Interest in Miata-based kit cars?

I appreciate all of the continued thoughts on this topic folks. Very interesting discourse.

maybe something like an old 356 race car? it could work, and those definitely had more under-hood clearance than the 550s

Not really. The front of a 356 wasn't designed to accomodate a radiator, for one, and when you start to make the changes required for the air flow, the overall design will be changed too much.

rear mount the radiator, or mount it at an angle, bottom feed it and then vent the radiators to the front wheel wells. the biggest problem with rear mounting is the added amount of coolant hoses you would need and maybe a lack of airflow, the problem with the other solution is venting potentially hot air straight onto the front tires which will not help tire temps. maybe vent the radiator back at the ground right behind the front wheels?

That's a thought... although I'd still have concerns about the front suspension clearing the bodywork as well - mainly the front upper shock mounts.

I like the Devin and Ginetta ideas..like (I can't remember who) said about the Devin, it'd be more like a continuation than a replica, and IMO, the same would be true about Ginettas, since they're another small English cottage firm that uses whatever engines they can contract for.

OTOH, I'm old enough to remember the Alfa TZ. That's one replica I'd rock..but I'm a hard-core Endurance Racing fan. Which leads into my next point.

Seems to me the problem is, for anyone going out on a limb and starting a business to actually make these things, none of the three cars I've mentioned are really enough of an "icon" that people other than our kind would point to and say, "..I gotta have one of those!". Factory Five is successful because even the casual car fan knows what a Cobra is.

I still think a Miata-based kit car is a great idea, but I've no idea what you'd have to pick to get people to buy them in enough numbers to make it work.

Jag XK100? it was supposed to be a regular XK120, but powered by a 2.0 liter, 4 cylinder version of the XK engine, but it was canceled before it hit production. might be worth trying to reproduce one. an old Jag is pretty easy to recognize and could still perform quite well if the weight is low and well distributed. just an idea

I like Keith's suggestion of the C-Type. Very sexy and unobtainable for most of us, and not common as a kit car.

I love the AC Cobra, but they are way to common as kits. If I see one I assume it is a fake. A little off topic, but I have asked a couple of guys at car shows which kit they used, only to be rebuffed that "it isn't a kit its a Superformance". Note to car show guy, if Shelby didn't build it, it's a kit!

I also like the Ginetta, (has a lot of C-Type in it.) But it looks small, and Miatas are about as small as I can fit!

Sofa King wrote: A little off topic, but I have asked a couple of guys at car shows which kit they used, only to be rebuffed that "it isn't a kit its a Superformance". Note to car show guy, if Shelby didn't build it, it's a kit!

I think the arguement there is that Superformance doesn't sell kits in the same way that FFR does. The ship as pre-assembled and painted rollers and are assembled from all new parts.

http://www.superformance.com/Faqs.aspx

Does it matter? Not really.

Ian F wrote: I think the arguement there is that Superformance doesn't sell kits in the same way that FFR does. The ship as pre-assembled and painted rollers and are assembled from all new parts. http://www.superformance.com/Faqs.aspx Does it matter? Not really.

FWIW, I think that Superformance products are typically superior to their competition - I'd take one in a heartbeat over a FF. Not that there's anything wrong with FFs. Superfromance just has a higher level of fit, finish, and detailing in my experience.

Gorgeous. What is it?

Siata 208S Spyder

914/6? I know the Miata puts the engine in the wrong place, but aside from cutting the front open a bit for airflow, I would assume its doable...a little nip here and a tuck there (as in - slide the driver compartment back about 20")...voila!!!! The body lines are pretty simple to replicate in FB, the interior is minimal, and the size and footprint is about the same.

While the Siata is nice, anyone who doesn't know what it is (most people) will just think it's an odd looking Cobra...

I don't doubt that Superformance cars are nicer than FFR cars... but considering what you're getting and the usual price paid, I would expect it to be so.

In reply to kreb:

I agree that the Superformance is a nice car, I also like the Factory Five product. Wouldn't mind either in my garage. I just think that the Superformance doesn't deserve any more snootiness than say a C6 Corvette, and I consider the C6 to be a "real" car, while the Superformance is a "Tribute"car. Nothing wrong with a tribute car, but I don't think that having the best replica buys you the right to any attitude.

