The Best Kit Cars You Can Build in Your Garage

Kit cars are a great way to create your custom car without spending a fortune. They allow you to choose the design, engine, and features of your dream ride, and assemble it yourself with basic tools and skills. Whether you want a replica of a classic, a modern supercar, or something in between, there is a kit car for you. In this article, we will look at some of the best kit cars you can buy and build in your garage, based on their style, performance, and popularity.

What are Kit Cars?

Kit cars are vehicles that are sold as a set of parts that the buyer has to assemble themselves. Some kit cars require a donor car, which is an existing car that provides the engine, transmission, and other components. Other kit cars are complete kits that include everything except the drivetrain, which the buyer has to source separately.

Kit cars offer many benefits, such as:

Lower cost than buying a regular car
Higher performance and customization than buying a regular car
Satisfaction and pride in building your car
Unique and eye-catching appearance

How to Choose a Kit Car?

There are many factors to consider when choosing a kit car, such as:

Your budget and skill level
The availability and compatibility of the donor car or drivetrain
The style and design of the kit car
The performance and reliability of the kit car
The legal and safety requirements of the kit car

To help you narrow down your options, here are some of the best kit cars you can build in your garage.

Best Value Kit: MEV Exocet

If you are looking for a fun, affordable, and easy-to-build kit car, the MEV Exocet might be the one for you. This kit car is based on the Mazda MX-5 Miata, one of the most popular and reliable sports cars ever made. You can use any Miata from 1990 to 2005 as a donor car, and swap the body panels, suspension, and interior with the Exocet kit. The result is a lightweight, open-top, and agile roadster that looks like a cross between a dune buggy and a Formula 1 car.

The Exocet kit costs around $7,000, and you can find a used Miata for as low as $2,000, making this one of the cheapest kit cars you can build. The Exocet uses the Miata’s stock engine, but there’s a huge aftermarket for tuner parts, so Exocet owners can easily upgrade their car’s power output should they wish.

Some of the features of the Exocet kit are:

Tubular steel space frame chassis
Fiberglass body panels
Adjustable coilover suspension
Four-wheel disc brakes
Choice of a roll bar or full roll cage
Optional off-road kit

Best Off-Road Kit: DF Kit Car Goblin A/T

If you want a kit car that can handle any terrain, the DF Kit Car Goblin A/T is a great choice. This kit car is based on the Chevrolet Cobalt, a compact car that offers a range of engine options, from a 2.2-liter four-cylinder to a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. You can use any Cobalt from 2005 to 2010 as a donor car, and replace the body, chassis, and suspension with the Goblin A/T kit. The result is a rugged, lightweight, and powerful off-road machine that can tackle dirt, sand, snow, and rocks.

The Goblin A/T kit costs around $10,000, and you can find a used Cobalt for as low as $3,000, making this one of the most versatile kit cars you can build. The Goblin A/T can use any of the Cobalt’s engines, but the most popular choice is the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that produces 260 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque.

Some of the features of the Goblin A/T kit are:

Steel tube frame with integrated roll cage
Aluminum body panels
Long-travel suspension with adjustable shocks
15-inch wheels with off-road tires
LED headlights and taillights
Optional winch and skid plate

Best Overall Kit: Factory Five 818C

If you want a kit car that combines style, performance, and quality, the Factory Five 818C is a hard one to beat. This kit car is based on the Subaru Impreza, a sporty car that offers a 2.5-liter boxer engine, a symmetrical all-wheel-drive system, and a six-speed manual transmission. You can use any Impreza from 2002 to 2007 as a donor car, and swap the body, frame, and interior with the 818C kit. The result is a sleek, modern, and aerodynamic coupe that can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under 4 seconds, and reach a top speed of over 150 mph.

The 818C kit costs around $15,000, and you can find a used Impreza for as low as $5,000, making this one of the best kit cars you can build. The 818C uses the Impreza’s stock engine, but it can be easily modified to produce more power, as many Subaru enthusiasts do.

