BLOODY HELL, THAT’S THE THIRD TIME I’VE ‘GONE TO CALIFORNIA’ IN 18 MONTHS!
Jun 11th
Several years ago, Terry Groves, acquired the MR2 Kits operation from founder, Dave Jones and although he keeps the operation fairly low-key his GTF kit package, inspired by the F430, has sold in steady numbers.
News comes though of a new product, in the form of the 350 Cali, a take on the California, based rather imaginatively on Nissan 350Z Coupe, which comes free with a 3.5-litre V6 and acres of tuning potential. It’s a Japanese rice rocket, for gawdsake!
Actually, it’s good to see new donors being pressed into service. We’ve seen Lexus SC430 and just lately the first use of More >
PAINT NOT COMPULSORY ANYMORE
Jun 11th
Bourne-based Hall’s Garage, manufacturers of the Rana has announced that their bodykits can now be ordered in gelcoat, meaning that if you’re on a budget, this move negates the need for paint, thus saving a chunk of money.
The MG specialist, run by Steve Hall, is offering gelcoat colours that match the MG Midget colour palette. Two versions of the Rana are available with the standard kit (non-original wind-up windows as a feature) at £1800 meaning a DIY build budget of around £5000.
Alternatively they also offer the Sebring SS package based around a new British Motor Heritage chassis rather than the More >
MAGIC RUBBER STUFF
Jun 11th
We’ve been big fans of Sugru for a couple of years now and the mouldable silicone really does have a multitude of uses.
The ‘magic rubber stuff’ is fantastic and can be shaped and formed to your heart’s content, taking around 24-hours to ‘go off’. Even then it can still be removed.
Some of the jobs we’ve used it for our pretty random. For instance, I created a ‘holder’ in my MGF for my iPod, I created corner ‘bumpers’ for my iPhone and even covered the handle of a metal handled saucepan that continually burnt our hands. Sugru sorted that one out.
I More >
ZIPPY AND BUNGLE
Jun 11th
The new range of twist knotted steel wire brush wheels from Zip Wheels could be attractive to kitcar enthusiasts.
They fit 100mm or 125mm electric angle grinders and are colour-coded, making them easy to identify. I’d guess that ‘ZipBlue’ will be the most popular for specialist car use as it’s ideal for non-flat areas.
Each wheel is made from 0.5mm wire and can be used at speeds up to 14,000rpm. Prices start at £9.96 and they are available from www.zipwheels.co.uk ENDS
OPEN AND SHUT CASE
Jun 11th
The well-engineered and value for money Trackace laser tracking system has hitherto only been let down by the thin and flimsy cardboard packaging.
Rally Design claim to be the first company in the world to supply the Trackace gauge in an optional robust blow-moulded case, to safely protect the product and help ensure longevity.
The case is available at £17.88 inc VAT, or if purchased together with a Trackace gauge £12 inc VAT.
More information from 01227 792 792 or www.rallydesign.co.uk ENDS.
LIGHT FUSE…
Jun 11th
We’ve all been there, when a fuse blows typically on a dark, cold, wet night.
Help could be at hand thanks to these really neat LED fuseboxes from Beter Car Lighting UK, which is a box with in-built LED illumination to help instantly spot a failed fuse. Even in the dark…
Three different-sized boxes are available – 2 x five-way, 4-way LED and a 10-way LED with prices from £12.99. More from www.bettercarlighting.co.uk ENDS.
MGTF-BASED SPACEFRAME MINI – WOWZER!
Jun 4th
EXCLUSIVE – EXCLUSIVE – EXCLUSIVE – EXCLUSIVE – EXCLUSIVE
I can HONESTLY say that I have been predicting for at least two years that the MGF/MGTF were going to break big as donor vehicles. I always remember one particular idiot scoffing at my claim. I wish I had bet him a tenner!
The list of cars is growing, indeed we’ve just done a deal with one manufacturer to do a build series on his new MGTF kit. That’s the reason we’ve been running ‘Project OMG’ series in the magazine, although to be fair we were earlier than the kit! Indeed, we’ve just More >
CREATIVE THINKING
Jun 4th
Former commercial accountant, proprietor of a garage business and general car enthusiast, Mike Keoghan, who runs Warrington-based, Creative Sports Cars, is the new man behind the Dodge Viper-inspired Venom, devised by the late Keith Kirk and latterly available from Auto Speciali.
Mike acquired the project in 2011 and has been busy during the intervening period. Rather than warm-up the old project, he’s gone to town and designed a brand new tubular spaceframe chassis and most notably changed the donor from venerable Ford Granada to Jaguar S-Type (1999-2002) not a straightforward undertaking.
However, I think it’s an inspired move and is certainly the More >
FOUR WHEEL DRIVING
Jun 4th
New company, FourWD Engineering, run by Simeon Scruton, has acquired the rights to the NCF Motors range of Sahara and brand new Arctic kits, after NCF’s Nick Findeisen wanted to retire from kitcar manufacturing after some 36-years valiant service.
Arctic is all-new
Nick has been responsible for some very notable kits and following a ‘special’ built with his dad, Mike, his first commercial offering was the Diamond (still the best kit of its type ever produced, in my humble opinion) and he followed it up with all sorts of off-road orientated devices including Out Bak, Traka, Road Rat, Blitz, Blitz 2, Blitz More >
EWENS MAKES PROGRESS
Jun 4th
A newcomer that I’m really liking the look of much is the Ewens Roadster, the work of Gary Downes at Peterborough-based Fenspeed, well-known for their Ford tuning prowess in addition to their mainstay general repair and MOT-work.
Actually, Gary first built a version of the car some 10-years ago – Johnny Come Lately publications might not remember it on display at Newark show, back then.
Now known as the Ewens Roadster, the car is based on Mazda MX-5 and uses a lot of the donor including engine, gearbox, differential, steering and uprights. The chassis is a fine-looking square tube spaceframe (there is More >
