If you ever wanted a TVR...

bravenrace wrote: In reply to NickD: Having owned two of them, I can say that while the build quality is lacking, they aren't any less reliable than any other British car. BTW, they don't need Lingenfelter to make them fast 10 years ago. http://www.topcarrating.com/power.php?brand_id=142

About snorted my coffee when comparing the reliability of British vehicles...

In reply to 84FSP:

Well I didn't say good reliability, just that TVR's are on par with other British cars.

This is what I want. The FRS is the closest I could come to the idea. I keep an MGB GT around just cause I seem to be a fan of the concept!

Style aside, I don't get the value proposition of the Tusacan kit? You need to start with a very nice Miata cause you sure as E36 M3 don't want to restore a rusty Miata or bolt this expensive piece of Tupperware on to a rusty Miata.

The kit is 7k (bet 10k by the time it arrives) the donor car is going to be 5k at least and paint and body is going to be 5k. Wheels tires and odds-and -sods another 4k

15k plus another year of your free time will get you the V8 conversion .

So, a conservative estimate is you can be driving a Miata that feels less well-put-together than what you started with, offers the same view from the driver's seat, and all for 20k and a couple of years of your free time. And points for being creative go to the guy who designed the kit.

Not in my world.It would have to at least be the incarnation of my own whacked-out fantasy such as what I am trying to do with the Molvo body-swap.

Now, what surprises me is that nobody has busted out the e-wheel and welder to make a copy of the yellow coupe. It does not look that hard to do if you can source a rear window.

NickD wrote:

Ian F wrote: Speaking of the lights... what are the rear lights from? I'm guessing they aren't bespoke to the kit.

A Volkswagen UP but turned on their side, I believe.

Hmm... Not sure that is a good thing for the US market. I'm not 100% familiar with DOT regs, but the kit might require use of a rear lights assembly already approved for a US car. It looks good, tho.

In reply to NOHOME:

You make good points. As much as I like the idea of this, I would never spend that much money on it. And I'm with you on the hard top Miata as well.

Kit car math seems to be working better in the UK than over here. Obviously the price for the kit is the same (minus the expensive shipping over here) but both the donor car and the paint are going to be cheaper over there. With a bit of luck and some searching, you can pick up a decent condition NA for about GBP1000 (say, $1600) or an Exocet donor for a grand or less. I've had cars repainted in a near show quality for a bit more than $3k, and that was a bigger car than a Miata. Admittedly that was a case of mate's rates, but most people who build kit cars over there have mates in the motor trade.

People outside the UK aren't necessarily aware of how cheap "our" kind of car is over there. A lot of the fun cars I bought over there to drive for a few month were less than GBP2000 ($3k-4kish) and would easily cost double that over here. That's actually why I'm planning to pick up something quirky and British the next time I'm over there and have it shipped over here after a bit of a Euro trip (if I can get the insurance side sorted out, which is a bit of an if).

A mate of mine over there makes a few hundred pounds a month flipping cars in the GBP500-750 price range. Heck, he just picked up a running (and IIRC road legal) Alfa 156 1.9L turbo diesel for GBP255...

I like it.

For those complaining about the targa roof - it's an extra-cost option. Go to the guy's website and you'll see. Also, check the pricing and you'll see the math is getting a little funky.

It's easy to estimate low on the cost to build a kit car. Total up all the seals, lights, wiring, bondo, sandpaper, glass sealant, more lights, hinges, brackets, hoses, etc - there's a hidden 25% in extra materials that always takes people by surprise. Even something as "complete" as an Exocet has a number of surprises lurking for the unwary. Even Ron Champion's Locost book claims you can build the car for as little as 250 pounds - but Locost builders usually spend around $8-10k by the time they're done.

A show quality paint job for $3k? Either "show quality" means something different in the UK or else someone doesn't get paid for their time.

As for the original Miata coupe - we've tried to get Mazda to let us take over stewardship of that critter in the past. It needs to be out in public. Apparently the 'glass is starting to crack somewhat.

Keith Tanner wrote: A show quality paint job for $3k? Either "show quality" means something different in the UK or else someone doesn't get paid for their time.

You conveniently ignored the word "near" in my sentence . A proper show quality finish would've been about twice that. Keep in mind we're not talking triple-flip HoK paint with god knows what else, but a repaint in the car's original colour, but higher quality. In a sense, show quality does mean something else over there in the sense that over here, people take it to me $50k SEMA paint jobs.

Oddly enough despite the higher taxes, labour from the right specialist over there tends to be less expensive than over here. I don't think any shop worth going to over here charges less than a benjamin an hour, whereas in the UK I found both good mechanics and good body people for about $60.

