akumabito
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| posted on 11/6/08 at 04:40 AM |
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Family kitcars?
..so is there really no market at all for nice looking and affordable kits that can seat four people comfortably?
It seems the closest we're getting are a handful of 2+2 vehicles, and the Aeon GT3..
The Yanks have a bit more choice with all those companies offering hotrod kits, but those are rare in Europe and tend to be rather expensive.
The Bramwith Motor Company was close, offering modernized Ford A's, but it seems they do turn-key vehicles only these days..
The Banham BAT was interesting, but alas the company went under with only a handful of kits sold..
Am I missing any others that are offered in Europe? It would be great to have a kitcar that's fun to drive (either a sporty modern looking
vehicle, or a 'classic' of sorts) but that will seat the family.. 
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Humbug
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| posted on 11/6/08 at 06:23 AM |
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There's a 2+2 Vindicator, but IMHO that's one ugly mother http://www.vindicator.co.uk/pages/models.htm
The JBA Falcon has a model which can be 2+2: http://www.jbacars.co.uk/ocars.htm
Can't think of any others in current production
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adithorp
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| posted on 11/6/08 at 06:45 AM |
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" It would be great to have a kitcar that's fun to drive (either a sporty modern looking vehicle, or a 'classic' of sorts) but
that will seat the family.."
Problem is that it would have to compete dirctly with Subaru Impreza's.
adrian
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smart51
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| posted on 11/6/08 at 07:11 AM |
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There's a porsche speedster replica on an unshortened floorpan. I don't know if its a 2+2 though.
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smart51
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| posted on 11/6/08 at 07:12 AM |
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The Beaufords are all 4 seaters ( the ones that look like wedding cars ).
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speedyxjs
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| posted on 11/6/08 at 07:20 AM |
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You could try a locost sevenesque four seater? Not sure what it would look like though 
How long can i resist the temptation to drop a V8 in?
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MikeRJ
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| posted on 11/6/08 at 08:02 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by speedyxjs
You could try a locost sevenesque four seater? Not sure what it would look like though
I do, take a look at the Vindicator for an idea...
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piran
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| posted on 11/6/08 at 08:10 AM |
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I'm currently building a 5 seater Vindicator
being the only thing I could find that would take the lot of us
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stevebubs
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| posted on 11/6/08 at 08:14 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by smart51
There's a porsche speedster replica on an unshortened floorpan. I don't know if its a 2+2 though.
Available from Pilgrim. Doesn't spoil the lines, either.
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akumabito
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| posted on 11/6/08 at 08:26 AM |
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I really wish the Phantom Vortex GTR came as a 2+2. That would make a great
family car for practical use.
The JBA looks ok.. should be quite nice to take the family out for a spin. With some proper period detailing it would make a pretty nice
pseudo-classic.
I believe there's another company offering Jaguar look alikes... *googles* Autotune Aristocat, that's the one. Optional hard top, too..
And NG cars is doing a 2+2 version of their TF, too.
Any more modern designs though?
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procomp
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| posted on 11/6/08 at 08:26 AM |
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Hi there was the old Jago jeeps and the rickman rangers. And theres the Dakar 4x4.
Admitadly they are not exactly sports cars though .
Cheers Matt
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akumabito
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| posted on 11/6/08 at 08:51 AM |
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Sure they are, just a different kind of sport ;D
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eznfrank
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| posted on 11/6/08 at 08:59 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by akumabito
The Yanks have a bit more choice with all those companies offering hotrod kits, but those are rare in Europe and tend to be rather expensive.
Yeah, damn shame, I'd love to see a decent T-bucket kit offered over here, I'd sell the wife for one I reckon.
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eznfrank
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| posted on 11/6/08 at 09:00 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by piran
I'm currently building a 5 seater Vindicator
being the only thing I could find that would take the lot of us
I think the reason people don't like these so much is that the demo picture they display is a big ugly yellow thing full of people wearing
bobble hats. Yours looks well though (so far)
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iank
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| posted on 11/6/08 at 09:02 AM |
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LWB beach buggies
Domino Mini's (think they are being made again)
There was a RS200 replica with a front mounted engine, so presumably a bit of room for seats to be fitted in the back.
--
Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
Anonymous
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chrisg
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| posted on 11/6/08 at 10:52 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by iank
LWB beach buggies
Domino Mini's (think they are being made again)
There was a RS200 replica with a front mounted engine, so presumably a bit of room for seats to be fitted in the back.
Yup, that was a Banham, based on the maestro.
I saw one that did have back seats in it (I was looking for the engine!)
Cheers
Chris
PS there was a Merlin 2+2, sort of morgan rep.
