Kit Cars

LostInBoston

LostInBoston

Banned
Apr 19, 2004
690
0
41
Wandering aimlessly
Why doesnt someone jsut start making kit car defenders to fit on top of RRC chassis? Ive seen mini hummer kit cars and other off road ones. IT hink that would be cool, plus it would be legal, and if it was n an RRc chassis then it would still be a rover. Would anyone be interested in this?

any word on the CKD btw? will it be US legal?
 
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ISUZUROVER

Guest
There are already a few kits you can buy and build.

The Foers Ibex - you need a chassis (D90 D100 D110 - can be made from a modified RR chassis) and running gear from a D90/D110/Rangie/Disco 1. All the ibexes have a better approach and departure angle than a D90.

http://www.ibex4x4.co.uk/

The Dakar and the Bush Rangie (made by separate companies - looks like there is already one bush rangie in the US). You need a donor Rangie or Disco 1 for the running gear and chassis.

http://www.dakar4x4.co.uk/vgallery/vgallery.htm
 
Q

QCNR

Well-known member
Oct 17, 2004
671
1
Norway
You can buy a D90/ 110 as a AKD kit (All Knocked Down) I think that is what it is called.
you then have to have an engine, gbox, axles, wheels etc.
 
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syoung

Guest
The "kit" Defenders are not legit for the USA though- On the bright side, one can now purchase a 93 D110 and import in legally as long as it has the petrol engine and you add the external cage (if it doesn't already have one).
Initially, they wouldn't allow more of the 93's in the country, but that has been resolved through the work of some enthusiasts and as long as they meet the emissions requirements it's ok now.
I was so happy to get rid of my POS D110 way back then, but wish I had it now that we know how to fix most of the problems it had. I plan to build a 109 wagon and make it look like my ol D110. No emissions BS to deal with because of age, but the look of a later model...
 
LostInBoston

LostInBoston

Banned
Apr 19, 2004
690
0
41
Wandering aimlessly
syoung said:
The "kit" Defenders are not legit for the USA though- On the bright side, one can now purchase a 93 D110 and import in legally as long as it has the petrol engine and you add the external cage (if it doesn't already have one).
Initially, they wouldn't allow more of the 93's in the country, but that has been resolved through the work of some enthusiasts and as long as they meet the emissions requirements it's ok now.
Click to expand...

does that also go for the 94-97 D90?
 
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syoung

Guest
LostInBoston said:
does that also go for the 94-97 D90?
Click to expand...


The only one that I know of was the 93- it has to be retrofit with the 3.9 petrol if it doesn't have it originally. I don't think anyone has submitted a 94-97 D90 import for the same certification based on the US spec legal version. If I remember correctly, someone spent a good bit of $ to get the Gov't to agree on the 93 D110.
 
kellymoe

kellymoe

Banned
Apr 23, 2004
1,282
1
Burbank
Steve,

Just wondering why a kit car is not legit? I see all kinds of Kit Cars cruising around So Cal and lots of other backyard creations. Why would it not be legit to say take a RR chasis and stretch it and buy parts from say RDS and make your own car? The only thing I would think you would have to do is meet smog req. for that model year chasis #. Not saying this would be cheap but it is an option.
 
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syoung

Guest
If you use a RRC chassis, the problem is that they may want you to register it as such. A true kit car will use a custom chassis with a certificate of origin from the manufacturer. If you bought an aftermarket 109 frame and put a body of some type on it, you could probably license it as whatever you want... they'd probably look at your engine serial number to figure what "year" to call the thing.

Personally, I'd love to see someone make a D110 body aftermarket- kinda like those Hummer H1 kit trucks that drop on a Silverado chassis. Add some modern improvements and maybe fiberglass doors.
One example- I helped build a Porsche 550 replica on a VW frame... it was licensed as a 74 VW based on the frame. We then built a Perry Speedster (another 550) on a custom frame and used an OLD engine block- it was then titled as a 57 Porsche. Funny how that works.
 
