Caught somewhere between garage project and production machine, it’s often a budget way for someone to purchase the wheels of their dreams without breaking the bank.
As with all things though, kit cars cover the spectrum from spot-on supplements to torn-down beaters, and everything in between.
To get a glimpse of the available options, check out Motive’s coverage of the kit cars at the Carlisle auto show.
With everything from a Monte Carlo-based NASCAR replica and an almost production car from the Cobra clone masters to tricked out dune buggies and 57 Chevy-ized Camaros, it’s a taste of both the tasteful and the tasteless.
This fake might not fool a Ferrari fan, but it sure does look pretty good to me.
Starting out life as a 1977 Nissan 280Z, this “street rod” version of a 250 GTO has had every body panel changed and modified, a BMW V12 engine and Getrag 6 speed transmission installed, and right hand drive put in just “to make it different”.
The end result is a beautiful (and very accurate) creation that looks good and drives even better.
BMW V12 in a Ferrari bodied Nissan Z car? Perfection.
SSC might only have one model, but what they lack in variety, they make up for in heart. That’s because SSC wants to challenge the big boy and take on the Bugatti Veyron for the title of World’s Fastest Production Car. Their pride and joy, the Ultimate Aero TT, isn’t just some kit car with a prayer though; it’s a low-slung beast with power to spare.
Features include 1183 horsepower coming from the twin turbo V8, rear wheel drive, carbon fiber body, 14” brakes, a .357 drag coefficient, and a one-year, unlimited mile warranty (no, really). The end result is a rocket to 60 in 2.78 seconds, a quarter mile time of 9.90 seconds at 144 mph, 1.05 gs on the skidpad, and the ability to go from 0 to 100 to 0 again in 11.66 seconds.
So how did it do on its high speed test run? Not too bad considering the run was cut short by snow! The driver managed 230 mph with just 56% of 6th gear’s throttle, and felt that there was “a lot more to go”. There better be, because the current record is 253 mph (as verified by Top Gear). I’ll be sure to keep you up to date on the progress that gets made towards the record, but until then, make sure to:
Check out the site and ogle a few of the pictures
Catch the car on Spike TV’s Bullrun
Stand in front of it if Eddie Griffin gets behind the wheel.
