The petrolhead behind National Kit Car Shows - Pete Slater Interview
When most enthusiasts are asks who organises the National Kit Car Shows at Malvern and Newark, most would say 'Grosvenor'. But in reality the majority of the work is down to one man, Pete Slater, who is a complete petrolhead! At the end of the first day of the 2023 Malvern Show we caught up with Pete, and he told us how much work it takes to set up the shows, and their plans for future.
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National Kit Car Show 2023 at Malvern
It is an exciting day! ... Stands are setting up and all is being prepared for Malvern and 7Spot Trevor is "on the Spot" with a preview.
Kit Car Profiles - Robin Hood 2B, SubK and Super Spec
Robin Hood Sports Cars History and Development.
Following the introduction of the SVA test, the Robin Hood 2B range was by far the most prolific of kits sold.
The sales Brochure states Robin Hood has “Clever and Original Innovation” and that’s been pretty much exactly how their business model worked.
They were always looking for ways to promote their product at a very competitive price point.
After Robin Hood discontinued their popular S7 range of monocoque kits, they then introduced the “bent tube” (aka "Tubey") framed chassis kits (the Robin Hood 2B).
The new kit with its exceptionally attractive price point was an instant hit and between the dates of August 21st and December 11th, 1999, exactly 205 kits were collected from the factory.
Trevor owns and built his 2B and he’ll show some of the creative ways that Robin Hood kept kit costs to a minimum, the related build budget, high-spec derivatives and some of the prototypes that never quite made it to production.
Sadly, Robin Hood Sports Cars are no more.
The assets and engineering rights were sold on to Great British Sports Cars in 2006 but the history, passion and fun times live on today in the hearts of passionate owners and the many Robin Hood Kit Car Groups throughout the UK.
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Troy's Shed! ... just a few cars in the shed
Troy is always in for a Shed Tour.
We are planning to roll out some quick updates in addition to our pre-scheduled YT releases so this is just a taste.
Little Cobra Pleasures
When you are building a sports car attention to little details makes all the difference.
There is no shortage of time spent on fabricating parts, testing fitment, tossing away failed ideas and then starting all over again.
Today Craig Harper tells us about one small step in this build and yet one giant step forward for Cobra kind.
Harper Sports Cars
https://raceweb.co.za/harper/
Dart Cars and the Onyx Firefly - How not to be a kit car manufacturer!
Ebay, rose tinted glasses and mis placed enthusiasm have combined to start many ventures, and it was this combination that brought Dart Cars into being. Join us for a unique Kit Car Chat as Trevor interviews Trevor about his short lived venture trying to bring the (Onyx) Firefly back to the market. Stories of racing against time to save the cars and chassis jigs form demolition, seeking out the lost body moulds, bringing it all back together to relaunch, and then finding some hard lessons. Also Trevor gives his advice for anyone else considering resurrecting a dormant kit car business.
If you have a story around kit cars you would like to tell please get in touch. But in the meantime, we would really appreciate a like and subscribe to the channel.
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Jaguar C-Type Replica court case. Karl Magnusson vs JLR. First Video Interview Pt2
Back in early 2021 the kit car and classic replica worlds by a ruling of the lower court in Sweden. Karl Magnusson had set out to build his own Jaguar C-Type replica but was stopped in his tracks by legal action from Jaguar Land Rover, who had initially given positive feedback on his work.
The original story and subsequent appeal to the high court was shared thousands of times on social media, but for the first time on video Karl sits down with 7Spot to tell the story in his own words.
For further reading below is a link the Philip Porters website, who was very supportive of Karl's efforts https://porterpress.co.uk/blogs/news/tagged/c-type
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Play it again: Spotted in South Africa ... Nash Motorsport
Matthew Nash knows a bit about motorsport.
He's raced, been a Formula Ford Racing Mechanic and he also builds some amazing cars!
This is a Replay of a 7Spot Facebook Livestream where Matthew shows us a very unique Formula Ford (amongst others) inspired 7.
Enjoy!
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Short Shorts at 7Spot
How's she going, eh?
Alive in Vancouver? Looking Good in Ireland? Nice in Mauritius? ... or just plain Great in Australia?
It's all Good at 7Spot!
MOT time with 7Spot Trevor
Happy Days!
with grateful thanks to Wiltown Garage
https://wiltowngarage.co.uk/
and https://www.facebook.com/WiltownGarage
Hammer Time ... with 7Spot Trevor
Has your Kit been hibernating? ... Needs a Little Pick-me-Ip?"
