News
TRIBUTE TO TRIBUTE – AND NUBODI
Jun 16th
Alongside Stuart Mills at MEV, one of the most prolific kitcar designers around at the moment is Chris Welch of Tribute Automotive and he really doesn’t hang around when it comes to creating innovative, original and ‘inspired-by’ designs cleverly using donors that are affordable and suit the projects perfectly.
Not one of his current NINE models (eleven really if you include two soft-top derivatives of fixed-heads) should cost you more than £7000 to build including purchase of the donor car. That’s pretty amazing when you think about it.
Chris is a real character and has a superb and razor sharp sense of More >
NOW THESE ARE COOL – AND AFFORDABLE
Jun 16th
Every week brings new products, it seems, from Car Builder Solutions, with every one a winner. They’ve just released a new range of smart, flush-fitting machined alloy push-button warning switches that are incredible value at just £6 each inc VAT.
Branded equivalents, that CBS also stock in volume cost three times as much as these but if you want that certain look but are on a budget these are the switches for you.
Available in stealthy black or aluminium-look they will service most functionality requirements including ‘neutral’, oil warning, brake fluid warning, fan warning and even seat belt warning. They are all More >
JOIN TOGETHER WITH THE BAND
Jun 16th
New from Merlin Motorsport are these aluminium hose-joiners specially created for marrying-up silicone hoses.
A wide range of aluminium tubes with a bead on each end to join lengths of silicone radiator or turbo hose are available with no fewer than seventeen outside diameters and five standard lengths available.
Merlin has an on-site pipe-bending room and are equipped to bend and bead hoses into elbows or whatever angles you require. Tube can also be supplied in one-metre lengths and if you cut and return them to Merlin with details on faces and beads required they’ll do the job for you. Very helpful More >
PETROL PEP-UP
Jun 16th
The American-made and highly regarded Rislone products are now available in the UK via Alton-based distributor’s, E-Teck Ltd.
There are plenty of octane and cetane boosters on the market, as there are oils boosters and engine tonics, many of them amounting to nothing more exciting than Doc Holliday’s Snake Oil, but my American friends reckon this stuff is different and are particularly good.
The Rislone range includes a diesel treatment, engine treatment (known as a ‘tune-up in a bottle’), engine oil supplement and a fuel injector cleaner.
The first one we’ll be trying however, is their petrol treatment, and it’ll be tried in More >
BEDTIME READING FROM GUNSON
Jun 16th
Summer is supposedly here (got soaked in downpours three times in one day this week – ed) and as the better weather approaches it’s time to think about cracking on with maintenance and enhancements taking full advantage of warmer days and lighter evenings. The new 2016 edition of the Gunson catalogue is out now and showcases many new products and adds to their already comprehensive range. The brand is very familiar and historically has been renowned for its innovative products that make life easy for automotive enthusiasts who seek high performance and trouble-free motoring.
This all-new catalogue includes Gunson’s dependable old More >
BRIDGE BUILDING
Jun 16th
Bridgestone’s revolutionary DriveGuard tyre has received the ultimate endorsement after being crowned as the Auto Express Product of the Year for 2016 – just two months since its UK launch.
DriveGuard, the touring tyre, which allows drivers to continue their journey for 50-miles at up to 50mph, has been recognised for its ability to allow ‘more drivers the enjoyment of tyres that don’t need to be changed immediately when punctured.’
With its reinforced sidewalls and proprietary cooling fin technology, Bridgestone DriveGuard tyres give drivers additional peace of mind by reducing the risk of an accident caused by a puncture.
It is not restricted More >
MEV TALK OF NEW BLADES AND ROCKETS…
Jun 9th
It’s about time, I reckon, that we look at a very important UK kitcar manufacturer, Mills Extreme Vehicles and bring you up to date with their current model range…
Actually there’s a bit of a stop press as Stuart was in touch just as I was writing this piece to say that he’s soon to be unveiling the all-new ROCKET 2, and although he was being pretty coy about full details he did send me this sneak peek at the car under build in MEV’s Mansfield workshop. What I do know is that power will come from a Lotus Elise-spec Toyota More >
NEED PAINT OR GRP REPAIRS ON YOUR KITCAR? THERE MIGHT BE JUST ONE OPTION
Jun 9th
As a pretty enthusiastic classic Lotus fan of many years standing I keep a very keen eye on that scene, which although belonging within the specialist car sector is a niche within a niche. For example, I’ve learnt the hard way that it’s never good to use the words ‘kit’ and ‘car’ in the earshot of a historic Lotus owner (well, up until 1973 and the introduction of VAT, which stopped Lotus ‘kit’ production, almost overnight).
A fine reputation with Lotus and TVRs has seen Option 1 turn their attention to the kitcar industry. They have a lot to offer…
Fact is More >
YOU TOO CAN HAVE A NEW BODY!
Jun 9th
A project I’ve always liked it is the HSR, which has had a few false starts but remains full of potential.
A potentially brilliant project, the HSR
Our old mate, Pat Jackson, came up with the concept back in 2006 and developed it in conjunction with MK Sportscars basing it on the company’s proven, Indy spaceframe chassis. Although MK displayed the car a couple of times at shows it ultimately didn’t go much further.
It then lay dormant for a while although Pat always felt it had mileage in it and about two-years ago began marketing it himself, which is when I drove it More >
THE HUB
Jun 9th
One of the lines that Merlin Motorsport sells is cast, heat-treated aluminium hubs, which are ideal for any kit or specialist car that uses Triumph uprights.
They can be supplied with three alternate wheel-stud hole pitchings and there are two types of stub axle used – small size for Herald; large size for Vitesse.
If in any doubt cal Merlin Motorsport and they will be happy to help identify the type you need for your application. They do point out though that these hubs are more fragile than the production steel items and care needs to be taken when fitting the studs. More >
