Florida has always been a hotbed for kit car companies. Some say it's where the industry got its start. Being the Sunshine State, there are also quite a few automotive enthusiast related companies in general that have their corporate headquarters in Florida. Given these two facts, KIT CAR Associate Publisher Angela Schoof, KC Account Executive Brenda Frias, and I had sufficient ammunition to convince our colleagues that a trip to Florida made perfect sense. When we mentioned that we could visit several companies and I could also cover a multi-day driving, showing, rallying, and racing event called Reptile Roundup, we had the makings of a whirlwind tour. The total area of Florida is 65,768 square miles, with 53,997 of those on land. We had some panning and driving to do!

If it's true people are the product of their environment, then what would you expect from someone who grew up in Indianapolis and never attended a 500-mile race? Most could agree it would just be sacrilegious! But in England, the same could be said for those in close proximity to the Isle of Man, site of the world-famous TT motorcycle racecourse. As a young man Fran Hall grew up in the pits of the famous track, and he would eventually immerse himself in all of that racing action, eventually trying his hand at Grand Prix-style motorcycle racing himself.

Do you think world-renowned cooks ever retire? Maybe hang out in a one-room apartment and eat TV dinners on the sofa? Probably not. People who are good at what they do usually keep doing it for most of their lives. The same could be said for photographers, painters, and even construction workers, as they will probably continue to create long after people stop paying them for their work. It's because it's in their blood--it's just what they do.

Mickey Lauria, the owner of Total Performance in Wallingford, Connecticut, has a saying: "God must love T-buckets--that's why he made so many of them." While it might be accurate (though it was Ford who actually made more than 2 million variations of the Model T in 1923 alone), finding an original Model T to modify into a hot rod is getting harder to do.

When you think of homecomings, you may think of your alma mater, or possibly a gathering of your family and friends. For Unique Motorcars, based in Gadsden, Alabama, it's a combination of all three.

Editor's note: As anyone who has ever built a car under a deadline will tell you, be it a parts-all-there kit or one from scratch, things will invariably pop up to sideline the work schedule. Sometimes it is only a month; sometimes it takes years before you can get all the stars aligned again so you can finish what you started.

If you are thinking about building a kit or replicar, you've probably run across the name Shell Valley. That might be because Shell Valley Fiberglass, named after the valley the company occupies in eastern Nebraska, was founded by three brothers in 1971, making it one of the oldest names in the kit industry still in business.

What Is The P40
Premier MotorSports' new car is a replica of the GT40 Mark 1B originally made famous in the mid-'60s. The company has designed and engineered a new frame for the car, maintaining the wheelbase and track of the original. Premier's chief engineer, Chuck Ward (pictured with his rotating jig), researched and designed the new chassis and suspension components. Often you will find many donor parts in a replica, but in this case, there are only a few.

Here's an astute observation: When at a car show, and looking out at the sea of cars in front of you, what do you really see? If you start to describe the types of cars, you're being a bit too specific. But if you say paint and wheels, then you'd be on track. What is more important than the paint and wheels when talking overall appeal of a car? It defines the car's personality, and quite possibly that of the owner, too. Black with flames denotes a different driver than that of a blue-with-white-stripes guy, so picking the right color scheme and the right set of wheels is what will make the greatest impact on those viewing your car.

Here's an astute observation: When at a car show, and looking out at the sea of cars in front of you, what do you really see? If you start to describe the types of cars, you're being a bit too specific. But if you say paint and wheels, then you'd be on track. What is more important than the paint and wheels when talking overall appeal of a car? It defines the car's personality, and quite possibly that of the owner, too. Black with flames denotes a different driver than that of a blue-with-white-stripes guy, so picking the right color scheme and the right set of wheels is what will make the greatest impact on those viewing your car.

Since the dawn of the auto industry, car designers have had their hands busy trying to enhance their products for the different manufacturers for whom they worked. For example, in the early days at Ford, the introduction and evolution of the Model T was certainly significant to the industry, and both designers and engineers were always trying to improve their offerings (from engine refinements, suspension upgrades, interior ergonomics, to reliability, etc.) to the public. Choice of paint was easy, as you could order any color you wanted as long as it was black!

Since the dawn of the auto industry, car designers have had their hands busy trying to enhance their products for the different manufacturers for whom they worked. For example, in the early days at Ford, the introduction and evolution of the Model T was certainly significant to the industry, and both designers and engineers were always trying to improve their offerings (from engine refinements, suspension upgrades, interior ergonomics, to reliability, etc.) to the public. Choice of paint was easy, as you could order any color you wanted as long as it was black!

The phrase "Replication With Innovation" is pretty snappy, but it's the perfect way to describe Cutting Edge Replicas in Manteca, squarely in the middle of California. The family tree in the kit car market sometimes resembles a telephone pole-straight and without any deviation. What Cutting Edge Replicas is doing is living up to their innovative tag line and producing a product you recognize-a Cobra roadster hybrid-but with a very interesting chassis to support it.

It has been said that living in New England is one of the greatest experiences one could have, thanks to the four seasons that come with the territory (until you have to live through those long winter months!). For most East Coast Cobra owners, that down time is spent with extra logs on the fire while you're in the workshop making revisions to your ride, adding just the right finishing touches.

The phrase "Replication With Innovation" is pretty snappy, but it's the perfect way to describe Cutting Edge Replicas in Manteca, squarely in the middle of California. The family tree in the kit car market sometimes resembles a telephone pole-straight and without any deviation. What Cutting Edge Replicas is doing is living up to their innovative tag line and producing a product you recognize--a Cobra roadster hybrid--but with a very interesting chassis to support it.

As KIT CAR magazine travels around the country, we stop in at various shops to see what they're up to. While in northern Alabama, KIT CAR stopped by Unique Motorcars in Gadsden to check up on the Weaver family and see what's new.

As KIT CAR magazine travels around the country, we stop in at various shops to see what they're up to. While in northern Alabama, KIT CAR stopped by Unique Motorcars in Gadsden to check up on the Weaver family and see what's new.