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There's a chasm that lies between the major auto makers and kit car builders, call it the taint between the big boys and the homeboys. That's because it's pretty obvious that one t'aint t'other. Today's Nice Price or Crack Pipe Jag SS evoking ‘Duke' closes that gap a bit, but is its price tainted? More »
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When the world's great auto makers leave you wanting, maybe it's time to go it alone with a kit car. And if your yearnings extend to gull wings and Asiatic dragons then perhaps it's time for this Nice Price or Crack Pipe Bradley GT II. You might however, hanker for it having a lower price. More »
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In social classes, nobility implies privilege, and those of noble lineage are considered the holders of power. Today's Nice Price or Crack Pipe Noble M12 is powerful, and would likely be a privilege to drive, but is its price too bourgeois? More »
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Every year to mark Thanksgiving, a U.S. president pardons a turkey. In unrelated news, here's a 1972 Porsche 914 with a Chevy 327 V8 and body panels from three Japanese donors. More »
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Yesterday's post on the Tennessee fellow who converts pickups into mini semi trucks brought note of a competing business from Kentucky: Turning used medium-duty work trucks into "Big Ass" pickups. Like all southern rivalries, someone's getting called a sissy. More »
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Ever wanted to drive a big rig, but just couldn't find the time for trucker school? A Tennessee man will answer your prayers for a starting price of $13,000 with kits that convert old Detroit pickups into mini-semis. More »
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Quien? Factory Five Cobra or awesome Minneapolis garage mahal? You be the judge. We'll take either one. [6speedonline/Alex Bellus via 0-60] More »
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For those who are sick of Cobra kit cars there's always the Lister, a less well-known vintage racer with a more Chevy-powered heritage. For example, the Lucra Cars LC470, a Lister with a slew of powertrain options More »
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It's hard to find an angle on the Dutch-built Heynsdyk 2500SF that isn't inspired by, or completely ripped off of, another car. If there's one it's the front, which is an aesthetic challenge. But hey, Porsche 944 guts, right? More »
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That's the question the SDR Sports Cars WR3 V-Storm attempts to answer with McLaren-F1-style seating and turbocharged Subaru power. Complete cars cost just $32,700 if you're lucky enough to live in Blighty. More »
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Keeping with the "speedy how-to" vein we've fallen into, here's a clip from 1955 wherein a team of men transform an old-and-busted ‘47 Ford into a fiberglass-bodied Woodill Wildfire kit car in only three hours and fifty minutes. [JalopyJournal] More »
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Do you lament the ever-increasing size and complexity of so-called off-roaders? Do you mourn the passing of the flat-fender Jeeps and the old FJ Cruiser? The upcoming ICON CJ3B might be for you. They call it "The Dog." More »
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The Goblin WolfSpyder is a kit that transforms a Can Am Spyder reverse trike into a fully-enclosed road-going fighter plane. Finally, we can fulfill our dream of owning the least practical vehicle ever. More »
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The Corvette-based limited edition SV 9 Competizione wants desperately to emulate an Alfa Romeo 8C Competzione with its carbon fibered re-skin. American V8 grunt mixed with Italian sensuality? How could it possibly go wrong? More »
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What is it with comp sci kids and their college dorms? Hacking the windows to serve as a lo-res display probably goes back to the earliest days of the integrated circuit. More »
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If you're spotting Lamborghinis in Eastern Europe, watch out for chronic cylinder shortage. More »
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Today we bring you a Nice Price or Crack Pipe all-American sports car that gives you a lot of kit for not much caboodle. More »
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This beastly home-built car was spotted in Britain readying for its road-worthiness inspection. Did it pass? Let's just say when a crowd of inspectors gathers to laugh at your car, it's not a good sign. More »
