When "Kit Cars" become "Real Cars"

[Charlie]

Wayne,
Actually, the rodders get some of the same abuse, and the same questions, but maybe not to the extent we do. I hang out with rodders a lot and some of them have some snobbery against the fiberglass "kit" street rods too. One of the guys I know drives a 33 Chevy steel body rod with a front plate that says "not a kit". That pretty much defines how he feels about it. This statement is directed at the fiberglass rodders, but I fall into the category too. It doesn't bother me, because no matter how these guys feel about the fiberglass, they can't deny that my car looks good, with more attention to detail than many of their cars.

I just put these comments on the same level as the old Chevy vs. Ford vs. Dodge debate. There is no one right answer. They all had their pros and cons, just like the kit vs. real debate.

The most vocally abusive people are probably driving PT cruisers or rusty old Chevys, or something like that.
Charlie

[Wayne Maybury]

Good point Charlie, the know-it-alls are probably driving a $500 piece of junk.

Wayne

[BB427]

I notice that I get asked the kit question alot more often when car is sitting with the hood closed. When the thump of the exhaust trys to cave their chest in or they can see the beast under the hood they usually don't ask.

The Fiero based kits with skinny tires and a 4-wheel drive stance have forever hurt the kit car.

[Randy Resetar]

After watching a couple of auto shows this weekend I have decided to call my cobra a "CLONE".

I see people building Cuda clones and 65 shelby GT350 clones and not get hassled.

[cobrashoch]

Randy- "Clone" does have a nice ring to it.
cobrashock

[Dino]

Originally posted by BB427


...When the thump of the exhaust trys to cave their chest in or they can see the beast under the hood they usually don't ask. ...

I checked out a few Cobras at Volo this month, and the owners there were happy to discuss the build. It was good to see easy going owners without an attitude or urge to 'talk up' their car.

The best part was watching the crowd absolutely freeze when they fired up one of the cobras with the big thumpin exhaust. It was like time stood still for 30 seconds.

As for most people not knowing what a Cobra is, you are wrong. Most respond with 'Mustang??'. Go figure....

[Edley Rondinone]

I call mine a "REPLICA" 'cos, to me, "KIT CAR" has that negative connotation a la Bradley GT on a VW floorpan. Wayne, you do have a point in its the TONE of voice on how "KIT" is used!