A Hammer is the tool of a Pikey", so I've been told, but Trevor has one and knows exactly what to do?
7s and more Kit Cars at Weston-Super-Mare Pageant of Transport
A few lovely Kit Cars at the Weston Super-Mare Pageant of Transport with Trevor.
Recently 7Spot Trevor paid a visit to the Weston-Super-Mare Pageant of Transport.
This eventtook place on the beach lawns next to the seafront in Weston-Super-Mare,Somerset, UK.
Traditionally it has been a show for classic cars but it also featured a wide variety of transport options including manufactured and home-built Kit Cars.
Come with us as we explore a brief video featuring some of these Kit Cars as Trevor offers salient points about these fabulous Kit Cars.
We'll see some 7s, some "classic-style roadsters and some kits that may be unknown to you.
JBA Falcon, a Gentry, a couple of Mokes, a Nova and more.
It was a beautiful day, with beautiful cars and a truly wonderful event.
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Kit Car Chat #1 with Chris Hollier - Kit Car Builder, Designer, Manufacturer, Magazine Editor
For a lot of kit car enthusiasts just completing one build would be considered a great life achievement.
But imagine if you got involved with 130 builds!
Then add to that designing and bringing to market your own kit car?
And for a finale becoming editor of Kit Car magazine?
Sound far-fetched?
Well, it isn’t, it’s the incredible story of Chris Hollier, who we managed to track down for a great web chat.
Being asked for machine gun mounts to be fitted is just one of his great stories.
From starting his working career in vehicle maintenance which moved quickly into classic cars, to have a light bulb moment at a 1980’s kit car show, to alcohol-triggered chassis design brainstorming sessions, to heading up the publishing of a magazine, to now revisiting some of his early builds and also seeing his version of where history could have taken the Cobra without Carroll Shelby’s involvement.
Join Trevor in this video for a great Kit Car Chat, and perhaps consider becoming one of our YouTube subscribers.
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Kit Car Chat with Chris Collier ... Sat April 8/23 (4pm UK)
Kit Car Builder, Designer, Manufacturer, Magazine Editor
For a lot of kit car enthusiasts just completing one build would be considered a great life achievement.
But imagine if you got involved with 130 builds!
Then add to that designing and bringing to market your own kit car?
And for a finale becoming editor of Kit Car magazine?
Sound far-fetched?
Well, it isn’t, it’s the incredible story of Chris Hollier, who we managed to track down for a great web chat.
Being asked for machine gun mounts to be fitted is just one of his great stories.
Hit the Subscribe Button, Click the Notification button and we'll send you a Show Time Reminder.
more here https://7spot.substack.com/p/kit-car-chat-1-with-chris-hollier?sd=pf
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GCS Hawke ... a Replica worth a happy double take
The Hawke was developed in the early 1990’s, by Gary Hutton and Colin Puttock, the founding partners of GCS Cars.
At that time there were very few open-top sports cars provided by the World’s manufacturers and they spotted a market opportunity for an affordable classically styled sports car based upon modern running gear and built relatively easily by do it yourselfers.
The Hawke is a 2 door open top sports kit car which bears a striking resemblance to the Morgan Plus 8 but, contrary to popular opinion, there are no common parts.
It had a substantial square box frame chassis and a glass-reinforced plastic body with two doors and a soft top.
It used the Ford Cortina and later the Sierra as the donor vehicles and could take a variety of engines from Ford and the Rover V8.
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First-ever Video Tour of the New Westfield and Chesil Speedster factory - Part 2
Join us for the second part of our exclusive video tour of the new Westfield - Chesil factory.
In this part General Manager Simeon Cattle talks us through the immediate plans and availability for the Westfield and Chesil ranges, and includes a look round their new build area. It all makes for a very interesting watch.
As we know, Westfield and Chesil are both iconic brands within the kit car world.
Westfield was born by producing replicas of first the Lotus XI, then the Caterham, nee Lotus 7.
The latter landed them in legal hot water, but from this blossomed the Westfield design in the late 1980s which is now a classic in its own right, and has a large and passionate following.
Chesil Speedster was one of a number of Porsche 356 replicas to appear on the market at the turn of the 1990s but has been the one that has been the most enduring.
In this part of our Factory Tour, we are going to be looking at some of the exciting cars that Westfield-Chesil is bringing to the market.
There’s the Westfield, which everyone knows so well, and there’s the Chesil; and we’ve got some really exciting news about both to share with you.
If you have not already done so, please hit the like and subscribe buttons.
