HAPPY 75^TH ‘BIRTHDAY’ TO THE UK’S KITCAR INDUSTRY – 1949-2024

A warm WELCOME to totalkitcar online … Another interesting announcement from the DVLA to bring you this week.

You can now tax your vehicle online if you have lost your V5C and the V11 vehicle tax reminder letter.

Until now if you had mislaid these docs you would have to wait up to five days for a new V5C to arrive or have to phone DVLA’s contact centre to tax your car.

This welcome move allows you to apply for a new V5C and tax the car online at the same time.

The DVLA hasn’t previously linked their online registration service and online licensing service, so this development is a welcome one.

DVLA chief executive Julie Lennard said: “We are always looking for ways to improve our digital services to provide more convenience for motorists. This latest enhancement will enable customers who have misplaced or lost their V5C to get a replacement and tax their vehicle quickly and easily.

The new service can be found a: www.gov.uk/vehicle-log-book.

A couple of new sportscars have really caught my attention recently. One is a body conversion the other is the re-birth of the Rotary engine.

Let’s talk about the latter first. The Mazda Iconic SP is a fixed-head sportscar that I think is absolutely gorgeous. A compact two-seater was initially announced as a concept, but there were doubts about whether it would reach production. Thankfully, it now looks as if it could make production in 2026 thanks to hints from Mazda. this week.

There are also rumours that the concept’s bodyshape gives real indications to the next MX-5. Total power is said to be 370bhp, aiming it squarely at the Lotus Emira. To me, there seem to be bits of some of my favourite cars in its styling.

The drive system is said to be unique. A rotary engine generates the power for electric motors that will provide drive for its wheels. Other key points are its weight, 1450kg, again similar to the Emira and clever dihedral doors. Let’s hope they do put into production.

The second sportscar is equally beautiful, but you can buy one right now.

It’s called the Sinner from new company Solus Motorsport. The car made its public debut at this year’s Newark show. It actually originates from an un-released Blackwell Sportscars design. That company was well-known for its MX-5-based SPR1, but was well down the road to their second model, the SPR2 that Wayne Blackwell was working on at the time he decided that he wanted to change direction.

The SPR1 was sold to a Norwegian company (not heard of since, sadly), while the SPR2, albeit in prototype unfinished form was sold to Lincolnshire-based Mark Gray.

An out-out car and bike nut, Mark builds horseboxes for a living but really liked the styling of the SPR2. He’s spent the last eighteen months productionising the car and has done a beautiful job of it. Based on Toyota MR2 Mk3, Mark reckons you could build one on a budget of around £10,000.

Why the Sinner? Well, his wife Emma reckoned it was her favourite of Mark’s aftershave and so they chose that!

A website is under development.

TKC MAG – NOV/DEC 2024  issue of TKC MAG is OUT NOW.

You can CLICK HERE to order your NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2024  copy NOW.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER has plenty more to entertain you with, dear reader. You will find on this issue’s a la carte menu –

Dirty Dog Outlaws – Outlaw Speedster – a new arrival from Australia, this pastiche of the Porsche 356 is based on the humble MGF (or TF with mods). The Philip Island-based manufacturer has already sold a small handful in the UK.

AeroCycle Merlin MG3 – this brilliant three-wheeler originated as the BRA CX3 in 1985 but has had a slightly stop/start existence over the last 20 years or so. The previous custodian, Arthur Rayner tragically died in late 2022. The good news is that the car is back in production. STEVE HOLE rounds up the past, present and future …

BEACH BUGGY OWNERS REUNITED! – A great tale of a reader who sold his beach buggy 35-years ago and with our help found it again. We arranged a dawn meeting on Eastbourne Beach with him and the current owner. A heartwarming tale.

OGLE AT 70 – Ogle design is seventy years ago in 2024 and we were represented at the recent Ogle meet at Knebworth Park where seven of the surviving Ogle SX1000s turned up. Meanwhile, STEVE HOLE looks at the company’s past.

INDUSTRY GREATS – This issue, Mark Grinnall falls under our spotlight, not only for the brilliant Scorpion III but for his motorsport past and current endeavours with Mid West Moto, a proper destination venue in Stourport-on-Seven which among other things sells Grinnall bike-to-trikes and dealer for the Indian Motorcycle brand.

