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PHILIP COLES’ NOVA STORY
Jul 21st
Totalkitcar.com reader, Philip Coles brings us a lovely little build story dating back to the early eighties about the Nova that he built in the early eighties Here, he tells the sorry of his build and shares some beautiful 40-year-old photos with us. Over to you, Philip.
The Nova, designed by Richard Oakes, possessed a unique styling for its time and I think the body shape still grabs attention today.
I started building my Nova in the early eighties and at the time I was a post-graduate student, so for me, it was always a very relaxing way to spend my downtime. The More >
NYMPH … A CUTE LITTLE IMP
Jul 14th
A real lightweight that became too heavy. Then the balloon went up. CAROL HARDY explains why the ‘Stables’ door was bolted
Clever little concept created by Peter Bohanna and Robin Stables, who had previously designed the car that became the AC ME3000, the Austin Maxi-powered Diablo.
This four-seat Hillman Imp-based utility called the Nymph appeared in 1976 as a kit after a proposed deal for 20,000 units with Chrysler fell through. They’d seen it as a rival to the Mini Moke but the deal foundered when Chrysler UK ditched the Imp! It claimed to be the world’s lightest production four-seater, incidentally.
Bohanna Stables would More >
HOW YOUR KITCAR’S WINDSCREEN IS MADE
Jul 7th
Have you ever wondered how your kitcar’s windscreen is produced? For many years the brilliant Peter Swan ran Pilkington’s Classic division on the Isle of Sheppey although soon after Peter retired Pilkington closed the facility.
Pilkington Classic was based on the Isle of Sheppey for many years, but specialist car ‘screens are now made at their vast Redditch factory
Peter Swan ran the Pilkington Classic factory on the Isle of Sheppey. A lovely bloke. His knowledge was amazing and he helped many a kitcar owner out over the years
Their mainstream windscreen factory is in Redditch and the production of specialist glass has More >
THE HOT ROD HISTORY OF ED ‘MISTER ED’ WIMBLE
Jun 30th
THE OUTLAW, FAST EDDIE AND MISTER ED – THE EDDIE WIMBLE STORY
[standfirst] Eddie Wimble is rightly regarded as one of the UK’s greatest exponents of hot rod building. He is deservedly in the UK’s National Street Rod Association’s Hall of Fame, but unless you are into the hot rod scene or were reading Filby’s mags back in the late seventies, the name of Eddie Wimble won’t be known to you. I thought it was time to pay a little tribute to Eddie and highlight the great work he did. I hope you enjoy reading it …
A bit of a cliché More >
THE HISTORY OF FLEUR DE LYS VEHICLE MANUFACTURING
Jun 23rd
FLEUR de LYS VEHICLE MANUFACTURING
The Fleur de Lys range of period vans was one of several around in the eighties– most being offered in kit form. Several of them frankly weren’t very good but the Newark company’s offerings thanks largely to the input of sixties motorsport designer-great LEN TERRY, were first class. They were available as turnkeys or as kit packages.
Fleur de Lys means ‘flower of the lily’ and has been widely used in heraldry through the ages and the company behind the vans and period vehicles had a very interesting story.
It’s often been said that when Newark patisserie owner, Dionysios More >
THE SERAPH AND BONITO STORY
Jun 16th
FIBERFAB AVENGER II SPAWNED THE BONITO AND THE SERAPH
If you want your new car to ‘fly out the door’ in big numbers by all means build it in a Lancaster Bomber factory – but using the help of a six-winged angel seems a step too far.
Dutch registered Bonito
Fiberfab of California was once arguably the biggest kitcar company in the world, alongside fellow American operation Classic Motor Carriages – the two would later join forces, but that’s another story – and had a convoluted not to mention dramatic history, since being founded in 1964 by Warren Harding, ‘Bud’ Goodwin and John More >
ANOTHER TRIBUTE FROM TRIBUTE AUTOMOTIVE
Apr 28th
A new product from Tribute Automotive is a rather fetching tribute (sorry – ed) to the classic BMW 507, based, rather handily on Z3. Tribute boss Chris Welch is cracking on with this new one and encouraged by positive comments to posts on the company’s Facebook page.
Early days yet and no information on pricing as yet but we’ll bring you that info as soon as it’s announced. One thing is for sure, it’ll be an effective pastiche, easy to build and affordable.
In the meantime and until Chris releases more images you can find out more about Tribute’s existing products at More >
WEBCON REACH THE ZENITH
Apr 28th
Webcon has announced the introduction of an electric auto-choke Weber carburettor kit to replace the factory Zenith 35/40 INAT that was fitted to the 1.9-litre Opel Rekord and Manta and the Vauxhall Cavalier RWD produced between 1975 and 1981.
The kit contains everything needed to replace the Zenith, including a specially jetted genuine Weber 32/36 DGEV carburettor with an electric choke plus an air filter adaptor so that the original air filter assembly can be used. A linkage rod, base insulator and all the installation components are also included along with full fitting instructions.
This kit is available from stock as part More >
MUGGED OFF!
Jan 20th
Need the perfect period mug for your workshop brew? Castrol Classic has the answer in the perfectly-pressed form of their Classic Tin Mug.
It may be brand new and beautifully enamelled, but everything about this racy receptacle harks back to a gentler time in the workshop, where tappets needed adjusting and the smell of Castrol R permeated the air.
Perfect for your mid-plug-change refreshment, making you look cool in any work meeting, or indeed, sitting on your desk as the ultimate petrolhead pen pot. There really isn’t much this versatile vessel can’t do!
Besides, everyone knows that nothing tastes quite as authentic, while More >
AUTOGLYM HELPS SOLVE AN IRRITATING PROBLEM
Jul 17th
Bird poo. It’s one of the things that car dealers, valeters and owners fear most. If left on car bodywork it can cause all sorts of harm including etching marks, lacquer damage and faded spots.
But now, Royal Warranted car-care expert Autoglym has launched a brand new, innovative product that will repair bird lime deposits quickly, harmlessly and with minimal hands-on use.
Autoglym Reflow is a water-activated heat treatment that you simply apply and leave while it works its magic on dull and etched lacquer surfaces. You simply activate it with water and apply the Reflow pack to the damaged area. It More >
