Kit Cars

[eyebrows]

recently my dad saw a "race car is born" and has had me looking up stuff about kit cars. (he wants me to look at the lotus super 7) he wants it for a hobby and eventually a first car for me or my sister. any way i found a couple of kits one around 4 grand AUS but that is a very basic pakage, and i was wondering how much it would cost all up including road registration in australia. any info at all would be helpful cos i don't know jack about kit cars.

[Matra et Alpine]

recently my dad saw a "race car is born" and has had me looking up stuff about kit cars. (he wants me to look at the lotus super 7) he wants it for a hobby and eventually a first car for me or my sister. any way i found a couple of kits one around 4 grand AUS but that is a very basic pakage, and i was wondering how much it would cost all up including road registration in australia. any info at all would be helpful cos i don't know jack about kit cars.
AS well as kit car advocates here on UCP ( tho' not sure how many Oz-side ) you'd do well to find a local kit car club, magazines and on-line specialists.
No doubt a kit car can be awesome performance for the $$, BUT, it can be daunting as some kits need you to be quite adept at engineering - the ultimate - Locost - can be done VERY cheaply but you start out with square tube and cut-and-weld pretty much EVEYTHING except the engine and wheels :)
Very few kits go together exactly as the instructions and you'll find the need to call on 'experts' to advise. If you're lucky ( or by choice ) then a local kit car club member will have built the car you're doing and kit car owners are one of the most helpful you can find. I've seen guys drive hundreds miles to help someone shape and fit a difficult part !!
Find out about the 'foibles' of the kit you plan. None are perfect and it's best to know ahead of the build about them rather than half way through
Friend's son can't drive his Striker because the foot well isn't big enough for size 12 feet !!. So they're building a new chassis and making a biigger pedal box :)
Thiee are the number one reasons there are lots of part-built-kits for sale - just check out eBay :) When it gets difficult and enthusiasm wanes then it's too easy to stop and give up. We've bought 7-kit chassis and running gear for 100 pounds from those who just want to clear their garages cleared !
Good luck, first with your study for the best kit, your purchase and your build. A lot of fun is gained in the build and even more in the running :)

[digitalcraft]

holy sheezoly! I wish I had a kit car as my 1st car!

[eyebrows]

its still a maybe and i think i might have to fund for half of it myself but to have a lotus super 7 as a car let alone first car would be worth the money!!! ne way thanks for the help matra i'll keep looking.

[Matra et Alpine]

Check out insurance via Kit Car Club and owners clubs.
Oddly a kit car doesn't end up in the same insurance groups as a performance car and you often pay less than half for an equivalent performance Ford, Holden, Jag, Lotus etc.
So runnning costs of he kit can be a LOT cheaper if you're a new driver.
That's in the UK anyway where it is costing equiv of $600 to add my daughter onto the family car - a humdrum Corsa :(

[Suka]

Get a Kit Car, Great insurance! I should know, my Seven replica is coming in 4 weeks.

[Falcon500]

Im not to sure about kit cars here but i think their insurence is similar to a normal road going car...the problem i dont know what kind of road car they are classed as...im assuming it depends on performance....
One thoughtthat comes to mind prehaps you could try a kit car that is based of a mainstream car....likethe condor or Purvis Eurka kit car...bioth are based off VW chasis' the eurka runs your average run of the mill vw wengine but with a lower kerb weight and better areodynmics performs much better where the condor looks like a ferrari dino and usually comes with a rotary engine...rember these are just ideas....

[fpv_gtho]

well theyre more options for if he wants to stray from the classic lotus 7 shape but still wants it as a kit car. ultimately i'd say the eureka and condor would weigh alot more than a 7, but i'd say you could get away with a bigger, more powerful engine.

If youve got a hundred grand laying around though and aren't too fond of getting in with the MIG and angle grinder, you might want to look at the Elfin MS8 Clubman and Streamliner

[eyebrows]

im a big fan of the lotus/caterham super 7 and also my dads suggested a rotary engine for more performance!!! i was like :D when i heard that one. one thing is i saw a lotus super 7 kit thats made in aus but it has a LS1 in it and also it wieghed 800kg im wondering does this have any thing to do with making it road legal in aus and i know theres going to be things i have to change on it to make it road legal so does any body know what or where i can get the info from?

