Did Not Z This Coming: 1985 Nissan Spartan Kit

In 1985 you could have gone to your local Nissan dealer and picked up a V6 powered Nissan 300ZX for something in the range of $20k out the door...or you could have found a guy named Ron Sparks in San Marcos, CA who could take that Z and turn it into something that your neighbor won't have.  It was called the Spartan and cost more than $60,000 when new...but it looked like a million bucks and drove like a modern sports car.  So I guess you could have your cake and eat it too...if you were loaded...and into the retro-styled things that looked like an Excalibur, Zimmer, Tiffany, etc. Find this 1985 Nissan Spartan Kit here on eBay offered for $19,500 buy-it-now or make offer located in Princeton, TX. Tip from Hugh.

Elite Enterprises: 1979 Laser 917

The VW Beetle based 917 Laser doesn't look much like a real Porsche 917 and it doesn't drive much like a real Porsche 917...but it offers an interesting combination of style and affordability that is difficult to match.  It will perplex your Tesla driving neighbors to no end and is probably explicitly banned in your HOA...but it'll be worth every minute of pain to drive around in this thing. Find this 1979 Laser 917 offered for $6000 in South Elgin, IL via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Frog Buggy: 1973 Volkswagen Manx

The Volkswagen type 1 based custom car comes in many forms -- from the most basic Meyers Manx, to the wild things like the Silva S160, but there is an entire catalog of interesting kit cars that can be picked up for cheap.   Like this 1973 Volkswagen Manx Buggy offered for $5700 in Inland Empire Los Angeles, CA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Repeat Offender: 1977 Bradley GT w/ Corvair Flat-6

Just in time for Star Wars day, this Bradley GT is back for sale from what is likely the same seller. The Bradley GT was a stylish kit car that used a Type 1 Beetle donor car, but somebody realized that the Corvair engine is far superior and updated this one to a Bradvair.  Find this 1977 Bradley GT w/ Corvair Flat-6 here on eBay offered for $2,800 buy-it-now or make-offer, located in Oconomowoc, WI with 8 days to go.

All American Nissan: 1985 Spartan II Neoclassic

To some people the "neoclassic" kit-car is a complete abomination, but to others it is an acceptable abomination that deserves a place in the world of strange & unique cars.  I'd put them somewhere between Meh and Methamphetamines, but this one is a doozie.  Find this 1985 Spartan II Neoclassic offered for $12,500 in Gilbert, AZ via craigslist. Tip from Rock On.

This Isn't A: 1967 Ford Mustang Fastback 3/4 Kit

I can't tell you exactly what this next thing started life as, but I can tell you that it it isn't a Mustang Fastback, in kit form or otherwise.  The ONLY thing it shares with the Mustang Fastback ('67, '72 or otherwise) is that it has 4-wheels and a fastback style rear glass window (but Ford didn't pull their window from a scrap pile out behind the nearest Home Depot.)  Find this not a 1967 Ford Mustang Fastback 3/4 Kit offered for $2,500 CAD ($1885 USD at time of publication) in Toronto, ON via kijiji.ca.  Tip from John.

Caterwagen: 2001 Volkswagen Dune Buggy

Building a Caterham (Lotus) kit car will set you back something in the range of 40-large even with today's excellent dollar-pound exchange ratio, and even a used off-brand kit will cost in excess of $10k.  However, if you are willing to live with something that is a bit more Volkswageny and less Lotusey...you can save even more money.  Find this 2001 or 1972 Volkswagen Dune Buggy offered for $5,995 in Tacoma, WA via Premium-motors.com.  Tip from JB1025

Beautiful Splinters:1958 Kellison J4

Jim Kellison, founder of Kellison Engineering, could be considered the Bob Dylan of kit cars. Taking a concept that was initially fringe and backyard and turning out countless bodies of work, Kellison made over 20 different models available in either shell or turn-key form. Find this 1958 Kellison J4 for sale in Centralia, WA for $5,500 via craigslist. Tip from BuickFan

Repli-can't: 1972 Fiat 124 Spyder Custom

Vintage Fiat roadsters are common enough that their appearance on the streets or in the classifieds rarely raises an eyebrow. If you want your Fiat 124 to stand out, you will have to go to drastic measures. Here is one way of doing just that.  Find this 1972 Fiat 124 Spyder custom for sale in Villa Ridge, MO for $5,000 via craigslist.

