Kit Cars have been around for decades now. While they definitely aren't for everyone, the value proposition for those willing to build a complete car in their garage is immense. Cutting down on the manufacturing costs, a kit car can offer some insane performance for the money, and almost as importantly, they can look spectacular.
A major use of kit cars (and one they take a lot of criticism for) is replicating legendary cars that are impossibly expensive, offering the experience of a multi-million dollar car for less than the price of a new Honda Civic. Plenty in the past have been rather ugly and inaccurate, but with manufacturing technology at an all-time high, perfect replicas exist that capture the full beauty of the original car.
Even then, plenty of gorgeous original designs exist in the kit car world that can make full-scale manufacturers jealous. So read on, to see 10 kit cars you can build at home that are downright stunning:
10 LB Specialist Cars STR
The Lancia Stratos is a dream car of dream cars. Known as the Rally Queen, less than 500 of these WRC dominating rally cars were made, and with plenty of rally fans desperate to own one, prices exceed half a million dollars for an original. If you're one of the enthusiasts desperate to own a Stratos, but only have $40,000 to spend, LB Specialist Cars has you covered with their STR kit car.
9 Superlite SL-C
Owning a unique race-ready supercar is a dream for many, but 6 figure prices make it one that is nearly unattainable for most. But, with enough mechanical skill, $43,000, and a donor engine and transmission of your choice, you can make that dream come true in your own garage with the Superlite SL-C kit, and have a completely unique supercar to show off at your next car meet.
8 Factory Five Racing Type 65
Among Carroll Shelby's masterpieces of race car engineering lies the Cobra Daytona. Only a few were ever made, and prices exceed a million dollars for an original when they come up for sale. For those who are madly in love with the Cobra Daytona, and have $22,000 plus a donor Mustang ready to tear apart, the Factory Five Racing Type 65 is the closest you can get to the real thing without winning the lottery.
7 Caterham Seven
While kit cars tend to be unjustly looked down on for replicating legendary race cars, Caterham has been selling their unique Seven since 1957 with great success. Co-designed by legendary designer Colin Chapman, the Caterham Seven offers proper track performance in a simple to assemble package, all for around $35,000 (depending on the spec you order).
6 Kougar Sports Roadster
Originally designed in 1976, the Kougar Sports Roadster uses old school Jaguar components to offer a proper vintage roadster experience that you can build at home. While their heyday came in the '70s, you can still buy an original kit for around $15,000, not including the Jaguar S-Type donor car. What you get in return is a truly stunning and unique sports car that looks and drives like a proper 1950s machine.
5 Furore Cars F1
Pretty much everyone who has laid eyes on a Formula 1 car has at one point dreamed of driving one. While the true power of an F1 car remains reserved for elite drivers, Furore Cars makes that dream as attainable as possible. Spend around $12,000 on a kit, buy a Kawasaki ZZR1400 motorcycle engine, and this beast can be yours. While a real F1 car will leave it in the dust, the Furore F1 can do a 0-60 run in 3.5 seconds, far faster than any sports car you can buy for that price, plus, you get to drive around in an insanely cool looking F1 replica.
4 Race Car Replicas 917
Recently, an original Porsche 917 sold at auction for $14 million. As one of the most legendary Porsche cars, and Le Mans racers, the 917 is a proper legend that is downright drool worthy. As their name suggests, Race Car Replicas makes kit car homages to legendary racers like the Porsche 917, and for $48,000 plus a donor engine and transmission, you can own the closest thing possible to the multi-million dollar legend.
3 Ultima GTR
If replicas of legendary race cars aren't your style, but you still want to build a proper track monster in your garage, Ultima has you covered. Powered by a Chevy small block V8, and weighing in at 2,200 lbs, the Ultima GTR does 0-60 MPH in 2.6 seconds, and comes in an easy to assemble kit. If you aren't too keen on building it yourself though, pre-assembled GTRs sell for around $60,000.
2 K1 Attack
If you want a kit car that's a unique design, but would rather have a road going sports car instead of a track beast, the K1 Attack has you covered. Based in the Czech Republic, K1 Engineering's Attack is an awesomely stylish sports car you can build at home, even better, a complete kit costs only $21,000 with a Honda K Series motor, or can be ordered with an electric drivetrain for $16,500, far less than a new Mazda Miata costs.
1 Factory Five Racing MK4 Roadster
You've probably heard it said before, but if you see a Shelby Cobra on the road, its almost guaranteed to be a kit car. Not that it's a bad thing, as originals are extremely rare and sell for millions of dollars. For $20,000 (without an engine) though, you can build your own Cobra at home with Factory Five's MK4 Roadster kit, and experience the glory of an American V8 powered little roadster for yourself.