NEW FROM GARY JANES
May 5th
Ex-Sammio founder and hot rodder, Gary Janes, is back with a new operation called Mid Century Re-Creations, with his first project the mid-fifties-inspired Formosa 120 GR.
Find an old Triumph Herald or Vitesse, get rid of the bodyshell, add Gary’s metal support perimeter frame (circa £1000) and his one-piece bodyshell (plus boot, doors and flip-front) for £2450 (intro price) and you have a period-looking budget two-seater that is IVA exempt as it utilises an un-modified Triumph chassis.
More from 07970 636 986 ENDS.
USE YOUR NUT
May 5th
Superb new hard paste wax that I’d like to tell you about. Especially as I’ve had some great success with it.
It’s Lads Nut Wax from the superbly-named The Lads Wax Company based in Northamptonshire. It’s supplied in a quality 225gm tin and has arguably the best and most enticing smell of any polish or wax I’ve ever used.
It says not to apply in direct sunshine but I did and as the image here shows, it brought my BMW X5 up a treat. I’d previously applied Air Glide paint protection to the car’s bodywork and applied Nut Wax over the top More >
NEW TURBO KIT FOR MAZDA MX-5 (NA/NB) ENGINE
May 5th
With the growing popularity of the Mazda MX-5 as a kitcar donor, it’s understandable and to be expected that we’ll begin to see go-faster tuning parts for the NA (Mk1) and NB (Mk2) engines although amongst the fluff, there’s real quality, like the Turbo Conversion from Derbyshire-based DynoTech, run by Kevin Whitehead.
The kit was launched at last weekend’s Stoneleigh show and really looks like a peach. It takes power up to around 220bhp and although I really hate the expression, really is ‘plug and play’ in nature.
In addition to the turbocharger, you get everything you need including DynoTech RS-600 ECU, More >
WALLFLOWERS NEED NOT APPLY!
May 5th
Large modern storehouse with some goods
Sealey’s new hi-vis green workshop trolleys are ideal for regularly used workshop items, such as power tools and bulky equipment which are too big for a traditional tool chest. Both the CX109HV and CX110HV include fourteen tool retaining holes, which are perfect for keeping small tools on hand. A strong build quality coupled with heavy-duty 4in PU castors, two of which are locking, make these excellent dismantling trolleys for smaller vehicle components. Both models have a total load capacity of 160kg (80kg/level).
The AP760MHV garage or workshop trolley has two shelves and a lockable gas sprung supported lid, More >
NEW NOBLE KITCAR – EXCLUSIVE EXCLUSIVE EXCLUSIVE
Apr 28th
EXCLUSIVE EXCLUSIVE EXCLUSIVE
One of the really big pieces of kitcar industry news this year is the return to his roots of LEE NOBLE, with this year’s National Kit Car Motor Show witnessing the debut of Lee’s all-new BUG:R.
One of the industry’s greatest ever designer’s Lee left us for a while being ‘ahem ‘discovered’ by the mainstream press who raved, just the like the 1000-or so customers, about his M12. A stunning pure drivers machine.
So, some 31-years after he lit the blue touch paper by announcing his Group C-inspired Ultima, which was akin to a spaceship arriving at the National Agricultural More >
ANOTHER WELCOME RETURN
Apr 28th
Dave Jones is a name well-known within the kitcar industry in the UK. He’s been responsible for some very fine exotic Italian-flavoured body conversions over the years.
Dave’s been away from the industry for a while but has now re-charged his batteries and will unveil a new Toyota MR2-based conversion which takes its inspiration from some classic Italian greats of the past.
More on this one next week. More information from www.davejoneskitcars.co.uk or 07855 549 112 ENDS.
WHO’S NODDY HOLDER?!
Apr 28th
The name Leigh Whiteman is a well-known one in the kitcar industry stretching back well over twenty years.
With his dad, Terry he was part of Lytham St Annes-based Car Craft Centre initially with the ‘Noddy’-inspired Zero, a Vignale (Fiat) Gamine replica, launched in 1991.
Then came a change of direction, having sold the Zero to a South Norwood company in 1995, having sold 21 kits, with the launch of the amazing Cyclone, one of the finest handling kitcars of all-time, in my opinion. Some 32 examples were sold but frankly, it should have been ten times that number, so good was More >
SEVEN SALES SOARING
Apr 28th
I went to Caterham Cars’ annual open day at their Crawley, West Sussex showroom recently along with about 450 souls, either Seven owners, would-be owners or general enthusiasts.
The company enjoyed their best ever year in 2016 with sales of 650 units and have the ground running in 2017, with over 200 Sevens sold thus far.
As a result of their burgeoning order book waiting lists have expanded accordingly with factory built cars not available until late March 2018 (if you order now) and a six-month wait for kit-form Sevens.
This is all good news for the Seven, which celebrates its SIXTIETH ANNIVERSARY More >
RISING AGAIN
Apr 28th
Of all the many kitcars designed by Stuart Mills, the Mevster was always one of my favourites so I’m very pleased to hear that it’s about to make a comeback as the Phoenix5 from Sheffield-based Phoenix Kit Cars (that name must be one of the most frequently used over the years), run by Adrian O’Connor.
Adrian will be debuting his new venture at Stoneleigh 2017 and his display will feature Stuart’s original demonstrator as well as his newly revised chassis. That’s the only initial change as the car will remain unaltered visually.
With a background in education and his bank of contacts More >
ROCK, CARBON, STONE!?
Apr 28th
Rock Oil make products I like. The Warrington-based oil company, in the throes of building a completely new office, storage and yard complex has also launched a new oil that will greatly appeal to owners of kitcars. It’s called Rock Oil Carbon and has performed scarily well in testing that the company has undertaken.
Rock Oil claim that it is the ‘ultimate competition oil’ so trackdays and motorsport will be its natural attractions but highly-powered kitcars used on the road will be ideal, too. Prices start at £*** for a five-litre pack.
More from www.rockoil.co.uk ENDS.
