kit car

[The Radium King]

it would be an epic build - the frame vendor I linked to already has experience tying in to Porsche running gear, and the 904 body doesn't look that difficult to graft on. the devil is in the (many) details in something like this, however.

these guys to a g12 body:

DARE UK - Products - G12

and these guys do an xk13 body:

SCF XJ13

[woodsman]

I prefer the 904 and 962.

[BYprodriver]

I saw a TV show maybe 9 years ago where there was a Carrera GT kit put onto a Boxster. Looked good on TV, but you could see flaws also.
At Rennsport reunion IV in Montery I talked to Beck's son. They had a running 904 replica & said M96 engine was a option.
BBI/IPD is working on a 550 spyder replica with 500+HP potential from a Porsche engine. I realize I'm not directly addressing your OP, but it's closer than most posts here.

Originally Posted by The Radium King

you know, with all the dead boxsters floating around - blown engines, accidented, written-off, water damaged, etc., you would think someone would make a tube chassis that used boxster running gear - suspension, brakes, steering, transmission, etc. it would be light and make a heck of a go-kart regardless of what engine you used. add a fiberglass body and off to the races (literally). cut and paste your vin tags, add some fit-up and you could have a street car.

no idea what body to use, however. most kits are recreations of some sort, and the kits that try to create something new tend to look god-awful or way dated. something that riffed on a dino 246 theme would really work for me. I was thinking of a 904 body (keep it Porsche) Ginetta G12 body (lotus elise with torque) or perhaps a jag xk13 body, but the jury is still out for me.

crazy?

[evomind]

Originally Posted by BYprodriver

I saw a TV show maybe 9 years ago where there was a Carrera GT kit put onto a Boxster. Looked good on TV, but you could see flaws also.
At Rennsport reunion IV in Montery I talked to Beck's son. They had a running 904 replica & said M96 engine was a option.
BBI/IPD is working on a 550 spyder replica with 500+HP potential from a Porsche engine. I realize I'm not directly addressing your OP, but it's closer than most posts here.

Have you seen the chassis of the 550 replica? A lot less than 500hp will twist that chassis up like a pretzel methinks.

[BYprodriver]

Originally Posted by evomind

Have you seen the chassis of the 550 replica? A lot less than 500hp will twist that chassis up like a pretzel methinks.

No haven't seen anything other than the shop @ BBI/IPD & talking to a guy there.
The current Excellence mag has a article on the chassis/engine tuning BBI did for Jeff Zwart's GT3.

[evomind]

Originally Posted by BYprodriver

No haven't seen anything other than the shop @ BBI/IPD & talking to a guy there.
The current Excellence mag has a article on the chassis/engine tuning BBI did for Jeff Zwart's GT3.

Ya know, Beck makes a very nice replica, if you want brand new its delivered as a rolling chassis but nice, used examples well sorted can be had for less than 30k.

Not sure what they want for this one, but take a look if youre not familiar with the kits.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Replica-Kit-Makes-Other-PORSCHE-550-RE-CREATION-1956-porsche-550-spyder-re-creation-only-150-miles-/291017694151?forcerrptr=true&hash=item43c2019bc7&item=291017694151&pt=US_Cars_Trucks

[The Radium King]

I think the 904 is probably the easiest, and purest (keeping it all Porsche) project. I don't think the scale on the 550 is right for a boxster, and I've heard about the beck and thunder ranch 904 copies but out of my price range. and really, their offerings are bespoke cars. I'm thinking more custom tube frame, swing over the boxster running gear, then add body. then the details.

the thing about the 904 is that is was all fiberglass straight from porsche, like a factory kit car. so, the fit and finish (the part that kills most amateur car builders) is pretty easy to attain. note the doors/side glass on the 904 - simple. dash - simple. hinges and latches - simple.

well, simple-ish. it would probably die an unfinished project, after nightmare struggles with custom brake lines, properly aligning doors, hours of wet-sanding, etc.

[evomind]

Originally Posted by The Radium King

I think the 904 is probably the easiest, and purest (keeping it all Porsche) project. I don't think the scale on the 550 is right for a boxster, and I've heard about the beck and thunder ranch 904 copies but out of my price range. and really, their offerings are bespoke cars. I'm thinking more custom tube frame, swing over the boxster running gear, then add body. then the details.

the thing about the 904 is that is was all fiberglass straight from porsche, like a factory kit car. so, the fit and finish (the part that kills most amateur car builders) is pretty easy to attain. note the doors/side glass on the 904 - simple. dash - simple. hinges and latches - simple.

well, simple-ish. it would probably die an unfinished project, after nightmare struggles with custom brake lines, properly aligning doors, hours of wet-sanding, etc.

Maybe if it was delivered as a rolling chassis.....
Take a look at what RCR is making. I know they were making a 917 or something kit car. pricey.

[BYprodriver]

Originally Posted by The Radium King

I think the 904 is probably the easiest, and purest (keeping it all Porsche) project. I don't think the scale on the 550 is right for a boxster, and I've heard about the beck and thunder ranch 904 copies but out of my price range. and really, their offerings are bespoke cars. I'm thinking more custom tube frame, swing over the boxster running gear, then add body. then the details.

the thing about the 904 is that is was all fiberglass straight from porsche, like a factory kit car. so, the fit and finish (the part that kills most amateur car builders) is pretty easy to attain. note the doors/side glass on the 904 - simple. dash - simple. hinges and latches - simple.

well, simple-ish. it would probably die an unfinished project, after nightmare struggles with custom brake lines, properly aligning doors, hours of wet-sanding, etc.