Note to all: I really don't know when to leave well alone. I tried to get clever with the mods, then when they gave me a lifeline to see the
error of my ways, I tried to incite more trouble via u2u. So now I'm banned, never to return again. They should have done it years ago!
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vindicator
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| posted on 11/6/08 at 11:32 AM |
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The Vindicator family car shown on the web site has got the rather flat bonnet to it (mkII), but since some guy took it out on a track and slide off
and into a bank, it has been replaced by the mk IV body work that has the hump to allow for the pinto EFI 2l to be used. On the strength of the slight
damage that occurred, I gather the driver put a down payment on one. The roll cage is a bit bulky but at least it will do the job of proctecting the
passengers. If anyone can improve on the 'look' then I am sure that John at Vindicator would welcome any feed back.
I like my sprint thou and our kids have grown up!!!
Tim
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akumabito
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| posted on 11/6/08 at 11:59 AM |
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quote:
I like my sprint thou and our kids have grown up!!!
Hah, yeah, I'm just getting started with the kids.. my son is only 14 months old.. it'll be a while before I can justify a two-seater
I'm afraid.. ;D
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piran
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| posted on 11/6/08 at 02:52 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by vindicator
The Vindicator family car shown on the web site has got the rather flat bonnet to it (mkII), but since some guy took it out on a track and slide off
and into a bank, it has been replaced by the mk IV body work that has the hump to allow for the pinto EFI 2l to be used. On the strength of the slight
damage that occurred, I gather the driver put a down payment on one. The roll cage is a bit bulky but at least it will do the job of proctecting the
passengers. If anyone can improve on the 'look' then I am sure that John at Vindicator would welcome any feed back.
I like my sprint thou and our kids have grown up!!!
Tim
I've got a 2l rover turbo in mine and we're getting near the end of the build so nearly there - the kids have declared that they want me
to take them to school in it whe it is done
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akumabito
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| posted on 15/6/08 at 05:10 AM |
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I'm looking at the McSorley 442 plan set now. I'm not overly tall, so the extra interior space could be entirely dedicated to a rear bench
seat. I'm thinking a simple bench could be placed directly over the diff. The rollbar could stay in stock location, with the bench seat behind
it. I'm guessing the rear end could be extended a little as well without messing up the look of the car too much. Maybe an additional 10cm could
be gained here. Yo'd then have the problem of fitting the fuel tank though.. 
Hmmm... any ideas?
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smart51
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| posted on 15/6/08 at 08:10 AM |
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Where would you put the fuel tank?
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chrisg
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| posted on 15/6/08 at 10:23 AM |
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Do you really want to use your kids as a "crumple zone"?
I'd have a rethink, personally
cheers
Chris
Note to all: I really don't know when to leave well alone. I tried to get clever with the mods, then when they gave me a lifeline to see the
error of my ways, I tried to incite more trouble via u2u. So now I'm banned, never to return again. They should have done it years ago!
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ettore bugatti
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| posted on 15/6/08 at 09:30 PM |
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Someone did post some CAD drawings of a 2+2 Locost. The problem was that the rear passengers are above the rear seat which led to a very high roll
bar, not very elegant IMHO.
The only way it could work is to copy the interior lay out of a Porsche 924 or Mazda RX-7 SA22/FB and transform that into a Locost frame. These cars
have a similiar wheelbase to a locost, but aren't roomy either in the back.
Something like this:
 
4 seater locost
Although the engine bay is pretty small now.
[Edited on 15/6/08 by ettore bugatti]
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piran
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| posted on 17/6/08 at 08:15 PM |
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that looks pretty much like the vindicator chassis. The rear seats are forward of the wheels, the fuel tank is directly above the diff.
I believe they only extended the chassis by 12" and the rear leg room is better than anything I've seen on a production car !
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Steve Munster
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| posted on 8/7/08 at 08:46 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by vindicator
The Vindicator family car shown on the web site has got the rather flat bonnet to it (mkII), but since some guy took it out on a track and slide off
and into a bank, it has been replaced by the mk IV body work that has the hump to allow for the pinto EFI 2l to be used. On the strength of the slight
damage that occurred, I gather the driver put a down payment on one. The roll cage is a bit bulky but at least it will do the job of proctecting the
passengers. If anyone can improve on the 'look' then I am sure that John at Vindicator would welcome any feed back.
I like my sprint thou and our kids have grown up!!!
Tim
Hi Tim,
We ordered the Sprint Family on the back of the person who rammed it into a bank at Currbrough. One in British Racing Green please. I did like how
well it came off at 50mph and the driver walked out with only a stiff shoulder and a few days of bruises. The family has now been rebuilt in the guise
of a mk4.
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