What Resources Does Madabout Kitcars Offer for Kit Car Research?

Madabout Kitcars is a UK-focused kit car directory that combines vehicle listings, photo galleries, manufacturer information, IVA guidance, and an active forum. It is most useful if you are researching a specific kit car model, comparing segments, or looking for build and registration guidance before buying or starting a project. The site is English-language and organised around car segments rather than a single manufacturer.

Vehicle Listings and Picture Galleries

The directory is built around browsable car entries. According to the site's own statistics, it currently holds:

Each car entry typically includes a photo gallery and basic specification. The "Spotlight" feature highlights one model at a time — for example, the Striker by RAW Engineering, listed with type (Seven Style), donor (various Ford components), chassis (space frame), body (GRP and aluminium), and engine options (Ford Crossflow, Pinto, Zetec, Rover V8, Toyota 4AGE, bike engines).

Manufacturer and Model Information

Cars are grouped into segments, which makes it easier to narrow a search by build style rather than by brand name. The current segment breakdown is:

• 3 Wheeler (12)
• Cobra (15)
• Fun/Utility (22)
• Original (102)
• Replica (95)
• Road/Race (35)
• Seven Style (37)
• Vintage (51)

Within a segment you can see individual models — for instance, the Seven Style segment lists cars such as the Super 7, Superlight R500, Rush, Formula 27, Cat E1, and R6. This structure suits research where you know the style of car you want but not yet the specific manufacturer.

IVA Guidance and Knowledgebase Articles

The site hosts 86 IVA guidance pages and 427 knowledgebase articles. These are aimed at the UK registration and inspection process for kit cars, plus general build topics. If your research involves getting a car road-legal, this section is the part to check first, since IVA requirements are a common sticking point for first-time builders.

Forum Discussions, Build Blogs, and Owner Feedback

The community side includes 105,000 forum posts and 292 owner feedbacks. Popular threads visible on the site include:

• "Peepsy's MX250" — 173 replies
• "Spitfires?" — 156 replies
• "My first build: Kobra" — 187 replies
• "TRIBUTE A352 Project" — 452 replies
• "Dual 7" Servo" — 693 replies

Build blogs and owner feedback are useful for seeing real-world problems, part choices, and timelines that a spec sheet won't show. The high reply counts on build threads suggest the forum is active enough to get answers on specific models.

Kit Cars for Sale Listings

The site also surfaces kit cars for sale, including eBay listings. Examples shown include a Haynes Roadster MX5 Turbo at £11,750, a Porsche 356 Replica Project at £16,500, a GTM Rossa 1.6 from 1993 at £2,450, a Locost 7 at £4,500, a Road Runner SR1 at £12,000, and a Sammio Spyder at £6,600. Prices and conditions are as listed at the time of viewing, so treat them as indicative rather than fixed.

How to Use It for Research

A practical sequence:

1. Pick the segment closest to what you want (e.g. Seven Style or Cobra).
2. Open individual car entries to compare chassis, body, and engine options.
3. Check the manufacturer count and model pages to see which builders are still represented.
4. Read the IVA guidance pages if registration is part of your plan.
5. Search the forum for build threads on your shortlisted model before committing.

The main limitation is that listings and forum content reflect what owners and sellers have submitted, so coverage varies by model — popular segments like Original, Replica, and Vintage have far more entries than 3 Wheeler or Cobra.