Kit Cars

[Chasseur]

Hello,

I am going to ask some total novice questions about kit cars. I did some serching but didn't find any threads on them.

I am looking for thoughts, experiences and recommendations about kit cars, in particular those that have a "neoclassical" style to them that evokes the Golden era.

I'm looking for a second car, we have modern dependable communiting car. But I need one for going into work one day a week (I have a late night that day) or so and also tooling around on the weekend. I can just go and get a modern car, but I've wanted to have something more classic looking for quite some time.

However, I'm not talented mechanic so getting a true classic car and keeping it running is probably beyond my abilities. So I'm looking for info on some of the recent kit cars and how reliable they are and what people's experiences are with them. Plus and minuses and also recommended models. Again I ask these questions as a total novice.

Thanks!

 

[Yeps]

Hello,

I am going to ask some total novice questions about kit cars. I did some serching but didn't find any threads on them.

I am looking for thoughts, experiences and recommendations about kit cars, in particular those that have a "neoclassical" style to them that evokes the Golden era.

I'm looking for a second car, we have modern dependable communiting car. But I need one for going into work one day a week (I have a late night that day) or so and also tooling around on the weekend. I can just go and get a modern car, but I've wanted to have something more classic looking for quite some time.

However, I'm not talented mechanic so getting a true classic car and keeping it running is probably beyond my abilities. So I'm looking for info on some of the recent kit cars and how reliable they are and what people's experiences are with them. Plus and minuses and also recommended models. Again I ask these questions as a total novice.

Thanks!

I am assuming, because of your emphasis on not being a mechanic, that you are looking at buying a car someone else made, and not building one yourself. My one caveat is this, someone built that car in his garage. Now, it could be fantastic, and a lot of those cars are gorgeous (not to mention fast), but it could just as easily have a million problems from being poorly assembled. Be careful in this venture.

 

[Chasseur]

Ah yes, in this particular case I'd like to get a previous made one. Assuming this is even a good idea

 

[vitanola]

I've heard or some reliability problems with some of the kit cars. The Shay Model A replicas, however, have an excellent reputation, but they are approaching thirty years of age, as are so many other kits, for it seems that the 1970's was the golden age of these machines.

A real Model A Ford, restored say ten years ago, with a very few thousand miles on it can often be had for less than most of the imitations. These cars are legendarily durable, and maintenance is simple. In addition, if you are disinclined to do your own puttering there will doubtless be a member of the Model A club in your area who would be happy to service your car for a modest consideration.

Model A Fords are ideal for local driving service, that in which they need not travel for hours at a time on Interstate highways. For ordinary around town and vacation trip use they will give excellent service.

I've used the far less satisfactory (in terms of power, accelleration and braking) Model T Ford for daily transport for twenty of the last thirty years.
The T, which was designed 19 years before the A, is a fun car, but it is not really suited for one who doesn't prefer tinkering with cars to driving them. The A, on the other hand, is a tough and dauntless little performer, and some body styles are positively elegant.

If your tastes run to more modern iron, the early post-war Dodge and De Soto cars are exceptionally sturdy and trouble-free in daily service, particularly the '46, 47 & 48's. Many of these have the added advantage of the famous Chrysler Slush-O-Luxe transmission (well, the actual name was Fluid Drive), which, whilst it won't win you any pink slips drag racing, won't fail you, either. The late DeSotos offer good value and excellent eye appeal, with the Exner "Forward Look" styling, and they drive just about like a car of the late seventies. One of these would be practical if a local service man could be found.

Note that restoring a car is these days a poor investment. With ordinary machines of modest price one can generally find a very low mileage recent restoration for less that two-thirds of the cost of doing the job ones' self.