Why on earth a kitcar?

It starts on a tax-free shop at the airport at my honeymoon to Cyprus. I bought a "which Kit" for in the airplane. Nice magazine, certainly when next day I saw a real nice blue Bugatti and could not take my eyes of my wife AND such a beautyful car. (see pictures)

I kept looking for years for a next magazine, but didn't find one in the regular shops in the netherlands.

When I looked hard enough on the internet 2 years ago, I found it (www.which-kit.com). Took a subscription and then everything started. The result you can see on this site.

Next two big decisions had to be made: which car and which engine?

I looked at my hands => 2 right ones (I'm right-handed; compare with 2 left-ones if your left-handed!) And so I looked in my garage: too small, but hey, what matters, can be 3 meters longer => no problem. I looked at my bike => this will not go in the kitcar because I want to keep driving it => I must look for a car-engine. I looked for big torque: V8 => nice but heavy and too expensive to start with. I looked at a 4 cilinder => didn't like the idea.

But hey, like Colin Chapman's idea for the original super seven was:

"If you want the car to go faster, don't add more power, just add lightness".

So a car without a roof, no seats for the kids, no luxury like airbags and no airconditioning it will be ! The search went on.

The internet is my biggest help in finding the right kit and looking for companies and there open days. So I went to an open day from Dax in Belgium (2003), also to the open day in the UK (april 2004). Besides Dax Rush, the Luego Viento was on my short list. I like the big space, but I don't like the wide front. It looks just too big. Perfekt if you fit a chevy V8 in it or jaguar V12 ! but not for me.

Next there was the MK-Indy, which you can find for example at www.haselier.nl. At the end this was my second choice. You don't believe what I felt when I took place in the drivers position and hold my hand beside the car. I could touch the floor with almost my COMPLETE HAND (not only my fingertops) while sitting upright! I guess my engine could fit but then it must go through the bonnet. Nice look, but still a small car.

I looked further: found my engine => Ford's scorpio 2,9i V6 24v Cosworth (197 PK and 270 Nm should be enough)

I looked further: found my kitcar => Marlin Sportster (thanks to the April 2003 issue of "Which Kit")

All the cars are nice, but I prefer some more classic style.

The main reason for the Marlin Sportster because it refers to racingcars of the 30's

All the time I wanted a black car.

Until the Dax UK open day.

There was this purple Dax Cobra with cream interior.

So only 0.1% remained black : 99.9% became purple!

I hope you enjoy my site, just like I enjoyed reading others and learned that this kind of carbuilding is in hand of those who have at least the courage to do what their heart tells them!