What is a kit car and a list of popular models
Content
In the world of motorists, hand-built cars have always been valued. Often such copies were produced by automakers in extremely limited editions. The Bentley Mulliner Bacalar, for example, will be hand-assembled and only 12 examples of this elegant British convertible will be produced.
Sports and hypercars of the new generation, or those that have already gone down in history, always cost fabulous money. For this reason, only a very rich person can put such a sports car in his garage.
Despite the fact that rare cars are expensive, a modern motorist can buy a special kit and assemble a model that looks no different from the original. With such a car, you can show off in front of an admiring crowd or feel how it is to sit behind the wheel of a rarity. This review will focus on whale cars.
What does kit car mean
In short, a kit car is a car disassembled for parts and packed in boxes. By purchasing such a kit, the motorist will have to assemble his vehicle on his own. On the one hand, this will allow him to get acquainted with the car device in more detail, and on the other hand, it is an opportunity to get a unique model that has a small or extremely limited series.
The very idea that the assembly of vehicles was a possible consumer appeared at the dawn of the last century. So, in 1912, the American manufacturer Lad's Car offered its customers a disassembled car. The difference between the already assembled analogue was $ 20, which in modern terms is as much as $ 500.
This car also turned out to be a rarity, because the model with the 3-horsepower engine did not sell as well as the manufacturer had planned. The reason for this was the emergence of an innovative development of the American brand Ford. Read more about the decision that influenced the further production of cars, read in separate review.
Initially, the idea of creating a kit car was due to the opportunity to interest the client in purchasing a cheaper car, saving on its assembly. The buyer received a detailed drawing, according to which he could independently assemble all the elements. But when the conveyor appeared, there was no point in reducing the cost of transport in this way. This idea was forgotten until the beginning of the second half of the XNUMXth century.
At that time, motorists could afford to buy a new car without waiting for it to fully use up its resource. Moreover, due to the race of automakers, more interesting models appeared on the market, which forced buyers to change to new cars, and hand over their old ones to landfills.
Companies involved in the disposal of old cars were sorting out vehicles that were still suitable for operation. Some parts were sent for recycling, but some could be repaired. The craftsmen restored all the units, disassembled the body for parts, and formed separate sets, which were sold in the corresponding stores.
A buyer who could not afford a new car could purchase such a car and assemble it according to the attached drawings. Kit cars were especially popular in England. In the 1970s, there was a high tax on cars in that country, but full-fledged, but disassembled vehicles were taxed according to a different grid - like auto parts. This made the unique models more accessible to middle-income buyers.
In addition to vehicle scrappage companies, some major car manufacturers have also used a similar scheme to attract more customers. One of these "constructors" could be ordered by mail. Each individual box could include a disassembled body, engine parts, chassis, transmission, etc. As a result of meticulous assembly, the client received, for example, Lotus Elan.
Basically, such kits consisted of the main parts of the budget model itself, for example, the Volkswagen Beetle. So, the client received an ambitious car at the price of the cheapest, but outwardly unattractive car. Of course, such cars did not differ in particular dynamics, but they always looked spectacular.
Some car companies decided to use kit cars, because few could afford an expensive supercar, but more customers could buy a compromise solution with less efficient units. So popular was the replica of the pretentious AC Cobra sports car or the same Lotus Elan.
A breakthrough in the field of creating automotive designers was made by Colin Chapman, 7-time champion of the F-1 constructors' cup (1963-78). He has written a book about how you can build your own hand-built sports car for just a few hundred dollars. He proposed a scheme on the basis of which the spatial frames of all kit cars are still created.
The whale-making company acquires a license to make car frames. It creates a collapsible structure on which parts from the donor are installed. In this case, a budget car with outstanding technical data is usually taken, but if the motorist wants not only external, but also technical similarity to the original, he can freely use more productive units. The main thing in the kit-car is not performance, but an external resemblance to the original.
Today one of the main manufacturers of frames for kit car kits is Caterham. Initially, the car looks like a beach buggy. Further, firms producing such vehicles create a body from fiberglass that resembles the shape of some cult car. The rest of the parts: engine, chassis, transmission, suspension - all are taken from a donor, the dimensions of which are suitable for a particular design.
The set is packed in groups in boxes. To assemble such a car, initially it took about 20 hours. Today, these machines have become more reliable due to the greater number of additional elements, which can take about three months to assemble a model (this is the simplest option). The instructions that come with the spare parts are designed so that anyone who has even a little knowledge of mechanics can understand it.
