Now is the time to build your own supercar – which one would you … – The Telegraph

Napoleon once described Britain as a nation of shopkeepers, but the midnight oil is now burning brightest in our garage workshops. 

Locked up for weeks on end during the pandemic, a growing band of “garagistas” rediscovered their DIY skills and made busy with the toolbox. Despite “garagistas” being intended as a derogatory term for privateer Formula 1 teams, primarily British ones (and attributed to none other than Enzo Ferrari), constructors such as Colin Chapman at Lotus and Frank Williams’s eponymous team traded pedigree for race wins. 

But perhaps Mr Ferrari had a point. The British kit-car industry, which supplied a chassis and bodywork to which you’d attach the engine, gearbox and suspension of a donor car, dates back to the 1950s or, arguably, earlier, when nonexistent rustproofing led to a plentiful supply of unwanted running gear.

Budget favourites, including the Austin Seven, Austin-Healey Sprite and Ford Prefect, provided the platform for a plethora of home-build companies, such as Lotus, Ashley and Microplas. Cars such as the VW Beetle-based Nova, Lotus Seven-style Dutton Phaeton and endearing Midas created a kit-car boom in the 1970s. 

Many firms offered ready-built cars, but the attraction was the satisfaction of constructing your own, something a little (or a lot) different to the norm. Remarkably, 50 years on, more than 100 manufacturers are making kits for garage enthusiasts, from Aardvark Racing in Yorkshire to Kent-based Z Cars.   

With temperatures dipping, we decided to peer into garages the length and breadth of the land to assess some of the best build projects to keep idle hands warm during the coldest months. From a bamboo ­bi­cycle to an expanding caravan, a minimalist two-seater to a homemade hypercar, here’s our choice of builds for all budgets. 

Caterham Seven

Moustachioed genius Colin Chapman created the original Lotus Seven in 1957. The coffin-shaped two-seater was built around his mantra of ­“simplify, then add lightness”. When Caterham bought the rights to build and develop the car 16 years later, Chapman’s legacy was secured for future generations. 

The Dartford-based firm currently produces about 500 cars a year, 200 of which are sold to British enthusiasts, half of those in kit form. Caterham’s chief commercial officer, David ­Ridley, explained:

“There’s very little price difference between a kit and our fac­tory-built car, but that’s not the point. People want the experience of ­making their own car – the sense of achievement is palpable. It’s a ­once-in-a-lifetime, bucket-list moment for many enthusiasts. I wouldn’t say it’s easy, but we’ve refined the process so that it typically takes only 50 to 60 hours.” 

A kit Caterham starts at about £27,000, but there’s a tempting ­accessories list, too. 

“Owners bring their cars back to us for a detailed check before they go on the road. You’d be amazed at the level of ability shown. There are no common faults, it’s usually just a missed washer or a bolt that’s been misthreaded,” added Ridley. 

caterhamcars.com 

Bamboo Bicycle Club

In terms of tensile strength, bamboo is stronger than steel – impressive for a tree-like grass. London-based Bamboo Bicycle Club has been utilising the plant’s often overlooked qualities for 10 years, perfecting the technique of bicycle building with a difference. 

Its founder, James Marr, used his sustainable-engineering background to create frames cut from bamboo after commuting daily on an uncomfortable bike. “I wanted something that would absorb more of the vibrations, and bamboo’s inbuilt flexibility makes it the perfect material,” he explained. 

Bamboo bikes have been around for more than 120 years, but Marr set about perfecting the technique, turning it into a self-build philosophy that encourages learning by making. He’s visited schools and colleges around the country, using the club’s different bikes to get the message across. 

Prices start from £410 for a frame and £425 for a single-speed component pack, including wheels, chain set and handlebars. The company’s latest Gravel Bike can also be fitted out with a high-spec gear-change and braking system from Italian specialist Campagnolo that will have cycling connoisseurs salivating.

The club offers video guides to bike-builders as well as telephone support – and the result is a bicycle like no other. 

“You just have to factor in more time to reach a destination, because every other cyclist will want to know about your bike,” added Marr. 

bamboobicycleclub.org

Ultima RS

Renowned chassis engineer Lee Noble founded Noble Motorsport in 1983 with the Ultima Mk1. The car featured a spaceframe chassis, the V6 engine from a Renault 30 and various proprietary parts from Ford, Lancia and Austin. 

The marque’s first customer, Ted Marlow, fitted a Chevrolet V8 in his and later bought the company. The latest, road-legal Ultima RS weighs only 930kg and looks every inch a refugee from the Le Mans 24 Hours race, with serious power cred­entials. The Chev­rolet-sourced V8 engine develops 1,200bhp and the RS will scorch to 60mph in 2.3 seconds.  

Based in Leicestershire, Ultima Sports says the lead time for a self-build car is 18 months, with a four-year wait for a factory-produced example. Prices for the DIY kit start at £80,000. 

ultimasports.co.uk

Slidavan Telescopic Caravan

Robin Benjamin left Wimbledon 25 years ago to live in France. When he moved off his boat in St Tropez, he needed a home and decided to build his own caravan. 

“The result is Slidavan, a lightweight, two-berth caravan designed to fit on a trailer. It’s fully insulated, has plenty of headroom and is simple to build,” said Benjamin. 

The top half of the structure slides down over the lower and the whole thing weighs only 300kg, so it can be towed by a small car. “It’s not exactly aerodynamic, but it works,” added Benjamin. 

The roomy home on wheels costs about £3,000 to build. Benjamin sells the plans online to hobby­ists, and has a range of other foldaways, including a canoe, bicycle caravan and camper unit for a flatbed truck. He’s currently working on an Airstream-style mobile home, which  should be available in the spring. 

woodenwidget.com