What car ?

[paul_y3k]

so I'd like to build a kit car, and with my son about to start an engineering degree it seems a good time to start as ever ..
Problem is I don't know what to go for ...

I don't like the '7' type cars - for no other reason that how they look so I've ruled those types out.
I liked the replicar, but from looking at the owners board the build isn't the best documented and I feel I'd like a decent set of build instructions for my first ever kit.(same for the exocet)

One of the alternatives that I keep coming back to is the T6 Triumph spitfire Lemans .. Not quite a kit car and again very limitied build instructions.
I also like the DDR Motorsport's cars ... and followed the build that happened here.

Any ideas ?

[Hoonigan]

I'm gonna do a build with my boy when he's about 12, I'm thinking one of these, love the look but it is a track toy not a road car so may not be what you are after, perfect for me and the boy though (provided I ever finish the 40)

http://www.tigerracing.com/shop/kits/148-era-singl...

[AdiT]

How desperate are you to get started? Better to spend the time to do lots of research than rush in. If you can hold off starting soon, I'd recommend visiting Stoneleigh show next May bank holiday. You'll get to see a huge variety of cars and manufacturers.

There are very few kits that have a comprehensive build guide (though plenty claim to). The whole build takes a bit of thought, research and enquiry. A manufacturer at the other end of a phone (being local to the manufacturer has a lot going for it), good owners club plus sites like this and locostbuilders.co.uk fill in the gaps in the manuals.

The DDR is probably a very complex build to take on as a first one and all that bodywork is a lot of effort. The Spitfire LeMans looks great and if I had the time/space I might consider one. If you want a full-body car, how about something from JeremyPhillips drawing board... Fury (FurySprotsCars), Phoenix (Raw), J15/Vectis/J17 (SylvaSportsCars), Stylus

[ugg10]

As has already been said, if you can visit the show, shortlist cars and visit the manufacturers. £100 spent on fuel now may save £1000 or 1000's of hours later. When building a kit you need to know that you have quality and timely support from the manufacturer. This should be a given but in reality it is patchy.

Set a budget and then double it. I recon that any kit these days need a budget of £10k just to start.

Do you want a single donor or are you prepared to source different bits?

Remember to budget for refurb of items, gaskets, bolts, nuts, adhesive, general consumables and then add £500-1000 for sva fees, getting to the test and retest.

As for kits caterham and Westfield sdv are probably the most comprehensive. If you don't want a seven them Sylva j17 (under new ownership) and MeV rocket (atom-a-like) are worth a look. If you like a more sporty look the spire gtr is nice and you can fit and Audi 1.8t which would make a good road car. The Replicar is a nice kit and being mx5 based should be relatively simple to build, I would buy the best donor you can, 1.8 mk2, 6 speed, lsd if you can.

Finally, if your son is studying engineering at uni then he will be expected to spend about 20hrs in college in class/labs and then another 20 doing write ups and tutorials. Whatever the press says, engineering at uni is a tough degree and the more you put in the more you get out, plus uni life should be sampled :-) so, what I am saying is that this will be a weekend and possibly holiday hobby activity for him.

Hope this helps.

[Yazza54]

If I was building a new car it would 100% be a Sylva J15 or whatever number they're up to now. Just hoping they will design one with a roof ginetta G12 style.

Edited by Yazza54 on Thursday 29th September 19:56

[ugg10]

The new owner is threatening one and has dug out some old sketches and put them on the Facebook site. A j15 coupe with a scooby engine and transaxle (covered to 2wd a la sdr Storm) would be epic.

[paul_y3k]

Thanks all
StoneLeigh is definitely on the list before making any decisions.

[Fastpedeller]

paul_y3k said:

I liked the replicar, but from looking at the owners board the build isn't the best documented and I feel I'd like a decent set of build instructions for my first ever kit.(same for the exocet)

I suspect the build is very straight forward - hence there isn't much build documentation! With respect if your son is studying engineering he should be able to work it out. I understand the Walklett brothers who ran Ginetta wouldn't sell a kit to anyone who asked for a build manual as they said any builder should be able to work it out.

[Yazza54]

Fastpedeller said:

paul_y3k said:

I liked the replicar, but from looking at the owners board the build isn't the best documented and I feel I'd like a decent set of build instructions for my first ever kit.(same for the exocet)

I suspect the build is very straight forward - hence there isn't much build documentation! With respect if your son is studying engineering he should be able to work it out. I understand the Walklett brothers who ran Ginetta wouldn't sell a kit to anyone who asked for a build manual as they said any builder should be able to work it out.

Sounds like a cop out, whilst someone with no mechanical knowledge whatsoever shouldn't really be building a car there are always certain ways of doing things, and in a certain order that make a job easier and stuff like that should be outlined by the factory.

[rdodger]

Build manual!?

That would be as bad as reading Ikea instructions!

I recon building most kits is far easier than a Billy bookcase!

[Hoonigan]

rdodger said:

Build manual!?

That would be as bad as reading Ikea instructions!

I recon building most kits is far easier than a Billy bookcase!

Not sure that true, while I'm getting on well with my build despite no manual being available there have been several lessons learned the hard way and I'm sure a build manual could have avoided those and the additional cost and wasted time associated with them. All that being said building a car is certainly a bit trickier than any Ikea tat that I've previously built, with or without a manual...