Anybody intrested in a Sammio?

http://www.sammio-spyder.com/home.html

I posted a picture of one of these Herald based kit cars a few weeks ago. Since then, I've contacted the guy who builds these kits about shipping them to the US. He mentioned he would give a discount if we did a group buy and he was situated near a port and ships to Europe. As of right now, I'll probably be importing 2 of them sometime this summer. The price of the kit is about $1800 USD, and includes a body, body supports, grille and windscreen. He said he would charge the same price for LHD and could provide RHD racks for a little extra. Does anyone have any interest? I'm not trying to make any money off of this, I just want to do it as cheap as possible. I'd entertain sharing the container with??? Let me know.

I might add, he says they are working on a larger car based on the ..... Miata!

Sweet! Come talk to me when it's ready.

The lines on the current look fantastic. I'd really like to see one of these in person.

Have you checked into the price of shipping the two you are buying?

I maybe interested in somthing like this...

Haven't checked the price of shipping yet. I was thinking of renting a container, then you can just load ??? into it. If we had 5 kits this may be reasonable. Ship them to Toledo, Oh. or maybe N.J. Then arrange local shipping from there. I could probably haul 4 on my truck and trailer. 2 would be easy. A guy in France just built one. He does some sort of vintage rally racing and I'm fairly certain the car is not done.It is sweet, tho:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAhjvQ8Aqvs&feature=player_embedded

Silly small tires. I hope the hood vent isn't for the single Solex downdraft...

I don't see how that can happen for $1800.

Don't forget all the import/export documentation fees, taxes, etc. on top of shipping and actual kit, then add the price of your Herald. I'd guess $5k min...

I wish I could build one, honestly this is now #1 on my short list of kit build cars due to price and look...

A lot of the frameless Euro kits were about $1500-2000 USD when I really wanted to bring one in. The problem is in renting a shipping container and getting them through customs without shipping 5-10 at a time. If this small of a supplier is selling ten of them then he is moving out a lot of product and the issue is wether or not he has room to store the ones he has built while bucking up the remaining units prior to shipping. Even in an upright shipping box they will take up a lot of room.

Except where the rear end turns under, the body looks like it would stack pretty well.

If I had the monies, I would be all over that.

The red one from the Youtube clip looks well finished !

I wonder if he moves the aero-headrest for LHD ? the "No doors" approach is definitely a cost saver...

If we can get the total price more nailed down I would be very interested. The Green one on the site is so sweet.

Here is a thread: Sammio Thread that the guy who builds these things started. The last few pages are mmostly about the French guys build that is in the vid above.

I'd be interested, provided the price doesn't balloon too much. I'd be REALLY interested in the upcoming Miata-based car.

Raze wrote: Don't forget all the import/export documentation fees, taxes, etc. on top of shipping and actual kit, then add the price of your Herald. I'd guess $5k min... I wish I could build one, honestly this is now #1 on my short list of kit build cars due to price and look...

I already have 4 Heralds and 3 Spitfires. I contacted a logistics company this morning to get an idea of what this venture might entail. He said a 20' container from southern England to Detroit would run about $2100, or about $420 per kit. This does not include the other fees. He said the duties and taxes aren't too bad on something like this since it's not technically a car. He did warn me that I cannot unload the container at the port unless I use union labor,,, That said, I have a place to unload and store that isn't too far away and I have a CDL. Worst case scenario, hiring a truck shouldn't be too much more than a couple hundred $$$. Divide that by 5. I'll email Mr. Janes this afternoon when I get to work.

I blame the Challenge and GRM for turning me into the DIY resourceful cheap bastard I am today...

Damn you guys with your terrible/awesome ideas.

I, too, would be curious to hear something closer to an 'at my door' price.

How much for you to throw in one of your Heralds on the deal? ;-)

Will a Spitfire platform work?

dculberson wrote: How much for you to throw in one of your Heralds on the deal? ;-)

+1 to that

purplepeopleeater wrote: Will a Spitfire platform work?

Anything will work if you have a welder and imagination.

Ugh, so pretty. I think I'd build my own frame- the question I have is whether it could take a modern twincam ala Miata or 4age? It doesn't seem like it height-wise.

Rusted_Busted_Spit wrote:

dculberson wrote: How much for you to throw in one of your Heralds on the deal? ;-)

+1 to that

Unfortunately, one car is my semi-daily driver and is way too nice. One has severe front end damage and the other two are spoken for. with some vigilance Heralds are pretty easy to find on CL and can be had pretty cheaply. About a month ago I found two of them in C-springs for $1000. I bought one in Nebraska for $100 and it came with a new top and ran. (it's motor now lives in my MKI Spit) The Spitfire chassis will not work. Heralds have "outriggers" on the chassis while Spits do not. The wheel base of a Herald is about 7" longer than the Spit. On a good note, all the go-fast parts for Spits can be swapped into the Herald chassis!

frankenstangsghost wrote:

Raze wrote: Don't forget all the import/export documentation fees, taxes, etc. on top of shipping and actual kit, then add the price of your Herald. I'd guess $5k min... I wish I could build one, honestly this is now #1 on my short list of kit build cars due to price and look...

