Hello and good day, people!! I just joined this forum today. I have never built or even owned a "kit car" before and don't have the skills/knowledge to build one myself - but it is something that I am considering in the future. I love the "AC Cobra" style roadster - and truly crave the old days of real road feel when driving (no power steering, dry clutch, no traction control, no ABS, etc.) that you cannot get in any modern car sold by a traditional dealership.
So many questions that I don't know where to begin. Insurance? Titling? Registration? Emissions controls required? Maintenance? Warranties? How do you handle an unexpected rainstorm? Are there any decent shops who are trustworthy to be hired for building such a car? I could probably think of a thousand more questions - so I'm going to lurk in this forum a while to read what others have said.
Just going by what little I know about these cars, a "mild" Ford OHV V8 - around 350 bhp - hooked to a five-speed manual transmission would be far more than powerful enough to get into trouble with such a lightweight car. I have owned four Mustang GT coupes during my life + my wife and I have had two Corvette Stingray coupes. A Factory Five roadster is certainly a different animal altogether.
Thanks for approving my membership on this forum!