I didn't ignore "near", I just forgot to type it!

$3k around here will get you a paint job that probably won't have flies in it.

If you consider that a basic droptop Miata Italia from Simpson is $8500 and their coupe partial builds start at $21K this doesn't seem so pricey.

In other news Simpson has a coupe built off the NC that starts at $95K

The car from Widow looks cool, but some of the pictures on their website make me understand better when Clarkson used to talk about British specialty cars being build in a shed.

If we (the royal we) had to justify the modifications and cost of car builds, no one would ever build a car.

Keith Tanner wrote: As for the original Miata coupe - we've tried to get Mazda to let us take over stewardship of that critter in the past. It needs to be out in public. Apparently the 'glass is starting to crack somewhat.

That car was at the New York auto show a couple of years ago along with a bunch of other rare Miatas near the display for the ND chassis. My anti-Japanese car Volvo buddy couldn't understand why I was fawning all over the car taking pictures. I didn't notice any fiberglass issues, but the lighting wasn't great.

It was cool that while it wasn't open to sit in or anything, it was basically just "out" without being roped off, although they did have handlers nearby keeping an eye on everything in case someone got too chummy with something (the convertibles were all completely open).

So the top is fiberglass?

For some reason that lessens it in my estimation. Still love the lines, but less Kuddos on the coachwork.

It's a one-off show car of an inexpensive roadster. Custom metalwork is a great way to show off your metal working capabilities, but this is a styling exercise. Sometimes, it's better to just get things done.

They did do a nice job of finishing the interior, so it's a complete exercise. IIRC, it has different treatments on each side of how the roof blends in to the rear flanks, although you need to walk around the car to see it.

So the question becomes, this or

this?

I give props for it at least being a fairly well done body kit, and take props away for being really crappy versus the original. The Tuscan & Sagaris are two of the most unique & beautiful modern cars I've laid eyes upon.

Hey, by UK kit car standards (well, the standards at the lower end), this is an almost exact copy.

After all, there was this wonderful "Audi TT" creation from Banham (who also did a pretty decent Skoda-Estelle based 550 Spyder replica, google for Banham Spyder).

Hi everyone. My name is Wayne I am the creator of the SPR1. Just thought I would introduce myself and clear a few things up.

The SPR1 was not built as a replica of a TVR but does share some styling from their range so for all those comparing it direct to a TVR it can't be. If I wanted a direct replica I would have used something with more proportion to a TVR but as stated this is not a TVR ripoff it's a stand alone design.

Over here miatas are very varied in prices. My original car that I built the buck from cost me £275 and this car was £700. Rot free as well. Sold the unwanted stuff for £400 so the donor car is now £300. We proved that a budget home build can be done for £6500 here including the kit and all new parts but excludes paintwork. If you used second hand parts this could be reduced further.

Our goal was to build a body kit that looses the mx5 and gives a totally unique look. We offer both targa or coupe options.

The targa roof has rear locking pins so no ejection will happen. The build uses all the original window seals, door seals, locks latches hinges you name it there is nothing extra. The front lights are Hella individual lights which are the exact same lights that the Tuscan and sagaris used and many other cars. The sagaris just had a Perspex cover over. Nothing special or expensive. Rear lights are vw up turned sideways and we supply a plug and play wiring option. Mirrors come from a Vauxhall corsa. All the additional parts are fairly inexpensive to source and all can be sourced used. The main bulk on extras is suspension and wheels.

Rear screen fitting is now perfect with no gaps and uses the original mx5 boot seal. Hinges are a personal choice but we added Ford Explorer hinges as they are cheap and available.

Regarding quality of the fibreglass. These are not produced in the uk they are produced in Latvia to a very high standard with materials fit for the USA climates. I can assure you that these kits do not need filing and cutting and once some modification has been done to the Miata shell these are a pretty much first time fit. The door skins are the only bit that needs adjustment as they are made slightly longer on the front edge to allow for getting the shut lines perfect. We are currently working with someone to produce a car for SEMA next year and also we have a few sales secured so you will see a few cars pop up over the pond in due course.

Here is a past link

https://youtu.be/UEqC-wd5Jec

Happy to answer any questions and discuss in more depth.

Thanks guys.

Regards

hi everyone. My name is Wayne I am the creator of the SPR1. Just thought I would introduce myself and clear a few things up.

The SPR1 was not built as a replica of a TVR but does share some styling from their range so for all those comparing it direct to a TVR it can't be. If I wanted a direct replica I would have used something with more proportion to a TVR but as stated this is not a TVR ripoff it's a stand alone design.

