Kit cars up game

When assembled right, kit cars can be head-turning machines for a fraction of the price of a genuine exotic. Originals, on the other hand, offer a truly unique look and feel. When buying a kit car, be sure to do your homework. Many kit cars companies are long-established, international car manufacturers with substantial full-time staff. Others, however, are one-man backyard body-kit operations with patchy reputations. Be sure to do your research before dropping your coin on one of these homemade beauties.

Buying a crashed vehicle with a totaled body can work and save you a lot of money, providing that the essential mechanical components you need are not damaged. You can also spread out your investment in the build over time, as most kit cars can be built in stages. Almost all kit car manufacturers will provide or sell you an assembly manual prior to your kit car purchase.

Below are a few kit cars from reputable manufacturers that are worth considering. The Lancia Stratos, which dominated the World Rally Championships in the mids, is among the most gorgeously aggressive auto designs of all time. Today, the original Stratos can easily fetch over half a million dollars. The STR offers better interior space and dependability than the original Stratos, while still being plenty peppy. Though not the cheapest of the replica cars out there, this one is definitely worth its weight in gold if you want a replica from the golden age of Rally Racing.

The Excocet is a complete, lightweight sports car chassis and body designed to use Mazda Miata running gear. This keeps costs down and offers a huge number of aftermarket upgrade options. Enthusiasts looking for an exciting and inexpensive kit car will get a kick out of one of these. Also U. Only around of the original Gt40 were ever made, and survivors fetch seven figures. Turn-key cars come with modern conveniences like air conditioning and a central locking system as well as safety options like a six-point roll cage.

And your kit car can even be worth a good chunk of change too. Looking for more of a hot rod? The Speedway Motors Track-T Roadster kit car is a classic-looking, fun machine that is sure to turn heads. The basic kit includes a reproduction Ford Model T Roadster body and a rigid tube steel chassis.

The chassis is built to accommodate a traditional spring-over tube axle front suspension with radius rods, and a solid rear axle with quarter-elliptic springs. Speedway Motors suggests either a Ford cc 4-cylinder or degree Chevy V6 engine, as both have lots of aftermarket performance support. As inexpensive replica cars go, this roadster offers heaps of cool customization with a very affordable price tag.

The S is an ultra-light, ultra-modern, computer-designed, two-seat, mid-engine sports car. The extended tubular space frame chassis features a removable hardtop. Weighing lbs, the GT 94 inch extended wheel base accomodates a racing suspension designed for the Corvette LS 2 V-8 engine for mph in 3.

Quarter mile in Top speed is mph. The M drew a hugh crowd on the Las Vegas Strip during a photoshoot. Box 4 Cedars, PA www. Also manufactures the with the front of a 57 Chevy, the mid-section of a 58 Impala and the rear tail fins of a 59 Chevy. Newport Convertible Engineering Inc. The U. The M has hp from a V8 twin tubo and should be even faster. Read more Olthoff Racing, Inc. Ulla, NC www. Lincoln, NE www. Avonmore, PA www.

Rollers available Pacific Roadster Lancaster Dr. SE Salem, OR www. Aluminum body and tube frames available. Des Moines, IA www. Box Malibu, CA www. Kansas City, KS www. Box Acton, CA www. Kits and turnkeys are available. Lincoln Glendale Heights, IL www. The cc straight eight, plain-bearing crank, single overhead cam, three valves per cylinder, twin-rotor supercharger provides up to bhp rpm depending on fuel used. Four-speed manual, multi-plate dry clutch, rear-wheel drive, front beam axle, semi-elliptic leaf springs, Bugatti-type friction dampers.

Rear: live axle, quarter-elliptic leaf springs, radius rods, Bugatti-type friction dampers. Cable-operated drums all round. No speedometer. This is as close to a real LMP car as you can get without the crazy price tag of the real thing. This race car is not designed for the street. See also Superlitecars. Victor, NY www. Allows for V-8 swap and a convertible option. Ravon Street Rods, Inc. Portland, OR www. N Huron, South Dakota www. Beltline Hwy.

Madison, WI www. Efessoy Road Katerini, Pieria Greece www. Dealer inquires welcome. Cambridge, KS www. C Ford Zetec engines. Also manufactures bespoke stainless exhausts and specializes in all fields of steel and aluminium fabrication. Robert Q. Riley Enterprises, LLC. Box Phoenix, AZ www. The front wheels are diesel powered, and the rear wheel runs on electric power.

At lbs and a maximum speed of 80 mph the fuel economy is - mpg. Rocky Mountain Coachworks Ltd. Box Turlock, CA www. Previously the U. This hand built specialty car has hp, does mph in 3. The Rossion Q1 uses a mid-mounted, transverse, twin turbocharged V6 Ford Duratec engine and has more luxuries than the Noble M upon which it is based. Rowley Corvette Supply, Inc. Grafton, OH www. Each car is hand crafted to order. No two are exactly alike, just like the original.

San Diego, CA www. Shelby Automobiles, Inc. Las Vegas, NV www. Platte Center, NE , www. Also fiberglass and steel body parts for almost all foreign and domestic cars. Langley, WA www. All parts can be supplied with each kit Smeding Performance Sunrise Blvd. Both kits are based on the VW Golf and Jetta. Snakepit Automotive Buffalo Ave.

Freeport, NY www. Grand Ave. North St. Breman, IN www. Box Lincoln, NE www. Unit B Frederick, MD www. The 1UPcard is specially designed to provide maximum contact with your game contacts. Do you like the idea of dirty Qtips sitting around and fuzz getting wedged into your game console? Me neither. Read about the problem with Q-tips here. Depends on how dirty the games are.

The fluid pad actually draws the dirt and corrosion into the pad, so even when it starts looking used, it still effectively cleans and polishes the contacts. You can also rinse the pad out with soap and water when it becomes visibly dirty. Additionally, when batch cleaning, you should be able to clean at least 10 cartridges before having to re-moisten the fluid pad. The kit provides more than applications of cleaning fluid.

See customer reviews here.