Thread: Anyone made a caterham style diy car?

13b twin turbo rotary would be the gear

Have you looked at the offroader kits? You could build something you can use for hunting and not have to worry about losing your licence.

I didn't build it but I have a Leitch Supersprint Lotus 7 replica.
Have had in as many bits that I could have built it though.
Has a Toyota 4age with a t50 and Ford escort back end.
To build a kit now from Frasers, Leitch Motorsport or McGreggrors would be looking towards 60k+ I would think.
I love mine, tons of fun.

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Originally Posted by paremata

Have you looked at the offroader kits? You could build something you can use for hunting and not have to worry about losing your licence.

no never heard of them before. i'd probably prefer a ute. An off roader doesn't really motivate me to spend the time, effort and money on.

Originally Posted by clickbang

I didn't build it but I have a Leitch Supersprint Lotus 7 replica.
Have had in as many bits that I could have built it though.
Has a Toyota 4age with a t50 and Ford escort back end.
To build a kit now from Frasers, Leitch Motorsport or McGreggrors would be looking towards 60k+ I would think.
I love mine, tons of fun.

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I was more thinking along the lines of full DIY, kits are usually very expensive as you mentioned. 60k gets a lot more car than a slow caterham with a corolla engine hahahahah

Originally Posted by Joe_90

McGregor motorsport in chch and Fraser Cars in akl both do a lotus 7 replica kit car.
Think the basic McGregor kit without motor or gearbox was around $30k.

Was one of those guys on Shortland street? My brother was looking at a Lotus replica many years back and we went to the factory there. If not, it may be a third guy doing it.....Or buy an MX5 and get the best of both worlds....2 seats and reliability...and a roof.....albeit canvas...

I think the biggest question is what you want it for?

Is it a project just for the enjoyment of building something awesome?
Is it for road use and touring?
Are you wanting a track day monster or race car?
Or a combination of these?

I think this is the crux and will guide you in what direction you want to go.

If you are after the excitement of racing and track use, I can highly recommend karting. As long as you can handle the anal nature of Kartsport New Zealand, nothing comes close in terms of bang for buck, wheel to wheel racing excitement and performance/handling.
Your risk vs reward in terms of proper jostling for position and passing manoeuvres is much better than any other form of Motorsport giving sheer racing thrill and a lot smaller of damage (money) and injury should you get it wrong.
After racing Rotax max and KZ2 class for 5 years I can promise you even the fastest of track cars feels cumbersome and slow compared.

If it is for the other reasons then go for it, I would love to build one just for the satisfaction of driving something I have built.
Definitely in my wish list for once the kids have grown and I have time.


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Originally Posted by hamsav

I have a freshly rebuilt 3.5 rover v8 and toyo w57 5 speed up for grabs ,be ideal in a 7 kit car

I used to fantasize about fitting one of those in a triumph herald . Ended up building a few other cars instead , xj6 jag with 355 chev v8 and 68 monaro with 412 chev v8 , and supercharged v6 buick in a custom ford capri of a mates .

Originally Posted by Spudattack

I think the biggest question is what you want it for?

Is it a project just for the enjoyment of building something awesome?
Is it for road use and touring?
Are you wanting a track day monster or race car?
Or a combination of these?

I think this is the crux and will guide you in what direction you want to go.

If you are after the excitement of racing and track use, I can highly recommend karting. As long as you can handle the anal nature of Kartsport New Zealand, nothing comes close in terms of bang for buck, wheel to wheel racing excitement and performance/handling.
Your risk vs reward in terms of proper jostling for position and passing manoeuvres is much better than any other form of Motorsport giving sheer racing thrill and a lot smaller of damage (money) and injury should you get it wrong.
After racing Rotax max and KZ2 class for 5 years I can promise you even the fastest of track cars feels cumbersome and slow compared.

If it is for the other reasons then go for it, I would love to build one just for the satisfaction of driving something I have built.
Definitely in my wish list for once the kids have grown and I have time.


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Something to do after work really. My brother is a welder and is willing to teach me and help me out. Hence why if it takes a long time and cost is spread over a reasonable period of time it will be palatable.

Originally Posted by Spudattack

I think the biggest question is what you want it for?

Is it a project just for the enjoyment of building something awesome?
Is it for road use and touring?
Are you wanting a track day monster or race car?
Or a combination of these?

I think this is the crux and will guide you in what direction you want to go.

