[edwardb]

Been lurking here awhile, but this is my first post. I'm pretty active on couple other forums. I went through this same debate about three years ago, and just would echo several of the comments already made because they were important when I was deciding.

1. Try to see as many as you can in person. Talk to the owner/builders if possible. Picture are nice, but nothing like seeing in person. Of course rides are good too. Not very likely anyone is going to let you drive theirs though.

2. Decide about the intended use. Makes a huge difference whether you want a street cruiser, track car, auto-x, etc. Also makes a difference how authentic you want it to be, as mentioned.

3. Separate the list between factory build "kits" (e.g. rollers) and kits that are from the ground up (e.g. Factory Five and others). Big difference in effort. Some want to build the whole thing (I loved it) but others don't want anything to do with it, or maybe shouldn't try.

4. Finally, especially for a full kit car, don't buy without seeing in person. Again, pictures just don't work. I've seen some amazing builds that would rival any factory built car, if not better due to the craftsmanship and attention to detail. I've seen others (many I'm afraid) that are pretty rough and amateur. You really need to see in person to separate.

With these answers, you'll be able to narrow down the list and make the best choice. I built a Factory Five and love the result. But that's not the right choice for many.