Thread: Does this qualify as a Hot Rod?

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For me the term "kit car" has a negative connotation. Having a fiberglass bodied hot rod I get the "Is it a Kit Car?" all the time. I generally say that the State uses the term "Kit Car" for anything that's not factory, but the term "Kit" infers that you get a bunch of boxes with everything you need but time and talent to build a car, and that's far from being accurate for most anything out there. Maybe the Factory Five cars come close, but most others need some heavy input of builder's ingenuity and perseverance to get it done.

On the color ideas, IMO your car would look fantastic in that Root Beer color with no stripes at all, just a deep shine of Root Beer or maybe Black Cherry in a solid color. I don't think it needs stripes in any form, but that's just my $0.02.

Originally Posted by rspears

For me the term "kit car" has a negative connotation. Having a fiberglass bodied hot rod I get the "Is it a Kit Car?" all the time. I generally say that the State uses the term "Kit Car" for anything that's not factory, but the term "Kit" infers that you get a bunch of boxes with everything you need but time and talent to build a car, and that's far from being accurate for most anything out there. Maybe the Factory Five cars come close, but most others need some heavy input of builder's ingenuity and perseverance to get it done..

I completely agree! The negative connotation included. When I'm asked "Is that a Kit Car"? I usually answer with the question what's a kit car? Most folks think that a "Kit Car" is big box of parts show up and you assemble them. I have to answer "then no, it is a replica but not a kit as there are many parts from many manufacturers"..

And I believe Factory Five and Street Beasts would fit that bill...

I don't connote any negativity to the designation 'kit car'. In fact, being in my teens in the '70s, building anything from a kit was my idea of fun. I couldn't wait to get my hands on my dads 'Popular Mechanics' mags to see what new kits were being offered in the back pages of adverts. Build your own hovercraft, radio, computer, etc... a whole car just seemed to be the ultimate kit.

I haven't had a single person ask if it's a kit. Usually, some one is yelling from their car window, "What kind of car is that"? When I say it's a Velo Rossa I get a lot of blank quizzical stares, Then I add, "It's a kit". Which evokes a lot of nods... as if they now understand completely. Cracks me up every time.

I have been asked many times if my car is a kit car, I always answer "No, it's my car".

People that don't know will never get it. There is seldom enough reasoning to change a mind that already thinks it is correct.

I also get the same thing, just tell them yes it's a AMT kit just add water and it grows... got to be one in every crowd..

And here I thought A Kit Car was a firebird used on Knight Rider driven by David Hasselhof!

Originally Posted by stovens

And here I thought A Kit Car was a firebird used on Knight Rider driven by David Hasselhof!

There's a kit for that!!!

Rob Louisell - Knight Rider Parts for K.I.T.T. Replicas

Originally Posted by Fauxre

There's a kit for that!!!

Rob Louisell - Knight Rider Parts for K.I.T.T. Replicas

note - Hasslehof hair, chest fur and abs not included.....

oh wait, the chest fur & abs didn't debut until Bay Watch but they were totally upstaged by Pamela Anderson's boobs!!

Originally Posted by randyr

....but they were totally upstaged by Pamela Anderson's boobs!!

There's a kit for that (those)!!!

Originally Posted by rspears

There's a kit for that (those)!!!

Sold in pairs only! Lol

Wes you weren't kidding! That's fantastic! I don't know why anyone would spend 60 grand to buy a complete one, but I've got to admit the inside is very cool, just couldn't imaging trying to steer a car with a steering wheel yoke(at least not for a fast hard turn! Still it would be fun to drive it at night and get pulled over by the police. Could just imagine what they would think looking inside..."This guy must be nuts!"

Yeah, I have no idea why anyone would want one either. I put the Batmobile replicas in the same category. You'd have to be a huge fan to want one.

batmobiles.jpg

My car was a kit-ted car. The kit came with a stop watch to stop time and a winning lottery ticket to buy endless amounts of parts. Now if I could just remember where I put the dang kit!

Sometimes when people ask, "What is it"?
I respond, "All my spare time for the last six years".

The kit car market sure isn't what it used to be, but there's still some out there. As with anything, some are good, some are bad. On Craigslist locally I've seen an old Kelmark GT advertised on there from time to time. It's partially done, more like barely started, but most of the pieces are still there....Might have to go look at it someday, the bodies did have some nice lines. There's a whole bunch of present day Hot Rodders who got their start with a kit car! Most folks who see a Hot Rod and ask if it's a kit car do it because they just flat don't know better and can't understand the concept of starting a project with nothing but a plan in your head and a few notes jotted down in a notebook....IMO these people need to be educated, not scorned! Could be they're considering a Hot Rod for themselves and just don't have an idea how the whole process works....