brand new Excelsior kit on Ebay

[Hans Efde]

Do you want to know how an Excelsior looks in black? Then you have to complete the build of this kit:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... ink:top:en

[Hans Efde]

And another attempt to sell this project, starting bid lowered to 750GBP.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MIDAS-Excelsior-K ... 255a8ea696

The sad thing is that this car in theory is a good idea. A GRP bodyshell with four seats. I had hoped that my kids could fit in the back of my Gold Convertible (which was advertised as a 2+2), but it's impossible. For the family man there is not much choice in the kitcar market if you want a 4-seater. It's all 2 seater track day cars nowadays. So what's wrong then? It seems the styling of the Cortez and Excelsior apparently only attract elderly people. Or am I the only one to notice that? This must be one of the biggest mistakes by Richard Oakes. He made them practical, but forgot to make them sexy.

[johnnyfixit]

not sure what make it was but there was a four door kit car at Stoneleigh this year

[Hans Efde]

That's horrible. It's a Vindicator family, a stretched lotus 7 lookalike. In this case the Vindicator sprint.
The only more or less composed design 4-seater I know is the Quantum, or if you're into retro I recall a Royale car.
In one of the last CKC's I noticed the design of a new coupe. I forgot the name of the car, but it looked very professional. It is based on a design of a graduating student. Well, that's how the Bronze was born as well!

[manifold]

what about the domino's....arent they 4 seater?

[Geoff Butcher]

Better look around for a Ginetta G26

[Hans Efde]

Both the Ginetta and Pimlico won't scorch your eyes, i.e. not bad cars to look at and practical. But both are not produced anymore. Same goes for the Quantum coupe, Rickman, Spartan and a number of replica's. As the matter of fact I bought my first Midas Gold coupe from a man who had bought a Spartan to include the family on his tours. For any kitcar enthusiast wanting to build a four seater nowadays, there is not much choice. I just checked the list of manufacturers and can only find a Mini Moke replica, the Dakar, the Vindicator family, a buggy, the Beauford family and the Midas Cortez/Excelsior. Of which the Midas range is the most advanced in construction. But looks and aging mechanicals haven't helped. Too bad Alistair doesn't have a company like Westfield behind him. They stopped production of the Libra/Spyder range for a complete redesign. According Westfield they intend to restart production in a year and will offer a car that makes full use of the parts from Westfield to make the kits cheaper and easier to build. This should have happened with the Midas body shells years ago.

[Hans Efde]

Hey hey, someone bought it. It must be a bargain. I almost bought it, but just don't have the time and space. I thought a burgundy interior would really be pretty in a black convertible. Anyway hopefully we'll see this car in the flesh one day at a meeting.