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MadaboutKitcars

This is a read-only archive of the old Madabout Kitcars forum. New posts and replies are no longer possible, but every thread is still here to browse and read.

New Member From Usa

27 Jan 2014, 10:43am
Hey , I have been looking at your forum for a few weeks now and think its great , these little cars and you guys attitude towards them and the build ups etc.
I really think I need to get going on something here!

I live in Bethlehem , PA. East coast U.S.A. and British cars aren't exactly plentiful over here but there is a guy in the neighborhood who has a few old Triumphs , TR stuff mainly . I am going to go see him later this week and see what's about.
I am thinking Ribble but not sure which one yet , depending on what I can find.
Sorry guys but the Miglia proportions look wrong to me , the Ribble is my thing.
I have no idea about costs of shipping a shell over but that's something I can look at.
You guys at Ribble ever thought about a U.S. Distributor for your cars?
They would be more popular than twinkies here !
27 Jan 2014, 11:38am
Hi PJ,

Welcome to the forum. I believe that Spitfires were shipped to the US in reasonable numbers. A west coast example might even be rust-free (us Brits aren't sure what that means). So, if Spits are more plentiful, a Navigator might be the one for you.

Good luck. Building these little gems is a rewarding way to skin your knuckles.
27 Jan 2014, 12:53pm
Hi PJ,
We've had a couple of quotes for shipping the kits to USA (and Canada). as an indicator, a previous customer was quoted £680 including palletisation and delivery to Chicago Terminal last October.
27 Jan 2014, 12:56pm
Welcome aboard PJ, I'm sure you'll find an old Spitfire in a yard somewhere near your neck of the woods. You guys lapped them up until the Federal killjoys stepped in and said open top cars might dangerous so I guess everyone junked them and bought handguns with the cash...
27 Jan 2014, 3:20pm
Thanks for responses guys.
I think you are right Mr. Towed and Oxford , I do recollect seeing Spitfires around now you mention it.
I reckon that's the way to go. I do however think the longer car is better proportionally , your Silver Bullet is great.
can you guys tell me other than the chassis differences are the Herald and Spitfire basically the same , track width etc?
I'm asking because I reckon that we could stretch a Spitfire Chassis pretty easy here. I wouldn't have the registration issues you guys have with a modified car. The Pilot would be my preference. If we stretched it just in front of the engine block mounts we could end up with a car with the engine set back a little which would be kind of neat.
Andy , thank you for the price. Chicago is quite a bit further North West than I am and I am pretty close to Norfolk , VA a shipping port of some magnitude , so maybe a little cheaper ?
Either way , about a thousand bucks to get the kit here is pretty darn good.
27 Jan 2014, 4:07pm
Hi and welcome PJ. Just a thought but how would it be worth considering getting Ribble to put together a rolling chassis complete with donor for you to finish? Or would importing a car and registering it be a hassle?
Mac
27 Jan 2014, 6:49pm
That's an idea ron.
what would a long wheel base chassis with kit fitted cost me? I would need the steering and pedals and gas tank etc all fitted. i need correct papers for the car too.it possibly isn't any more expensive to ship a whole car back here , you can get a roll-roll service into Norfolk which means they don't crate the vehicle just drag it on !
27 Jan 2014, 8:34pm
I'll put the 'numbers' together tomorrow for you. Could you PM me your ema address so we can get the details on the business network. Whatever I come up with would, of course, be free from any commitment and subject to detail negotiation.
Cheers.
Andy
28 Jan 2014, 9:14pm
PJ GRABOWSKI wrote:
Hey , I have been looking at your forum for a few weeks now and think its great , these little cars and you guys attitude towards them and the build ups etc.
I really think I need to get going on something here!

I live in Bethlehem , PA. East coast U.S.A. and British cars aren't exactly plentiful over here but there is a guy in the neighborhood who has a few old Triumphs , TR stuff mainly . I am going to go see him later this week and see what's about.
I am thinking Ribble but not sure which one yet , depending on what I can find.
Sorry guys but the Miglia proportions look wrong to me , the Ribble is my thing.
I have no idea about costs of shipping a shell over but that's something I can look at.
You guys at Ribble ever thought about a U.S. Distributor for your cars?
They would be more popular than twinkies here !


Hi PJ

I am in Canada and go "across the border" to the east coast on a regular basis, eh. So, maybe we could share the shipping costs? Been on pogey a way back, so loonies are tight. I know some truckers too for transport.

How's the weather there, eh?

All the best
Douglas Doolittle
28 Jan 2014, 9:29pm
dougie.doo2 wrote:

Been on pogey a way back, so loonies are tight.


Erm, in English please...
28 Jan 2014, 9:32pm
Mister Towed wrote:
Erm, in English please...


Sorry Mister Towed. State benefit payments, so money/dollars are tight.
29 Jan 2014, 6:36am
dougie.doo2 wrote:
Sorry Mister Towed. State benefit payments, so money/dollars are tight.


Ooh, bad luck. Hope the quest for gainful employment brings you a satisfying, well paid job before too long.

If it's any consolation, our current Government's 'austerity' measures mean I work full time as Bobby (Police Constable) and have a significant income from my military pension plus my wife works in a psychiatric unit and the pay freezes we've had mean money's always tight for us too. :sick:

Building one of these cars provides a welcome distraction away from all that though. :eusa_dance: