Anyone Built A Kit Car - Pbr, Westfield Etc

[NickR33]

Okay so I want to build a clubman of some sort and road register it... I'm a pretty crap mechanic but have access to a full garage and experienced mechanic to check all my work... it would need to have minimal fabrication (we can bend up a few brackets but that's about it) and I'm hoping I could get the whole job on the road for no more than $40K

so my questions are... has anyone done this and registered it for road use in Vic? or know anybody who has?

I have had a read of a few sites and think that PBR are probably the best http://www.prbaustralia.com.au/ but I can't find any kit car specific forums

I know that Meridian Motorsport sell clubman kits and I'll go and talk to them as well but I just thought I would throw it open to the petrol heads on this fine forum... someone must have been as crazy as me!

[CrispyFries]

check out this forum http://www.oz-clubbies.com/forums/

[dave1200]

Race magazine has been working through the design process in building your own car as well as getting close to construction now. He is effectively publishing the design of an entire kit car for the price of the magazine. It will require a lot of fabrication etc so probably isn't what you are after but it will probably open your eyes a bit to the level of involvement depending on how much of it you decide to customize.

I would love to get my hands on something like a lotus 7 frame and be able to design suspension and driveline, I reckon that would be great fun.

[madbung]

I've been thinking of one of these for a few years now.

http://www.drbsportscars.com/

http://www.roaringforties.com.au/

I know an old fella, late 60's who has just finished a clubman...pretty straight forward kit-instructions

[NickR33]

Race magazine has been working through the design process in building your own car as well as getting close to construction now. He is effectively publishing the design of an entire kit car for the price of the magazine. It will require a lot of fabrication etc so probably isn't what you are after but it will probably open your eyes a bit to the level of involvement depending on how much of it you decide to customize.

I would love to get my hands on something like a lotus 7 frame and be able to design suspension and driveline, I reckon that would be great fun.

yep would be starting off pretty basic, just bolt it together etc... then maybe if I did that okay I might move up to something with fabrication... was flirting with the idea of transferring the driveline from my Skyline into a clubman but its all wrong for many reasons... not least the iron block is way too heavy and if I left it as is... waaay too powerful

thanks for the link Crispyfries!

the GT40's and Cobras are a bit complex for me I reckon... maybe one day!

[Medium Dave]

The guys at ozclubbies are a wealth of information, but if anything, make sure to tell them what your budget is and you intention for the car is, or they will assume you are building a stripped out race car.

Other handy websites;

http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/index.php Clubman builders in the UK

http://www.locost7.info/index.php Lots of useful doco's

http://www.haynes.co.uk/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=1 The new clubman book based on a Sierra (this is what I am using, adapting for Nissan bits)

http://www.locostusa.com/forums/ Clubman bulders in the USA

http://westfield-world.com/flash_changer.html Flash app to help with colour schemes for your clubman

To register it, you will need to apply to build an ICV - Individual Constructed Vehicle. Your local transport authority will have the forms and a list of Engineers - check on oz-clubbies for recomendations for who to go to. They will check the car at various points of the build and will be your first point of call regarding the rules to get it registered, so it is important to find someone who is good, and that you get along with.

Last of all, dont underestimate how much work is involved, I am 1 year in and probably ~300 hours (and half way done). The build will affect your social life, and annoy your significant other no end! Kits are about 160-200 hours, and the process is much easier when you have a supplier to talk to, but dont forget your friends on Skyline Australia, and NS

I have built from scratch - My first welding project as it happens, Based on the Haynes Roadster, but heavily modified to suit Nissan donor parts:

You know what they say about there is always someone worse off than you, well - there is always someone more crazy than you, in this case, it's me

[NickR33]

thank for those links Dave!

I can't weld to save my life, yours looks great, especially for a first effort

good info on the ICV too... I would be working pretty closely with the supplier so that's why I'm happy to pay a little more to go with a well known/respected company

[djr81]

Also try Birkin. They make really nice 7's.

http://www.birkindirect.com/models.aspx

Also depending how large you are keep in mind the fact that the original 7's were small. Too small for my lard arse for example but there are stretch & widened options available.

[NickR33]

yeah I believe Meridian Motorsport here in Melb sell the Birkins... that kind of looks like what I'm after... I'm good at ordering parts and bolting things together but that's about it

[benm]

I looked at a couple of clubmans etc but found them too narrow for my large frame

Pity you want it road registered, i'm waiting on delivery for 1 of these..... www.nascup.com.au (with a hayabusa motor sitting in my garage ready for it)

[NickR33]

I'm 5'10" (and that's being generous) and 80kg after a few hamburgers so should fit okay... I'm worried about cost and build time mostly, I need it to get it done in about 12 months and for no more than 40K... or else I'm not getting married anymore;)

[R32Big_boy]

I'm 5'10" (and that's being generous) and 80kg after a few hamburgers so should fit okay... I'm worried about cost and build time mostly, I need it to get it done in about 12 months and for no more than 40K... or else I'm not getting married anymore

"Whoa whoa whoa, Louis this isnt my batman cup", Wait, When did this happen?

[NickR33]

went to the Cook Islands for holidays and I popped the question... it has been almost 8 years so I thought I better do it sooner or later! hehe

[Rowdyr32]

Can't you buy them second hand for around $20k plus. It would be a lot easier to buy one complete and then strip it down to modify it to your personal taste, expecially if you think its going to cost $40k to build. If your not going to fabricate parts its really just a buy and bolt on process and all that is is lots of $ and more $ and frustration and $. Last thing you want is a half finished car sitting in the shed that you have got over or has gone way over budget.

Just an idea to toss around.

[R31Nismoid]

went to the Cook Islands for holidays and I popped the question... it has been almost 8 years so I thought I better do it sooner or later! hehe

you sneaky man

[baron25]

Pity you want it road registered, i'm waiting on delivery for 1 of these..... www.nascup.com.au (with a hayabusa motor sitting in my garage ready for it)

Are they the same as the Aussie Racing Cars that are a support category to the V8's? I remember them being a 1.3 Yamaha engine as well. Similar concept, half size replicas of V8 supercars.

[benm]

Same company, same concept but these are imported from America and distributed by ARC rather than designed/built by ARC.

ARC = controlled formula only difference is the seat/harness with identical yamaha 1300cc 120hp engines, cars arrive built and ready to paint/race in choice of shells.

Nascup = diy kit minus engine+ancillaries with 1 shell choice for about half the cost of an ARC.

Now hurry up and get here damnit i been waiting 2mths

[mid life crisis]

i built a ac cobra replica and when it comes too kit cars what ever you budget double it lol .

lots of work sourcing parts cleaning bits fitting the car out would i do another one .... bugga that would i buy one already done bloody oath i would

[NickR33]

Can't you buy them second hand for around $20k plus. It would be a lot easier to buy one complete and then strip it down to modify it to your personal taste, expecially if you think its going to cost $40k to build. If your not going to fabricate parts its really just a buy and bolt on process and all that is is lots of $ and more $ and frustration and $. Last thing you want is a half finished car sitting in the shed that you have got over or has gone way over budget.

Just an idea to toss around.

yeah starting to think this is a better plan... there are a few I have seen that are really quality and probably done better than I would manage... then I can just strip it back and repaint and modify... and as they are nice and simple it will be much easier to work on and setup than the skyline... 40K is worst case scenario I would be hoping to get it done under that

the main worry I have is not finishing it (I have an experienced mechanic to help who started out doing steering conversions)... the main worry is getting it registered and on the road... that could become a long, expensive, drawn out process

it would make it all much easier if it were track only... but I have decided I want it road reg... I just might be mental :laughing-smiley-014: