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

Derek Buckler is the ‘father’ of the UK’s kitcar industry – here he is (far left) proving the strength of one of his Space Karts!

A warm WELCOME to totalkitcar online …Very saddened to hear about the death of the great designer, Dennis Adams last week. One of the specialist car industry’s GREATS.

In the early sixties, along with his brother Peter, Dennis worked hard with Jem Marsh to make Marcos one of the very best specialist car manufacturers. The Adams brothers later came up with the space-age Probe models, while Dennis created the brilliant Adams Roadster, the Rotrax and indirectly the Dakar. However, there was so much more to Dennis and he was very versatile.

Dennis at work in the early sixties

You can read our tribute to Dennis HERE.

We send our sincere condolences to Dennis’ family and friends RIP.

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

OUT NOW – Oooh, I say!

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 …

Early doors announcement

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.

I was having a rummage through some boxes in the stock room this week and stumbled across a small quantity of Jeroen Booij’s brilliant MAXIMUM MINI kitcar posters that we didn’t know we still had – these are now a collector’s item …
Price £19.99
follow the link to buy yours while stock last – https://bit.ly/3O7bbVZ

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.

Get TKC MAG on your phone … tablet … MAC … or PC

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.

The industry was well represented at last weekend’s Classic Motor Show at the NEC – Hawk Cars was one manufacturer that did the industry proud

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.

Why not visit the ‘totalkitcar YouTube Channel’?

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.

SUBSCRIBE NOW!

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.

Classic Kit Cars & Specials has a new home at totalkitcar.com

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.

You can read our tribute to Dennis Adams – here’s the maestro with his Roadster taken around 1986

SNIPPETS 1 ……The 2025 BVAC Classic Festival of Motoring will return to Thirlestane Castle on Sunday, June 8.

This year’s event, which celebrated sixty years of the iconic Ford Mustang, was deemed a great success, with a record breaking attendance and positive feedback from visitors.

Following a review of feedback from this year’s show, the organisers plan to make further additions and improvements to the 2025 event while retaining the traditional charm and relaxed atmosphere that makes the BVAC Classic such a great day out.

Visitors will once again be treated to an amazing display of classic cars and machinery, live action, plentiful family activities, great food, drink and retail and much more.

CHRISTMAS IS COMING!
SPECIAL OFFER AT £14.50
We have just had some more copies of our ‘IMProvers’ poster printed. Top quality wood-free art-paper, oil-free inks, A2 size (420mm x 594mm) available now via https://tinyurl.com/impkits

A spokesperson told me: We’ll be announcing the 2025 theme and content over the coming weeks. Tickets will also go on sale in the next few weeks (perfect timing for friends and family Christmas gifts!) and once again, there will be great early bird offers in place for advanced bookers.”

More from www.bvac.org.uk

SNIPPETS 2 ……..Morgan Motor Company is partnering with leading sports and supercar specialist, Woodcote & Copse, to open a new dealership in Northamptonshire, UK. Situated at Silverstone Circuit, the iconic home of British motorsport, Morgan Silverstone offers sales and aftersales services for new and pre-owned Morgan sportscars.

Woodcote & Copse has extensive experience with sporting British brands including Lotus – which it has represented since 2008 – and Caterham. In addition, its team brings a wealth of knowledge from careers in the premium automotive sector. This experience and knowledge, combined with a well-located and accessible dealership, is designed to further strengthen Morgan’s retail offering to UK customers.

An official open event was held on November 7 at the new Morgan Silverstone dealership facility where the latest Morgan range comprising Super 3, Plus Four and Plus Six, were presented. In addition, Morgan’s Chief Design Officer, Jonathan Wells, introduced guests to the brand, giving insight into Morgan’s unique 21st-century coachbuilding philosophy and approach to evolving timeless design.

The opening of Morgan Silverstone follows a period of success for Morgan, including the announcement of Plus Six Pinnacle in October. The now sold-out Pinnacle model is a fitting final chapter for Plus Six, which is ceasing production in 2025 to make way for a new flagship model.

GREAT BOOK. ONE FOR YOUR CHRISTMAS LIST

Jack Woodgate, Head of Sales, Morgan Motor Company, said: “We are excited to be partnering with Woodcote & Copse to represent Morgan at the iconic home of British motorsport, Silverstone. The team behind Morgan Silverstone is one with extensive experience and a commitment to delivering exceptional customer service that we know will enhance Morgan’s dealership network in the UK. We look forward to a successful partnership and to introducing new and existing customers to our exciting range of sports cars in the years to come.”

Matthew Haskins, Managing Director of Woodcote & Copse, said: “Morgan Silverstone marks an exciting new chapter in our commitment to delivering authentic British sports car experiences. We are proud to partner with Morgan Motor Company to bring its unique range to our customers. We look forward to welcoming enthusiasts and new customers alike to Silverstone to experience Morgan’s timeless design, engaging driving dynamics, and signature craftsmanship at this iconic location.”

Morgan Silverstone is now operational, interested customers are invited to contact the team to discuss a new Morgan commission, test drive or for general enquiries. Morgan Silverstone is active on social media via the Woodcote and Copse social media accounts @woodcoteandcopse.

SNIPPETS 3 …….. SPECIAL OFFER: 12 months FREE Total Motor Assist for all totalkitcar.com readers!

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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 22 – La vie et belle!

Best regards

Steve