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The '03 AHA Kit Car Show at knott's Berry Farm Didn't Need Sunshine to Be a Hit
By Mike Blake
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There was a definite foreign... 
   
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There was a definite foreign influence at this year's AHA Knott's Berry Farm kit car show. The F40 Motorsport S40 has Italian styling and is manufactured in New Zealand.
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Also from the South Pacific... 
   
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Also from the South Pacific comes Herschel Byrd's Roaring '40s GT40, a product of Australia. Byrd's car flies with a 400hp Ford 302 powerplant.
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The Backdraft Racing Cobra... 
   
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The Backdraft Racing Cobra replica is manufactured in South Africa and is powered by a 351 Windsor engine.
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Original designs also made... 
   
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Original designs also made their presence felt at the show. Factory Five Racing's innovative Spyder GT, designed by John Clark, who is shown here with his sister Christina, won the KIT CAR Magazine Editor's Choice Award.
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The all-new Banshee, by Louisell,... 
   
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The all-new Banshee, by Louisell, fits on a '93 Firebird Formula platform. Its Chevy LT1 engine can make this baby scream at 155 mph.
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The original-design LS1 Mazda... 
   
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The original-design LS1 Mazda rebody by Diamond Motors debuted at the show.
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Another new design, the Pit... 
   
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Another new design, the Pit Bull, by Top Gun sits on a stock Toyota MR2 frame.

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A legend and his new design... 
   
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A legend and his new design graced the field at Knott's, as Bruce Meyers, creator of the Meyers Manx, showed off his new Manxter buggy, sitting on a traditional VW frame, powered by a 2,500cc VW engine.
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California Advanced Vehicles... 
   
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California Advanced Vehicles (CAV) added this GT Spyder (same name, but different design and origin from the FFR car) to its line of exciting GT40s. This version is somewhat of a convertible GT40.
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Anko Hsaio's yellow IFG Phantom... 
   
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Anko Hsaio's yellow IFG Phantom 6.0 Lamborghini Diablo was one of the bevy of exotics in attendance. Lambos always show well at the AHA event.
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Ron Steele's Pisa Scorpion... 
   
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Ron Steele's Pisa Scorpion is Fiero-based and is a fit in the desert and the city. Its Scorpion decal on the hood is a nice touch.
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Superformance is ahead of... 
   
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Superformance is ahead of the curve with its S-1. As Lotus derivatives are gaining fans and prestige in America, Superformance has been putting this beauty out for four years.
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A frequent visitor to the... 
   
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A frequent visitor to the pages of KIT CAR is this Dragon Motors Dragon. This Ruby Red speed demon headed to the Carlisle show, before being fine-tuned to compete at Run and Gun.
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Rodster Street Rods, dba Caroselli... 
   
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Rodster Street Rods, dba Caroselli Designs, presented this Chevy S-10-based sedan delivery and is working on a pickup truck version, in addition to its original-design Rodster.
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Shell Valley made a splash... 
   
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Shell Valley made a splash at Knott's by winning seven awards, including AHA Car of the Show, with its teal Cobra, and the Best Manufacturer's Practice Award. Here, they show off three of their cars, their Cheetah, 427 Cobra replica, and '30s Model A Ford--excitement times three.
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The Monster Miata is not a... 
   
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The Monster Miata is not a Cobra, but a rebody of a Mazda Miata. Its 302 Ford powerplant sure makes it RUN like a Snake.
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Richard Marlow's red Ultima... 
   
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Richard Marlow's red Ultima was probably the fastest car at the event. Street-legal, it can go 220 mph. It is now offered as a roller to American enthusiasts.
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Shelby Custom Exotics is no... 
   
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Shelby Custom Exotics is no relation to Shelby American, and J.C. Hamlin's Shelby Custom's Diablo Millennium roadster certainly exhibits exotic traits.
Editor's Choice Award Winners at Knott's

Presented by KIT CAR Editor Mike Blake to deserving, outstanding cars and builders, who display their automotive excellence at the AHA Knott's Berry Farm Show.

2003: John Clark, engineer and designer of the original-design Factory Five Spyder GT.

2002: Gary and Terry O'Connors' '23 Track-T Roadster made out of the wooden slats of Gary's fence.

2001: Scott Allen's Mullen M-11 original-design sports car.

2000: Bill Cahill's '39 Morgan, made out of the wooden skins from his house doors.

1999: Rick Hansen's Master Street Rods '39 Studebaker Coupe Express truck.


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