CONTENTS                                                            September 2003      

REGULARS

HYNESIGHT                                                                                                                        

The editor reflects on the current battle between magazine publishers as well as the wide

spectrum of kit-form machinery now available to the home car builder.

NEWS                                                                                                                                    

Newshound Adam James has applied himself to chasing up a great many stories of the recent past and digging up much interesting information in the process.

YOUR SAY                                                                                                                        

This is your chance to air your views on the industry and the magazine. Whether you have

criticisms, congratulations or words of general interest, we like to hear from you.

CLUBS                                                                                                                            

Iain Ayre does his round up of the club world and picks out a couple of interesting cars to

put in the readers’ car Display Cabinet.

FEATURES

KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY                                                                                

The AK 427 keeps a low profile as a company yet its products have gradually acquired

an enviable reputation for manufacturing and dynamic quality as Robert Hawkins reports.

A FAMILY AFFAIR                                                                                                   

David Dunn is well known in Locost circles for his excellent Locost web-site and services

to club members and builders. Now he’s built a car too. Enter the Saba (Swahili for seven).

CALIFORNIA DREAMING                                                                                     

Off-road, VW Beetle powered racing buggies may now be a minority interest in the UK but in California, they’re still going strong – very strong! Iain Ayre gets sand in his shoes.

AN INDUSTRY REVIEW                                                                                         

To cater for the many new converts to the kit car industry, and to answer the constantly asked

questions,  much of the basic information and advice is worthy of repetition.

THE GROUNDWORK                                                                                              

You don’t need factory facilities to build a kit car but the better the facilities, the easier and more pleasant the job. Cars have been built in open back gardens but we wouldn’t recommend it.

THE HOMEWORK                                                                                                 

Before embarking on a kit car build project, you need to do a bit of hard, factual research. Not

Letting your heart rule your head will prevent you making a potentially expensive mistake.    

GIVING IT THE WORKS                                                                                      

When visiting manufacturers to sample demonstration cars, you need to keep your natural

excitment in check and don your practical hat to make the right choice.

THE OLDER GENERATION                                                                                

We thought it high time we devoted space to a few cars no longer produced. This month Iain

Ayre joins the Dutton owners’ club on their annual track-day at Llandow circuit.

DOUBLE YELLOWS                                                                                              

Sylva’s Mojo is starting to gather friends much aided by its entry into the 750 MC Championship

as well as by its natural ability. Ian Hyne samples both road and race versions of the car.

BUGGY BUILDING                                                                                               

If your offspring has graduated from helping dad to wanting a car of his own, there’s an increasing choice. About the cheapest would be a buggy as Derek Manders explains.

WORKSHOP

THE BIG EASY – Part 2                                                                                         

David Hill completes his guide to rebuilding the Ford Pinto OHC engine. It may be old hat and

low-tech but it’s cheap, available, easy to maintain and nicely amenable to tuning. 

CUTTING IT FINE                                                                                                  

Colin Mills couldn’t find anyone to cut his a set of tapering louvres so in the best traditions of

car building, he used his head and did it himself. The results are perfect.

WORKSHOP Q&A                                                                                                  

Modifying single-seaters for the road, mis-aligned VW steering, heat resistant exhaust mounting

bushes and sourcing a screen for an Eagle SS all occupy our resident know-all.

STOKES’ STUFF                                                                                                     

That vital donor dismantling tool, the impact driver, is the subject of this month’s multi-test while a wind-up torch, Swiss Army watch and a few other bits and pieces catch David’s eye.