Some of the features of the 818C kit are:

Composite monocoque chassis
Fiberglass body with removable hardtop
Independent suspension with coil overs
Four-piston brake calipers with vented rotors
17-inch wheels with performance tires
Custom dashboard and gauges

Best Hot Rod Kit: Factory Five 33 Hot Rod

If you want a kit car that pays tribute to the golden age of American motoring, the Factory Five 33 Hot Rod is a perfect choice. This kit car is inspired by the 1933 Ford hot rods, which were modified for speed and style by enthusiasts in the 1950s and 1960s. You can use any engine from a Ford Mustang, a Chevrolet Corvette, or a Dodge Viper as a donor engine, and mount it on the 33 Hot Rod kit. The result is a stunning, classic, and powerful hot rod that can turn heads and burn rubber.

The 33 Hot Rod kit costs around $20,000, and you can find a used donor engine for as low as $10,000, making this one of the most attractive kit cars you can build. The 33 Hot Rod can use any engine you want, but the most popular choice is the 5.0-liter Coyote V8 from the Ford Mustang, which produces 435 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque.

Some of the features of the 33 Hot Rod kit are:

Steel ladder frame with integrated roll bar
Aluminum body with removable fenders and hood
Four-link rear suspension with coil overs
Rack and pinion steering
Choice of manual or automatic transmission
Choice of solid or independent rear axle

Best Replica Kit: Factory Five Mk4 289 USRRC Roadster

If you want a kit car that replicates one of the most iconic and legendary race cars of all time, the Factory Five Mk4 289 USRRC Roadster is a must-have. This kit car is a faithful reproduction of the Shelby Cobra 289, which won the United States Road Racing Championship in 1963 and 1964. You can use any engine from a Ford Mustang, a Ford Thunderbird, or a Ford Fairlane as a donor engine, and install it on the Mk4 289 USRRC Roadster kit. The result is a beautiful, authentic, and exhilarating roadster that can compete with any modern sports car.

The Mk4 289 USRRC Roadster kit costs around $25,000, and you can find a used donor engine for as low as $15,000, making this one of the most desirable kit cars you can build. The Mk4 289 USRRC Roadster can use any engine you want, but the most authentic choice is the 4.7-liter Windsor V8 from the Ford Mustang, which produces 271 horsepower and 312 pound-feet of torque.

Some of the features of the Mk4 289 USRRC Roadster kit are:

Tubular steel space frame with integrated roll bar
Hand-laid vinyl ester composite body
Independent suspension with Koni shocks
Wilwood brake calipers with vented rotors
15-inch Halibrand-style wheels with knock-off spinners
Leather seats and wood-rimmed steering wheel

Other Kit Cars to Consider

The kit cars we have mentioned above are some of the best ones you can build in your garage, but they are not the only ones. Many other kit cars offer different styles, performances, and features, depending on your preferences and needs. Here are some other kit cars that you might want to consider:

Ultima Sports EVO Coupe: A supercar-inspired kit car that can use any Chevrolet LS or LT engine, and can reach speeds of over 200 mph.
Riot Classic: A retro-styled kit car that can use any Ford Zetec or Duratec engine, and can be built in less than 100 hours.
Caterham Seven: A legendary kit car that is based on the Lotus Seven, and can use various engines from Ford, Suzuki, or BMW.
SLC Superlite: A Le Mans-style kit car that can use any engine from a Chevrolet LS or LT series, and can achieve a power-to-weight ratio of 5 pounds per horsepower.
Riot Classic: A retro-styled kit car that can use any Ford Zetec or Duratec engine, and can be built in less than 100 hours.
Caterham Seven: A legendary kit car that is based on the Lotus Seven, and can use various engines from Ford, Suzuki, or BMW.

Conclusion

Kit cars are a great way to express your creativity, passion, and personality through your custom car. They offer a range of benefits, such as lower cost, higher performance, and more customization than buying a regular car. Whether you want a simple, fun, or exotic kit car, there is a kit car for you. We hope this article has given you some inspiration and information on some of the best kit cars you can build in your garage. Happy building!

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