However, the kit car has its own characteristics that stop many customers from purchasing such machines. One of these pitfalls is that the replica can only be a little like the original model. The reason for this is the legal side of the issue. When an automaker creates a specific model, it receives the copyright for it. According to the laws, a company can demand serious compensation even for copying a design. This encourages the creators of collapsible models to resort to small design changes. Sometimes this does not meet the buyer's expectations.
When buying a set in boxes, you need to be prepared for the fact that the car can only remotely resemble the desired original. An example of this is this "masterpiece" from the British company Panache.
This copy was created as a replica of the famous Italian car Lamborghini Countach. Such a designer was ordered by more than one Russian amateur to tinker in the garage. On the roads of the country, you can find several of these specimens.
A similar designer can be ordered to any post-Soviet country. Ukraine even has several small self-made kit cars. It should be admitted that this service has not yet gained strength in the country, so the number of models that can be offered to their customers is limited.
Here are some more factors that you should pay attention to before buying similar vehicles in the CIS:
- Many foreign companies do not have a large number of ready-made kits, so the client will have to wait until the application is satisfied. This can take about 6 months after the initial payment is paid.
- The manufacturer provides a guarantee exclusively for his creation, that is, for the body, frame and some executive elements. Everything that was taken from the donor (the machine that serves as the basis for the replica) is not guaranteed. In view of this, there is a chance to buy a beautiful, but technically unsuitable for travel transport, although this rarely happens, because the companies also work in their own name.
- While it is easier to register a kit car in the UK, in the CIS it can take a lot of time and money.
- The safety of a kit car can only be guessed at. The reason for this is the lack of crash test results from the manufacturer. To create a "whale", the manufacturer does not allocate funds for such expensive tests. Because of this, such transport may not even meet the elementary standards that even the same donor meets.
- If the kit car gets into an accident, you will have to spend a decent amount to repair it. Most often, you need to order a new body. The reason is that the main material from which it is made is fiberglass or carbon fiber.
- Selling such a car on the secondary market is almost impossible, because this development has few fans.
How much is a kit car
If at this stage someone thought that this is a great opportunity to buy a cheap car with a cool appearance, then this is not the case. In fact, a kit car costs decent money for a motorist looking at a budget car magazine. The cost of the cheapest kit can start from 20 thousand dollars.
Plus, to this price you need to add the cost of paperwork at customs, registration at the service center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the price of postal services. All this can clean up the buyer's wallet to zero.
China offers its kit cars at a more indulgent price, but they still do not cost less than a used Citroen Berlingo with airbags, a sturdy body and a real bumper.
However, if you compare the construction of a collectible working model, say, the same Shelby Cobra or Ferrari 250, then it will definitely cost less than buying a car at auction.
If earlier a kit car provided an opportunity to buy an inexpensive car, today it is quite an expensive pleasure. In addition to the costs mentioned earlier, the owner of such a copy will have to allocate time to assemble the model. Of course, after such an expensive purchase, you want to start using the product as soon as possible, so you will have to attract helpers. Ideally, it would be great to use the help of an enthusiastic friend, but even with his help the work will drag on for several months.
If the master goes to work every day, then the assembly can take a whole year or more. To assemble a car in a short time, you will have to involve assistants who understand mechanics, and this is also a waste. As a result, the cost of a worthy "whale" will cost about 60-100 thousand dollars, and for more productive models - even more than 200 thousand.
The price of the product is influenced not only by the quality and beauty of the body, but also by the units that will be installed on the vehicle. Companies can offer a cheap low-power option, or they can equip the model with original components. In this case, the car will turn out to be really collectible, and it will be a pity to use it for ordinary trips. For that kind of money, you can buy an excellent car with a salon and a full manufacturer's warranty.
Of course, this will be a regular production car, so it all depends on what the customer wants to achieve. If the question is to buy an exclusive car that can only be purchased at an auction, and then for millions of dollars, then buying a kit car is advisable. It will really help you save a lot.
If the option of acquiring a beautiful and practical car is being considered, then it is better to use the means to choose a model offered on the serial transport market. This option makes sense only for creating your own collection from copies of exclusive cars.
Also, the price of products will depend on the purpose for which the disassembled car is purchased. When the motorist decided to simply assemble the car on his own, having tried his hand at the automaker's field, then you can order a cheap kit.