If you are after the excitement of racing and track use, I can highly recommend karting. As long as you can handle the anal nature of Kartsport New Zealand, nothing comes close in terms of bang for buck, wheel to wheel racing excitement and performance/handling.
Your risk vs reward in terms of proper jostling for position and passing manoeuvres is much better than any other form of Motorsport giving sheer racing thrill and a lot smaller of damage (money) and injury should you get it wrong.
After racing Rotax max and KZ2 class for 5 years I can promise you even the fastest of track cars feels cumbersome and slow compared.

If it is for the other reasons then go for it, I would love to build one just for the satisfaction of driving something I have built.
Definitely in my wish list for once the kids have grown and I have time.


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Bloody 4 wheelers! nothing but nothing, will focus your attention like elbow to elbow on a Superbike (or a 600 for that matter) letting go the brakes and forcing the line to win and control corner entry, dancing on the ragged edge of control (and trying to remember to breathe!) Not entirely sure you can stop it and turn it, but you do it anyway

Knee down and feeling the bike oscillate as the front slides and the rear spins as you drift it and you know you're going to crash but somehow don't.

4 wheeling is fun, but 2 wheeling is sport!

Still want an Atom for Christmass.

Originally Posted by 257weatherby

Bloody 4 wheelers! nothing but nothing, will focus your attention like elbow to elbow on a Superbike (or a 600 for that matter) letting go the brakes and forcing the line to win and control corner entry, dancing on the ragged edge of control (and trying to remember to breathe!) Not entirely sure you can stop it and turn it, but you do it anyway

Knee down and feeling the bike oscillate as the front slides and the rear spins as you drift it and you know you're going to crash but somehow don't.

4 wheeling is fun, but 2 wheeling is sport!

Still want an Atom for Christmass.

For sure, however as I said, for a weekend warrior the risk vs reward for wheel to wheel racing on a bike is much lower than on a kart

I like to keep my 2 wheeling on the dirt




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Originally Posted by Spudattack

For sure, however as I said, for a weekend warrior the risk vs reward for wheel to wheel racing on a bike is much lower than on a kart

I like to keep my 2 wheeling on the dirt




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Bugger that dirt carry on, been biffed over the front a few times and then run over just to add to the indignity!. Always fancied having a crack at Karts, it really does look like fun, if you can stay ahead of those mad as no prisoner 12yr olds!. Crashes that don't wreck the bank account and body has appeal too.

We let an old school Super kart with an retired national level pilot out on the track with us one Friday arvo (no cars about that day so he wasn't gonna get any practice time if we didn't) astonishing just how fast those things were, pretty sure there is nothing quicker around corners either, not sure he knew where the brake pedal was, so he just didn't bother!

On a different Friday we let an old school Formula 5000 out with the bikes as there were no cars, I'd forgotten about him, I was working on defensive lines while still holding onto a decent laptime and heard this horrendous noise coming from behind, no shit I actually thought a 747 was landing on the track !(we are under the airport flight path) then the noise was up my bum (I ducked!) , took a couple of tenths out of my time getting it into the Dipper and then I see this big yellow thing the size of a go kart shaped house go bellowing past the Dipper exit (cars don't use the Dipper)

Pro tip: don't try out braking something that has four tyres a meter wide! You won't.

Originally Posted by Ftx325

I used to fantasize about fitting one of those in a triumph herald . Ended up building a few other cars instead , xj6 jag with 355 chev v8 and 68 monaro with 412 chev v8 , and supercharged v6 buick in a custom ford capri of a mates .

i fitted a 4.2 jag into a triumph 2.5. farkin fast, didnt stop well, didnt corner well but fast (at the time)

Originally Posted by berg243

i know where there is a triumph herald soft top that needs restored. not quite the same but be a good learning curve and a lot cheaper .

My dad has a herald that was passed down from his dad . He also currently has my spitfire I hope to get back one day .
That's one of those cars you can't park anywhere without strangers coming up and complimenting it and having a chat . Got the hard and soft tops for it also .

Originally Posted by gonetropo

i fitted a 4.2 jag into a triumph 2.5. farkin fast, didnt stop well, didnt corner well but fast (at the time)

I had a bit of a sleeper too...
Morris Marina running a 2.6 ltr p76 six cylinder with twin carbs and a toyota 5speed...
Just looked like a boring old marina with mags but went like a cut cat...
Embarrassed many a v8 holden and ford and was regularly popping the bonnet as no one could believe how quick it was....lol