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Verified unique readers per month for this website currently averages 17,572 (covering FEBRUARY, MARCH and APRIL 2026).
A warm welcome to totalkitcar online … I always like to recommend a product that I think is good and might be of interest to you, dear reader. Here, in my opinion, is a good one.
Car security is important and there’s a very clear and present danger these days of somone trying to steal your car. My old man always swore by a Krooklok and although there’s clearly still a place for them (any form of security device is better than no security device, in my view).
EFFECTIVE DETERRENT
In recent times I have been using the excellent Disklok device. No downsides as far as I can see other than them being a bit bulky to carry around particularly in a kitcar where space is at a premium. Anyway, I’d heard about the Titan security lock and seen a few adverts on the internet.
You get two keys
To be honest they are all over the place and seem to range in price from bargain to crazy expensive. They probably all come from the same source in China if I may be slightly cynical (unlike me!) for a second.
I am a fan of all things Porsche RS and this new book from Schiffer Publishing rounds up all the very RS models. A beautifully produced book backed up by lovely photography
They definitely all look the same. So, I did a bit of research on eBay and found a vendor selling them for £9.99 each. He had 100 per cent feedback and his reviews were excellent, so I bought one. What could go wrong at that price?
EASY TO USE
They turned up within 24 hours, were well packaged and seem to be of good quality. You even get two keys.
I’ve been using mine for a couple of weeks and it is brilliant. Very happy. My advice is they are great but shop around. They are out there for a tenner with free postage if you look. Plenty on eBay to choose from.
With the National Kit Car Motor Show at Three Counties Showground, Malvern just a week away, you can find out all the information you need via https://nationalkitcarshow.co.uk.
I know that lots of readers used our GOODS & SUPPLIERS listing as a guide to the specialist car aftermarket, so essential did they regard it. It needed an upgrade but it took a couple of years to get it right. HAVE YOU SEEN IT YET? See the menu bar above or CLICK HERE.
GOODS & SUPPLIERS is BACK. It’s certainly less wieldy, is easier to use and well, see what you think. It’s not yet complete by any means but is a workable and useful A-Z listing that I hope you enjoy using and check back regularly because I will be adding to it daily, almost.
TKC MAG – MAY/JUNE 2026 ISSUE – AVAILABLE NOW
Here’s this issue’s menu, or at least some of it.
Welcome to the ‘Groovy Baby’ issue. Why groovy baby? Well, four of the cars starring this time are inspired by, or are replicas of, sixties classics … not big, not clever, but quite descriptive we thought.
So, what have we got to tickle your fancy this time?
INDUSTRY GREATS – ULTIMA SPORTS – The Lee Noble and Marlow family years. The full story.
MYTHRON CARS SEBRING FASTBACK – No, it’s not a replica or a continuation or a kitcar. This is what the company call ‘ a reimagining of a sixties Sebring Sprite’
TORNADO TS40 MKII TRIBUTE – A superb example of a Tornado TS40 (I don’t think I’ve ever seen a bad one) which is intended as a tribute to the late Dan Gurney.
ACE HAWK! – A glorious new build Hawk inspired by the AC Ace, which is the second Hawk built by Adam Cleden nearly twenty years after the first one, which was also a stunner!
WITHOUT OUR PAST SPECIAL! – This time we focus on four beatiful sports racers from the sixties.
MCLAREN M6GT – People often understandably believe that McLaren’s first road car was Professor Gordon Murray’s F1. However, a generation before that, Briuce McLaren had the idea for the GT. We tell the car’s story and also feature the replicas, the UVA M6GTR and Montage and also the Tornado TS70.
SINGLE SEAT RACECAR CONVERTED FOR ROAD USE – There have been plenty of single-seat road-legal kitcars over the years but very few racing cars have been converted for use on the road, other than the Lotus 51 ‘Flower Power’ and a Van Diemen conversion back in the eighties. The latest to tackle such a monster project is serial kitcar builder Dave Swift who found an OMS hillclimber on eBay and yep, converted it to a road car!
Hope you enjoy the issue.
