END OF KIT CARS? (Page 54/60)
DL10 JAN 10, 11:54 AM

quote
Originally posted by madcurl:


No, it's on topic. The magazines have died because Ferrari and Lamborghini lawyers had life long subscriptions. The shoddy builders who duped clients into getting a replica Lamborghini "kit" for $9,999 had no choice but to go into hiding leaving only the top end builders left like Factory Five. That is just one reason for all of the Cobra articles in the mag. The last time I saw something remotely Fiero was the Finale or the jeep like Fiero.



Just because you have an opinion about something that doesn't make it fact. Ferrari and Lamborghini lawyers had nothing to do with stopping publication of any magazine. Kit Car and Kit Car Illustrated were owned buy 2 different publishing companies......these two companies merged and the decided they only wanted one kit car magazine. Jim Young was the editor of the magazine they cut, he than formed the Kit Car Club. The magazine Kit Car Builder was part of the club benefits. I had subsections for both magazines from 1986 on.... I have every Kit Car Builder and have met and talked with Jim several times over the years.
And just so you know , Magazines are very biased in their articles.......the best way to get an article in the magazine is to be a big advertiser.

and since I won'tpost
dratts JAN 10, 12:02 PM
There is so much more to it than the cost of the body and installation plus a Fiero. My replica body was $6500 plus another $2500 for the manufacturer to install. That's $5,000 over Curlys estimate and it's far from done. I've never heard curly list a price for any of his builds, but it sounds like he hires a lot of it out. I would imagine that his builds would be in the same range as mine even though his body starts out $2500 less than mine. At the end a $2500 difference is less than 10% of a minimum build and Murci's go from $30,000 on up to whatever you want to massage it to. It is very misleading to suggest that all you have to do is buy a cheap Fiero and a body kit to have a replica. There are unfinished cars all the time being offered for half the price that the builder has in it as they realize that they are in over their head and that it will cost much more than they budgeted. Body kit manufacturers typically prey on the idea of a cheap build. Only if the builder does ALL the work and even then it will run far more than originally expected. Hope I haven't killed Anyones dreams, but maybe I have saved someone from spending $20,000 on a project that they finally in dismay sell for $10,000.
DL10 JAN 10, 12:04 PM
I didn't want to edit my last post but it got cut off.......

I said I wouldn't post again in the Kit Car Registry thread......Putting a mad-arch Kit on a Fiero does not make it a Kit Car.
None of the cars you posted in the thread would be put in a Kit Car class at any Fiero show. You know the intent of the thread but You just can't get enough of yourself. You can't have it both ways.....if your really believe the cars you posted should be considered Kit Cars than you have to admit that your car is also a Kit Car.....
I FAR I JAN 10, 12:10 PM
I had my 308 kitcar built 20 years ago and the body cost me $4k, plus $2k for Fiero GT, $1.2k for install, rims and rubber were another $2k, plus $1k for paint.





Cost approx. = $10k........Enjoyment otoh = PRICELESS!

[This message has been edited by I FAR I (edited 01-10-2013).]

madcurl JAN 10, 12:17 PM
As I stated 4 yrs ago, trying to play with the big boy's toys is costly which some of them make an effort in getting the kit as-close-as possible while others make futile attempts at fouling a 2yr old or trying to impress ill informed girl at the local watering hole.


As for me, I'll bypass that dog and pony show and keep it real.
I FAR I JAN 10, 12:29 PM
'Keep it real'?!?

You don't know wtf you're talking aboutCurly. Engine swaps for Fieros were started on - KIT CARS by V8 Archie!

Face it guy, you are just a very droll troll of Shrek proportions!
madcurl JAN 10, 12:35 PM

quote
Originally posted by Bloozberry:


$4K. Really. George Orwell would be proud to know that the use of Double-Speak has endured this long.

The truth is once you have a MadArch kit you also need new wheels, tires, body prep and paint as an absolute minimum, unless you plan to drive your car around in primer for a couple years. Then you discover that the 2.5L or 2.8L engine just doesn't impress anybody when you open the decklid on that fancy looking car, much less step on the gas when the Honda Civic owner pulls up next to you at the light. And those 9-3/4" brakes look awfully small behind the big wheels, and the headlights are old-school, and it would look much better with scissor doors, and the dash is looking kind of dated, not to mention the need for better looking seats, and on and on. Boy it's a good thing "modified Fiero" owners are exempt from the relentless pursuit of the latest models.

Trouble is, nobody knows what you're saying anymore, much less why.




I've seen at least four different sets of HRE wheels on Ebay selling for less than $1,200 to which can be tweaked to fit the MadArch wide body kits. There are several choptop owners using hub centric adapters using 18x8 wheels. As for the cost of installation I know the price for I have spoken to V8Archie himself. Archie himself has a wide body without VDC and so too does Chuck. Others are still using the 2.8 engine. Weak? Yes. However, when you're in Archie's shop it's like a kid in a candy store. You just might end up with a LS motor, brakes, and/or what ever. Pick and choose what ever modification one wants when using the MadArch kit or leave as-is for the "kit" is nothing more than a improvement on the outside which easily matches the inside-something to which can't be said of any replica kit. Using a replica kit you have to follow that dog and pony show; outside, inside, and in the engine compartment.


As I mentioned the price for wheels, that too has changed. I have listed many wheels over the past 6 yrs and now there's more.
madcurl JAN 10, 01:03 PM

quote
Originally posted by DL10:

I didn't want to edit my last post but it got cut off.......

I said I wouldn't post again in the Kit Car Registry thread......Putting a mad-arch Kit on a Fiero does not make it a Kit Car.
None of the cars you posted in the thread would be put in a Kit Car class at any Fiero show. You know the intent of the thread but You just can't get enough of yourself. You can't have it both ways.....if your really believe the cars you posted should be considered Kit Cars than you have to admit that your car is also a Kit Car.....



I'm sorry, but the person who started the thread didn't have a issue with it, so why are you? It appears you and Bloozsberry have your replica uniforms on too tight and are in a hissie-fit. Oh yeah, the "MadArch" is a "kit." Please, refrain from trying "dumb it down." This forum isn't the, NRA (National Replica Association) walking around in fake uniforms pretending to be the real McCoy.

For the record.


quote
Originally posted by bomaze:

I am taking the advice of a great forum member and asking the following question. How many members have Fiero based kit cars? What type of kit and please post pics if available.





quote
Originally posted by bomaze:

I hope this thread will be an open discussion about Fiero based kits and replicas. I'm not trying to start any negativity from people who feel that it is sacrilegious to change the basic style of the car. I personally have owned 5 Fieros and I love the car. I just would like to know what people have or had in the way of kits or replicas. Just a friendly discussion that's all. I'm really looking forward to where this thread may go.


dratts JAN 10, 01:06 PM
Great looking car and fabulous twenty year old prices. Congratulations!
quote
Originally posted by I FAR I:

I had my 308 kitcar built 20 years ago and the body cost me $4k, plus $2k for Fiero GT, $1.2k for install, rims and rubber were another $2k, plus $1k for paint.





Cost approx. = $10k........Enjoyment otoh = PRICELESS!
madcurl JAN 10, 01:12 PM

quote
Originally posted by DL10:


Just because you have an opinion about something that doesn't make it fact. Ferrari and Lamborghini lawyers had nothing to do with stopping publication of any magazine.




So what you're saying is: The Ferrari and Lamborghini lawyers needn't look in those magazines to find kit car builders ripping off their brand name. Oh please, that's the first place to look for the internet was up yet. I'd bet they are looking at all of the various shops throughout the U.S.A on forums such as this.