Robin Hood Sports Car

Andrew Chappell · 08-29-2002, 04:32 PM

Hi Guys.

http://www.robinhoodengineering.co.uk then choose products then choose the project 2b.

It looks like this:

I'm thinking of building a kit car. It's a long story, but I quite fancy putting an MP3 car in one one these things. These things are bloody cheap (£3k ish for the whole car), and I think look pretty fine. The downside is it will take 6 - 12 months to get it finished. I was wondering, has anyone else built a car from a kit like these?

Cheers

Andrew

Aaron Cake · 08-30-2002, 09:25 AM

Remember that kit cars have a lot of "invisible" costs...Drivetrain, paint, interior, etc. etc. I've seen some projects go over $50K.

The site was down so I couldn't see the specifics, but don't assume it will be cheap.

Andrew Chappell · 08-30-2002, 10:03 AM

Most of it involves recycling another vehicle. The panels you buy are stainless steel, with special coloured panels. I prob. won't do it because of the time involved in building it, but it sounds fun! Cheers for the advice though - I definitly don't have $50k to spend so looks like i'll have to be wary!

Cheers

Andrew

Gutter · 08-30-2002, 12:42 PM

Oh, I've dreamed about building a kitcar too (or maybe just buying one). Not just any kitcar, but a 427 Shelby Cobra replica. A company that sells them without any donor parts is only 3 hrs away.

http://www.cobracountry.com/lonestar/427.html

One day you'll be mine!

Andrew Chappell · 08-30-2002, 04:41 PM

Ummmmm Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!

Well I guess I need some more cash then...

Rob · 09-01-2002, 01:24 PM

The link still doesn't work,

Look's very Lotus 7ish, any perticualr reason for Robin Hood over other kit car companies, ie Katrum & Westfield (not sure about the spelling)

I've got a mate whoes seriously looking in to building a single engined Westfield, which will be in that price range for the kit plus extra engine etc which is all off a bike, plus a spray job.

Cost vearries depending on what state it's in when you get, there are various definitions of the word kit, some ranging from the chassis being preassembled at one end and having to frabricat of parts at the other end.

The Westfild my mates looking at is about £3000 with the chassis almost finished, plus one year insurance with them, and I think somedriving lessons as well (but not 100% sure about this). Apparently if you stick with them for insurance it's relly cheap, despite being fast cars, kit cars are generally invovled in very few acidents (if it takes you a year to build a car you're likely to be very careful with it, is the theory)

What donor car does the Robin Hood kit use, I think it migh be a Sierra's but I'm not 100% sure about that. If so you can get one really cheap, either drivable or as srcap(recermend you look for an old XR4x4) however the engine might need a rebuild, as it's going to have a fair few miles on it. If it's uses a bike engine, then it'll be a bit harder to find, but in general you can get a trash bike, with a good engine box, ECU etc for around a grand.

The other real cost is painting it, this will cost anywhere from £500 up (I've seen ones done for less, and I can assure you they don't look pretty). Your best way around this is to do it yourself. A good compressor gun & all important paint will set you back around £500 at most. And since you building the car you won't need to worry about masking stuff and stripping it out. Also it doesn't matter is you've never sparyed before, as if you mess up a pannel you can just strip it down and spray it again, it's not like your in a hurry time wise. Doing it yourself will also mean that if you want more than one colour (different wheel arces etc) you won't pay through the nose for it.

Lastly cost very much depends on what you end up with, a full lether interior, cromed everything, a coachbilt interior, and a roof are all going to cost. However if you keep it simple the cost will stay down. Also if you can do as much of the work you can your self, most of it's pretty easy and you should learn as you go along.

Off the topic:

For those of you who don't know who Westfield one their twin engined cars hold the world record for 0-60, for a road car, beating the Mclaren F1

Andrew Chappell · 09-01-2002, 06:26 PM

Hi rob. Cheers for all the info. I chose the Robin Hood cause I saw one driving around about a week ago, and had read a couple of websites about them before. They also are fairly complete, and not supposed to be too difficult to build. Also, they come with stainless steel panels with the coloured sections made of plastic (I think!) so there is no painting involved.

You are right about the sierra donor car - I'm hoping to get a 2 litre petrol injection DOHC engine for it - should be able to pick up a relativly low milage one with few miles on the clock for around £400 in a drivable, MOT'd state so I can see what it's like. I may just pick one up from a scrappy in the end (about £100 or less!). The insurance is the real killer though - for me to drive it at 20 under fully comp, unlimited milage would be £1800 per year. So I guess I'll have to wait a bit...

The kit is pretty complete. Check out the contents at www.robinhoodengineering.co.uk. Most things are included, in fact if you buy the options pack for £800 you get quite a bit extra. It's all a distant (few years) dream at the moment - I've gotta sort out a levels, and try and get maths sorted first. I just like the idea of crusing around in a mp3 (nearly) lotus 7.

Cheers

Andrew

Rob · 09-02-2002, 05:22 PM

LoL the joys of A Levels

By shear fluke, I saw a robinhood this morning sat in the car park at work, if you want I'll track down the owner and find out a bit more for you.

