Best Kit Cars 2020
Best Kit Cars 2020
From an early age model cars and kits play a crucial role in every gearhead's life, assembling, painting, and proudly displaying our latest Airfix creations, while we dream of owning a real sports car.
Updated July 2021: If you're thinking about building a kit car, or maybe purchasing one that's already built, you'll be happy to know that we've updated this article with more info and the latest prices to help you make a better and more well-informed decision.
Unfortunately, most of the cars we dreamed of owning are either out of reach financially speaking, and sometimes they just don't exist in the real world. This is where the lucrative kit-car market comes in. Car replica kits are big business, model kits that separate the men from the boys, fueling our wildest dreams of owning rare exotic machinery and custom-builds, imagination and cash are the only limits.
If the mention of cash brought your dreams crashing down, then take a closer look at these awesome kit cars that can be yours for less than the average sedan. We can all agree that's a bargain for anyone who wants to stand out from the crowd.
10 Lister Bell Lancia Stratos - $35,000
What could be better than your own Lancia Stratos? For most gearheads, driving one of these legendary rally cars will remain a dream that never turns into reality, seeing as prices start at $550,000. Original cars are known for their many flaws, and this is where Lister Bell comes into the picture, offering a full kit, minus the original's quirks, for just $35,000. Sure, it's not pocket change, but it's definitely a bargain compared to the original.
Keep in mind that this is a full kit with absolutely everything you need to build a modernized working Lancia Stratos rally car, complete with a 2.5-liter Alfa Romeo engine. Of course, other engines are available for a price.
9 Factory Five Cobra Mk IV - $11,000
Anyone can drive around in a late '90s Ford Mustang and remain relatively unnoticed, but for a small investment of $11,000 and a decent set of tools, you could be cruising the boulevards behind the wheel of one of these jaw-dropping Cobra replicas instead.
US-based kit-car maker Factory Five are among the best when it comes to making Cobras, their Mk IV kit is identical to the original while adding a few improvements for safety and strength. We know, it almost sounds too good to be true, but this really is a home build project that doesn't have the massive price tag of the original attached to it. It's hard to think of a better father and son project than this.
8 Race Car Replicas RCR40 - $46,000
Ford's legendary Le Mans racer, the GT40, was only produced in small numbers, with even fewer road-legal cars produced at a later date, something that has only served to fuel the number of home-built replicas. Can a replica GT40 be taken seriously? Yes, if detailed correctly, as this RCR40 kit shows, heading to auction with an estimate of $140,000.
US-based Race Car Replicas offer three different levels of their RCR40 kit, with the complete, option-laden kit, setting a DIY mechanic back $46,000 plus a suitable donor car. The results are only going to be as good as the effort the builder is willing to put in, but this one finished in period-correct colors looks absolutely stunning.
7 Caterham Seven - $38,000
Wind in the hair, retro-styled motoring, especially on twisty roads or a track day, can't possibly get any better than the Caterham 420R. Don't be fooled by the old school appearance, because this home-built pocket rocket can crack 60 mph in a mere 3.8 seconds.
As the saying goes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it, and the Seven 420R can trace its origins all the way back to the Lotus 7 from the 1950s. With a simple design, it's a popular choice among home mechanics. Those who don't know a hammer from a screwdriver can opt for a turn-key model, while the more desirable home-build form is available from around $38,000 — a great way for to tinkerers to spend their weekends.
6 Autotune Aristocat XK120 - $20,000
The post-war European sports car market belonged to Jaguar. Starting with the 1948 launch of the XK120, the UK-based carmaker produced a run of not only the most beautiful cars, but also the fastest.
Early production models were time-consuming hand-built affairs using aluminum panels over ash frames, but demand and success forced the carmaker to revert to more traditional construction materials. Why build a replica? Well, the main reason is because of the price, a complete Aristocat kit costs $20,000, added to which, the XJ-series donor engine is the same unit with more power. Basically, customers get a faster XK120 for less cash.
5 Bauer Catfish Roadster - $14,000
One of the biggest risks of any home build is reliability. Having spent hundreds of man-hours toiling away only to find that once complete, your newly-built pride and joy refuses to start. Sure, a lot of potential worries can be alleviated with the right donor car.
What better place to start than a Miata MX-5? Using the Mazda sports car to form the backbone of Bauer's Catfish makes perfect sense, as it's both readily available and cheap to source, and there's also plenty of aftermarket parts to make it faster. Adding the surprisingly cheap $14,000 Catfish kit makes this one of the cheaper kit cars on the market.
4 Factory Five Daytona Coupe - $22,000
Complete kits usually offer the best value for money for the average home builder, everything included in Factory Five's Daytona Gen 3 kit is guaranteed to fit together, which removes any niggling doubts, besides, at $22,000, it's surprisingly cheap.
This being a Factory Five kit means quality isn't compromised, it uses a custom welded steel chassis and handcrafted composite body that would fool all but the most knowledgeable gearhead. If anything, the biggest single expense is the engine, suitable for a range of small block motors, including Ford's Coyote lump.
3 Pilgrim 356 Speedster - $6,800
If it's your first kit car, forget the flashy complex builds and go for something simple. The results can still be stunning. UK-based Pilgrim Motorsports has been producing 356 kits for years, and provide a complete kit for just $6,800.
Of course, you will need to provide a donor VW Beetle, but any swing-axle version in decent condition will be suitable, Pilgrim's kit uses the chassis and original running gear to create a faithful recreation. And what could be better than a simple air-cooled Porsche replica to get that first taste of home build motoring?
2 Prova Design Countach - $20,000
Building a replica of one of the most famous 70s supercars is certainly a risky move. Get the finish wrong and everyone will assume it's a cheap Fiero-based clone. Perhaps the best move would be to do a complete custom-built chassis and body package like the Prova Designs Countach we have here. Sure, it's a bit pricey at $20,000, but then the real deal will set you back over $400,000, and compared to that, it's a real bargain.
Without question, this is a kit for the serious gearhead who possesses some skills and doesn't mind getting their hands dirty. For those who want the Countach without the effort, Prova also offers a turn-key model complete with Audi V8 running gear.
1 DF Goblin - $10,000
Two cars in one, DF Kit Cars Goblin series offers gearheads the choice between getting down and dirty at the weekend or burning rubber on the local race track. That's the great thing about the Goblin, using a custom tubular chassis and humble Chevrolet Cobalt mechanical parts makes this one of the most flexible kits available.
Who knew kit-cars could be so much fun for so little money, the complete kit and donor car should come in under $10,000 — that's the price of a decent everyday beater car, and we know which one we'd rather drive.
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About The Author 
Jason Garbutt (398 Articles Published)
Raised in a car-obsessed environment from an early age ensured a keen interest in anything car-related. first and foremost an F1 fan, but also an avid follower of other motorsports. Professional background working closely with a well established UK based Supercar manufacturer in recent years.
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Source: https://www.hotcars.com/awesome-kit-cars-wont-cost-a-fortune/
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