If you are a car enthusiast and know a little bit about mechanics, it may have crossed your mind to buy a kit car and to build your own. If cars are your passion, then why not? There are different options to consider however before you rush into making a purchase however.
1. There are pre-built cars that are out there on the road and ready for sale but if you are tempted, then make sure you check out the documentation. It’s vital that the registration documents state the same model details and if it doesn’t, you could be about to buy a cloned vehicle. If a vehicle has been incorrectly registered, wait until the paperwork has been corrected. Sometimes there is very little information available on kit cars and because these cars typically require more maintenance, having very little information to hand which specified the details of parts used, can be frustrating.
2. Buying an unfinished project is a possibility. Many people start and then abandon the idea realizing they don’t have the time, money or inclination to see it through to fruition. There are many partially built cars available and they can provide a good opportunity for some decent savings. There is one main point to consider however – the owner may not have taken the same care or paid the same attention to detail that you would. You would need to thoroughly check out the car prior to purchase.
3. If you want to buy directly from the manufacture, it is likely to cost you a whole lot more and to take you a considerable amount of time. The benefits of course are that you will have seen the project through from start to finish and will have a great sense of satisfaction as a result. Some models will prove to be more complex than others so do shop around.
Do remember to take photos as you progress. You will need to show that it has been built by an amateur – i.e. yourself. It’s a good idea to keep receipts for parts too. This is the same if you buy a partially built car, photo evidence and receipts will be paramount otherwise it may not pass the necessary tests and you will have to start all over again.
“Image courtesy of [Boians Cho Joo Young] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net”.