scratch built Special and it is so much easier. The design is in my head so mostly, I know where
I'm going and the bits fit together. I should think that quite a lot of prospective kit car owners are enticed into buying what looks on the
face of it a cheap way to sports car performance only to find out that what they have bought is only part of the outlay and a huge amount of work and
skills are neded to complete the car. Many of you in this Group look down on Caterhams but they can be screwed together almost with just a 13mm
spanner and a screwdriver and in 100 hours you have a car that performs and looks good. To my mind that is a kit car. Having said all of that, my
Phoenix is 5 or 6 years old and it may well be that Phoenix kits as well as others have moved on and perhaps they really are proper kits now.
John
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John Bonnett
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| posted on 2/7/06 at 02:25 PM |
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Hi Mark
Yes, I can see what you mean in that you have the freedom to build your own car that will be different from anyone elses. However, there are a huge
number of unfinished kits around and a fair number of cars finished to a poor standard. This I believe is because their builders lack the skills and
resources to do any better. I expect most of us in this Group derive as much pleasure out of designing, problem solving and building as actually
driving the finished car. We are modern day 750 MC Special builders just as Chapman, Broadley and Marsh were in the 50s and 60s. Days before kit cars.
You are right that people should do their homework first before buying and to an extent they do deserve what they get. I do think however that if you
cannot purchase all parts needed to complete the car, it should not be called a kit. This I think is the misleading bit. Also, a poorly finished car
must reflect badly on the manufacturer so one would have thought that they would have ensured that the finish was less in the hands of the builder.
Regards
John
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theconrodkid
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| posted on 2/7/06 at 02:30 PM |
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i,m building the latest in a long line of "sweet pea,s"based on a luego chassis, i was suprised at the amount of missing brackets/holes
etc that the builder would have to work out for themselves.
you deffo need a welder and some engineering equipment to build it.
my MK on the other hand,all you needed was a drill and some spanners.
some are a doddle others more involved,have a GOOD look and ask questions before making your choice is my advice
who cares who wins
pass the pork pies
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John Bonnett
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| posted on 2/7/06 at 02:38 PM |
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It would be interesting to know just how many "Kits" can be built with what I would term diy tools. Let's say, a set of socket
spanners, axle stands, trolley jack, electric hand drill and a set of screwdrivers.
John
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chockymonster
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| posted on 2/7/06 at 08:55 PM |
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I'm building my MNR Vortx with only basic diy tools. No welding needed.
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stevebubs
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| posted on 2/7/06 at 09:22 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by John Bonnett
It would be interesting to know just how many "Kits" can be built with what I would term diy tools. Let's say, a set of socket
spanners, axle stands, trolley jack, electric hand drill and a set of screwdrivers.
John
Fury should be possible...and a Pheonix, Stylus etc.
However you're right - build manuals are not the greatest things in the world an it's not a "bolt together following the Flat Pack
pattern job ala MFI"
Only cars I know that fit into this category are:
Caterham
Westfield
Ultima
any more?
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iank
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| posted on 2/7/06 at 09:41 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by stevebubs
Fury should be possible...and a Pheonix, Stylus etc.
However you're right - build manuals are not the greatest things in the world an it's not a "bolt together following the Flat Pack
pattern job ala MFI"
Only cars I know that fit into this category are:
Caterham
Westfield
Ultima
any more?
I think Dax both their Cobra's and Rush are up there.
Some of the better GT40's and Cobras would probably come close.
IIRC Radical are producing an everything but the engine in'a box kit.
Having been under a very rusty mini for the last couple of days I can see the attraction of nice clean parts and shiny bolts, but I'll never
have the budget for that kind of car.
[Edited on 2/7/06 by iank]
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