There are very few Open-Wheel Street Legal cars out there which can get you closer to the adrenaline-pumping experiences of F1 race cars. Unfortunately, most of them are too pricey to be grasped upon. But that’s where the Goblin Kit Car from DF Kit Car based in Texas comes in. This is the solution for those aspiring drivers who are all in for an open cockpit race car experience but don’t have the Benjamins to buy fully-fledged ones like the Ariel Atom 4 that is priced from $74,750 which frankly isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.

This humble Goblin, even in its fully jacked-up configuration will not cost you even half the asking price of a base Ariel Atom. But in spite of that, the fun quotient of both these machines is at par and that is what makes the Goblin Kit Car highlighted here. The catch, you ask?! Well, it all comes down to the heart and quality and fit and finish of materials. You won’t be seeing clean smooth welds and usage of premium materials in the Goblin. And, unlike the Atom 4 that uses the same engine as the finely evolved Honda Civic Type-R, this Texas-bred uses cheeky power plants from the Chevy Cobalt.

We have bundled up on a detailed insight of the Pricing, Specifications and Numerous Customisation Options of the Goblin Kit Car from DF Kit Car.

Donor Car And Pricing

2010 chevy cobalt front third quarter view
Via: wikimedia commons

As all kit cars out there, the DF Goblin Kit Car also has its humble roots. DF Kit Car uses the tried and tested Chevrolet Cobalt (2005- 2010) as its donor car for the Goblin. The impressive part about using the Chevy Cobalt as the donor is its easy availability. Another interesting bit is the wider spectrum of performance quotient it offers with 3 engine options coupled to either an Automatic or manual transmission that transforms the goblin aptly.

df goblin kit car front third quarter view
Via: DF Kit Car

The Pontiac G5 will also make do as it is literally a rebadged Chevy Cobalt. But Pontiac did manage to make the G5 much cooler than just a simple rebadge of the Cobalt. You can easily get your hands on a used roadworthy unit from just $1,200! Yes, that's the cost of a whole car and not the engine alone. You can even get hold of a working powertrain setup from salvage for under $500. This way, you could divert most of your money towards an, even more, customized Goblin. As there are numerous add-on bits on offer, the Goblin Kit Car is priced from $13,000 to $32,000.

Related: Watch a Bradley Kit Car based on a Toyota 4x4 dash out in the snow

Engine And Performance

2020 df goblin kit car rear third quarter view
Via: Dfkitcar

The Goblin Kit Car uses the stock powertrain layout of Chevrolet Cobalt which was in production from 2005 to 2010. It consists of three engine options and two gearbox options. The base trims come with a 2.2L Naturally Aspirated Inline-4 engine that pumps out 145- 155 hp and 150-155 lb-ft depending on the year of choice. The next setup is a bigger 2.4L Naturally Aspirated Inline-4 engine that churns out 171-173 hp and 163 lb-ft and was in the production models from 2006-2008.

Both the engines mentioned above have the option of either a 5-Speed Manual or 6-Speed Automatic. But the sweetest motor of them all is the third one of this bunch which is a 2.0L unit coupled to only the 5-Speed manual unit. From 2005-2007 this motor was supercharged and produced chunky 205 hp and 200 lb-ft. But from 200-2010, it got turbocharged instead, which also made it the most powerful yet with 260 hp and 260 lb-ft.

goblin race spec kit car on the track
Via: Dfkitcar

DF Kit Car doesn't tweak the powertrain set up as such but does work on units derived from salvage to bring it back to working conditions. These figures might sound puny at first, but once you get the specs right, this machine has one of the aggressive power to weight ratios and is enough to scare you! In its fully-fledged format, the Goblin Kit car weighs in at just 1,550 pounds and produced 260 hp! This means that the base engine can sprint from 0-60 MPH in 4.7 seconds and the powerful turbo unit will reach 60 MPH in just 3.25 seconds. Not at all bad for a $32,000 car.

Related: Check out these 10 Kit Cars that you can build at home

Aesthetics, Kit Content And Options

df goblin kit car line-up in various configuration
Via: DF Kit Car

The Goblin Kit Car doesn't actually have a lot of aesthetic bits as it is clearly made for track attacks. So, unnecessary components that can add up on its curb weight has been strictly avoided. Most of the common components used in all of the builds comprise a precision-built chassis, double-wishbone suspension setup, race-spec seats and a custom-built intake and exhaust manifold to get that engine to breathe freely.

goblin kit cars side view
Via:

The exterior body panels can be specced either in fiberglass or aluminum according to the build. The road-going Goblin gets various options on the lighting front to help in providing for a more illuminating experience. The Track spec ones, however, get little on the lighting front, but more options with the spoiler, racing seats and 5-pointer harness systems. DF Kit also offers a jacked-up suspension layout and knobby tires to help you build an off-road-ready Goblin. All of the kit contents and options in the Goblin Kit Car have been summarised below.

  • DOM Mild Steel Space-frame tube Chassis (available in both standard and extended lengths)
  • DOM press formed control arms with coilovers and CNC machined aluminum uprights
  • 3-Core Aluminium radiator comprises the cooling system
  • 11-inch front rotors from the Chevy Cobalt Sport along with the calipers
  • Steel brake lines for improved braking in all driving conditions
  • All of the fasteners and hardware comes included
  • 6061 Aluminium floor, firewall and front bulkhead
  • 9-gallon fuel tank
  • Custom-built exhaust system with a chambered muffler for a distinctive grunt
  • Aluminum cold air intake system with MAF plate, air cleaner and silicone elbow for extreme endurance
goblin kit car rear engine compartment view
Via: Dfkitcar

These are the components that come in as standard with the Goblin kit and can also be procured and built at your own garage with any choice of powertrain. Currently, DF Kit Car offers two main kits for the Goblin- Original and the All-Terrain and there has also been an instance of speccing it as a project platform to innovate and try new powertrain setups, like the one pictured above that shows a fully electric powertrain of a Df Golbin Kit Car. The additional costs that come in apart from the standard kit include:

  • Extended frame ($850)
  • Track cage ($400)
  • Minimal bodywork ($1,250)
  • Full bodywork ($2,250)
  • Full lights and mirrors ($430)
  • Race seat package ($1,025)
  • New wheels and tires ($1,200)
  • Single-stage/ Two-stage powder coat ($750/ $1,000)
  • Powder coating of select parts (From $525)
  • Body Wrap ($300- $1,000)

Sources: Dfkitcar, Wikipedia, Drivetribe, Caranddriver, Altdriver, Wikimedia commons

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