Build Your Own Car

By Alan Simonds

If you have ever wanted to build your own car but think it isn't possible, then think again.

Thousands of people all over the world have done it and are now driving cars which are different from the run of the mill vehicles sold by the major manufacturers. Since before the war, folks have taken production cars and used them as donors for their own creation. The two donor vehicles that I remember were the Austin 7 and the Ford Popular. Often they were very basic constructions, taking the chassis, engine and gearbox, suspension and rear axle from the donor, then making a very light, usually aluminium body. Many clubs were formed to race and rally these cars. One of them, the 750 Motor Club is still going today.

In the early days it was much simpler as there were fewer restrictions in what the legal requirements were from the point of road worthiness. My own experience is from the UK where it is now a requirement to have any vehicle that is not a large scale production model to have what is called an SVA (Single Vehicle Approval) test. Fortunately this is not the same as the type approval that the major manufacturers require before they can sell their vehicles. No crash test is required!! It is however very strict with regard to the safety aspects of the car, both from the point of the driver and other road users.

What can you build? There are hundreds of choices depending on your budget, time and facilities.

If you want to build a sports car from scratch, there is the "Locost 7" which is a replica of the Lotus 7 originally designed by Colin Chapman. Ron Champion wrote a book called Build Your Own Sportscar for Less Than £250. I built one of these myself, although it took me three years and the budget was nearer to £2000!! To build a car like this you need to have various skills, such as the ability to weld and use metalworking power and hand tools. You also need patience and determination to finish the project. You also need a good sized workshop with room to move and plenty of storage space. The Locost is really a scratch built car as you make the chassis and fabricate most of the body panels, although there are several specialist suppliers from who you can buy the majority of the parts. If your budget is not a problem, there are many kit car manufacturers that will supply you with a kit, or part kit to build a Lotus 7 replica. Just a few are Caterham Cars, Robin Hood Engineering, Westfield and Tiger.

There are also replica kits available for many of the classic cars such as MG, Jaguar, Porche, the AC Cobra, Austin Healy, Ferrari ....... The list is virtually endless.

If you do decide to seriously want to build your own car, there are thousands of resources available which will help you. The steps I would take would be to go to your local newsagent and buy one or two kitcar magazines. Have a look at what vehicles are available and decide what models you like that are within you price range. Go to kitcar shows and look at the cars there. Talk to the owners/builders to find out how difficult it was to build their cars. Once you have decided which car you want, don't immediately buy it from the manufacturer. Check and see what is available, possibly part built or not even started. There are always ads in the magazines, sometimes in your local paper, on the web and of course Ebay. Often they are available at a greatly reduced price, either because the builder has given up or their circumstances have changed and can no longer continue with their project. Last but not least, join a club for the car that you are going to build. There is nothing like having the help and support of people who have done it before.

Alan Simonds has a keen interest in kitcars, specials and replicas having owned an Austin 7 special, a Morris 8 special and built an MG TF replica and a Locost 7.

http://www.build-your-own-car.ecclesweb.co.uk

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