It really helps us spread the 7Spot message and if you would like to have another look at Part 1 of this Factory Tour, please feel click this link:
https://youtu.be/BdYT1-Y2WIs
More here:
https://open.substack.com/pub/7spot/p/new-westfield-and-chesil-speedster-419?utm_source=direct&r=1gz1eh&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Find 7Spot here:
. 7Spot FB Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/1604902176413856
. 7Spot Youtube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnUjHfgt3_H-NiAg5RVThWA
. 7Spot Substack Newsletter https://7spot.substack.com/
. 7Spot webpage https://7spot.nationbuilder.com/
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New Westfield and Chesil Speedster factory - first ever video tour
Your questions answered – join us for the exclusive first video tour of the new Westfield Chesil factory, including an interview with Simeon Cattle who is heading up the new operation who tells us how it all came about, why they have been quiet up to now, and where the company goes from here. It all makes for a very interesting watch.
Westfield and Chesil are two iconic brands within the kit car world. Westfield was born producing replicas of first the Lotus XI, then the Caterham, nee Lotus, 7. The latter landed them in legal hot water, but from this blossomed the Westfield design in the late 1980s which is now a classic in its own right, and has a large and passionate following. Chesil Speedster was one of a number of Porsche 356 replicas to appear on the market at the turn of the 1990s but has been the one that has been the most enduring.
Sadly the company that owned both of these brands collapsed in the middle of 2022 and it was feared it could be the end of the road for them. The assets and brand rights were bought by a new company, Westfield Chesil Ltd, in autumn 2022, and hope returned to supporters of these brands. However since then the new company has kept a low profile, aside from the occasional update, so keyboards were lighting up with questions
If you found these videos interesting, please consider clicking that subscribe button. It helps the channel no end, and also means you will get notifications when we release more of the same.
0:00 Intro
1:03 Main Interview
8:56 Parts Interview
29:41 Final Thoughts on Part 1
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an exclusive Westfield-Chesil Factory tour
Hi, It's Trevor from 7Spot with fabulous news!
7Spot is proud to announce that we will be bringing you an exclusive 2-part factory tour of the Westfield / Chesil facility commencing with part 1. tomorrow (Sunday, March 19, 2023) … Stay Tuned! … Click Subscribe now to receive a notification and don’t forget to hit the Like Button and Share for even more exciting 7Spot videos.
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Big Smiles all around
Well, Well, Well What do we have here?
Cobra Time with Craig Harper ... breaking in the cam.
https://raceweb.co.za/harper/
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Now don't that make you feel a whole lot better?
Obsession:
7Spot-Jim:
“Hi Troy,
I’ve been chatting with a bloke in Queensland who is building a ZX14r-powered Clubby and thought I’d ask if you might have some interest in Hosting the Show Interview for 7Spot.
He said he might even be interested in doing a bit of a build series.
Let me know if this might be of interest.”
Troy:
“Hi mate,
Sorry for the silence.
I’ve been working my arse off.
So not much time for anything else. … I think I will pass on Hosting the Interview.
I have been doing some work on my Kestrel and I’ll send you some pics.
I'm putting fuel injection on it and some new lightweight brake callipers.
Will do a story once it's done.”
Read more here. ... Substack:
https://open.substack.com/pub/7spot/p/kestrel-upgrade-fuel-injection-and?r=1gz1eh&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
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Surf's up in Cornwall!
Do you like Beach Buggies? ... How About Cornwall?
Coming to 7Spot Live ... Soon!
Details: https://open.substack.com/pub/7spot/p/surfs-up-in-cornwall?r=1gz1eh&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
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TMC Costin Sportscars LIVE from both sides of the Atlantic
From Boston USA and Wexford Ireland 7Spot is honored to present Part 3 of our TMC Costin series, ... Live!
The TMC Costin is a rare machine, penned by the legendary designer Frank Costin and produced by the small Irish manufacturing firm, Thompson Manufacturing Company.
Few were created and now, not more than a handful still exist.
Magnificently engineered racing machines, ... so rare and coming soon to 7Spot.
Stay tuned ... This is going to be great!
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Track Monsters and Cobras … Live
Craig Harper is a busy guy!
When he's not at the track he's always busy:
... building a Track Monster
... or the perfect Cobra,
... it's all good and Coming Soon to 7Spot!
Loads of Fun from Harpers Sports Cars.
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Why Build a Toniq
with James Tolfree.
... The big question, ... Why did you decide to Build?
... and what was the experience like