TKC MAG – MAY/JUNE 2026 ISSUE – AVAILABLE NOW
IF YOU LIKE CLASSIC KIT CARS & SPECIALS you are in luck. Clicking that button will take you back in time with features on old kitcars, personalities and generally interesting companies who worked within the specialist car and sixties motorsport movements. I really hope you are enjoying them. Not all of them are kitcar-related per se but they all celebrate the underdog and often feature the wonderful world of sixties motorsport.
Classic Kit Cars & Specials has a new home at totalkitcar.com.
A lot of classic clubman motorsport features highlight underdog artisans that we hope will appeal to you dear reader, the sort of companies that we’ve often all heard of but on whom detailed information is often hard to find. Shorrock, Wade Turbochargers, Jack Knight Developments, Cannon Cars, Tom Killeen, David Ogle the list goes on and on. The sort of companies and individuals that our specialist and kitcar forebears from the sixties would have been very familiar with. You’ll find these subjects featured in CLASSIC KIT CARS & SPECIALS.
This week in CLASSIC KIT CARS & SPECIALS we focus on the amazing WOLFRACE SONIC. It was built by the mega-talented Nick Butler for then owner of Wolfrace, restauranteur and potato baron, Barry Treacy.
CLICK HERE to find out more.
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Our popular TRACKDAY CALENDAR is where you can find out where, when and how much by CLICKING HERE. Now updated to cover MAY, JUNE and JULY 2026.
SNIPPETS 1 …….. My admiration for Great British Sports Cars is well documented and I particularly like the way they are helping to encourage young people to get into the industry. We all know about the wonderful world of kitcars but none of us are getting any younger and we need the younger generation to get involved.
The Ollerton-based manufacturer recently welcomed a group of students from West Notts College.
GBS co-director, Ruth Hall takes up the story: “It was a great visit from West Notts College recently, welcoming students studying motor vehicle courses into the GBS workshop. We’re always keen to support students and share our passion for engineering and car building, helping inspire the next generation of automotive talent.
“The GBS Zero makes a perfect educational project – offering real hands-on experience and the unique reward of driving a car you’ve built yourself. It’s a fantastic way to develop practical skills and gain a deeper understanding of vehicle design and assembly.”
“If you’re interested in working with us, or would like to arrange a visit for your group or college, please get in touch with the team either via www.greatbritishsportscars.co.uk or 01623 860 990.”
SNIPPETS 2 ……..Arnold Clark Autoparts encourages drivers to change vehicle filters to improve performance and reduce maintenance costs.
Arnold Clark Autoparts is encouraging motorists to be more confident in conducting routine vehicle maintenance checks by releasing a simple, DIY guide into changing their vehicle’s filters.
This follows an active push to increase awareness of the negative impact clogged filters can have on vehicle performance, fuel efficiency and air quality during Spring. Regularly replacing all filters, including those manufactured for cabin, oil, fuel and engine performance, can help vehicles run more smoothly while improving vehicle health.
Many filter replacements can be completed in under 30 minutes. The DIY guide has advised motorists to consult their vehicle handbook before undertaking any maintenance work.
Craig McCracken, Group Factor Manager at Arnold Clark Autoparts, commented: “Filter replacement should be a key aspect of any vehicle maintenance routine. Ensuring your car’s passageways are clear of any debris will only help prolong vehicle health and service life.
“Many filter replacements are straightforward enough for drivers to carry out themselves at home with minimal tools or experience. We want to encourage people to be more comfortable in carrying out simple maintenance tasks, as doing so will prove to be cost-effective in the long run.”
… with my Chad Valley Welding Set!
Helping to prevent dirt and debris from entering, engine air filters should ideally be replaced every 12,000 to 15,000 miles, adverse driving conditions that include an excess of dust may force motorists to carry out the change earlier.
Cabin air filters are also recommended for annual replacement or once a vehicle has been driven between 12,000 to 20,000 miles.
Oil filters should be replaced whenever engine oil is changed to help remove contaminants and protect engine performance, while fuel filters help prevent dirt entering the fuel system and are commonly replaced every 20,000 to 40,000 miles depending on manufacturer guidance.
