News
COOL AS A COOL THING
May 5th
I was very impressed with the show debut of Bathos Sportscars run by Martin Batho. On the company’s stand was a very tidy-looking Lotus Seven-inspired roadster, called the MB Roadster, although there was more to it than that. Much more.
Martin is a skilled sheet metalworker and his car features glorious-looking aluminium body panels, which I have to say looked stunning. Martin’s background includes spells at Abbey Panels, Martin Robey and XK Engineering.
The kit is priced extremely competitively at £5500 for body and TIG-welded spaceframe chassis unit and the car uses Ford Mondeo Mk3 (2000-2007) donor components. Order one today and More >
AUDI-POWERED METRO 6R4 REPLICA
May 5th
Speed3 Automotive debuted their new Metro 6R4 replica at Stoneleigh and very impressive it looked too, even though a last-minute hitch meant that the car had to stay on a trailer all weekend inside the hall.
This didn’t make any difference though as I heard lots of complimentary and positive comments about the new model, known as ‘The Rep’. It features a steel Rover Metro bodyshell, welded-in integral frame, rear mounted Audi V6 engine, Audi transaxle and independent suspension all-round.
We’ll have more information on this exciting new arrival very soon.
More information from www.speed3automotive.co.uk or 01388 205 152 ENDS.
More >
XTREME RETURN
May 5th
I heard from erstwhile RJH Sportscars and Phoenix Automotive Developments boss, Rob Hancock at Stoneleigh that he’s acquired Quantum Sportscars and Quantum Heritage and is bringing them back under one roof and plans to bring the Xtreme model back into production in the very near future.
The GRP specialist will also be able to supply spares for other, older Quantum models like the H4 and 2+2.
We’ll keep you posted as this one develops. In the meantime contact Rob via 07565 956 138 ENDS.
NEW FROM GARY JANES
May 5th
Ex-Sammio founder and hot rodder, Gary Janes, is back with a new operation called Mid Century Re-Creations, with his first project the mid-fifties-inspired Formosa 120 GR.
Find an old Triumph Herald or Vitesse, get rid of the bodyshell, add Gary’s metal support perimeter frame (circa £1000) and his one-piece bodyshell (plus boot, doors and flip-front) for £2450 (intro price) and you have a period-looking budget two-seater that is IVA exempt as it utilises an un-modified Triumph chassis.
More from 07970 636 986 ENDS.
USE YOUR NUT
May 5th
Superb new hard paste wax that I’d like to tell you about. Especially as I’ve had some great success with it.
It’s Lads Nut Wax from the superbly-named The Lads Wax Company based in Northamptonshire. It’s supplied in a quality 225gm tin and has arguably the best and most enticing smell of any polish or wax I’ve ever used.
It says not to apply in direct sunshine but I did and as the image here shows, it brought my BMW X5 up a treat. I’d previously applied Air Glide paint protection to the car’s bodywork and applied Nut Wax over the top More >
NEW TURBO KIT FOR MAZDA MX-5 (NA/NB) ENGINE
May 5th
With the growing popularity of the Mazda MX-5 as a kitcar donor, it’s understandable and to be expected that we’ll begin to see go-faster tuning parts for the NA (Mk1) and NB (Mk2) engines although amongst the fluff, there’s real quality, like the Turbo Conversion from Derbyshire-based DynoTech, run by Kevin Whitehead.
The kit was launched at last weekend’s Stoneleigh show and really looks like a peach. It takes power up to around 220bhp and although I really hate the expression, really is ‘plug and play’ in nature.
In addition to the turbocharger, you get everything you need including DynoTech RS-600 ECU, More >
WALLFLOWERS NEED NOT APPLY!
May 5th
Large modern storehouse with some goods
Sealey’s new hi-vis green workshop trolleys are ideal for regularly used workshop items, such as power tools and bulky equipment which are too big for a traditional tool chest. Both the CX109HV and CX110HV include fourteen tool retaining holes, which are perfect for keeping small tools on hand. A strong build quality coupled with heavy-duty 4in PU castors, two of which are locking, make these excellent dismantling trolleys for smaller vehicle components. Both models have a total load capacity of 160kg (80kg/level).
The AP760MHV garage or workshop trolley has two shelves and a lockable gas sprung supported lid, More >
NEW NOBLE KITCAR – EXCLUSIVE EXCLUSIVE EXCLUSIVE
Apr 28th
EXCLUSIVE EXCLUSIVE EXCLUSIVE
One of the really big pieces of kitcar industry news this year is the return to his roots of LEE NOBLE, with this year’s National Kit Car Motor Show witnessing the debut of Lee’s all-new BUG:R.
One of the industry’s greatest ever designer’s Lee left us for a while being ‘ahem ‘discovered’ by the mainstream press who raved, just the like the 1000-or so customers, about his M12. A stunning pure drivers machine.
So, some 31-years after he lit the blue touch paper by announcing his Group C-inspired Ultima, which was akin to a spaceship arriving at the National Agricultural More >
ANOTHER WELCOME RETURN
Apr 28th
Dave Jones is a name well-known within the kitcar industry in the UK. He’s been responsible for some very fine exotic Italian-flavoured body conversions over the years.
Dave’s been away from the industry for a while but has now re-charged his batteries and will unveil a new Toyota MR2-based conversion which takes its inspiration from some classic Italian greats of the past.
More on this one next week. More information from www.davejoneskitcars.co.uk or 07855 549 112 ENDS.
WHO’S NODDY HOLDER?!
Apr 28th
The name Leigh Whiteman is a well-known one in the kitcar industry stretching back well over twenty years.
With his dad, Terry he was part of Lytham St Annes-based Car Craft Centre initially with the ‘Noddy’-inspired Zero, a Vignale (Fiat) Gamine replica, launched in 1991.
Then came a change of direction, having sold the Zero to a South Norwood company in 1995, having sold 21 kits, with the launch of the amazing Cyclone, one of the finest handling kitcars of all-time, in my opinion. Some 32 examples were sold but frankly, it should have been ten times that number, so good was More >