That’s just some of what we have for you…

Alternatively, you can CLICK HERE to pre-order your NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2024 copy NOW.

A little plug (well, it’s my website and I have good things to make you aware of!) for the digital version of TKC MAG. If not having a hard, paper copy of the mag in your mitts doesn’t bother you then may I recommend the digital edition.

An EXACT replica of the paper version it currently costs just £23.99 for a TWELVE MONTHS DIGITAL subscription to TKC MAG ANYWHERE in the world. Visit Pocketmags.com and type in ‘TKC MAG’ and all will be revealed. Alternatively, you download our APP on your mobile and download single issues or a subscription on your phone or tablet.

We are getting a lot of new subscribers on the totalkitcar YouTube channel. If you like this website, you are sure to find something you like on the ‘totalkitcar YouTube channel’? In addition to our usual monthly video upload, we now have a weekly series called the ‘totalkitcar History Files Series. The latter isn’t rocket science. We verbally look at old kitcars with photos added, but we seem to be capturing peoples’ imaginations.

As the name suggests we look at some of the classic marques, great cars, not so great cars, plus the personalities, events and designers who have graced this wonderful industry over the last 75 years

If you don’t already subscribe to our channel (just search ‘totalkitcar YouTube Channel’ on YouTube) please do, as it’s free and if you click ‘all’ you’ll be notified every time a new video drops. Finally, may I ask you to hit the thumbs-up button please as that helps the channel greatly.  THANK YOU, dear reader.

History File Series, in association with the Enwin Motors channel. Don’t miss out, subscribe for FREE now. 

Search YouTube for the ‘totalkitcar YouTube Channel’ or follow this link: https://www.youtube.com/@tkcmag.

TKC MAG – WHY NOT CONSIDER A SUBSCRIPTION THAT LASTS A WHOLE YEAR? – ACTUALLY, IT LASTS LONGER THAN THAT IF YOU USE THIS SPECIAL OFFER, AS IT WILL LAST FOURTEEN MONTHS. WE’LL ADD AN EXTRA ISSUE TO THE STANDARD TWELVE MONTHS PACKAGE. https://bit.ly/3RxuLgU 

By the grace of Royal Mail – if you live in the United Kingdom – we can pretty much say with confidence that you will receive your copies at least two or three days before shop or digital publication dates.

Our popular TRACKDAY CALENDAR is where you can find out where, when and how much by CLICKING HERE. Now updated to cover November and December 2024.

IF YOU LIKE CLASSIC KIT CARS & SPECIALS you are in luck. Clicking that button will take you back in time with features on old kitcars, personalities and generally interesting companies who worked within the specialist car and sixties motorsport movements. I really hope you are enjoying them. Not all of them are kitcar-related per se but they all celebrate the underdog and often feature the wonderful world of sixties motorsport.

A lot of classic clubman motorsport features highlight underdog artisans that we hope will appeal to you dear reader, the sort of companies that we’ve often all heard of but on whom detailed information is often hard to find. Shorrock, Wade Turbochargers, Jack Knight Developments, Cannon Cars, Tom Killeen, David Ogle the list goes on and on. The sort of companies and individuals that our specialist and kitcar forebears from the sixties would have been very familiar with. You’ll find these subjects contained in CLASSIC KIT CARS & SPECIALS.

This week we pay a fond tribute to one of the kitcar industry’s greatest-ever designers, DENNIS ADAMS, who sadly died recently. CLICK HERE to go there.

SNIPPETS 1 ……RM Sotheby’s returned to Las Vegas for Grand Prix Race Week, partnering with amfAR and Wynn Las Vegas to present a star-studded auction featuring an extraordinary collection of cars, headlined by the last Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing.

The Last Gullwing

The 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing is widely regarded as the most iconic and recognizable car ever made. As the last 300 SL Gullwing built, this car was crafted as a special-order ‘Standwagen’ for display at the 1957 Poznan International Trade Fair, retaining its original Fire Engine Red finish over Crème leather along with all numbers-matching components, from chassis to gearbox

2006 McLaren-Mercedes MP4-21 Formula 1 Car

The 2006 McLaren-Mercedes MP4-21 Formula 1 car, tested by a young Lewis Hamilton and driven by Juan Pablo Montoya, marks the rising collectability of F1 cars. Restored by McLaren Racing Heritage in 2019, this rare car comes with a McLaren Certificate of Authenticity.