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Everyone’s favorite mid-engined Australian super car has entered the final stages of development with Bolwell finally beginning to take deposits on the $132,000 car. The Bolwell Nagari drops a 3.5-liter Toyota V6 into a composite chassis, mating the 295 HP engine to a 6-speed paddle-shifter. At just 2,020 Lbs, that should be more than enough to propel the Nagari to 60 in around four seconds, which we hear is fast enough to outrun saltwater crocodiles. More »
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Close the drapes and be certain young children are not in the room, for this is horror on an entirely inconceivable scale. The utter malice exhibited through this monstrosity should be punishable. We believe this was once a Fox-body Mustang; what it is now is a horrifying interpretation of a Lamborghini Countach (kind of), but the Craigslist seller doesn't deign to reveal anything else about the car, assuming the styling will stand on its own — and command $29,900. There is no question whether this is a Nice Price or Crack Pipe; This is "ten years strung out, sleeping in the garbage bins behind a Korean restaurant" level Crack Pipe. (Thanks for the brain-maiming tip Dylan) [Craigslist, Here if it disappears] More »
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This Toyota MR2 dressed to look like a Porsche Carrera GT isn't going to trick anybody. It may have Porsche badges glued on, but they're not enough to distract you from the sickening proportions and ridiculous build quality. We haven't seen a supercar kit this bad since the Fierrari Enzo. The Porsche costume is mounted on a salvage-title 2003 Toyota MR2 Spyder with a modest 138 HP 1.8-liter four-banger. So how much would you pay for such an exotic motor vehicle? Well, the current bid is $12,000...but the reserve hasn't even been met. More »
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This video might offer the best reason to own a Fieroghini, beside the longing stares you'll get from every roadside gawker you pass of course. Imagine the hours of amusement you'd have presenting the opportunity to drive it to your plus-sized buddies and then laughing as they struggle to exit afterward. Of course taping it for merciless ridicule later and then posting it to the internet for the whole world to point and laugh at would be part of the fun too. See, Fieroghini, comic accessory for the everyman. [Youtube] More »
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The story of Steve McHugh, the man behind the radical Nova kit car we initially posted on a lark (and because we're automotive sadists) just keeps getting curiouser and curiouser. Steve recently emailed us to let us in on a little secret — he's been building crazy-ass cars for nigh on twenty-eight years now. Since 1980, Steve's been applying his personal style of vehicular extremism to anything he can get his hands on. He even sent us pictures of this favorites. Heck, we'll let him tell you all about it below, along with more pics of Steve's marvelous mechanical masterpieces. More »
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We've seen a lot of Fierraris lately, hopefully the world runs out of Fieros eventually so we aren't subjected to the ongoing night terrors they induce, but this one is particularly brash. This p**sy magnet yellow Fierrari Enzno is perhaps the finest example of the breed, complete with crooked, off-brand Ferrari prancing horse logos, four off-kilter exhaust tips, pop-up DVD player, brilliantly executed engine-cover-mounted TV antenna, luxurious APC racing seats... the list goes on and on. The best part is this car's claim to fame. More »
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The quirky Morgan Super Sport inspired Blackjack Zero has until this point been powered by a VW flat four air cooled motor and the occasional 2CV plant. However, based on pictures on their website, it looks like Blackjack is set to sell one to hook up to Moto Guzzi power. There's no info to back anything up at this point, but the resulting car should be quite a bit lighter, with better cooling, and we're wondering if the standard shaft-drive can be reused for the little car. It would be mighty interesting to have a tiny car with 80 HP, a sequential transmission, and shaft drive now wouldn't it? More »
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Proving once again the speed with which stories are cycled through in a 24-hour-news-cycle network, CNN has decided to run coverage on the gang of Italian Ferrari forgers we brought you back in February. The in-depth coverage includes pointing to, and comparing pictures of, a real Ferrari 328 GTS against the real fake example. Italian-accented experts remark on how good the outside is, then point out how poorly-executed the interior and engine are. Honestly, as far as Fierarris go, this one isn't too bad, and the dimmer among us would probably fall for the fakery unless giving it a more than a passing glance. [CNN] More »