Sofa King wrote: In reply to kreb: I agree that the Superformance is a nice car, I also like the Factory Five product. Wouldn't mind either in my garage. I just think that the Superformance doesn't deserve any more snootiness than say a C6 Corvette, and I consider the C6 to be a "real" car, while the Superformance is a "Tribute"car. Nothing wrong with a tribute car, but I don't think that having the best replica buys you the right to any attitude.

I'd take it one step further, I'd rather have a FFR than a Superformance. I don't care at all about the orginality of what is still a kit car at the end of the day. Shelby's certification is a negative to me, I see him as just a crotchety old man now. Way to ruin a legacy!

I like FFRs for the following reasons:

• Outstanding forum support and community (ffcobra.com)

• Frame

• Performance

• Perky butt (at least the older ones)

Look at the picture of the Maxton Rollerskate on the last page of the current issue of GRM. Something like that ought to sell. Think of a 1600 lb Miata and the performance potential. Although,a kit that looked like the Siata would have a better chance of seperating me from my money. Absolutely gorgeous.!

Don't forget an active spec racing series to boot!

EDIT: As an addition to the "why FFR" thread.

I don't care about Shelby, perky butts or the community. From what I've seen, Superformance makes a better car. For the price difference, they aught to. But we're loosing focus here. The Cobra is an icon, in an elite group with the '32 Ford and not much else to the common man (As opposed to hard core gearheads). Using FF as a model for how a proper kit car company can be run is a good idea. Expecting their level of success, not bloody likely.

I saw a Ginetta with Miata underpinnings last year in Myrtle Beach. Don't know how much was really Ginetta since it had '99 Miata headlights. The guy was trying to sell it but I forget how much he was looking to get for it, though I kinda recall it was "up there"

FWIW I was staring at my '90 Miata in the driveway this evening, basking in the light coming out of the garage, and wondering how anyone could possibly improve on those lines. Yet everyone keeps trying!

That particular model Ginetta comes with the Miata headlights as standard. I've seen one and thought it looked pretty nice, except for the odd shape of the windshield header.

+1 on the odd shape of the windshield!

It looks like they must be trying to use a stock piece, but I don't see anything familiar looking in that windshield. I still like the look of the car. But taking a car, and fixing the things that bother us, is a big part of why we are talking to each other on this forum anyway.

Claff wrote: I saw a Ginetta with Miata underpinnings last year in Myrtle Beach. Don't know how much was really Ginetta since it had '99 Miata headlights. The guy was trying to sell it but I forget how much he was looking to get for it, though I kinda recall it was "up there" FWIW I was staring at my '90 Miata in the driveway this evening, basking in the light coming out of the garage, and wondering how anyone could possibly improve on those lines. Yet everyone keeps trying!

That's a Ginetta G200, and they were built with Miata chassis and drivetrain components from the factory.

Spent/wasted/invested the last 45 minutes or so reading the whole thread. The only suggestion that makes sense to THIS son of Scotland (read: cheap b*stard) is to make a Speedway Track T. I've wanted one for a long time, and I've recently started to get far enough ahead financially that I could possibly afford one. That said, most of the suggestions for body replicas have lots of merit. I'd look twice...or more...at many of them.

The whole quandry begins at "how do I/we recoup the expense of the tool-up?" I'm not sure it's possible or at least, likely. The only long term successes I can think of in North America are FFR and Classic Roadster. I can think of many that showed promise, and started like a house afire, Classic among them, and sputtered out a few months or couple years later. Classic was gone, or at least not real visible for several years, and has only recently shown back up in the marketplace, but with a hugely trimmed offering. I'm guessing they found which of the replicas they offered actually sold, and went with that.

Most of the companies that offer bodies, also offer frames or pieces/parts to go with the bodies they sell. They don't depend entirely upon the bodies. And therein lies the rub. How many of us have the capability to develope the whole package? Even John DeLorean, genius though he was, couldn't get a lasting presence in the marketplace with only a stainless steel car. Lots of problems with trying to get an audience interested enough to want to buy more than the inital purchase.

There are some astoundingly good body kits out there, but don't count on them being there forever.