1994 Porsche 911 Reimagined by Singer ‘Highlands Commission’

This Porsche 911 Reimagined by Singer is number 201 of approximately 450 Classic 964 examples created; Singer Vehicle Design is no longer accepting orders for this compelling specification, increasing this car’s desirability from the outset. This Porsche 911 Reimagined by Singer presents as new and offers an extremely rare opportunity to jump the multi-year waitlist and immediately acquire one of its storied restorations

2005 Porsche Carrera GT

Built in a modest quantity of 1270 examples through four years of production, of which only 644 cars were exported to the United States, the Carrera GT is today regarded as one of Stuttgart’s most desirable prestige models, as proven by its steady increase in value over the last 15 years. At the time of cataloguing, it displayed just 267 miles on the odometer

2015 Porsche 918 ‘Weissach’ Spyder

As one of just 297 Spyders specified for the United States, this exquisite 918 ‘Weissach’ Spyder boasts rarity. Currently displaying just 170 miles on the odometer, this sensational, barely driven 918 ‘Weissach’ Spyder benefits from a very short ownership chain, resulting in a breathtaking example of the Stuttgart hypercar

For more news from RM Sotheby’s visit www.rmsothebys.com.

SNIPPETS 2 …….The British Motor Museum has launched i exciting new ‘Brick Bank’ scheme, encouraging visitors to donate their unwanted or unused LEGO®  bricks for a fantastic cause! Museum Volunteers will collate the bricks into build kits, which will be donated to children in the area through local Community Pantries. With kids receiving many exciting toys at Christmas, donating old toys like LEGO® bricks not only leaves room for new toys and encourages giving back, but also provides the joy of owning LEGO® bricks to children who haven’t yet been fortunate enough to experience it themselves.

Building with bricks develops a child’s creativity, motor skills and well-being, all important for their future development. Recycling bricks in this way, rather than throwing them away, is a great environmentally friendly choice. LEGO® bricks are so hard-wearing they can be taken apart and put back together 37,112 times, meaning the kits donated can be played with again and again  (I wonder who counted that? – Ed)!

All donations, big or small, will be appreciated to help the Brick Bank create as many build kits as possible. The Museum volunteers will put together kits with a photo of a suggested build for children to try and replicate, but the possibilities are endless when it comes to what they can create.

Claire Broader from the Museum’s Learning and Engagement Team said, “We’re delighted to launch our new Brick Bank at the British Motor Museum.  If you’d like to donate your bricks, please drop them off at the donation box in the Welcome Gallery, or give us a call and we can collect them. It’s a brilliant opportunity to help children from local communities, and have a clear out before the new Christmas toys take over! Additionally, if you’re an expert builder who would like to help us create the kits, please do get in touch!”

For more information please visit www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/learning/the-brick-bank or speak to a member of the Community team by email: community@britishmotormuseum.co.uk or you can always call 01926 895 238.

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STEVO’S BEER TIP – VAULT CITY BREWING – PEACH & BLUEBERRY CLOUDS

CHAMPIONING THE BEERS OF THE UK’S BRILLIANT CRAFT – AND MICRO-BREWERIES.

Nothing like enjoying a beer after an afternoon in the garage or following a drive out. OBVIOUSLY, we don’t condone or promote drink driving at totalkitcar.com/TKC MAG but once the driving is done there’s nothing like a quality drop of real ale.

I’ve been amazed at some of the low-volume craft beers that have been appearing. The names of some of them are crazy enough, some of those I have tasted have been off the charts. A recent one that tasted like Battenberg or breakfast pancakes springs to mind.

A bonkers one for you this week. Hoorah to the kind reader who lobbed me a couple of cans of Peach & Blueberry Clouds described as a ‘modern sour’ of 6.5% ABV.

It hails from Edinburgh-based Vault City Brewery and really is mad. The addition of vanilla brings warmth and sweetness, while a generous dry hop of Citra and El Dorado among additions of Rakau SubZero Hop Kief completes the flavour profile, delivering intense aromas of citrus and tropical fruit. More from www.vaultcity.co.uk.

So, that’s about it from me for this week, so I’ll bid you a great week, with plenty of enjoyable driving and I look forward to welcoming you once again next Friday – NOVEMBER 29 – La vie et belle!

Best regards

Steve