Very impressed with the philosophy and outlook of designer and engineering consultant, Cal Trump, he of T89 Designs. Very much grasping the best traditions of the late Allan Staniforth and his plans-built single-seater, the Terrapin mixed up with a bit of Ron Champion’s Locost idea, comes the T89 SSL.

For those that really grasp such things, you can pay £594 inc VAT and receive an A3 folder with around 200 drawings (and your chassis plate) to help you produce the 245 separate components that go into the construction of an SSL. An extra £72 inc VAT also gets you Jig drawings and tube wraps and the like.

Weighing in at just 330kg, assuming you’re using a Honda CBR600 ‘baby blade’ engine, you can choose from two versions – PH1.1 uses Ford Sierra 7in differential, driveshafts, hubs and fabricated aluminium uprights along with Wilwood brakes or go for PH1.5, which goes the Mazda MX-5 parts route, including rear brakes.

The finished car can be used in a variety of motorsport categories including sprints and hillclimbs or circuit stuff like the hugely competitive Monoposto Race Club’s Mono Moto championship.

If you like the car but don’t fancy a hardcore plans-build, Cal offers the T89 SSL a conventional (can kitcar building really be described as ‘conventional’?) starter kit package from £7199, which gives you a good headstart and features finished, panelled and powdercoated chassis, all the fabricated and machined parts (including rear uprights) and build plans.

A starter kit plus is also available and gets you a little further advanced in the build adding Wilwood brakes, steering column, steering rack, AVO dampers and springs, rod ends and a 3-litre fuel tank. This option costs £9599 inc VAT.

All parts are available individually from a bare chassis pack at £3590 inc VAT, which means you can tailor the build to your exact circumstances and spread the cost. You may have seen the T89 exhibited on the MNR Ltd stand at shows such as Stoneleigh or Race Retro and that relationship works very well for all concerned with the North Yorkshire manufacturer of the VortX manufactures the machined parts for Cal.

More from www.t89.co.uk ENDS.