Would you drive a replica / kit car?

So I'm sitting here, contemplating the day when my second childhood will kick in, and I'm considering something in a roadster. Not something to break the bank, but a classic little two seater... a convertible... sporty... eye catching... a little rakish... and most importantly, fun to drive.

Cost will be a factor in this decision, so I'd probably be buying used. I'd be prepared to invest a little time and personal effort into improving engine and suspension, but the car would have to have good bones. This would be a car for driving first and tinkering second - not the other way around.

Therefore no ancient Alfa / Fiat Spyders or (shudder) British electrical systems.

A BMW Z3 or Z4 comes to mind, decent handling, are plentiful second hand, and well serviced in the aftermarket, but I'm not a fan of their styling. Now the Z8 (or the 507) is more my style, but the price!

Miatas are fairly well engineered, but I loathe the way they look... and their ubiquity. They all look the same to me, and what they all look like is smiley and effeminate.

I'm seriously considering buying a used Miata or Z3/Z4 and installing a new / different body. Not the standard 'Cobra' or Daytona knock off (too cheezy) or something that will make a Miata look like a Boxster.

Something like Z4 to Z8

Or this: Z3 to MB190SL

Would you agree? I mean, Styleformers get their clothes tailored to express their individuality... what about our cars? I mean, within reason; I would prefer to hang a new body onto a professionally esigned and built Federal Motor Vehicle Safety certified chassis than risk a one-off handbuilt by someone who can't tell the difference between mild and hi-tensile steel.

A well built replica sure. A kit car no way.

Even a good replica will set you back over 100 grand. Ultima GTR, Factory 5 GTM or Superformance GT40 would all be great toys!

why would you want to turn a Miata into a Boxster?

how about the Fiero to MR2 non-turbo conversion, ever considered that?

lol, I read that wrong.

That Filipino site you linked to that does the Z8 conversion and the Reventon are kind of cool I guess. They still cost like $100K after you're done though. If you have good enough credit and roll like that you, could always get the 120 month loan on a used Gallardo, lol.

I've been thinking of doing something like this but rather finding a vintage roadster and then restoring it myself. Now if I could just get rid of Wayne Carini.

Not practical, but if it's a second car... I want one as a daily driver but it'll take a while until I'm old enough to insure it... I've spent far too long lusting after these on youtube



This is more practical and I'd take it over a ford gt any day

I'd restore a vintage car. I'm not a fan of kits or replicas.

Some cars are realistically only available via "kit" or replica and have been around for a long enough time that there are multiple vendors and the costs have come down. Those BMW / MB replicas look pretty neat, but the interiors and the drive trains are not at all comparable to what the true car is supposed to be.

Compare that to the three most popular replicas that I am aware of - Porsche 356 / Speedster, Porsche 550, and Shelby Cobra. You can get a very good replica that offers an engine and the mechanical bits that are close, if not identical, to what exists on the real collector cars. The seats, gauges, and instruments all look accurate. And while I am sure that owners of the "real" cars probably snub their noses at replica owners, the other 99% of people probably don't care that it is a fake. There have been exponentially more Cobra knock-offs made than were ever made by the factory and nobody cares (except Shelby, who didn't get in on the licensing until relatively recently.

with the exception of the some of the Cobra kits, i have yet to see a replica kit that wasn't absolute **** quality

Originally Posted by HRoi

Click to expand...

with the exception of the some of the Cobra kits, i have yet to see a replica kit that wasn't absolute **** quality

What about the Beck Speedsters and 550s? They've been doing those for 20 or 30 years.

I think there is a huge difference between a kit, that you are expected to build on your own with whatever parts you can cobble together, and a replica, usually built by a factory or garage to certain specifications. Since the OP was talking about buying a car basically ready-to-drive, I assume he isn't looking to do all (or any of) the work himself.

Originally Posted by Benzito

Click to expand...

What about the Beck Speedsters and 550s? They've been doing those for 20 or 30 years.
haven't seen those. i'm sure there are good quality 'replicas' that i haven't seen, but OP is talking about buying a cheap car and converting it. i didn't get the impression that he was looking to spend $50-100k and i would definitely stay well clear of anything fiberglass

Agree'd on the Cobra. One of the only cars that, at the end of the day, no one really cares that its a kit car. And IMO, one of the only 2-seater roadsters a guy can drive without looking like a douche

After seeing the Lancia Stratos kit car on Top Gear, its made me a bit wary of kit cars in general. I'm most likely making an over-generalization of kit cars.

And speaking of which, the new Lancia Stratos was seen on the Fiat track this week.
http://blogs.timeslive.co.za/wheelde...ratos-revival/

Originally Posted by bkk

Click to expand...

After seeing the Lancia Stratos kit car on Top Gear, its made me a bit wary of kit cars in general. I'm most likely making an over-generalization of kit cars.

And speaking of which, the new Lancia Stratos was seen on the Fiat track this week.
http://blogs.timeslive.co.za/wheelde...ratos-revival/

That would be the only cool kit car looking into.