Jigs Saved from Skip
Firefly kit car gets new lease of life just in time
The Firefly kit car jigs and demonstrator have been saved from destruction just days before a demolition team were due to move in and destroy the building they were stored in. The parts will now get a new lease of life under new owners Dart Cars.
Originally designed and marketed by Onyx Automotive in the early nineties, the rights to the Fiat Panda based Firefly were taken over by John Laking of Formby Kit Cars in 1998. At its launch the car received critical acclaim in mainstream magazines such as Auto Express and Autocar & Motor - classing it as the modern version of the MG Midget
John has now moved to Spain and had planned to move production of the Firefly there as well, but due to the problems in registering kit built cars in Spain John decided to sell the project complete. A buyer was found in the form of Trevor Rolph of newly formed Dart Cars based in Somerset. But collection of the project, stored in Lancashire, nearly caused it all to fall through. Trevor takes up the story.
"I had agreed a deal with John early August and I was aware we needed to clear the project before the end of that month. Due to the amount of equipment to collect the original plan was collect the project over a couple of weekends. But unfortunately John’s representative in the UK had gone on holiday with the keys to the storage buildings! Eventually John got a last minute flight into Liverpool and we had to collect the project all in one day, so I called in all the favours I could to help transport everything including a tipper truck!’
The demonstrator is currently being refurbished and work has already started to update the kit to comply with the requirements of SVA. Arrangements with new suppliers are currently being negotiated and kit prices will be announced before the end of November 2004, with the first kits being supplied in early 2005. Spares, such as body panels and hard tops will also be available. Donor Fiat Panda’s are still available in good supply as they were made up until 1995.
Links :
- www.onyxsportscars.f9.co.uk/ (old manufacturer)
- www.dartcars.co.uk (new site under construction)
The only pic I can find is of the Firecat - a development to use Uno mechanicals - at Fereday Cars
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=29750&item=2485314283&rd=1
Just to clarify......
The project I have purchased is the Firefly, which is Fiat Panda based.
The Firecat was a development of this and was Uno based, and Onyx still own this project but it is also featured on the Fereday Cars website.
The original website posted was Onyx Sports Cars - the Dart Cars website will be up & running in the next week or so.
Prices for the Firefly kit will be announced in the Autumn.
Hope this helps.
Regards
Kartman
>> Edited by kartman on Tuesday 31st August 17:42
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