TheSamba.com :: View topic - Are Dune-Buggy's really a Kit Car? Is a Kit Car really a Kit

Wed Feb 18, 2009 5:03 am

ManxBug wrote: Man that is just bitchin awesome!!! ^^^

x2..... :D

Wed Feb 18, 2009 10:46 am

No doubt, I followed that thread for a long time. Beautiful job on the Kubel. =D>

Fri Jul 30, 2010 11:05 pm

Funny,
I was on a lamborghini forums and there is hugely hot discussion on Replica's/ Kit cars.
This topis was about 40 pages deep, many snobs touting that their "right" to own a rare car should only be for the wealthy. And that Kit cars make their car worth less.

Ironically, one man whom owns three Diablo's came into the discussion and ended the entire rather heated topic by saying well "the Diablo was a GM body design, using Audi electronics, with a Lamborghini motor", so who owns the kit?
He also stated something I like alot. That if a man or woman decides to build the car of his or her dreams by hand, even though it may be a copy or an original design, he commended that as pursuing ones dreams. And if they are happy with showing off their hard work, and skill. No one has the right to destroy their ability to enjoy the fruits of their labor because of a name plate and a price tag.

He eluded essentially all cars could be considered kits (AKA hand build cars) depending on how they are purchased (off the lot, or piece by piece)

Funny how the general population automatically presumes you have a piece of junk when you use the term "Kit Car".
I strive every day to educate people on that error.

Sat Jul 31, 2010 7:59 am

ydeardorff wrote: Funny how the general population automatically presumes you have a piece of junk when you use the term "Kit Car".
I strive every day to educate people on that error.

In the UK, cars have to pass an MOT "roadworthy" test every year or so. They check brakes, steering, lights, etc., even the integrity of the chassis. I doubt even half the dune buggies on the road in the states could pass an MOT.

There's a lot of superbly built dune buggies and custom cars on the road. Some are even better than what you get from the big manufacturers. But there's just as many that aren't.

Sat Jul 31, 2010 8:39 am

One of my favorite cars to toss up in peoples face about the quality of some of the new kits available is the ultima sports GTR.

When they see the car, and its stats, they usually have to pick their jaws up off of the floor.

The quality of a kit is usually directly relative to the skill, and or pocket book of the owner/builder.

I mean how many kits have we all seen screwed onto those little honda civic's running around with the fart box muffler making tons of noise.

Some of those car look atrocious, others look superb. Its hit or miss with all cars. I'd just like to see the term "kit car", regain its popularity, and glory again. Most people dont even know about them anymore. Those that have, usually are running on so many levels of heresay, they dont know what they are talking about. Maybe its up to all of us, to do that, one person at a time. :D

Sat Jul 31, 2010 9:01 am

One of the big problems is that at least in this state, unless you know how to fiddle the system, they're impossible to register. Sometimes even if you are able to register it, the registration is non-transferable if you want to sell it. It really puts a damper on what a car is worth if it can't be legally driven on the street.

Sat Jul 31, 2010 9:09 am

BL3Manx wrote: ydeardorff wrote: Funny how the general population automatically presumes you have a piece of junk when you use the term "Kit Car".
I strive every day to educate people on that error.

In the UK, cars have to pass an MOT "roadworthy" test every year or so. They check brakes, steering, lights, etc., even the integrity of the chassis. I doubt even half the dune buggies on the road in the states could pass an MOT.

There's a lot of superbly built dune buggies and custom cars on the road. Some are even better than what you get from the big manufacturers. But there's just as many that aren't.

Ive seen lots of unsafe and downright dangerous looking vehicles on the road. You couldnt get me to ride down the driveway in some of the hacked up lowriders ive seen.

We have annual inspection in Louisiana. They are supposed to check brakes, wipers, horn, lights and general roadworthyness. In my experience, if your vehicle looks well constructed and well maintained you will have minimal checks. On the other hand, if things look funky you can expect greater scrutiny. Some stations don't care much. If you can drive it there they will pass it.

First place I brought my buggy to would not inspect it. He said it would not pass inspection. Fine I said, just fail it so I know what to fix. He again refused and told me he didn't know what it should and shouldn't have so didn't know what to fail it for.

Second place I brought it to, the guy checked lights, horn, wipers, brakes and sort of looked it over. Then issued my tag, no questions asked.

Sat Jul 31, 2010 3:20 pm

ydeardorff wrote:
Ironically, one man whom owns three Diablo's came into the discussion and ended the entire rather heated topic by saying well "the Diablo was a GM body design, using Audi electronics, with a Lamborghini motor", so who owns the kit?

HE's a tool... GM had zip to do with Lamborghini. Chrysler owned an interest in Lamborghini, not GM... And the Lamborghini car contained zero Audi bits in them until the Murcielago arrived after 1998, when Audi bought Lambo from Asian owners MyCom and V'Power.

Oddly enough, the last of the Diablos used Nissan Z32-series 300ZX headlights in place of the pop-up lights.

bnc

Sat Jul 31, 2010 4:48 pm

BL3Manx wrote: In the UK, cars have to pass an MOT "roadworthy" test every year or so. They check brakes, steering, lights, etc., even the integrity of the chassis. I doubt even half the dune buggies on the road in the states could pass an MOT.

And, despite our shocking lack of government meddling, our cars don't break in half! Go figure!

The number of states requiring vehicle "safety" inspections has dropped from 30 to 19 in the last decade. The main reason for this is that nobody has been able to show that inspections improve accident statistics. The only people who are unhappy about this are the mechanics who made free money for filling out forms and the people who erroneously think that having an inspection program improves safety.

Sat Jul 31, 2010 5:19 pm

As far as my view on the subject goes, a dune buggy can either be a kit car or a rebody kit. Rebody kits are like a VW dune buggy with only a body included or one of those kits that you change the outer panels of a Fiero or MR2 to make a fake Ferrari or change the outside of a Miata to look like a BMW roadster, whereas a kit car contains a windshield, trim pieces, interior components, some structural parts, sometimes a bespoke chassis, and other things save engine/transmission needed to complete the kit.

Kit cars have gotten better since I built my Fraser Nash back in the 70s, back then I had to cut and upholster my own plywood interior panels, supply my own gauges, narrow the pan myself, get glass cut for the windshield, get the top frame and seats covered, supply my own carpet kit, side curtains and tonneau and weld on an extension to create the correct wheelbase, not to mention supplying every piece of trim save the grille shell, radiator cap and Fraser Nash emblem, whereas if you build certain brands of buggy, a Porsche replica, a Sterling or most non-VW kits, you can get a new custom or rebuilt donor chassis and almost everything, including the interior and top included. But if you choose a replica of an existing production vehicle (like a Speedster, Spyder, RSK, Cobra or Baroque Angel BMW 328), accurate badges and scripts will be up to you.

Sun Aug 01, 2010 6:04 am

I own and drive two Laser 917's,When at the gas pumps or CarShows, Someone always calls it or asks if it a KitCar? if they ask nicely, I reply "I prefer the term Porsche Reproduction" then explan:Ther a Copy of the Prosche 917 RaceCar Made in 1970-72, they were only made for 2 yrs and produced only a 1000 and as far as I know only 8 in michigan :shock: If the guy is a know-it-all/ smartass :roll: I ask him which MiniVan is his out in the parking lot? :lol: I also say' You can't put one of these together in a wknd' :wink: Not necessarily in that order. I also Drag Race a SandShark TubBuggy,and Not one person at the Races has EVER called it a KitCar 8) 8) 8) But They do eat alot of Humble Pie :lol: :lol: Most 'CarGuys' Know 8) but the general public are clueless :? ,Madmike