Over here miatas are very varied in prices. My original car that I built the buck from cost me £275 and this car was £700. Rot free as well. Sold the unwanted stuff for £400 so the donor car is now £300. We proved that a budget home build can be done for £6500 here including the kit and all new parts but excludes paintwork. If you used second hand parts this could be reduced further.

Our goal was to build a body kit that looses the mx5 and gives a totally unique look. We offer both targa or coupe options.

The targa roof has rear locking pins so no ejection will happen. The build uses all the original window seals, door seals, locks latches hinges you name it there is nothing extra. The front lights are Hella individual lights which are the exact same lights that the Tuscan and sagaris used and many other cars. The sagaris just had a Perspex cover over. Nothing special or expensive. Rear lights are vw up turned sideways and we supply a plug and play wiring option. Mirrors come from a Vauxhall corsa. All the additional parts are fairly inexpensive to source and all can be sourced used. The main bulk on extras is suspension and wheels.

Rear screen fitting is now perfect with no gaps and uses the original mx5 boot seal. Hinges are a personal choice but we added Ford Explorer hinges as they are cheap and available.

Regarding quality of the fibreglass. These are not produced in the uk they are produced in Latvia to a very high standard with materials fit for the USA climates. I can assure you that these kits do not need filing and cutting and once some modification has been done to the Miata shell these are a pretty much first time fit. The door skins are the only bit that needs adjustment as they are made slightly longer on the front edge to allow for getting the shut lines perfect. We are currently working with someone to produce a car for SEMA next year and also we have a few sales secured so you will see a few cars pop up over the pond in due course.

Here is a past link

https://youtu.be/UEqC-wd5Jec

Happy to answer any questions and discuss in more depth.

Thanks guys.

Regards

Wayne

Thanks for chiming in, Wayne.

My comments on lights and seals were based on the parts for sale on your website. The lights might be easy to source, but you still need to buy them. The 90mm Hellas run about $80 each, so that's $320 worth of headlights - and the tails aren't available in the US. It all adds up.

Glad to hear the targa top is well secured - that wasn't apparent from the videos on the site. I look forward to your solution for the old trunk opening.

In reply to NOHOME:

Hey NoHome and others. Figured I would chime in as well. My name is Donnie and I run a popular kit car website that has been around since the late 90s. I have been involved in kit cars in some form or other for about 25 years. I have owned 30+ kit cars in that time with the better part of half of them being built by me.

I have been following this kit since the day it started and will have one here North Carolina) in Feb if all goes as planned.

I'm trying to understand your math NOHOME . you are saying this car will cost $20,000 to build? Im not saying you could not spend that but you dont need to.

$7000 is about the cost of the targa, to my door from Latvia is $1000-1500 in shipping. It is $3400 if you ship a 40ft container of them from latvia. Import "duty" fees are 2.5% if I recall. Lets just call it $8500 .

I'm not sure why you would use a $5000 NA as your donor but it is not needed. Plently cheap and not rusted out NA out there. If you have auction access even less. Let's not forget the parts you are removing off the donor can that be sold off. You may already have an NA laying around.

Paint and body is not going to cost you anywhere near $5000 for this kit unless you want it to. I know it gets said a lot but the finish of this kit is much better than others I have seen. It will require very little to get it all lined up right.

This is the same with the $4000 in rims, tires , odds and ends. Want bc coils, tracklite (or whatever) rims, maxxis tires then sure you are going to pay up.

My realistic cost to build would be $12,000-$14,000 assuming you can turn a wrench, and drive it to the body shop for paint. Want to put an ls or coyote in it, then you will certainly get up to that $20,000. I have an ls setup already so in my case it's just more I would not have to buy.

I would be more than happy to do a full build diary and spreadsheet of all the costs when it comes time for my build. I would also be willing to put together an easy to follow build manual and parts source sheet.

I also should point out that because everyones skill set and what they want as an end result is different the cost could be more or less.

I like it. Getting in an accident is tough, getting in an accident while dodging the guillotine in the back seat? Real tough.

I think that was just sitting in there. I'm sure you can find a better way to store it lol

An optimistic attitude is a prerequisite to being in the kit car business! That's not a criticism, there are so many reasons not to get into the industry that you have to be an optimist to take it on.

I'd be interested in seeing a spreadsheet of actual costs incurred in an actual build. Paint for a high quality kit around here - a Catfish with all the panels loose so there's no masking - will run about $5k. Btdt. When Traklite wheels are being held as a high-end option, we're talking a tightly constrained budget. My ballpark for a realistic build was also in the $20k range.