 Carlisle was a showcase for...  Carlisle was a showcase for Shell Valley, which unveiled a Cheetah and this new '52 C-type Jaguar racer. The Jag and Cheetah are both being built under a business relationship with Team-C-Racing. |
 Shell Valleys new Cheetah...  Shell Valleys new Cheetah was one of the stellar cars to debut at the 02 Carlisle Kit/Replicar Car Nationals. It won the Kit Car Editors Choice for Car of the Show. |
 This D&R Diablo, painted in...  This D&R Diablo, painted in Chrome Illusion Purple and Blue, was built by Richard Frick. It is powered by a Northstar engine. The car placed Second for the Car of the Show trophy. |
 K-1 Stylings new Evoluzione...  K-1 Stylings new Evoluzione II is represented in the United States by Euro-Works Ltd. It sports a new hoodscoop, rear spoiler, and side vents. |
 Upstate Super Replicars...  Upstate Super Replicars Daytona was painted in the team colors of Scuderia Filipinetti, a Swiss team from the 65 Le Mans. |
 R Motorports Diva design...  R Motorports Diva design includes a new windscreen. It led an impressive group of Lotus-inspired kits. |
 The Ralleye Sports Indy Cyclethe...  The Ralleye Sports Indy Cyclethe Malone Skunkis made in England. The three-wheeler sports a 147hp Yamaha V-Max engine. |
 Unique Motorcars always displays...  Unique Motorcars always displays a rainbow of Cobra replicas. This year was no exception, and the champagne and burgundy one pictured here typifies Uniques cosmetics. |
 Birkin America showed off...  Birkin America showed off its Lotus-genre kit. Birkin is always classy and show sales were brisk. |
 World Class Motorsports...  World Class Motorsports Ultra-Lite is a new player on the Lotus scene. This one employs 240hp Honda S2000 engine and weighs less than 1,000 pounds. |
 Champions new Lotus...  Champions new Lotus is tailored for the cost-conscious, new kit car hobbyist, and uses a Toyota Celica donor. |
 FFRs Daytona Coupe is...  FFRs Daytona Coupe is gaining favor among kit car racers, and its sales are skyrocketing in the coupe niche. |
 You may think youve...  You may think youve seen this Exotic Illusions Lamborghini Countache before, but this is a new one. It seems that all the buyers want are red ones with tan interiors. |
 The Gatsby Griffin from JPR...  The Gatsby Griffin from JPR Cars is based on a Cougar or T-bird donor. As is their practice, the folks at JPR built a car at the show. |
 ERA always shows off an impressive...  ERA always shows off an impressive line of cars. Its classy Cobra gets the nod here, but the company also displayed a GT40 and 427 and 289 Snakes, leaving home its Grand Sport. |
 Out on the show field, a lineup...  Out on the show field, a lineup of Bradleys proudly reveal that some older designs are still viable, sexy, and classic. |
 Grand Sport Replicas...  Grand Sport Replicas (GSR) 63 Grand Sport has been seen at Run And Gun. GSR is working on a convertible coupe it hopes to have ready for this years R&G. |
 Everett-Morrison has been...  Everett-Morrison has been building classic Cobra replicas for nearly a quarter-century. It believes the portion of the car that sets it apart from the competition is its chassis, shown here. |
 Lone Star has added a Lambo...  Lone Star has added a Lambo to its line. This one was finished just in time for the show. KC |
The big kit car dance in America is the annual Kit/Replicar Nationals at the Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Fairgrounds, and this years event brought out some gorgeous debutantes in the shape of new cars and art forms. The show was also full of intrigue, as spy-like attorneys took pictures at the event.
The 2002 show, held May 17-19, played host to 19,491 enthusiasts, down slightly from the 20,113 hobbyists who attended in 2001. Show cars increased from 1,030 last year to 1,116 this year. Some 60-70 car manufacturers attended, as well as dozens of private hobbyists and clubs. Together, they displayed about 350 kit and component cars.
Tailored to the pure import and kit/ replicar enthusiast, the show featured the largest gathering of kits and replicars in the country, with 502 vendors offering everything the enthusiast needs to build his or her dream car. The upbeat crowd was flush with optimism coming from FFRs court settlement/ victory over Carroll Shelby. The agreement gave Shelby the right to the name Cobra, while he gave up his rights to the car design and styling.
Daring Debuts
Shell Valley Companies responded to the show with a trio of new cars. It has a stunning new Cheetah, which won the Kit Car magazine Editors Choice for Car of the Show and is featured in this issue; an exciting new 52 C-type Jaguar racer called Tipo 166; and a sharp 32 Ford. All of these cars came from a design relationship with Team-C-Racing.com. Also debuting was FFRs Mk II, which we feature in this issue; Lone Stars Lamborghini; a new Diva from R Motorsports; K-1 Stylings Evoluzione II; a newly styled Dragon; and a bevy of new Lotus-esque designs.
Rampaging Rumors
The biggest rumor to hit the fairgrounds was that Ford and Shelby lawyers were stalking the show, taking pictures of all cars that displayed Ford or Cobra badges. Hence, masking tape was the order of the day, as tiny Snakes and Blue Ovals were covered.
Other persistent rumors included one about a Price-Waterhouse survey of 10,000 Americans who were asked what a Cobra was. The answers ranged from a Mustang to a radar-jamming device, while the vast majority purportedly identified a Cobra as a sports car manufactured by either Factory Five, ERA, Superformance, or Fordor they were just called kits. The term Shelby apparently lagged far behind.
It is also rumored that Unique Motorcars is entering the kitrod fray with a kit truck and a 30s-era car.
A Winner
Indoor displays featured numerous kits, replicars, and imports, and a car giveaway was held that rewarded Luis A. Rosa-Alberty of Laurel, Maryland. He held the winning ticket for the 84 Gazelle replica of a Fiberfab 29 Mercedes-Benz SSK.
However, all in attendance were winners. Manufacturers reported increased sales over last years show, and the hobbyists seemed to find their next projects and enjoy communing with other enthusiasts.
Next year, the 2003 Carlisles Import-Kit/ Replicar Nationals will take place during the weekend of May 16-18. For more information, call the event hotline at 717/243-7855 or visit www.carsatcarlisle.com.