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Straight from the bowels of eBay comes the Salet GT5 Concept. We'll have to admit this is one of the better Toyota MR2 custom builds we've seen, but we're betting the 19 PSI turbo system will have that four cylinder blowing oil all over the fire wall in no time. It will be a quick car until that happens though, power is a claimed 302 HP and with such a light car it's probably a hoot. This one comes from the always unpredictable fakers at rarecars.org who seem to have a penchant for building exotic cars based on the Fiero. Why does this remind us of a certain horrible yellow Russian Cayenne? [More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=374018&view=rss&microfeed=true Everybody loves kit cars and cupcakes, right? Well, what about when the kit cars are actual cupcakes? BoingBoing TV took a look at a few "muffiners" (as they call themselves) in California (but why not "muffinEERS?) who make "artistic" cupcake cars for the "purpose" of... um, well, we're not exactly "sure." If you want to skip the artsy part of the video above, jump to 2:47 in the movie, which point the creator lifts the muffin top to expose the inner workings of these homemade vehicle-cum-cupcakes. The simplicity of the kits was a little surprising, as pastries modded for automotive use go. More »
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When we hear "steam car" we imagine a car with wooden wagon wheels that spends it's time in Jay Leno's garage. What we don't think of is a fiberglass-bodied VW kit car from the '80s. This is apparently a one-of-a-kind creation of a former Steam Automobile Club of America member. We're thinking of it as a kind of grown man's science project. It allegedly ran at speeds up to 80 MPH at one point, but we're not so sure we would know how to run it even if it's still capable of driving. More »
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There's no question that Cobras are cool, even in fiberglass kit form. But you've got to admit that the fiberglass snakes are becoming somewhat common now with all the companies being sued by Carroll Shelby making their own versions of the V8 roadster. So for those seeking an alternative, Ruth Engineering & Racing will be producing kits for streetable Cheetah replicas. The coupes can be fitted with any Chevy powertrain of your choice; this particular one with a 383 stroker. Suspension bits come from a donor C4 Corvette, but the leaf springs have been replaced by independent coil-overs. That means the new Cheetah should be able to tear up a road course, making this not just a cool cruiser, but a tactical trackday toy too. We'll take ours with an LS9. [RER - AmericanCheetahRacing.com] More »
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One upping the shenanigans of Unique Performance, a group of fine Italian coach builders has been caught by the police after attempting to forge supercars - badly. Seems these upstanding fellows thought slapping some kit car bodies onto the delightful chassis of GM's famed Fiero was a great idea, then the plan was to pass them off as one of Italy's most famous exports. We're not convinced, we're barely even holding in the laughter. The best is the buff mag on the work bench being used for inspiration. The Wall Street Journal article about this story seems to have only gotten the story partly right (typical). More »
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The Factory Five GTM is causing us pains. Is it better to buy and drive the donor Corvette Z06 the car is built with; or is the mid engine and lighter weight worth the sacrifice? Decisions, decisions. In any case, the GTM is that rare occurrence: The racing version is actually cheaper than the street version. The GTM for the road runs about $61K, while the race version costs a scant $43K. Bargains, for the kind of performance you're likely to see. Of course, there's the whole kit-car hell aspect of things, but come on, be adventurous—they're bound to be more reliable than a Lamborghini right? [Factory Five GTM Home]
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The other day we brought you thrilling footage of the upcoming Tirrito Vajon undergoing rigorous developmental testing on some roundabouts. Today, we have even more exclusive info on the mysterious Italian supercar. "Andry," the owner of the Vajon project assured us that the engine is indeed a 3.0L biturbo mill, but now he's released more specifics. Contrary to speculation that the Vajon is powered by an enlarged "lawn mower" engine, Andry tells us that his car is V8-powered and can produce about 500hp. When asked where the powertrain was sourced from, the owner insisted, in broken email-ese, that "nothing, i repeart, nothing was from other cars!! i build by my self all the parts of this car!! i developed about 600 pieces.. think designed and done all by my selves!!! iwant to sell this car and stat one new car.. i just start to designe it..." No other details have been confirmed yet. Andry added, "My car it's still under costruction like you can see." So while we've got some new answers, we now have even more questions about this homebrewed exotic. We'll keep you updated with further developments. In the meantime, check out the gallery below for shots of the Vajon undergoing construction. More »