I'm amazed by the insurance, as I previously said Westfield give you a year free when you buy the car & then it's pretty cheap afterwards. Who was the quote from? High steet companies arn't worth talking to when it comes to specialist cars, check out the back of kit car mag for companies who are alot more understanding.

Also wait till your 21 before you insure it (it'll take a while to build anyway) the reason I say that is that I got the old Mini around my 21st birthday and the insurance quotes were around £700 starting a week before my birthday and around £350 starting a week after. Stupid I know, but that's the way they work. In the mean time have a 1L metro or something sat on the drive clocking up a nice NCD (don't even need to drive it)

Off the topic kit cars have very different MoT rules to road cars, you won't need to worry about immissions or anything like that. I heard of a case at work resently wheer someone took a 4L V8 kit car with carbon cans and no cat for it's first MoT, and it passed no problem despite the flames shooting out the back on the overrun!

Bloody hell another long post

Andrew Chappell · 09-02-2002, 08:36 PM

Cool - I'm interested to find out about any kit's, especially the robin hood, I can. Some say they are relativly easy, others say they involve more work. I must say, it would be fun to drive around in and to build, but I can imagine getting frustrated if bits don't fit and require major engineering to get it to work. Insurance is a complete *****, although to be fair it isn't much more expensive to insure the robin hood than my dad's 1.7 diesel vauxhall cavallier (if I was the main driver it would cost me £1500 rather than the £130 it costs now!) - the robin hood would be about £1800 ish for a 20 year old me with no NCD and for fully comp with unlimited milage.

The insurance will be the killer, but I may build it and keep it in the basement until I can afford to insure it. Our diesel fails it's immisions test sometimes, but what really ****es me off is all the council vans / busses which smoke like mad but seem to somehow pass / be exempt.

Cheers

Andrew

Rob · 09-03-2002, 05:54 PM

You still haven't sid who the insurance quote was from, high street or a specialist.

Might also ask about limited milage, being a club member, and alarms.

Just discovered my insurance covers me for track us and rallying

as long as I'm not raceing, also there is a 1K excess

By sheer fluke this was posted on the notice boards at work today with regards to someone asking about the robinhood in the car park

Quote:

have just sold my shiny Robin Hood, sierra based, ford (modified a
tad!!!)powered and would thouroughly recomend em to any one, hours of fun
fiddling with suspension set ups and a cracking car to drive. 60mph with
backside 6 inches off the ground was a whole bundle of fun. The wife even
enjoyed it when the condenser packed in at the top of Hardnot Pass,
honest!!"!!!

which was followed up by

Quote:

as ABW Hooderz may know, I am the wifelet of the Area Secretary of the Robin
Hood Owners Club, and I have supported him and his club members from Day
One. I have nothing but admiration for the building of these cars, as it
just looked like a sooper-dooper airfix kit when it was collected. It is a
most impressive car...............and we get many of them outside our house
on a regular basis.

I must remember to remove my tongue from my cheek whilst on this folder,
obviously...........

Ross

If you want I'll have a word with Ross, and try and get some more info.

Rob · 09-24-2002, 06:11 PM

A bit more has been posted at work, on the Robinhood in the car park.

Don't use a XR4 for the donor, apparently the V6 is a pain to tune compared to the straight 4 Ford engines. Also with the XR4 you'll need to swap / heavilly modify the gear box to get rid of the 4WD.

Apparently you can also use Jags for the donor cars, you could get a old XJ6 for a few hundred which will give you bags of power and a little more style than a Ford.

Rob · 01-17-2003, 01:08 PM

I don't know if your still interested in Robin Hoods, but they've got a track day on at Castle Combe in a few weeks. If you want I can get you details, and a few contacts if you want to get yourself in one of them (as a passenger)

ddt · 01-18-2003, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gutter
Oh, I've dreamed about building a kitcar too (or maybe just buying one). Not just any kitcar, but a 427 Shelby Cobra replica. A company that sells them without any donor parts is only 3 hrs away.

Gutter... you are a man after my own heart. Cobras are sooo sooo sweet.

cproaudio · 01-18-2003, 01:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gutter
Oh, I've dreamed about building a kitcar too (or maybe just buying one). Not just any kitcar, but a 427 Shelby Cobra replica. A company that sells them without any donor parts is only 3 hrs away.

Watch out for the side pipe. It burns like a BBQ grill. Take it from a guy who got burnt before. It aint fun.

jboy · 01-20-2003, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gutter
Oh, I've dreamed about building a kitcar too (or maybe just buying one). Not just any kitcar, but a 427 Shelby Cobra replica. A company that sells them without any donor parts is only 3 hrs away.

http://www.cobracountry.com/lonestar/427.html

One day you'll be mine!

look for "factory five" cars. Cobra replicas tha are mostly made to use rustang 5.slow donor drivetrains. 10-12Gs for the body and frame a freshly deceased stang for 2-3Gs afew Gs on performance goodies and you can get from 0-60 quicker than your sphincter will allow

User Name		Remember Me?
Password