I think I know what you are saying. Probably the most successful manufacturer is "Factoryfive racing" They make a 65-67 Cobra kit car designed to bolton 87-93 Mustang powertrain & suspension components. This is so popular they now make about 10 different kits mostly Ford based.
I worked for Shelby American 2+ years on the Shelby Series 1 project. This project had the full cooperation of GM & most of thier parts vendors, but after 4 years, still failed to meet my fit & finish expectations for a $150K sportcar.

[Gilles]

Originally Posted by BYprodriver

I think I know what you are saying. Probably the most successful manufacturer is "Factoryfive racing"

Hey Bill, speaking about Factory Five, have you seen their new mid engine design that uses a Subaru engine?

There is an article on Grassroots magazine and also a F5 ad that offers two kits, one for 9k (street version) and 10k for the track version...

The concept looks great (if you can ignore the S2000 look alike face..) but a well designed track toy for 10k plus a Subbie donor car sounds great IMHO

Regards, Gilles

.

[BYprodriver]

Originally Posted by Gilles

Hey Bill, speaking about Factory Five, have you seen their new mid engine design that uses a Subaru engine?

There is an article on Grassroots magazine and also a F5 ad that offers two kits, one for 9k (street version) and 10k for the track version...

The concept looks great (if you can ignore the S2000 look alike face..) but a well designed track toy for 10k plus a Subbie donor car sounds great IMHO

Regards, Gilles

.

Yeah, I've seen it but I like cars I can drive anytime & anywhere. I like driving the WRXs,but Subaru engines are far from the top of my list for transplants.

[evomind]

Originally Posted by BYprodriver

I think I know what you are saying. Probably the most successful manufacturer is "Factoryfive racing" They make a 65-67 Cobra kit car designed to bolton 87-93 Mustang powertrain & suspension components. This is so popular they now make about 10 different kits mostly Ford based.
I worked for Shelby American 2+ years on the Shelby Series 1 project. This project had the full cooperation of GM & most of thier parts vendors, but after 4 years, still failed to meet my fit & finish expectations for a $150K sportcar.

Id pay the upcharge and buy Superformance.

[BYprodriver]

Originally Posted by evomind

Id pay the upcharge and buy Superformance.

I'd invoke my employee discount + a upcharge & buy the Shelby kit!

[evomind]

Originally Posted by BYprodriver

I'd invoke my employee discount + a upcharge & buy the Shelby kit!

The Shelby kit isn't necessarily an upgrade.
I have experience with both. The Shelby kits are more expensive and a total biatch to work with as compared to the SPF.
Honestly I give a slight nod to SPF however subjective that may be as I think the total quality is slightly better. Not much. That and the fact the Shelby kit is harder to install the exhaust. A lot harder.
That said I wouldn't argue with either one.
I had an SPF GT-40 that I put the motor and trans in myself, I loved that car. Before settling on the GT-40 I looked real hard at Shelby and the SPF Cobra.
All top notch cars

[BYprodriver]

Originally Posted by BYprodriver

I think I know what you are saying. Probably the most successful manufacturer is "Factoryfive racing" They make a 65-67 Cobra kit car designed to bolton 87-93 Mustang powertrain & suspension components. This is so popular they now make about 10 different kits mostly Ford based.
I worked for Shelby American 2+ years on the Shelby Series 1 project. This project had the full cooperation of GM & most of thier parts vendors, but after 4 years, still failed to meet my fit & finish expectations for a $150K sportcar.

[kcpaz]

Originally Posted by BYprodriver

Agree, I've driven one on track and inspected it closely... the fit and finish is terrible. Even the Lotus Exige/Elise reminds me of nothing more than a refined kit car... although way more affordable and enjoyable than the Series 1.

[The Radium King]

no disrespect, but try starting your own thread for this (and perhaps delete your posts here).

[evomind]

Originally Posted by The Radium King

no disrespect, but try starting your own thread for this (and perhaps delete your posts here).

No disrespect?
I didn't bring up the electric option in a kit car, merely commented on others who did.
The OP wanted a cost effective choice for a kit car, not a 400k dollar kit car.
No disrespect but please mind your own posts but if you are going to be a thread cop then address everyone involved rather than singling 1 guy out.
btw, maybe you should delete YOUR posts here, no disrespect of course.

[The Radium King]

hey kcpaz, in your experience with boxsters, do you think there would be any economy/market in building a tube frame that utilised the boxster front and rear sub-frames (w/ steering, suspension, brakes, even engine/transmission)? from what I can see, if you use the complete assemblies, it wouldn't be that complicated - the front sub-frame is a pretty much stand-alone unit, and the rear as well. or just easier/cheaper to build from scratch?

[kcpaz]

Originally Posted by The Radium King

hey kcpaz, in your experience with boxsters, do you think there would be any economy/market in building a tube frame that utilised the boxster front and rear sub-frames (w/ steering, suspension, brakes, even engine/transmission)? from what I can see, if you use the complete assemblies, it wouldn't be that complicated - the front sub-frame is a pretty much stand-alone unit, and the rear as well. or just easier/cheaper to build from scratch?

I think from a business standpoint, kit cars in general are a really tough market. Businesses like Factory Five are a rare success story. How do you predict what consumer will want (design wise)? And then how much money will someone need to invest in molds, chassis fixtures, custom glass, rubber seals, door hinges etc... It's the same way with marketing engine conversions, but on a smaller scale. Everyone wants something different. In engine conversions for example, some people want LSx, Subaru, Audi V8, VW 4 cyliner, and within each of those choices, there are a lot of different ways to configure each option. Imaging how you would decide which kit car to build.