Kit Cars

[Dame]

Been thinking about that Ferrari style MR2 they had on Top Gear some months ago. I remember them mentioning that as a kit car it costs far less to insure. This is insane considering that the engine and performance is the same, and the chances are the kitted version will not handle as well, so may crash more easily and replacing kit car parts is likely to be far more than buying replacement MR2 panels - £10,000 for the Kit fully made v's a £2000 - £4000 MR2??

Now the Ferrari Kit is just that, a body kit. I was wondering, what are the boundaries that decide your car is a kit car and no longer an MR2? I was thinking that Jimlad has such a modified car that surely it must be encroaching on kit car terroritory? If that is so, by declaring it as a kit car, his insurance will come down? So far it has custom lights, custom bodykit, it doesn't even look like an MR2.

How does what he have differ from the Ferrari Kit?

[Jimlad]

interesting !...

[Dame]

Aye it would be good to know the definitive answer. You car still looks kinda MR2 like, but what is the test that determines whether or not it is a Kit car? It can't be the replica test since I've seen kit cars that are based around MR2s that look like nothing recognisable at all i.e. not a Ferrari replica etc and they're still called kit cars.

[Dame]

This is interesting, especially the last few sentences.....

A Kit car is a car that has been built, usually by the owner, from a "kit" provided by the manufacturer, and from a Donor car, or from parts of several production cars. Ford Cortina's, Escorts, and Sierras are  very  common as donor cars because they are very available, and once they get older, are very cheap to buy.

Once all the parts are collected together the car can be built, then stripped down again and painted, before being rebuilt. Once the car is ready for the road it must be inspected. There are about a dozen SVA centers in the UK. The SVA (Single Vehicle Approval) test is like a super MOT. The test lasts about 3 hours and checks that the vehicle complies with all current regulations. This goes into such detail as the radius of curves on edges. Once the SVA has been passed the vehicle can be taxed and go on the road like any other car.

There is an a way of avoiding the SVA test. Some Kits retain the original chassis from the donor vehicle. These kits are classed as embodied cars and only have to undergo an MOT and an inspection by the local Vehicle Licensing Office, to check that the chassis number and engine numbers match those of the original vehicle.

The other way to avoid all these problems is to by a "kit" already built and on road. This is an acceptable option for the less mechanically minded, and those who do not have the time to build a kit. It can also be a cheaper option.

Insuring a Kit car is very easy. Whilst most companies are not happy with anything other that a standard "euro box" there are specialist companies who are not only happy to insure these cars, but often do so at a much lower cost than if the car was standard. In one well publicized case a Toyota MR2 was converted using a body kit, to look like a Ferrari 346, and in doing so the insurance DROPPED by £500. The reason for this is that the companies feel that if someone has spent hours of their own time building a car, they are less likely to do something stupid with it.

Taken from....

http://mongrels.ic24.net/kit_cars.htm

Kinda covers you eh Jimlad??

[Jimlad]

In one well publicized case a Toyota MR2 was converted using a body kit, to look like a Ferrari 346, and in doing so the insurance DROPPED by £500. The reason for this is that the companies feel that if someone has spent hours of their own time building a car, they are less likely to do something stupid with it.

yeah.. so what's the difference with my car then ?

[TheNissanMan]

please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please......

DON'T GET A MAX MUPPET FERRARI KIT

[Jimlad]

erm.. not gonna... lol

Just wanted to know if my car could be classed as a kit car

[Bibbs]

I couldn't find any info on this when I looked ..

I think you have to get the car re-registered (no biggie) .. only probelm would be when it comes down to selling the car ..

[jimma]

please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please......

DON'T GET A MAX MUPPET FERRARI KIT

Ditto, looks the nuts, everyone stands around, THEN you start it up

[Dame]

I suppose if you explain to the buyer why you have reregistered i.e. Kit car therefore cheaper insurance, it would be an added incentive to buy. We may have found a little loophole.....

[Bibbs]

I've also got a feeling kits cars are limited mileage and 2nd cars for insurance ..

[Fidgits]

please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please......

DON'T GET A MAX MUPPET FERRARI KIT

eh???

someone would think you didnt like them Ryan?!?

[ZeroBlade]

why not ryan, doesnt it look nice..... :P

hehe

-Z

[Dame]

Maybe it does, but it's a fake!!

[ZeroBlade]

i know, i'm just winding ryan up ;)

-Z

[Fizz]

i know, i'm just winding ryan up ;)

-Z

dont lie you MAX MUPPET!...

[Dame]

I've also got a feeling kits cars are limited mileage and 2nd cars for insurance ..

Ah now that would make sense since you're highly unlikely to build a daily runner as a kit.

[Fizz]

I've also got a feeling kits cars are limited mileage and 2nd cars for insurance ..

Ah now that would make sense since you're highly unlikely to build a daily runner as a kit.

you can select the milage limit on most compaines... I have mine uder classic.. i opted for 8k per year

[ZeroBlade]

i know, i'm just winding ryan up ;)

-Z

dont lie you MAX MUPPET!...

hey, hey, quiet you :P

whilst it does look ok, theres no point in kiddin urself imo.

cos at the end of the day it aint a ferarri is it?

-Z