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Cedric
09-24-2005, 10:14 AM
Does anyone know if following books are any good:

'Car Builder's Manual-Designing and Constructing your own car from scratch'

'Build your own Sports Car for as little as £250'

Which of the two is the better and the more advisable if you wanna learn about sports car construction?

Has anyone already read Pritchard's Sports Racing Cars: Expert Assessment of 50 Motor Racing Greats? Is it worth buying?

Matra et Alpine
09-24-2005, 10:17 AM
Can you give author/publisher just to make sure.

THe second one is definately Ron Champons book on the LoCost.
Simple instructions, simple and capable end result. You NEED to be reasonably good at welding - often it's better/safer to buy a kit with the known strength of a factory/jig-welded chassis and customer arms :D BUT you CAN do it that cheaply.

Cedric
09-24-2005, 10:21 AM
the first book is the alternative on Champion's book. it is by Lionel Baxter and also published by Haynes. I would like to know which is the more serious, the better researched and the more scientifically founded.

BjD
09-24-2005, 10:24 AM
'Build your own Sports Car for as little as £250'


Good but a bit out of date now. If you're just after the chassis plans then try McSorley (http://mcsorley.net/locost/) , hes fixed the errors in the book and has some extended versions for the larger gent :) £250 is a bit optimistic unless you live in a scrapyard.
This (http://www.kimini.com/Reference/index.html) is a good list of a few more that may interest you

Matra et Alpine
09-24-2005, 04:06 PM
LoCost's have been put on the road for £50 - now THAT needs access to cheap steel tubing, free donor ( and free rods, gas and electriciy for the welder ) :D
Champion designed the LoCost and wrote that book years ago and much has been learned along the way.
The big plus is the LoCost builders and clubs are great at trying out improvmenets and communicating them. Hooking up with thems is THE most important thing to do if undertaking a LoCost - TRUE for any kit tbh :D
Realistically the chassis is about £300 of steel at todays prices. Thankfully though it's easier than ever to get free donor cars as most scrappies now CHARGE to dispose of them. The SKCC usually knows of a list of Sierra/Escort/Fiestas available FREE if you take it off the owners hands and save him the £50 to dispose :)

Again another reason for getting in tow wiht a local kit car club asap :D

Cedric
09-26-2005, 04:26 AM
Thanks for the elaborate information. But what is the book to go for then? The Car Builder's Manual or the 250 quid car book?

Matra et Alpine
09-26-2005, 07:52 AM
Thanks for the elaborate information. But what is the book to go for then? The Car Builder's Manual or the 250 quid car book?
don't know Cedric, still waiting for the answer to the question about who the author and publihser of that one IS :D

Cedric
09-26-2005, 10:56 AM
The author of that book (as I already mentioned ;) ) is Baxter, it is published by haynes as well.