Lexus LF-A laps ring in 7.24

[Matra et Alpine]

With so many different laws in different countries, the term "street legal" is extremely ambiguous. In truth, it's totally illegal for road use in most places.

"Most places" ? ... oh you mean Amerika

[2ndclasscitizen]

"Most places" ? ... oh you mean Amerika

To be honest, it does seem quite easy to register stuff to drive on UK roads, like, easy in as long as you can attach a number plate it can be driven on the road easy.

[Matra et Alpine]

To be honest, it does seem quite easy to register stuff to drive on UK roads, like, easy in as long as you can attach a number plate it can be driven on the road easy.

Sadly not
It has to meet MOT standards.
Worse it has to pass vehicle standrds for new cars.
Having helped many get kit cars through Single Vehicle Approval it's a bloody nightmare of regulations and what seem excessively petty rules.
IF it's one-off or new kit to the SVA engineer then they can also ask for a full engineering evaluation of the chassis, suspension and safety. THAT is expensive

One big thing that I'm thankful of is we're not too restrictive on mods to cars. SO lowering, engine swaps, suspension upgrades are all fine as long as they pass the MOT standards ... This is what makes a mockery of the kit car SVA as once you've done all the stuff for the petty regs and passed then you can remove it all later and nobody is the wiser

[Ferrer]

1. Strip down most of the expensive amenities
2. Rebadge as Toyota Supra
3. Sell for 20K
4. Sit back and watch the profits roll in.

With 550bhp 4.8-litre V10? I doubt it.

This car is in a totally different league from the Supra.

[kingofthering]

"Most places" ? ... oh you mean Amerika

Interestingly...the Radical is street-legal in America.

[dydzi]

i'm looking forward to see production version of that car. looks very good in person and it proved to be fast. i think that's gonna be a very good car

[Clivey]

$20K?
I understand that in the US you've grown accustomed to the price advantage that comes from mass produced Mexican powertrains but this is going to be a very different unit.

Profits from $20K? Step away from the bong, sir.

aHahaha!

Yes, typically North American sports cars, such as the Corvette and Mustang achieve low prices because nothing's overly complicated. With complicated European and Japanese machines though, it isn't possible. Neither approach is "right" or "wrong", just different to suit the relevant markets.

I do think though that KOTR was making a general statement and exaggeration regarding the $20k figure - I don't think he actually means that they should try to sell it for $20k, just that they should strip all of the non-essential stuff out and sell it at a "bargain" price if possible. - Isn't that what Nissan are doing with the GT-R (I've read about different (interior) specification levels being launched to suit different pockets)?

[kingofthering]

I do think though that KOTR was making a general statement and exaggeration regarding the $20k figure - I don't think he actually means that they should try to sell it for $20k, just that they should strip all of the non-essential stuff out and sell it at a "bargain" price if possible.

YESS!!! FINALLY SOMEONE KNOWS WHAT I'M SAYING!!!!

[NSXType-R]

1. Strip down most of the expensive amenities
2. Rebadge as Toyota Supra
3. Sell for 20K
4. Sit back and watch the profits roll in.

Hard to do. I would still love to see them do that though.

Besides, Toyota needs more sports car offerings. Maybe use the same platform to create other sports cars?

[Bob]

Sadly not
It has to meet MOT standards.
Worse it has to pass vehicle standrds for new cars.
Having helped many get kit cars through Single Vehicle Approval it's a bloody nightmare of regulations and what seem excessively petty rules.
IF it's one-off or new kit to the SVA engineer then they can also ask for a full engineering evaluation of the chassis, suspension and safety. THAT is expensive

One big thing that I'm thankful of is we're not too restrictive on mods to cars. SO lowering, engine swaps, suspension upgrades are all fine as long as they pass the MOT standards ... This is what makes a mockery of the kit car SVA as once you've done all the stuff for the petty regs and passed then you can remove it all later and nobody is the wiser

What's to stop you from registering a honda civic, then "modifying" it into a kit car? Simply by replacing a few basic parts on the honda (i.e. everything) it could become a radical. In all seriousness, at what point is it no longer the same car as the one which you registered? What component, when changed, changes the "identity" of the vehicle?

[NSXType-R]

What's to stop you from registering a honda civic, then "modifying" it into a kit car? Simply by replacing a few basic parts on the honda (i.e. everything) it could become a radical. In all seriousness, at what point is it no longer the same car as the one which you registered? What component, when changed, changes the "identity" of the vehicle?

As long as the "H" and "Civic" badges are on it, it's still a Civic.

To be serious, that in itself is a touchy subject. To me, once you change the engine, it's not the same car anymore. That's why I usually do not like engine swaps, especially in a Mazda, where the rotary engine is the reason why it's special in the first place.

Awesome to have a huge thumping V-8 in a RX-7, but that's not the reason I would buy an RX-7. If I had wanted a Corvette, I would have bought one in the first place.

However, a rotary engine in a Mazda MX-5. That would be interesting.

Makes me wonder why they didn't put the two together yet.

As long as the engine is from the same company, I guess it would be alright.

[kingofthering]

However, a rotary engine in a Mazda MX-5. That would be interesting.

Makes me wonder why they didn't put the two together yet.

As long as the engine is from the same company, I guess it would be alright.

You could do it in Auto Modellista. In case you're wondering, yes I did it. Boy was that fast. But not as awesome as my NA 537 HP Integra Type-R.

[NSXType-R]

You could do it in Auto Modellista. In case you're wondering, yes I did it. Boy was that fast. But not as awesome as my NA 537 HP Integra Type-R.

Torque steer anyone?

[Matra et Alpine]

What's to stop you from registering a honda civic, then "modifying" it into a kit car? Simply by replacing a few basic parts on the honda (i.e. everything) it could become a radical. In all seriousness, at what point is it no longer the same car as the one which you registered? What component, when changed, changes the "identity" of the vehicle?

The crucial thing in the UK is the "chassis". If you ostensibly retain the chassis then it's OK. If you use a different chassis - as in a Radical - then you HAVE to put it through the SVA test.
The rules are quite strict and in fact I was pulled up at the MOT on one of our kit cars because the kit car body chassis number didn't match the documents. A mistake made by the original builder adn somehow missed when completed. Thankfully the guy was reasonable and as long as I made up a new chassis plate matching the documents he was happy to accept it. Phew .. as the alternative woudl have been a full SVA and a new number plate and lots of expense.

It may LOOK like it's easy to do kits and mods in the UK because so many do it. but it's not. The reason it's "easy" is because so many HAVE done it that the regulations and bodies are all setup to handle it and ensure safe cars are on the road.

[Tomodachi]

You could do it in Auto Modellista. In case you're wondering, yes I did it. Boy was that fast. But not as awesome as my NA 537 HP Integra Type-R.

That sounds like one scary @ss ride!!