Drivers unsure about replacing more complex components, such as fuel filters, are encouraged to seek professional assistance.
Arnold Clark Autoparts offers a wide range of replacement filters, engine oils and maintenance products online and at branches across the UK.
For the full guide, visit: https://www.arnoldclarkautoparts.com/blogs/news/how-to-change-your-car-s-filters-a-simple-diy-guide
SNIPPETS ‘BONUS’ ……. FRSH Scents acquires Carfume in multi-million pound deal
Acquisition unites two of the fastest growing, most disruptive brands in automotive air fresheners – strengthening FRSH Scents’ position within global consumer group Simply Brands.
FRSH Scents Ltd, the fast growing air freshener brand and part of the international consumer goods group Simply Brands, has acquired UK luxury car fragrance brand Carfume in a multi-million pound deal.
The acquisition brings together two of the most disruptive, rapidly growing names in automotive air freshener under one roof – pairing FRSH Scents’ fast-growing impulse and novelty vent clip range with Carfume’s luxury, designer-inspired positioning. Together, the two brands give the combined business a rare breadth across the air freshener market, from premium lifestyle to mass appeal.
The deal marks a significant step in FRSH Scents’ growth strategy, expanding its category footprint and accelerating international expansion through the established offices and distribution infrastructure of FRSH Scents and Simply Brands, spanning the UK, USA, Europe and Asia.
FRSH Scents has built its reputation as one of the disruptive forces in the automotive fragrance category, challenging established players with bold branding, product innovation and strong retail execution. The addition of Carfume – itself one of the UK’s fastest-growing car care lifestyle brands – adds a complementary premium dimension rather than an overlapping one, making this a natural strategic fit.
Through the wider Simply Brands group, the combined business can leverage long-standing UK retailer relationships as well as the extensive global distribution and retailer network the group has built up, positioning the enlarged business to accelerate new product development and scale both brands across global markets.
Ollie Page of FRSH Scents and Simply Brands said: “Carfume and FRSH Scents sit together exceptionally well – two of the most disruptive, high-growth brands in the air freshener category, with complementary strengths and a shared ambition to challenge the status quo. This is exactly the type of acquisition we look for: not a bolt-on, but a genuine strategic fit.
“FRSH Scents has built real momentum with its impulse and novelty range, and Carfume brings a premium, designer-inspired positioning that complements it perfectly. Together, with the backing of the wider Simply Brands group, we see enormous global potential across Europe, North America, Asia and beyond.”
Sean Mallon, Owner of Carfume, added: “Joining forces with FRSH Scents – a brand that shares our energy and is disrupting the category in its own right – feels like a perfect fit. Two leading air freshener brands, both growing fast, now pulling in the same direction.
“We’ve built a brand that customers genuinely love, and with FRSH Scents and the wider Simply Brands group behind us, we have the platform, infrastructure and international reach to take Carfume to the next level globally, while staying true to everything that has made the brand stand out.”
Carfume will continue to operate from the UK, with its existing team remaining in place as the brand enters its next phase of growth under FRSH Scents.
The acquisition further strengthens FRSH Scents’ and Simply Brands’ position as one of the fastest-growing forces in automotive consumer goods globally, reinforcing the group’s reputation as the partner of choice for retailers seeking innovative, category-leading products.
About FRSH Scents
Founded in 2017, FRSH Scents Ltd is a fast-growing air freshener brand and one of the disruptive forces in the automotive fragrance category, known for its fast-growing impulse and novelty vent clip range. Part of the international consumer goods group Simply Brands, FRSH Scents combines distinctive product design with strong retail execution across the UK and international markets. Learn more at www.frshscents.com.
About Carfume
Carfume is a UK-based luxury car fragrance brand offering premium automotive air fresheners and lifestyle products inspired by designer fragrances. Known for its bold branding, innovative products and strong retail presence, Carfume has become one of the UK’s leading names in automotive fragrance. Learn more at www.carfume.co.uk.
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So, that’s about it from me for this week, so I’ll bid you a great seven days, with plenty of enjoyable driving and I look forward to welcoming you once again next week on Friday, May 29, 2026
Best regards
Steve