[freedomgli]

A taste from UK's cottage industry of replica/kit/small volume sports car makers.

http://www.hazelnet.org/brits/index.htm

I've always loved compact sports cars. Growing up with British sports cars in the family virtually guaranteed that I would one day be a Miata owner. However, there are lots of other cool, small sports cars out there. Perhaps none as reliable and affordable as the MX-5 but cool all the same. I'd happily drive a Lotus 340R, TVR Sagaris, Marcos TSO GTC, Bristol Fighter, Ginetta G15, Caterham R300, Morgan Aero8, Noble M400, Fisher Fury, Ariel Atom, etc.

 

[roadsternut]

Thats a very odd listing of brands; I wouldn't have grouped them together.

 

[Agent935]

Speaking of British kit cars and tying it back to roadsters, have you seen FM is building a Westfield? Check it out here: http://www.flyinmiata.com/westfield/

 

[ultimateforce]

Speaking of British kit cars and tying it back to roadsters, have you seen FM is building a Westfield? Check it out here: http://www.flyinmiata.com/westfield/

The whole kit, including motor, for $13k? I think I know what I am buying when I graduate college next year.

 

[Agent935]

No it's $13k for the kit but you have to supply a Miata from which to transplant parts.

They say right there that the parts you need are:

* 1.6L engine and gearbox - complete with inlet tract & exhaust manifold and lambda sensor
* Air box and air flow meter and both pieces of pipe work and retaining clips and air box mounting rubbers
* Complete wiring loom, ECU, fuse boxes, dashboard switches, clutch pedal switch, sensors and relays
* Instrument panel cluster
* Upper steering column including steering wheel, crash pad, indicator stalks, ignition barrel and key and top and bottom cowl
* Lower steering column (needs modifying)
* Diff and casing complete with rubber mounting bushes and buffer plates
* Rear uprights, hubs, discs and calipers including top upright rubber bush still fitted
* Handbrake lever and cables, compensator & all fittings including retaining spring clips
* Steering rack, track rod end joints and nuts
* Front uprights, hubs, discs and calipers
* Wheels and tires and wheel nuts
* Propshaft (needs modifying)
* Driveshafts including joints, lock nuts and hub nuts
* Front bottom ball joints including castle nuts
* Horns
* Cooling fan
* Side repeaters
* Fuel filter and bracket
* Carbon canister, pipe work and mounting bracket
* Catalyst converter
* Interior mirror
* Screen washer bottle and pump
* Battery and mounting tray including clamp and fixings

so the 13k gets you the frame, the A-arms, body pannels, seats, a roll bar, a windsheild, shocks, springs...etc...

 

[Lewis]

Speaking of British kit cars and tying it back to roadsters, have you seen FM is building a Westfield? Check it out here: http://www.flyinmiata.com/westfield/

The whole kit, including motor, for $13k? I think I know what I am buying when I graduate college next year.

You can see what parts they use from the MX-5 here:

http://www.westfield-sportscars.co.uk/content/sub content.asp?cid=54&lid=11&hdr=showroomtext.gif

only £6,450 for a westfield!

EDIT

looks like Agent935 beat me too it

 

[roadsternut]

Other MX5-based kit cars
http://www.sportscars.co.nz/
:roll:

Another one:
http://www.cyanacars.com/index.php?f=data_home&a=0

Interesting use of Jenvey TBs and an Emerald ECU.

 

[WhiteEunos]

Re: first link

Some of those cars are excellent british sportscars wit high power and very few driver aids. However some are nasty kit cars and very low production humilation-wagons! #-o

 

[dude]

^ agreed, some are naff!

ie built on metros

 

[Bryan]

Impressive listings. A Ginetta G4 Miata-based replica would be neat

 

[freedomgli]

G20 is the best I can do for now

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Other-Makes-G20-2002-GINETTA-G20-SPORT-ROADSTER-1-8L-4CYL-RARE-EXOTIC_W0QQitemZ280019959141QQihZ018QQcategoryZ6472QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[phinz]

Love the RSpeed Monsterflow intake.

 

[Bryan]

Re: G20 is the best I can do for now

Ginetta G20/Miata kit car on eBay

Bingo. I'd forgotten about that kit!

 

[roadsternut]

Hate to sound sacriligious, but if I was building a car from scratch, not sure an old MX5 would be the basis. For a start, I can think of a ton of better (cheaper!) donor engines.

 

[Bryan]

Hate to sound sacriligious, but if I was building a car from scratch, not sure an old MX5 would be the basis. For a start, I can think of a ton of better (cheaper!) donor engines.

That may be true, but I think one big reason to do it is that there is already a large community who is mechanically familiar with the Miata/MX-5 and are prospective customers

 

[jesseclee]

.

I love the Cyana.... but the seats look very narrow though. Why do they have these huge "map-pockets" next to the seats?

 

[freedomgli]

Why do they have these huge "map-pockets" next to the seats?

Just a guess but they could be dual outboard fuel tanks? Is it me or do the Cyana and Fisher look exactly alike?

 

[roadsternut]

Read Cyana's website; its a retooled Sylva Fury, an old "Special" from the 70s.

re. building a car. I think if I was building one, I'd want to be comfortable with more than just one set of mechanics before starting. Hence, my preference would be to start with a Ford Zetec 1.8 of Vauxhall Ecotec; more power, strong engines (all the cheap MX5 donors will be piddly LWSC cars), cheap, reliable, and a ton more tuning parts and tuning knowhow without having to ship stuff from halfway around the world at a 100% markup.

I'm not sure Westfield's idea of a MX5-based special is that good an idea. There aren't that many scrapped MX5s in the UK market. Perhaps in 5 years time that might change, but then, I forsee big changes on the horizon regarding end of life rules, plus tightening up of the UK SVA.

 

[dude]

i contacted the guy that makes the MX5 kit car and he is getting back to me with a price on the throttle bodies