Some car enthusiasts choose to buy expensive kits in order to make a competitive vehicle for competition. There are amateurs who are ready to pay a decent amount to have a replica of a unique car in their garage, the original of which only a few very rich people can afford. In these cases, the package will be costly.
The best models
There are two ways to buy a kit car. If you bypass the procedure for finding a suitable model and seller, then the car can be obtained as follows:
- Looking for a layout of the future car. You can make it yourself, but for this you need to have decent knowledge of the design of a car and the creation of drawings. On the basis of the layout, a frame is first made - a supporting structure on which each part of the transport will be fixed. This is the most difficult and time consuming process. An amateur mechanic in this case can save a decent amount. On the other hand, he should have a lot of free time and a spacious garage.
- A suitable company is being looked for, which is engaged in the formation of kits. The design and some technical parameters are discussed. In this case, the kit will cost more, but the car enthusiast will not have to spend time creating a structure. Usually, the buyer independently selects the engine and transmission from any donor. At the same time, he must transfer the dimensions of the units to the supplier so that an appropriate frame can be created for them.
Here is a small list of ideal car models that are great for building a kit car.
Volkswagen Beetle
You can use an old bug as a donor. This model easily converts into beach buggies or beautiful roadsters and sporty Porsche variants. When choosing such a model, it is worth considering that the engines of the "boxer" type were originally used in it. In order for the finished car to have good performance, it would be better to purchase a modern engine.
Power units and transmission from Subaru are well suited for such a model. As for the purchase of a donor, this can be problematic in the CIS, since the car is a rarity, and it may not be so cheap. In Europe, such a copy can be found at a cost of around 700 euros. To build a "whale" you can stop at the killed car. It will be altered anyway.
An example of a ready-made version based on this model is the Sterling Nova kit car. If you use the units from the "bug", then the kit can cost about 6 thousand dollars. Slightly more than 20 thousand USD will cost a set equipped with a motor from Mazda (rotary) or a V-shaped six from Ford.
Mazda Miata (MX-5)
Initially, this Japanese car was made according to a project similar to English sports cars. This car makes beautiful collectible roadsters. The model itself has good technical characteristics. If there is a desire to make transport that harmoniously fits into the modern auto world, the technical part can be slightly modernized.
You can put in the engine compartment of the vehicle:
- ICE and gearbox from GM (all modifications from the LX series);
- Powertrain and transmission from Mazda (rotary modification), for example, model RX-8;
- Ford V-8 Windsor (302) engine, mated to Borg-Warner T56 transmission.
These are the kit cars that are popular among fans of hand-made famous replicas.
Lotus 7
This legendary car has a unique design. Its peculiarity is that you can choose any car and almost any units as a donor. Since the body and frame of the transport are quite light, even a 100-horsepower unit will make a dynamic sports car out of a replica.
Some companies, such as Birkin, may sell either pre-assembled pieces or boxed kits. The mentioned company produces practically visual copies of the famous seven (3-series). Cheaper options are made only as a model that slightly resembles the famous sports car.
Depending on the selected set with a spatial frame, the buyer will have to pay about 21 thousand USD for this instance. This is without taking into account customs clearance, registration and donor cost.
Shelby Cobra
The model itself is initially a variant of the kit car. The famous designer and mechanic installed an American internal combustion engine on a frame from an English car. Like the previous model, this replica provides a wide variety of donor aggregates.
The manufacturer can manufacture body panels from either fiberglass or aluminum plates. This will affect the cost of the kit. If a third or fourth generation Ford Mustang is used for conversion into a legendary collectible car, then a kit car kit will cost about $ 13 - quite cheap for this pretentious historic car.
Ford GT40
Another motorsport legend has become available to those wishing to experience the spirit of the war between Ford and Ferrari thanks to the manufacture of kit car kits. The basis of such a car is made in the form of a monocoque. The material can be carbon fiber or aluminum. It all depends on the material capabilities of the client.
Also, the frame can be made of steel, like the original. The body is usually made of fiberglass. Basically, the power unit and transmission for such a car is taken from any modern "Mustang". To achieve the effect of a sports car, it is better, of course, to use a powerful motor that would give out the desired dynamics. A modification from any modern car can be used as a suspension.
One UK kit maker is offering this replica for about $ 51.
So, a kit car is an expensive pleasure, but this service allows less wealthy motorists to acquire a collectible vintage car and feel like a participant in historic races. The main thing here is not to forget that sports competitions should be held on closed circuit tracks.
Here's one video on how to build the Shortcut buggy:
