Ok…I am looking for a new thing to do and I got interested in kit cars. Specifically, I was think about doing a Lamborghini Diablo Kit.
My questions are…
Has anyone seen a kit of a Diablo? Are they really apparent they are kit? Has anyone built one? Driven in one?
Yes I know they are hard to build. I have a lot of experience rebuilding old cars so no biggie there.
Just looking for comments and ideas here…
What sort of drivetrain and chassis are you using? Fiero?
–Tim
But extend the base out to Diablo specifications. Dunno about the motor yet, may go with a BMW.
Just wondering, whose kit?
Tangential comment here. I’d alwys wondered about this issue, what with all the faux cobras and '57 T-birds and the like running around, but had never seen anyone address the counterfeit question. Then, just a few days ago, I noticed a news story where Ferrari is suing a kit car maker for (I believe) trademark infringement.
Perhaps you should get your Lamborghini kit while you can.
Most kit cars look fake. Especially the more exotic ones that cannot be fully duplicated as to engine location and orientation. The Diablo might fit into that group. The Fiero’s track is too narrow for a successful fake. There is no way that I’d try to fit a BMW engine in that bay! It didn’t fit the engines offered with the Fiero. Then with the electronics and pollution stuff–this sounds like a Real Bad Idea.
I’d try something a little simpler, or finish somebody’s aborted project (although that’s a whole new set of worms!).
There is also the “It must be fake 'cuz he could never afford that car” factor. AKA the “cubic zirconium” factor. A fake Lambo won’t get you dates.
I lusted for a while over a Morgan with a runningboard and leather straps holding the hood shut like an old steamer trunk.
But I never had the confidence in my own mechanical skills to pursue it.
Diablo’s look fake. Period. Cobra’s are (or were) in the process of being licesened from Carrol Shelby for use in Kit Form.
And Yeah, I’ve lusted after the Caterham’s and Morgan’s. 
Morgan kit cars? Three-wheel or four?
Never mind–I don’t even have a garage, much less the skills. OTOH, there are those turnkey Porsche Super 90s for, well, about what a real one would cost (fellow tried to sell me his real one the other day). Never mind again.
Diablos DO look fakey. As bad as Coutachs. LATE Countachs! Lambos went downhill after the Miura.
Ignore my previous post; I left my brain in my other pair of pants. My point was supposed to be that the quality of a kit can vary drastically from manufacturer to manufacturer. My guess is that your choice of kit maker might come before your choice of model.
Saint Zero,
FWIW, Shelby kits
Scrap the Kit idea. What you need, my man, is a true British sport coupe. I’m thinking like TR-7 or so. They aren’t tough to work on (simplistic engineering) and parts are actually reasonably available and priced. Besides, there’s nothing like British sports car handling (and talk about Profile Quotient!!).
Incidentally, I know where you can get a full TR-7 in excellent body condition! (garage kept) It needs an engine rebuild (~$3,000) or, may I suggest, John’s Cars (out of Texas) makes one sweet conversion package for a 3.8L V-6 (out of a Chevy Monza or other such vehicle). I drove it regularly till the OHC dropped a valve into cyl #1 and it became, as suggested above, a project. That is, until I bought another TR-7 and have since devoted most time to it. Best of all, the price is quite reasonable (especially if you talk to Mrs. Spritle 
). All you need is a trailer and a map of Maryland…
Yep, if you like working on cars, a British one from the 60’s or 70’s is just the thing. You’ll be able to spend all the time you want working on it. DRIVING it would be another matter, though.
that’s why you have two Cabbibalism.
Actually, the other TR-7 has been spared the “parting out” phase of de-evolution. Seems I’ve collected gobs of spare parts…
K.I.T.T., the Knight Industries Two Thousand. An indestructable car with an intelligent computer for a brain, who, with the aid of Michael Knight, a Man Who Does Not Exist [TM], fights a never-ending battle against those master criminals who think themselves above the law.
Now THAT’S a kitt car!
Also, KITT once had a laser hooked up to his power grid so he could fight his evil twin, KATT (i think). You could tell the difference by the yellow scanner lights. That’s the equivalent of a crappy KITT.
Actually, KITT’s evil twin was named KARR, the Knight Automated Roving Robot. I can’t believe I remember that.
BTW, “Super Chicken” had a rather profound effect on me growing up. In just about every episode, Super Chicken would say “To the super coop, Fred!” and Fred would respond, “Roger Wilcox!”. … Take a look at my real-life name on my homepage (it’s in my profile data) for why this is significant.
First off…I know the wheelbase is narrow compared to Lambo…Lots of Kits work with this (extensions of the axle and overall shape of the car)…
If I do anything it will probably be a SE version…see here
http://www.rmcexotics.com/
and here are some original and kits to compare.
http://diabloinferno.hypermart.net/
Second…I said BMW off hand due to a guy I am currently talking too who says there is a BMW engine conversion. I have yet to see it but I am researching.
Third…The Ferrari litigation was due to one kit in particular that was a copy of a prototype.
As far as a kit in particular, I am not looking at one right now. I will be going for quality though
Fourth…I know it will be fake and am doing it for a hobby, not to try to fool anyone. I will never own a real one (nor you either) so why not try to make one as close to spec as possible. And as far as looking the part, I can. And no, it is not to get dates.
Fifth…I dont want a Shelby. I like them but I like Lambos too