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Microcars are like aged cheese - some people find them absolutely confounding and a little disgusting, and the loonier of us can't get enough. The problem with microcars is they don't really make em like they used to. Oh sure, you've got your Smart FourTwo and your Toyota iQ and your Tata Nano, but those are monstrosities compared to a Peel Trident or a Messerschmitt KR200. Would you believe reproductions are available of all your favorite tiny wheeled wonders? More »
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Those who know it call it the "TIRRITO VAJON rtt." To the rest of us, it's a mystery. All we can figure is that it has a McLaren F1-style 3-seater cockpit and it's styling is like a cross between a Pagani Zonda and 1990 Mosler Consulier GTP. Maybe it's a kit-car? Maybe it's a garage-built one-off? Other details are slim, but the Italian owner claims "it's a car with engine of 3000 cc biturbo rear traction" Whatever the case, an overly-ambitious project like this is a shining example of making the most from what you have. We'll keep you updated as we find out more. In the mean time, jump to enjoy some video of it in action as it drifts 'round a round-a-bout! More »
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A year and a half after kit designer Robert Q. Riley originally dreamed up his XR-3 three-wheeled, two-seater, plug-in hybrid kit car, it is now a reality. Sorry, 3D modelers, your job is now done; the first XR-3 hybrid has been built and plans for this greenmobile are now available for purchase.
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When a man's looking for an automobile that tells the world- nay, grabs the world by the lapels and screams high roller coming, you insignificant putz, you'd think that the Excalibur, Zimmer, and Stutz dealerships would pretty much have him covered. You would be wrong. Enter the '85 Johnson Phantom, now available on eBay. Who can guess which mid-80s GM car supplied the chassis? No fair looking up the VIN, folks! And that rear bumper- gadzooks! But don't place your bid quite yet, Mr. Big Shot- you'll need to look at the competition first! More »
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Ah, the ceaselessly amazing world of Fiero-based exotic replicas. Which DNA has been implanted in the Fiero cell this time? Yes, it is indeed that of the Mk1 Ford GT40. V8 Archie's GT4T has V8 power, front and rear clamshell lids and um, uh, no Gurney Hump. Still, for a mere $45k, you can go out and shame Enzo Fiero all over again! We're totally buying one to go with our A.J. Foyt mask. Now we just need to find an ersatz Mulsanne straight in some sprawling Central Valley mixed-use office-industrial complex. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=277389&view=rss&microfeed=true Add another lightweight roadster to the new school of track-day toys. The catch is you have to build it yourself. Steve Graber originally created the 1,200-pound La Bala, a tube-frame, mid-engine sportscar, from a MKI MR2 donor. Now, Graber's company Grabercars is offering the La Bala in turnkey and kit forms. It's designed mainly for track use, but may be street legal in some localities, and will accept a range of front-wheel-drive powertrains. Grabercars has already developed the mounting brackets for several engines, and they'll include them with the $25,000 order. Assembly required. [UPDATE: For clarification, the FWD powertrain is set midships, driving the rear wheels.] – Mike Spinelli More »
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The Fiero was a sales disappointment for GM, but it was a godsend for kit-car makers! Of course, we all know there's nothing like a Fiero-based sports car that looks like a Lambo that got left in the dryer too long (especially when it has a vaguely V12-ish plastic engine cover), but here's yet another variation on the theme: Archie Finale! According to the seller (who's bucking the kit-car eBay listing trend and eschewing the usual ALLCAPS style), "The car is Viper blue—in other words the same color thats on the Dodge Viper." Yes, folks, thats (sic) got to mean the car is as fast as a Viper! This Alabama-based ride has been bid up to $7,109.99 already, but for some reason the seller's very optimistic reserve price hasn't been met. – Murilee Martin More »
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