Thread: Does this qualify as a Hot Rod?

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quote = Spent a beautiful Sunday in Knightsen, at the NCKCC Kit Car Show.

Haven't hear of this club before, NCKCC. Are they regional/local to you?

That's the Northern California Kit Car Club, right Wes? There're a lot of regional clubs out there, all tied to Kit Car Builder - Kit Car Builder magazine I ran across this stuff when I was looking at doing a Cobra "kit" build.

Northern California Kit Car Club is correct. They've been doing an annual kit car show for over 30 years. I started going in the late '90s when it was held at the Marina in San Leandro. "Bash by the Bay" it was called and there were close to 200 cars (my guess) every year. But participation has fallen way off in the last five years and the show was moved inland to Concord two years ago. This year the show was originally scheduled for Benicia, but complications with the venue forced the NCKCC to merge it with the Knightsen Classic Car Show. Only 25 kits were in attendance.

According to the club members I spoke to, adding a 'kit car corral' to existing car events is most likely the future of this annual show. Participation is just too low to warrant the effort it takes to produce the annual show.

For me the term "kit car" has a negative connotation. Having a fiberglass bodied hot rod I get the "Is it a Kit Car?" all the time. I generally say that the State uses the term "Kit Car" for anything that's not factory, but the term "Kit" infers that you get a bunch of boxes with everything you need but time and talent to build a car, and that's far from being accurate for most anything out there. Maybe the Factory Five cars come close, but most others need some heavy input of builder's ingenuity and perseverance to get it done.

On the color ideas, IMO your car would look fantastic in that Root Beer color with no stripes at all, just a deep shine of Root Beer or maybe Black Cherry in a solid color. I don't think it needs stripes in any form, but that's just my $0.02.

Originally Posted by rspears

For me the term "kit car" has a negative connotation. Having a fiberglass bodied hot rod I get the "Is it a Kit Car?" all the time. I generally say that the State uses the term "Kit Car" for anything that's not factory, but the term "Kit" infers that you get a bunch of boxes with everything you need but time and talent to build a car, and that's far from being accurate for most anything out there. Maybe the Factory Five cars come close, but most others need some heavy input of builder's ingenuity and perseverance to get it done..

I completely agree! The negative connotation included. When I'm asked "Is that a Kit Car"? I usually answer with the question what's a kit car? Most folks think that a "Kit Car" is big box of parts show up and you assemble them. I have to answer "then no, it is a replica but not a kit as there are many parts from many manufacturers"..

And I believe Factory Five and Street Beasts would fit that bill...

I don't connote any negativity to the designation 'kit car'. In fact, being in my teens in the '70s, building anything from a kit was my idea of fun. I couldn't wait to get my hands on my dads 'Popular Mechanics' mags to see what new kits were being offered in the back pages of adverts. Build your own hovercraft, radio, computer, etc... a whole car just seemed to be the ultimate kit.

I haven't had a single person ask if it's a kit. Usually, some one is yelling from their car window, "What kind of car is that"? When I say it's a Velo Rossa I get a lot of blank quizzical stares, Then I add, "It's a kit". Which evokes a lot of nods... as if they now understand completely. Cracks me up every time.

I have been asked many times if my car is a kit car, I always answer "No, it's my car".

People that don't know will never get it. There is seldom enough reasoning to change a mind that already thinks it is correct.

I also get the same thing, just tell them yes it's a AMT kit just add water and it grows... got to be one in every crowd..

And here I thought A Kit Car was a firebird used on Knight Rider driven by David Hasselhof!

Originally Posted by stovens

And here I thought A Kit Car was a firebird used on Knight Rider driven by David Hasselhof!

There's a kit for that!!!

Rob Louisell - Knight Rider Parts for K.I.T.T. Replicas

Originally Posted by Fauxre

There's a kit for that!!!

Rob Louisell - Knight Rider Parts for K.I.T.T. Replicas

note - Hasslehof hair, chest fur and abs not included.....

oh wait, the chest fur & abs didn't debut until Bay Watch but they were totally upstaged by Pamela Anderson's boobs!!

Originally Posted by randyr

....but they were totally upstaged by Pamela Anderson's boobs!!

There's a kit for that (those)!!!

Originally Posted by rspears

There's a kit for that (those)!!!

Sold in pairs only! Lol

Wes you weren't kidding! That's fantastic! I don't know why anyone would spend 60 grand to buy a complete one, but I've got to admit the inside is very cool, just couldn't imaging trying to steer a car with a steering wheel yoke(at least not for a fast hard turn! Still it would be fun to drive it at night and get pulled over by the police. Could just imagine what they would think looking inside..."This guy must be nuts!"

Yeah, I have no idea why anyone would want one either. I put the Batmobile replicas in the same category. You'd have to be a huge fan to want one.

batmobiles.jpg