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Discodon

Guest
There's hundreds of 'hybrids' over here in the UK - all based on a shortened RRC chassis. I would assume they could then be registered in the US as a RRC?

Here's one some pics. The black '90' is actually a shortened RRC chassis with a 90 body. The yellow ones are 'Ibex' kits.

Cheers,
Don
 

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Discodon

Guest
hmmmm. why do my pics appear as links ather than being visible in the thread?
Don
 
ptschram

ptschram

Well-known member
Sep 27, 2004
21,955
50
In the shop doing the Lord's work one broken Rover
www.ptschram.com
Discodon said:
hmmmm. why do my pics appear as links ather than being visible in the thread?
Don
Click to expand...

More than one pic without magic secret characters to allow them all to appear? Same thing happens to me on another board and I'm not cool enough to know how to make it work.I figure I'm doing pretty well just to size a pic so it will be posted :D

I'm currently building a hybrid on a Discovery chassis with a 1967 SIIA body. Trying to decide if I want to retrofit leaf springs to the back and run my Salisbury rear axle and a coil sprung front end. That would be a hybrid. I haven't decided on whether to title it as a '95 or '67. The '67 VIN plate is prettier.

Right now, I'm still stripping down the Disco and working on how to fit the steering gear and brake assembly to the Series bulkhead. I was thinking today it might work to swap the footwells and all fromt he Disco to the Series.

Peace,
PT
 
rovercanus

rovercanus

Well-known member
Apr 24, 2004
9,651
246
Personally, I'd love to see someone make a D110 body aftermarket- kinda like those Hummer H1 kit trucks that drop on a Silverado chassis.
Click to expand...

You mean the H3 right? ;)
 
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syoung

Guest
yeah- but without that price tag.

I've heard some reports that the H3 might be the lesser poseur of the non-military Hummers. Traction control, bigass tyres... still based on a primitive truck chassis/suspension. Ya never know, with the LR3 being overpriced and everyone so leary about the electronics on it- the H3 might be a better choice, although without a soul.

Those H1 kit cars look like a fun way to make something out of an old junker pickup though- Maybe someone should make a Disco or Defender body? Of course, Ford is more litigious about people using ANYTHING related to a Rover logo, name or shape.
 
K

Kyle

Guest
No , it is over priced. WE are talking about a truck that is road Biased. Once you establish that and get away from all the bullshit , you then have to compare it to others in that class and what you can get for that kind of coin. How bout a loaded Excursion ? Yeah , I can get an Excursion for that and ahve something actually usefull..
 
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syoung

Guest
residual values and leasing? puhleeze... leasing... that's funny. I buy my vehicles because if I'm paying for the maintenance and property taxes, I damn sure want to be able to drive it whenever I want without worrying about how many miles or if I scratch it. Leasing is for people to drive a car they can't normally afford and give up a lot of freedom to do so. I couldn't care less about residual value- and if they break a lot, which remains to be seen, then they will be worthless as used vehicles.
It is overpriced for what it is. The Disco was priced about right but got stupid when optioned up... So yes, it is overpriced in that it is far more than I'd pay for an LR3 but not more than what I'd pay for something I want. The old dealer speak- residual values blah blah and if you think it's not worth it then they make a comment asserting that you can't afford it. I could park a Rangie in the driveway if I wanted one, I'm just not convinced they are worth it and they depreciate like a brick... so maybe I'll get a one year old Rangie and let someone else lose the $20K.
 
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EricSiepmann

Guest
"Leasing is for people to drive a car they can't normally afford and give up a lot of freedom to do so..."

LOL! It's a financing option. With a purchase plan, you'll end up in position where you owe more than your vehicle is worth. Factor in maintenance post lease term, and as a financing option for someone who wants to drive a new car every 2 or three years, its not a bad option. If you have good credit, you may actually spend less money over traditional payments over the lease term if you can negotiate well.

So if you look at Bruno's post, most of the cars fit the above criteria. People who can afford the price of addmission but are more concerned with image, hassle free ownership and want the latest and greatest.

In other words, most of my neighbors and the target LR3 owner.

EwS
 
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