Ice Breaker: 1999 Bremen Sebring

To maintain structural rigidity and create a powerful visual impression, some car manufacturers have have gotten creative with passenger ingress and egress. The Delorean, Lamborghini Diablo, BMW Z1 and Toyota Sera are all cars known for their unconventional doors, but one of the more exotic designs can be found in the Sebring kit car. Find this 1999 Bremen Motorsports Sebring for sale in Fairfield, NY for $7,200 via craigslist.

Auction Watch: 1971 Fiberfab Aztec

Check out this 1971 Faberfab Aztec here on eBay bidding for $3,100 with auction ending today (Tuesday) at 7:25PM.

Aircooled Face-Off: 1958 Devin D vs 1976 Kelmark GT

Time for another classic car face-off, where you get to pick which car you'd drive if given the chance, but today (naturally) we've added a twist.  Not only are these two cars located in the same city, but they are being offered by the same seller, so your decision doesn't have to get made until after you give each a test drive.  The contenders: a 1958 Devin D for $10,000 vs this 1976 Kelmark GT for $7,000, both offered for sale in Evergreen, CO via craigslist.  Tip from Zach.

16k: Cheapskate: 1992 Maxton Rollerskate

The Maxton Rollerskate is a kit car along the lines of the Noble M12, in that it's classified officially as such (having the engine installed costs extra) but not colloquially. Really, neither belong in the same weight room as a VW-based kit with eastern bloc build quality, or another Gazelle Mercedes SSK or Frazer Nash knock-off. No, this is a genuine rotary-powered sports car hand-built in limited numbers. How limited? Fifty. The one you're looking at is one of eight long-wheelbase versions and the only such example running a fuel-injected engine with rear disc brakes and a limited-slip differential. Some sleuth work reveals an earlier attempt to sell in March 2013, again in February, and yet again via My Classic Garage. Each time, it gets a little closer to a reasonable deal. Find this 1992 Maxton Rollerskate in Media, PA for $15,800 via craigslist.

5k: VW Kit Based: 1974 Kelmark GT

 If you want a Volkswagen kit car that isn't a shameless ripoff of a timeless design, you've got a few good options to chose from.  The Siva Spyder is nice, the Fiberfab Aztec is always interesting, as is the Aquila Gullwing, and who doesn't love Genaro "Rino" Malzoni's Puma GTI but if you want a kit that looks like a Ferrari Dino, but isn't a total copy, the Kelmark GT is a good bet.  Find this 1974 Kelmark GT offered for $5,500 in Sidney, IA via craigslist.  Tip from Andy L -- who was nice enough to include a detailed analysis of the Kelmark, which we will include here:

 

5k: Cool Runnings: 1979 Volkswagen Type 1 Kit Car

The 1993 film Cool Runnings (directed by Jon Turteltaub, of National Treasure 1, 2, & 3 fame) was a story of Jamaica's first bobsled team who fought their way to the winter Olympics in Calgary.  The movie is one of the last productions featuring John Candy before he was sent to the great Skittle factory in the sky and one of his better roles.  Anyway, the subject of today's feature is this 1979 Volkswagen Kit Car currently bidding for $1,675 reserve-not-met with less than one day to go.  Tip from Andy L.

5k: Raw Speed: 2000ish Raw Striker Kit Car

The cost to build one of many available Lotus/Caterham Seven style kit cars can be prohibitive to the budget tinkerer, and finding one that is already assembled is typically the way to go.  The market is better in the British Isles where used examples in various shape are offered for pence on the original pound.  This next St Patrick's day special is an undisclosed model year Raw Striker kit car offered for €4,995 euros ($6,946 USD at time of printing) in Ireland via Irish Kit Car Club forums. 

5k: 1985 Midas Mini GT Gold

Fox body Mustangs were not available and VW beetles were too slow/horrible, so kit car makers in the United Kingdom chose to use the Mini (ubiqutous and speedy) as the basis for a number of kit cars, starting with the Mini Marcos and then continuing with the Midas Mini.  This 1985 (titled as a 1965 Mini) Midas Mini GT Gold is for sale in Riverhead, NY and is currently bidding on ebay for $4,650 with 2 days to go.