I was having a rough tally-up the other afternoon, and I suspect that Dundee-based ADO might be only the 25th kitcar manufacturer to hail from north of the border.

The Austin Healey Sprite was introduced in 1958 and offered a winning formula – a strong monocoque structure, a robust and tuneable engine and easily modified brakes and suspension.

It brought sportscar performance within the reach of many car enthusiasts. In the early days, Speedwell pioneered the ‘performance kit’ and today Frontline Developments and many others continue in the same spirit of development.

Apart from the ability to improve the mechanical basis of the car, unique to the Sprite and Midget is the potential to change its looks without compromising its basic structure, Sebring being the most famous, but there have been others.

Building on this history, with inputs from Douglas Anderson, Clark Dawson and celebrated kitcar designer, Richard Oakes, the ADO coupé continues the Sprite’s development.

The ADO coupé, like the Sebrings of the sixties, is an attractive, small capacity and potentially high-performance car using the best and most up to date technology.

To create an ADO coupé of your choosing there are many options. The first step, however, is a ‘replacement strategy’ to bring your car up to an as new standard. Fortunately, everything is available from a new monocoque to a brake hose.

The next step, for those who want something a bit more special, is to re-engineer your donor car and the final step is to give your car its individual character by re-clothing it in its striking new body.

Standard or Retro Mod. Re-engineering the Midget or the Sprite involves replacing or modifying the major components such as engine, gearbox, suspension etc with modern alternatives. The options are endless. Or you could keep it standard.

Clark Dawson, the engine transplant specialist, has designed a new engine installation. A common conversion has been to replace the cylinder head on the A-Series engine with one from the BMW K-Series motorbike engine.

This unit is a lightweight jewel so instead of using only the cylinder head Dawson has used the complete engine, which fits the engine bay perfectly.

As the motor sits flat and low, it improves the car’s handling, brakes, steering inputs and overall performance. The conversion involves a new flywheel and a simple adaptor plate between the existing gearbox (MG 1500) and the engine, and new engine mountings. The fuel system and electronics from the motorbike are used in their entirety.

The ‘A’ of ADO, Douglas Anderson pictured with the new Scottish kitcar

Also in development by Nagara Automotive’s Nick Nakorn, is a coil-over set up which attaches to existing suspension pick up points at the rear of the Midget and uses readily available suspension components. An IRS set up is also in development.

To complete the ADO a new shape has been penned, drawing on the styling cues of the fifties and sixties highlighted by the Thermal Efficiency class for small makes at Le Mans back in the day.

The legend that is Richard Oakes has produced a fresh and evocative shape which is aerodynamic, elegant and offers a bright interior.

The car will be available fully built or in kit form although prices have yet to be announced. Watch this space.