Colin RedGriff - ANC Replicar kit car build
Discussion
I've been on Pistonheads for nearly 20 years but I've only recently found this forum!!!
Thought I would show you the little project that I started in September 2020.
I've wanted to build a kit since the 1980s when Classic and Sportscars ran a feature showing the build of a Caterham 7. My friends and I all had very rusty classic cars and we used to sit in the pub dreaming about building Cobra replica's and the like.
So now it's 2019, I'm well into my 50's and I've finally got my single garage converted to a double and there is a car shaped space beside my TVR Griffith that needs to be filled. If I don't do a kit soon then it is never going to happen so the hunt begins for something that appeals, a Caterham is too expensive and to be honest the whole 7 thing has been done to death, I want something a little different. It has to be easy to build (my welding skills are woeful); it needs to be cheap (relatively speaking); and I want to end up with something pretty to look at that will be fun to drive, preferably with a classic silhouette.
So the hunt started, I loved the Tribute 250 Z3 re-body kit but they had to stop making them when they received a cease and desist order. I can't remember when I first heard about the Replicar but I did arrange to meet with a guy who had finished one at the Revival in 2019 so it must have been before then. It was originally designed by MEV but subsequently sold to ANC Sportscars who have improved the design to make the build easier. I visited a guy local to me who was already building one, he had built several MX5 kits and was loving the Replicar for it's ease of build so that was enough for me. ANC Replicar it was going to be. It is as an Aston Martin DBR1 evocation using the running gear from a Mazda MX-5 combined with a custom built chassis and bodyshell.
Then 2020 happened ,and suddenly it seemed like the perfect time. I found a really dirty but MOT'd 2014 1.8 MX5 locally for less than £500 in September and started a strip-down. Ordered the kit in October 2020 and by January 2021 I was ready for the kit when it was delivered to my garage.
My plan is to build a car that is not a DBR1 replica but evokes a 1950s sports racer feel. While the kit is good there are a lot of detail differences between it and the DBR1, and I want to build my own car rather than be a slave to building a period correct replica.
I've already digressed from the build guide; I've chosen separate instruments instead of reusing the MX5 cluster; I've gone for an aftermarket ECU and loom rather than the Mazda ECU; and I am building my own loom using the wires from the Mazda loom, instead of using the Mazda loom unchanged.
I've stripped the MX5 down, rebuilt the engine, cleaned and rebuilt the suspension and powertrain, and mounted the new chassis on the MX5 powertrain. Currently, I am fitting the body and dash to the chassis. The body position has been finalised but I am still taking the body off on a daily basis to work on the dash and other parts of the interior.
I'll add more information to this thread as I get to some major milestones, I have a blog that I try to update weekly https://colinsreplicar.weebly.com/
ANC Sportscars website is http://www.ancsportscars.co.uk/
The donor
The kit as delivered in January 2021
The body goes on the chassis August 2021
Thought I would show you the little project that I started in September 2020.
I've wanted to build a kit since the 1980s when Classic and Sportscars ran a feature showing the build of a Caterham 7. My friends and I all had very rusty classic cars and we used to sit in the pub dreaming about building Cobra replica's and the like.
So now it's 2019, I'm well into my 50's and I've finally got my single garage converted to a double and there is a car shaped space beside my TVR Griffith that needs to be filled. If I don't do a kit soon then it is never going to happen so the hunt begins for something that appeals, a Caterham is too expensive and to be honest the whole 7 thing has been done to death, I want something a little different. It has to be easy to build (my welding skills are woeful); it needs to be cheap (relatively speaking); and I want to end up with something pretty to look at that will be fun to drive, preferably with a classic silhouette.
So the hunt started, I loved the Tribute 250 Z3 re-body kit but they had to stop making them when they received a cease and desist order. I can't remember when I first heard about the Replicar but I did arrange to meet with a guy who had finished one at the Revival in 2019 so it must have been before then. It was originally designed by MEV but subsequently sold to ANC Sportscars who have improved the design to make the build easier. I visited a guy local to me who was already building one, he had built several MX5 kits and was loving the Replicar for it's ease of build so that was enough for me. ANC Replicar it was going to be. It is as an Aston Martin DBR1 evocation using the running gear from a Mazda MX-5 combined with a custom built chassis and bodyshell.
Then 2020 happened ,and suddenly it seemed like the perfect time. I found a really dirty but MOT'd 2014 1.8 MX5 locally for less than £500 in September and started a strip-down. Ordered the kit in October 2020 and by January 2021 I was ready for the kit when it was delivered to my garage.
My plan is to build a car that is not a DBR1 replica but evokes a 1950s sports racer feel. While the kit is good there are a lot of detail differences between it and the DBR1, and I want to build my own car rather than be a slave to building a period correct replica.
I've already digressed from the build guide; I've chosen separate instruments instead of reusing the MX5 cluster; I've gone for an aftermarket ECU and loom rather than the Mazda ECU; and I am building my own loom using the wires from the Mazda loom, instead of using the Mazda loom unchanged.
