Interestingly, while there are plenty of people who still snub the notion of a kit car, there are seemingly more motoring enthusiasts roaming the planet today who appreciate them. What began in the 1950s with people scouring junkyards for frames or entire chassis to build their dream cars, grew into a formidable industry that crested the $130 billion mark in 2023. Indeed, the kit car industry has come a long way from those Frankensteinian machines patched together so long ago. Granted, there’s a blurry line between the kit car and the hot rod, so it’s important to be careful differentiating the two, and then there’s the replica.
What is a replica?
And here we go, down the rabbit hole. When shopping for a kit car, per se, many misspeak, thinking they mean a kit car when in reality they mean a replica. Kit cars can run the gamut from specially-designed cars that no one has ever seen before, using a common chassis, such as a Volkswagen Type 1 under belly, that are often assembled by Do-It-Yourselfers (DIYers) in their shops and garages. These cars usually use specially-designed bodies made of fiberglass produced by the kit car manufacturer, along with all the other odds-and-ends required to produce an actual road-going car. A perfect example is the Meyers Manx. Conversely, there is the replica.
In the world of the replica, we have cars that look like cars that are unattainable by most people. For example, the Shelby Cobra and Porsche 356 Speedster are both prime examples of replicas. Very few originals were built, and they are staggeringly expensive to buy. This is where the replica industry has become very popular. Buy your dream car at a fraction of the price – imagine a fully-loaded, completely-sorted Shelby Cobra for $85,000. It’s possible. Thanks to the replica.
And, like the Meyers Manx, replica cars can be delivered as turnkey, rolling chassis, or as a kit that needs to be assembled. Today, most people just buy a turnkey example and call it done – but there are still some people out there who want the experience of actually assembling the car, even at least in part, in their shop or garage. Per federal regulations, often times, the buyer will need to install the running gear on their own, or at least pay another shop other than the replica maker to do it for them. Why? Something to do with becoming an actual manufacturer of cars versus building tribute cars.
But, here’s the thing – in the real world, the terms replica and kit car are fairly interchangeable. A kit car can be a replica, and a replica can be a kit car.
What is the Meyers Manx?
Largely considered the grandaddy of the dune buggy movement, during the 1960s, Bruce Meyers popularized the idea of the dune buggy with his original Meyers Manx. By designing and making a single-unit fiberglass body and affixing it to an old Volkswagen Type 1 belly pan and assorted components, Meyers created the original dune buggy. The vehicle could go pretty much anywhere, and was especially happy on the sand, so it was immediately associated with that special, whimsical beachy lifestyle, suggesting freedom, youthful excitement, adventure, and more all in one.
Hugely popular, Meyers would be the victim of dozens or more copycats building similar DIY kit buggies, thusly watering down the market. But the seed was planted that just about anything could be built from a Volkswagen Type 1 under belly. It’s possible that the most popular replica ever is the Porsche 356 Speedster, the original of course being largely based on the Type 1. It was a shoe-in to reproduce. The trick was to make the body as close to the original as possible, which, in the beginning was a trick – but as time moved on and manufacturing technology and methods improved, the bodies became closer and closer to the originals.
Arguably, this concept was derived from the work of Bruce Meyers and the Meyers Manx.
What is the most popular kit car?
A hot button question for sure, the Porsche 356 Speedster and Shelby Cobra are certainly among the most popular replicas ever devised. The Speedsters are fairly simple to reproduce, thanks to their natural tie-in with the Volkswagen Type 1, but advances in construction have shown to ditch the VW flat-4 engine for a more powerful and sophisticated Subaru mill, with or without a turbo, and more capable 4-wheel disc brakes, etc. Similarly, the Cobras lend themselves to a multitude of engine options and chassis upgrades over and above the original cars. On top of this, of course, are the number of companies out there producing the replicas. All of this, and more, likely make the Cobra and Speedster the most popular replicas ever.
What are the benefits of a kit car?
In a word, drivability. Keeping the Speedster and Cobra examples on the forefront, it takes a special kind of owner to drive a genuine example of either. Both are extremely expensive, and to insure them not only takes a bit of coin, but also a serious understanding between the insurance company and the owner. Not to mention, any sort of mishap has the potential to drastically reduce the value of the car. With a replica, those worries are exceedingly lower. One can drive a reproduction special interest car and enjoy the experience as close as possible to the original, or nicely modified to perform as if the car were built to modern standards – take for example the aforementioned Subaru-powered Speedsters. Fuel injection, disk brakes, rack and pinion steering, better springs and shocks, and so on all play into the drivability of a replica. And all of this engineering also stands to make the replicas faster and safer than the originals.
In either regard, the Speedster or the Cobra, both were tremendous machines for their day. Very quick, very agile, very fun. But today’s manufacturing methods, engineering advances, and general build construction make the replicas considerably safer on top of their drivability. Tire technology alone has evolved leaps and bounds and provides for a much safer, better driving experience.
Going back to the Subaru-powered Speedster replicas, similarly, Cobras can be powered by any multitude of engines ranging from the original Ford 260, 289, or 427 CI V-8 – or the buyer can opt for something entirely off the wall. A very popular choice among Cobra replica buyers is the Ford 5.0L and 5.8L V-8s – the 302 and 351, respectably. They are powerful enough to have a great time with, and light enough that handling is much improved. But, thanks again to engineering, chassis improvements make the big 427 much easier to handle as well, which lends an idea as to how much better a modernly-engineered Cobra might be with a smaller, lighter engine. Outside of the norm, some people step out of the schoolyard completely and go in an entirely different direction, employing engines from GM or Chrysler, such as the 350 CI and 360 CI V-8s. Again, smaller, lighter, excellent handling. And don’t forget, divisions like Ford Racing and GM High Performance and so on offer brand new, turnkey engines and transmissions that maybe haven’t been thought of yet. Another benefit to a replica, the sky is very close to the limit.
Comfort – we’ve covered drivability and safety, but we can also add comfort to the benefits of a replica. Do you want carpeting and leather seats with better cushioning? How about a little sound deadening and a heater? Heater and ventilated seats? Maybe an air conditioning system and a kickin’ stereo? It can be done – how about colors. Back in the day, colors were kind of a weird thing for either car, especially inside. But with today’s kit cars, you can have whatever color you desire. But, should you do any of these modifications to an original Cobra or Speedster, and you’re liable to get hung. But with a replica, no ramifications.
Are kit cars worth it?
That is all up to the buyer and user. As mentioned before, the population accepting replicas and kit cars is growing. In fact, the practice of owning a replica or kit car is becoming more interesting to the majority of the motoring populous. Why? Everything we’ve talked about – drivability, safety, enjoyment, expense. They’re fun cars, bottom line. Are they perfect? No way. No car is. But they’re fun. They bring smiles to people’s faces and they’re something unique and shareable. And, to the question, “Are they worth it?” We think so, yes. You can have a much-improved driving experience over an original, if for no other reason than the reduced stress levels. Driving a replica is much less stressful than driving an original. Worrying about paint dings and little dents or full-blown accidents is much less, thanks to the knowledge that it’s not an original. Are they worth it? Yes. They’re fun. They’re something to spice up your life, a memory maker. Will they go up in value? In some cases, we think they will, if for no other reason than they are becoming more interesting to the motoring populous.
Photo Credits: Don B and Mike Crawat