Recommend a mid-engined road going single seater?
Discussion
I'd been fancying a caterfield for a while, but now thinking something mid-engined might be a little different and possible even more fun. Can anyone recomend any kits for this type of thing?
This add caught my eye, but I was wondering what other options there are? www.pistonheads.com/sales/detail.asp?i=20629&s=10
Cheers.
This add caught my eye, but I was wondering what other options there are? www.pistonheads.com/sales/detail.asp?i=20629&s=10
Cheers.
What about a Brooke. www.brookecars.co.uk/
I've no experience of these but they look OK.
I've no experience of these but they look OK.
gdr said:
What about a Brooke. www.brookecars.co.uk/
I've no experience of these but they look OK.
I like the idea of a single seater. They look a lot more delicate and I'm selfish!!
I'm a little surprised there don't seem to be more about. I wouldn't imagine it takes any more development than a caterfield.
I'm in the process of finalising the design for something very similar myself, but intended as a one-off for my own use rather than a production kit.
I'm not aware of anyone who has a single seater of this type on the market which meets current SVA requirements for road use, so you would need to do a fair bit of work yourself to ensure compliance.
You have a number of options, though:
1) The Tiger ERA kit. Quality of design and manufacture is ok, but nothing exceptional. Readily available & reasonably cheap, though, and I'd be surprised if Tiger haven't looked at making it road legal, so they may be able to advise on what you would be up against for SVA.
2) The Xanthos Lotus 22 Replica - this is very similar to the car in the ad, and has been made road legal in the USA (see the Xanthos web site, www.xanthoscars.co.uk for pics)- but the US doesn't have SVA, so it would still need work for compliance in this country. The Xanthos' I've seen have been beautifully manufactured, and are basically identical to the original Lotus 22 and 23 in design, but are on the pricy side for the kit market.
3) Buy an old Formula Ford, or Jedi Hillclimber or whatever, and make it road legal yourself. Formula Ford would be the easiest to convert (suspension is set up already for what are basically road tyres), but apart from lighting and SVA requirements, remember that racers usually lack alternators etc. and are very 'raw' compared to road cars - solidly mountes engines and fully rose jointed suspension instead of the rubber bushes and mounts that even the most extreme road-going kits use. If you intend to go down this route, hire a Formula Ford for a track day session first, to make sure you can live with it.
4) Design and build something yourself. Single seaters are, by their very nature, quite simple, so if you are a reasonable competent engineer and do a bit of research first, you shouldn't have too many problems. Very time consuming, though!
Edited to add that I've just checked the downloadable price list on Xanthos' (UK) web site, and they are listing a bunch of components for the road-going conversion, so maybe they have put cars through the UK SVA already...in which case, the Xanthos 22 is definitely the car you want!
>> Edited by Martin_S on Friday 4th June 19:28
I'm not aware of anyone who has a single seater of this type on the market which meets current SVA requirements for road use, so you would need to do a fair bit of work yourself to ensure compliance.
You have a number of options, though:
1) The Tiger ERA kit. Quality of design and manufacture is ok, but nothing exceptional. Readily available & reasonably cheap, though, and I'd be surprised if Tiger haven't looked at making it road legal, so they may be able to advise on what you would be up against for SVA.
2) The Xanthos Lotus 22 Replica - this is very similar to the car in the ad, and has been made road legal in the USA (see the Xanthos web site, www.xanthoscars.co.uk for pics)- but the US doesn't have SVA, so it would still need work for compliance in this country. The Xanthos' I've seen have been beautifully manufactured, and are basically identical to the original Lotus 22 and 23 in design, but are on the pricy side for the kit market.
3) Buy an old Formula Ford, or Jedi Hillclimber or whatever, and make it road legal yourself. Formula Ford would be the easiest to convert (suspension is set up already for what are basically road tyres), but apart from lighting and SVA requirements, remember that racers usually lack alternators etc. and are very 'raw' compared to road cars - solidly mountes engines and fully rose jointed suspension instead of the rubber bushes and mounts that even the most extreme road-going kits use. If you intend to go down this route, hire a Formula Ford for a track day session first, to make sure you can live with it.
4) Design and build something yourself. Single seaters are, by their very nature, quite simple, so if you are a reasonable competent engineer and do a bit of research first, you shouldn't have too many problems. Very time consuming, though!
Edited to add that I've just checked the downloadable price list on Xanthos' (UK) web site, and they are listing a bunch of components for the road-going conversion, so maybe they have put cars through the UK SVA already...in which case, the Xanthos 22 is definitely the car you want!
>> Edited by Martin_S on Friday 4th June 19:28
If you can wait a bit there's a brand new, road legal mid-engined single seater kit coming out.
Debuted as Stoneleigh, the Devil from Edge Sportscars has been designed by Robin Hall of BMW Mini and FBS Census fame and uses Audi 5-pot power.
The makers anticipate you'll be able to build one for under £7,000, and I'll be reviewing it for PH when it's ready.
Meanwhile, see www.edgesportscars.co.uk
Debuted as Stoneleigh, the Devil from Edge Sportscars has been designed by Robin Hall of BMW Mini and FBS Census fame and uses Audi 5-pot power.
The makers anticipate you'll be able to build one for under £7,000, and I'll be reviewing it for PH when it's ready.
Meanwhile, see www.edgesportscars.co.uk
Have a look at the T5 Developments Mission.
I am just building a race version.
www.t5developments.com
John
>> Edited by nemesisv8 on Wednesday 9th June 07:36
I am just building a race version.
www.t5developments.com
John
>> Edited by nemesisv8 on Wednesday 9th June 07:36
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