I've stripped the MX5 down, rebuilt the engine, cleaned and rebuilt the suspension and powertrain, and mounted the new chassis on the MX5 powertrain. Currently, I am fitting the body and dash to the chassis. The body position has been finalised but I am still taking the body off on a daily basis to work on the dash and other parts of the interior.
I'll add more information to this thread as I get to some major milestones, I have a blog that I try to update weekly https://colinsreplicar.weebly.com/
ANC Sportscars website is http://www.ancsportscars.co.uk/
The donor
The kit as delivered in January 2021
The body goes on the chassis August 2021
Thanks the wheels are basic steel wheels repainted in a matt silver trying to echo the Dunlop racing wheels. I have some dummy spinners I am planning to add.
The colour is a bit brighter than I was expecting, it might get some white stripes added.
The ride height will be corrected later on, it's a bit high at the moment.
The colour is a bit brighter than I was expecting, it might get some white stripes added.
The ride height will be corrected later on, it's a bit high at the moment.
Colin RedGriff said:
Thanks the wheels are basic steel wheels repainted in a matt silver trying to echo the Dunlop racing wheels. I have some dummy spinners I am planning to add.
The colour is a bit brighter than I was expecting, it might get some white stripes added.
The ride height will be corrected later on, it's a bit high at the moment.
I like the wheels without the spinners. What I like is probably (and rightly so) irrelevant to you, but I think the spirit of such a car lies in minimalist functionality, so I wouldn't be adding dummy anything.The colour is a bit brighter than I was expecting, it might get some white stripes added.
The ride height will be corrected later on, it's a bit high at the moment.
Kawasicki said:
Lovely garage by the way. Evocative.
Thanks, really pleased with how it's well it turned out when we converted it to a double. The tiles on the floor, the painted walls and the LED lighting strips make it a nice place to work even in winter (no heating though so it still gets cold). I've been working on the dash recently, finalising the position and then working on getting the instruments, switches etc positioned. Finished drilling out all the holes today and have done a trial fit of everything on the dash.
Positioning the dash on the chassis
Making up an aluminium panel for all the switchgear
Fitting the panel to the dash
The aluminium panel with the switchgear fitted - the panel needs some final trimming and painting before it's finished.
Your topic here has resulted in me making enquiries with ANC! I had never heard of them until spotting your thread here and I think it’s fantastic. I really like the MX5 inspired kit cars and I enjoy how different this is. There seems to be some fantastic examples over on the ANC forum.
I will follow with interest!
I will follow with interest!
Dough Boy said:
Your topic here has resulted in me making enquiries with ANC! I had never heard of them until spotting your thread here and I think it’s fantastic. I really like the MX5 inspired kit cars and I enjoy how different this is. There seems to be some fantastic examples over on the ANC forum.
I will follow with interest!
Thanks I will follow with interest!
I've no experience with building a kit car but I am very happy with it, the parts provided fit together well; the guide/blog has enough information so you know how it goes together but there is room to make it your own as well. I'm learning lots of things as I go along which is part of the enjoymnt for me.
When I was looking for a kit, the ones on the MEV forums encouraged me and speaking to a few of the builders gave me the confidence to go ahead. Andy at ANC cars is very helpful both in the pre-order phase and, once you are building is happy to chat about any questions or issues. I popped over to see him and have a cuppa earlier this year as we were down in Cornwall. It's helpful when you are building to see other cars and I'm fortunate that there are a couple quite close to me.
There is a FB group too which is also good, past and present builders are on there and happy to share their knowledge and experience.
carinaman said:
My body is Capri Blue (RAL 5019) Great thread !
I shall follow with interest.
Presumably it will be quite quick ...( although you have a Griff for that !) as it will be lighter than the donor car ?
I used to have an original Lotus Elan that was about 750kg approx, so the 1.6 TwinCam with about 125BHP ( Sprint spec) made it a quick car !
You could take the exhaust out of the side like a race car ....or maybe that is a bit OTT !
I shall follow with interest.
Presumably it will be quite quick ...( although you have a Griff for that !) as it will be lighter than the donor car ?
I used to have an original Lotus Elan that was about 750kg approx, so the 1.6 TwinCam with about 125BHP ( Sprint spec) made it a quick car !
You could take the exhaust out of the side like a race car ....or maybe that is a bit OTT !
Paul S4 said:
Great thread !
I shall follow with interest.
Presumably it will be quite quick ...( although you have a Griff for that !) as it will be lighter than the donor car ?
I used to have an original Lotus Elan that was about 750kg approx, so the 1.6 TwinCam with about 125BHP ( Sprint spec) made it a quick car !
You could take the exhaust out of the side like a race car ....or maybe that is a bit OTT !
It should be about 850kg and the 1.8vvt was quoted as 145BHP so similar I would think.I shall follow with interest.
Presumably it will be quite quick ...( although you have a Griff for that !) as it will be lighter than the donor car ?
I used to have an original Lotus Elan that was about 750kg approx, so the 1.6 TwinCam with about 125BHP ( Sprint spec) made it a quick car !
You could take the exhaust out of the side like a race car ....or maybe that is a bit OTT !
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