[DanEC]

I just finished my ERA build and there is a long, long thread on the ERA board documenting it from the start. If building another I would definately pick ERA. It's extremely well designed and engineered. As far as the build, it depends what level of assembly you start frome. If you don't have ERA paint it then that will definately complicate your build and lengthen it out - depending if you do that sort of thing yourself or have someone locally do it for you. Even in their most elementary form, an ERA will arrive in a semi-assembled form with most of the major pieces factory fit and installed before being shipped. If not ordered as a roller it will arrive on dollies with a bunch of boxes for the misc parts. I ordered my rear end from them and they installed it with old wheels/tires and casters on the front - a semi-roller. But, I think you can arrange to have a rear end shipped uininstalled if a roller is strictly a no-no in Norway. They do not like to ship a car with the heavy rear suspension installed and riding on casters in the rear.

From your post it sounds like you would not have any problem at all with the technical part of the assembly. Most everything is so well pre-fit and engineered that classifying these things as a kit car is misleading. I would recommend having them powder coat the frame at least. It's kind of a toss-up as to if you want to have ERA bond and rivet the body for you. In their current form it's not really difficult or real time consuming to do yourself. If pulling the body completely off of the frame to paint the underside is in your plans then ordering an unpainted frame may be appealing.

Most of my time in building was eaten up by doing my own body and paint and then a lot of additional, optional work that was not really necessary in most eyes - vibration matting, insulation, variations to more closely mimic a street version. If you keep it straightforward and simple you can easily have one on the road within 12 months of painting working weekends and a few evenings.

I know several of the guys here have involved their kids in their build and assembly but I don't know to what extent. I guess it depends on their age and interest in the car.