[fpv_gtho]

that would probably be the Lotus X7, its already been tested by either Wheels or Motor and is only about $40K

[Matra et Alpine]

im a big fan of the lotus/caterham super 7 and also my dads suggested a rotary engine for more performance!!! i was like :D when i heard that one. one thing is i saw a lotus super 7 kit thats made in aus but it has a LS1 in it and also it wieghed 800kg im wondering does this have any thing to do with making it road legal in aus and i know theres going to be things i have to change on it to make it road legal so does any body know what or where i can get the info from?
:puts record on turntable:
If you're looking for more performance and want it reliable then I'd suggest looking at the bike-engined options.
Lots of companies now doing all the bits to install enything from a stock Honda 'blade all the way trhough to Turbo'ed Hayabusas and twin engines int he Tiger.
All the performacne and less hassle than a rotary AND you get sequential gear change for free - and the option to go as fast in reverse (with 6 gears ) as forward :)

7-copy chassis and parts - 2000 pounds
donor car - 200 pounds
bike engne - 2000 pounds for a good'un
revers gear and 'special parts' - from 500 - 1000 pounds
Add about 100-150 hours and you've a SERIOUSLY FAST car for 6000 pounds :)

[eyebrows]

firstly (directed at fpv_gtho) yeh it was the x7 and is $40k cheap? cos ive seen the full kit in england for 11k aus but thats with out engine and gear box
and secondly (directed at matra et alpine) i considered the motor bike engine as u said but it wouldn't have the same torque as the rotary but my mind is open to everything small light free revving and with a high output it still a while off so there might be something forcing me to have a motor bike engine by then.

[fpv_gtho]

well, its about midrange. 4 cylinder, fully built kits on the used car market will get over $20K and then theres the Elfin MS8 Clubman that new with the LS1 is $85K. Take notice though that both the MS8 and X7 are fully serviceable at a Holden dealer but i dont know if theyve got the warranty

[eyebrows]

my dad doesn't like v8's so its not really an option and i don't really want one im a rev head key word being rev more rev's the better!!!!! ne way i apreciate the help. and the service i will probably do myself so thats no bigy.

[Matra et Alpine]

firstly (directed at fpv_gtho) and secondly (directed at matra et alpine) i considered the motor bike engine as u said but it wouldn't have the same torque as the rotary but my mind is open to everything small light free revving and with a high output it still a while off so there might be something forcing me to have a motor bike engine by then.
7-copies are light so the extra weight is only abouth the equivalent of having a big rider and BIG pillion on a bike and 'busa's do well at that :)
But for sure you need to use the gears more.
But that is ONLY a 'sound' issue as with a sequential box it's soooo easy to snick up and down the gears :)

[Falcon500]

I suggested the condor and eureka chasis' for a number of reasons...the purvis eurka has been around for a long time and has been refiend upon for a long time...the option list is as long as your arm....redline make numerous hotup parts fora v dub engine which can get suprsiningperformance in a beetle let alone a lighter/more areodynamic sheel on top...they can alsomanitian goodecconmy as well as a brilliant long lasting engine....
The condor while not sounding as atractive looks better (think ferrari dino) and rotary engine are actually fairly cheap to rebuild here i chose thesekits because they are based on relible long lasting parts have been proven over time and are much cheaper to build then what you are currently looking at....

[eyebrows]

well give me a site or some pictures so i cans see!!! if u can't i don't really care but the second kit sound appealling to me, but one thing the the lotus has that is un-parallel by these cars is its handeling. almost no car can match its handeling its 400kg mid engine with double wish bone front and back with adjustable camber casters 4 wheel discs etc. any way if u can give me a site to look at that would be great and just to note its a while off yet and im still young so reliability means sh!t to me :p

[Matra et Alpine]

but one thing the the lotus has that is un-parallel by these cars is its handeling. almost no car can match its handeling its 400kg mid engine with double wish bone front and back with adjustable camber casters 4 wheel discs etc.
Don't know which 7-kits are available in Oz.
But if you're willing to import direct there are LOADS here in the UK and Europe. http://www.kit-cars.com/manlist.html will have you drooling :)
Most 7 copies have options for suspension etc and whether fully-adjustable, rose-jointed etc. so you take your pick ( and pay :( )
Some 7 kits still run drums on the rears. As you want 80% of the breaking on the front then it's not an issue. On lightened Locost, friend STILL has problems with the rear locking at times :) Discs aren't always a better choice.
Advise planning a fully adjustable brake bias circuit if you're considering serious competition.

[eyebrows]

thanks for the site matra i palne to do some recreational racing if thers such a thing but i still think ur right in suggesting the fully adjustable brakes as im one for perfection ne way thanks fo all ur help i think i got more than enough info to make a decision.

[Matra et Alpine]

thanks for the site matra i palne to do some recreational racing if thers such a thing
pleanty of it, check out local track, car clubs and don't forget rallies :)

Do "recreational" all the time I can - way not good enough to make money out of it :)