If you ever wanted a TVR...

I like the look of the body kit from Wayne. I've been following the development from the start. Good job Wayne!

I have attempted to create a new body for the Miata chassis. I've posted pictures of work in progress on this forum in the past. But, I was never able to achieve the look that I want. The Miata's cowl is tall, the engine is tall and it's mounted pretty far forward. And, the seating position if pretty far forward of the rear axle center line. I like the looks of the old sports races with the rear biased cockpit and long, low hood. Because of these and health issues I never completed a new body.

The Mev DBR is a good attempt at what I was looking to do but, you can tell the compromises that had to be made to fit the Miata stock drivetrain.

One of the issues when creating a body that is not a replica is that every one will have an opinion on how they would do it or change it.

I love kit cars and appreciate the amount of effort, determination, time, and money that it takes to create a new body or kit.

As they said if it was easy everyone would be doing it. I always got a chuckle out of people who post "I dont know how I feel about......." when they see a car. Well get on in the garage and build the car you want and fix what everyone else is failing at. At the end of the day if your fancy is the SPR1, The Catfish, Exocet, MX250 or whatever get building.

DNA Automotive is just finishing up a really nice Z3 based kit car . Its a good looking 250 Cal. Think Ferris Bueller.

jmc14 wrote: One of the issues when creating a body that is not a replica is that every one will have an opinion on how they would do it or change it.

NickD wrote: I'm still a big fan of the Pit Crew conversion kit.

I think it is very unlikely the headlights on that car meet DOT regs for height.

In reply to SVreX:

Depends on the state. Some states are 24"min 54" max, Other have none . It all depends on where you are.

There's a big difference between borrowing some styling cues and trying to build a replica of an iconic car on the bones of another.

The latter usually doesn't work. There are a few exceptions - the 250GTO based on the Datsun Z cars is one - but most end up clumsy or fall into an uncanny valley. That MX250 suffers from the clumsy, as the fundamental proportions of the Miata just don't match those of the Ferrari. The M1stang has the same problem. So you end up with a car that's trying to be a replica but just can't manage it.

Cars with a dedicated tube frame usually fare better because the frame builder has more control over the proportions. GT40, a million Cobras, the Aston mentioned above, etc.

Using styling cues from another car without trying to make a copy can work well. The Italia is one of these, and Wayne's TVR-esque kit is a great example. If you're not trying to copy something, you can work with the proportions of the donor car and make it look good. Or you can make a mess of it.

100% agree with this. Same can be said about the miata 427 that was out there for a bit

Keith Tanner wrote: There's a big difference between borrowing some styling cues and trying to build a replica of an iconic car on the bones of another. The latter usually doesn't work. There are a few exceptions - the 250GTO based on the Datsun Z cars is one - but most end up clumsy or fall into an uncanny valley. That MX250 suffers from the clumsy, as the fundamental proportions of the Miata just don't match those of the Ferrari. The M1stang has the same problem. So you end up with a car that's trying to be a replica but just can't manage it. Cars with a dedicated tube frame usually fare better because the frame builder has more control over the proportions. GT40, a million Cobras, the Aston mentioned above, etc. Using styling cues from another car without trying to make a copy can work well. The Italia is one of these, and Wayne's TVR-esque kit is a great example. If you're not trying to copy something, you can work with the proportions of the donor car and make it look good. Or you can make a mess of it.