I already have 4 Heralds and 3 Spitfires. I contacted a logistics company this morning to get an idea of what this venture might entail. He said a 20' container from southern England to Detroit would run about $2100, or about $420 per kit. This does not include the other fees. He said the duties and taxes aren't too bad on something like this since it's not technically a car. He did warn me that I cannot unload the container at the port unless I use union labor,,, That said, I have a place to unload and store that isn't too far away and I have a CDL. Worst case scenario, hiring a truck shouldn't be too much more than a couple hundred $$$. Divide that by 5. I'll email Mr. Janes this afternoon when I get to work. I blame the Challenge and GRM for turning me into the DIY resourceful cheap bastard I am today...

Ok, now I'm impressed, so many of these threads, and nothing comes of it.

Seriously if you have a CDL and a place to store the chassis maybe you should 'partner' with them over there in England to bring the first batch in for 'cheap' (if they'll help get you going) to get one or two built and get one into a classic racing event, rally, etc. Hell, drive one down to GRM headquarters and see if they'd like to snap some pictures I mean if there are shops and importers over here helping bring in the Ultima GTR there's no reason a cheap kit like this couldn't get off the ground.

And to everyone complaining about a Herald as a base platform instead of a 'modern' platform, you do realize you can go on CL and find perfect runners for $1k, or the chassis for sub $500, throw in a driveline and you're done. Part of the problem with a Miata donor is getting the kit to fit, nice part about body on frame is plunk it on and go. Besides, classic kit + classic underpinnings = neat + satisfying...

I will build one of these, I must...

EDIT: I have these crazy dreams of Spec Sammio...

Check this thread out, the builder is posting on it: http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/forum/showthread.php?s=88d9e979920afee7d9e4c8b93e49daee&t=2717&page=2

650kg with the 4cyl engine...

Raze wrote:

frankenstangsghost wrote:

Raze wrote: Ok, now I'm impressed, so many of these threads, and nothing comes of it. Seriously if you have a CDL and a place to store the chassis maybe you should 'partner' with them over there in England to bring the first batch in for 'cheap' (if they'll help get you going) to get one or two built and get one into a classic racing event, rally, etc. Hell, drive one down to GRM headquarters and see if they'd like to snap some pictures.

I'm geographically challenged. Colorado is 2 weeks from everywhere.

Raze wrote:

frankenstangsghost wrote:

Raze wrote: Don't forget all the import/export documentation fees, taxes, etc. on top of shipping and actual kit, then add the price of your Herald. I'd guess $5k min... I wish I could build one, honestly this is now #1 on my short list of kit build cars due to price and look...

I already have 4 Heralds and 3 Spitfires. I contacted a logistics company this morning to get an idea of what this venture might entail. He said a 20' container from southern England to Detroit would run about $2100, or about $420 per kit. This does not include the other fees. He said the duties and taxes aren't too bad on something like this since it's not technically a car. He did warn me that I cannot unload the container at the port unless I use union labor,,, That said, I have a place to unload and store that isn't too far away and I have a CDL. Worst case scenario, hiring a truck shouldn't be too much more than a couple hundred $$$. Divide that by 5. I'll email Mr. Janes this afternoon when I get to work. I blame the Challenge and GRM for turning me into the DIY resourceful cheap bastard I am today...

Ok, now I'm impressed, so many of these threads, and nothing comes of it. Seriously if you have a CDL and a place to store the chassis maybe you should 'partner' with them over there in England to bring the first batch in for 'cheap' (if they'll help get you going) to get one or two built and get one into a classic racing event, rally, etc. Hell, drive one down to GRM headquarters and see if they'd like to snap some pictures I mean if there are shops and importers over here helping bring in the Ultima GTR there's no reason a cheap kit like this couldn't get off the ground. And to everyone complaining about a Herald as a base platform instead of a 'modern' platform, you do realize you can go on CL and find perfect runners for $1k, or the chassis for sub $500, throw in a driveline and you're done. Part of the problem with a Miata donor is getting the kit to fit, nice part about body on frame is plunk it on and go. Besides, classic kit + classic underpinnings = neat + satisfying... I will build one of these, I must... EDIT: I have these crazy dreams of Spec Sammio...

FWIW:

Wheel base= 91.5"

Front track= 49"

Rear track= 48"

AC based Cobra

Wheel base= 90"

Front track= 55.5"

Rear track= 58.2"

Miata:

Wheel base= 89.2"

Front track= 55.5"

Rear track= 56.2"

Chevette:

Wheel base= 94.3"

Front track= 51.2"

Rear track= 51.2"

(a M