Kits Kits Kits

The kit car enthusiasts waited for the rain that never came, and under gray, but friendly skies, a throng of 20,113 hobbyists came to Carlisle, Pennsylvania, for the 2001 Kit Car Nationals, the premier kit car manufacturers show in the United States.

Some 1,016 show cars--some imports--and 1,030 swap meet spaces were presented to the public, with nearly 350 kit cars on the scene and 140 cars in the car corral.

In the past, Carlisle has been the event at which manufacturers unveiled their latest and greatest. In 2000, Factory Five and Superformance both debuted their Daytona Coupes, and Superformance also presented its S1, while Classic Roadsters showed off its new Hummer. While the number of new designs was down, there were a few new kits that made the scene.

K-1 Styling & Tuning unveiled its new Honda Accord-based Attack (though its new chassis is a custom, computer-designed chassis), and Roaring 40s showcased its new GT-40 (which was given a West Coast send-off at the AHA Knott's Berry Farm show two weeks earlier). And Roaring 40s principle, Robert Logan, announced his new association with well-known Factory Five Cobra builder Gordon Levy, as a U.S. representative and builder of the 40.

Also premiered were Humm-Vee replicas from Canadian All-Terrain Vehicles (CAT-Vee) and Creative Safety; and the first four-seater Rodster--a modification of the Caroselli Rodster from a company called Some Assembly Required. John Chesnut was in attendance with his Beck Lister, and announced his new company, Dragon Motors, and his drawing-board kit car, the Dragon, a sports racer with Maseratti, Scarab, and Lister influence.

The major manufacturers were all in attendance, with Cobras the best-represented design at the show, though Fiero-based cars were the most abundant. According to a several reports, 108 Fiero-based kit cars attended, followed by 22 Cobras, 20 Mazda-based kits, 10 Austin Healeys, 10 Birkins and Lotus-7 replicars, 8 Humm-Vees, 5 MGTDs, 5 Lamborghinis, 5 Porsche Spyders, 5 Ferraris, 5 Fords (from '32-34), 5 Mercedes Neo-Classics, 4 Divas, 2 Gatsbys, 2 Thunderbirds, 2 Bradley GTs, 2 Sterlings, and a huge chunk of 130 "unspecified" kit cars.

The spirit at the show was undeniable. Though manufacturers reported that their sales were down over the previous year's show, the crowd was enthusiastic and many manufacturers believed that the sales would be cumulative and would be made after the lookers had studied and had made their decisions. They reported that the hobbyists seemed more savvy than in years past and wanted to digest the information rather than to make an impulse buy.

Still, the mood was upbeat and seemed to indicate that the climate was positive and will bode well for the future of the industry.

Manufacturers readily discussed new designs and drawing-board items they hoped to present next year. Among the ideas that will be worked on during the next 12 months are kits utilizing Camaro and Firebird donors; trucks built on Ford F-150s; new Hummer and Ferrari replicars; more Lotus 7 lookalikes and a few new truck designs. Also discussed were more four-seater versions of current cars, and some new designs that were not replicars but original kit cars.

In the big building, Unique Motorcars showed off a bevy of Cobras in a rainbow of colors. Snakes were also represented by B&B Manufacturing, Shell Valley, Superformance, Factory Five, and Everett-Morrison. Lone Star Classics presented a Cobra and its Growler, and ERA showcased its 427 and 289 Snakes, as well as a few GT-40s. Birkin America had its Birkin, as did Laminar Concepts; D&R brought out Lambo replicars; Exotic Illusions paraded its Lambo replica; PISA was there with a Jalape–o and an Artero; Regal Roadsters made the show with a pair of Thunderbirds; Euro-Works showed off a Mirage; and K-1 showed off its Evolution and Attack.

Among manufacturers who showed their wares outside were Beck Development, who brought out a Lister and a Beck Spyder; V-8 Archie was there with a pair of Fiero conversions; MidStates offered its Cobras, R Motorsport had an assortment of Divas, Street Beasts showed off its Vicky and Deuce, Roaring 40s was there with is GT-40; British Autoshoppe built a Birkin and JPR Cars built a Gatsby during the show,. Catvee had its Hummer on-hand; Simpson Design had its Miata conversions; and Creative Safety brought is version of the Humm-Vee.

On the award side, the PISA Artero of Jason Connolly was given the KIT CAR Illustrated Editor's Choice Award for "Car of the Show," based on the reasoning that it was Fiero-based and it "looked" like a logical improvement and enhancement of a Fiero without pretending to be anything else. It certainly represented the spirit of the kit car industry based on donor chassis and it is an attractive and proud car.

Based on this show, the future looks bright and we can hardly wait for next May and the next Kit Car Nationals at Carlisle Fairgrounds. For information on next year's show, contact the Fairgrounds at (717) 243-7855 or visit the web site at www.carsatcarlisle.com.