If you want a sports car, but don’t fancy any of the current offerings, why not build your own? There is a huge market for sports kit cars, ranging from the basic Locost right up to Italian Supercar replicas. This article aims to give you a taste of what you could be driving if you decide to build it yourself.

So you have decided to build your own sports car, but where do you begin? I suggest that you take a look at a few models that take your fancy from a variety of manufacturers. Taking for example, a Cobra replica, there is a wide range of build options as well as cost and skill requirements. So you will need to set a budget and look at your own mechanical abilities before you make a commitment to a particular manufacturer.

Next, I suggest that you check out the manufacturers Owners Club. Many have websites or forums where you can post questions or check out potential problems you may have. If the kit manufacturer offers poor support or badly finished components, the forums are where you will find out!

Now you should have a shortlist of potential kit car projects, a budget to work to and a fair idea of the mechanical skills required. You now need to pick a kit. In order to make a selection, I suggest that you go to the kit car shows or manufacturers open days and chat to other kit car builders. Remember, they have valuable experience in building your chosen model and can offer advice if you should get stuck with a particular problem.

Once you have placed your order for a kit, the work really begins. Even before the kit arrives, you should find yourself the cleanest, most mechanically sound donor vehicle that you can. The better the donor, the better the finished sports car you will be driving. All salvagable mechanical parts should be removed and cleaned as per the kit builders manual. If you are not totally happy with the condition of a part then it should be replaced. Don’t take risks with your safety. It is wise at this stage to get insurance for your kit project.

For most kit cars, assembling the car is relatively straightforward. Any manufacturer that has sold more than a few kits will have a comprehensive manual detailing every step, in the right order. If you have questions then go back to the manufacturer, Owners Club or forums. You will be surprised at how helpful your fellow kit builders are. It is in the manufacturers best interests to help you as much as possible, and many have dedicated helplines for this purpose. After all, when you drive the car, you will become a traveling advertisement for their brand.

After you have assembled the car you will need to ensure that any testing and paperwork is in order before taking to the road. Again, the manufacturer and Owners Club are the ideal people to point you in the right direction.

When you take your completed sports car on the road, you will feel a sense of achievement as you drive a hand built car that you built yourself.

Mark Heywood edits Premier Kit Cars http://www.premierkitcars.com, a website dedicated to helping enthusiasts pick and put together their own high performance cars.

By Mark Heywood | Submitted On December 23, 2006

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Mark_Heywood/49912