Kitcars have never got a very good deal from TV. Okay, so you see the occasional one in a pop video or commercial - the current Nescafe ad shows Ian Wright running out of petrol in a Sebring Healey replica, for example. And the mainstream motoring programmes might rave about a Caterham or Westfield, and slag off anything else, but they still seem to see it all as a little light relief.
But there's been a big one around lately. From March 6 2000, the Discovery Channel showed 15 half-hour programmes about choosing, building and owning a kitcar. And they went out every night, except at the weekends, until March 24. The main theme of the A Car is Born series was the build-up of a Pilgrim Sumo Cobra replica, warts and all, with the whole film crew getting their fingers dirty.
Kit-Car magazine was in on the action, of course - editor Martin Foster was interviewed at the 1999 Exeter kitcar show and appeared in the first episode, and we have been privy to behind-the-scenes discussions and the pictures you see here, which are taken straight from the actual programme footage.
There were other kitcar-related items in the programme, and plenty of interviews with other owners, but the build-up was the main feature.
Fronting the programme, and actually building the car, is Mark Evans, better known for presenting TV animal programmes on the BBC. Mark has long been interested in cars and motorsport, and recently built an Escort rally car with a friend, but this was his first experience of kitcars. Like most newcomers, he was impressed by the inventiveness and standard of workmanship in the industry. Likewise, producer Keith Duddy had toyed with the idea of building a kitcar some years back (he looked at buggies, Duttons and the VW-based Nova back then), and was amazed how far the industry had come since those early days.
So why a Cobra replica? Keith admitted he had influenced the decision. He once worked on narrow boats near the home of AC Cars, in Thames Dutton, and was knocked out by a real Cobra he saw in a local pub car park. All these years later, he's still hankering after one, but even TV producers don't earn that sort of money. "The Pilgrim obviously isn't the genuine article," admitted Keith, "but it's more practical, goes faster and looks just as good."
Putting a kitcar build-up on TV had its problems: "We didn't want that Blue Peter 'Here's one I built earlier' effect, so we filmed maybe 100 hours of the actual build and condensed that into the 15 programmes. But the work you see being done on screen is real - when Mark drills a hole and puts a nut and bolt through it, that's what's on the actual car". Jobs were prepared and finished off off-camera, but it was interesting how the whole crew hecame involved. The director really got into it and seems to appear on camera almost as much as Mark!" That sense of camaraderie is reflected in real-life builds, as friends and family provide help and all-important encouragement when the spirit flags. The TV crew's budget for the build also reflects what happens in a lot of builds - they abandoned it!
'We started off with a budget of £10,000," explained Mark. "But when we decided we really didn't want a rebuilt Ford Pinto engine, and went instead for a brand new 5.7- litre Chevy, the careful budget planning went by the board." They still kept a careful record of expenditure, though (including some unlikely income in the form of loose change found in the donor car), and full details are given in the show.
Built in an average-sized garage, it all went very smoothly - well almost. "We were determined that the build should be genuine, and appear so on screen, so if we made a mistake, it's in the programme," said Keith. But they did finish the build on time: "The filming and production schedules gave us a real momentum," said Keith.
From what we've seen, the programmes paint a very positive and accurate picture of the kitcar industry and a typical build-up. "We never intended it to be a bolt-by-bolt account of the build - anyone interested will buy the build manual for that," said Keith. "But we have tried to show the satisfaction and enjoyment involved - Mark's enthusiasm you see on screen is entirely genuine. "We hope that the 15 episodes will take the viewer through the process, from idea to completed car and, hopefully, inspire them to have a go themselves."
If you missed the TV transmission you can now have a chance to own your own copies. Now, much of the original footage has been condensed down into 2-1 Hour videos which give a good idea of the car and the build. It is also an excellent aid when used in conjunction with the Sumo Build manual. The 2 videos are available, direct from us for £25 including post .
Order By email with a Credit Card, By Phone With a Credit card on 01273 493860
Or by SnailMail to Pilgrim Cars, Unit14 Mackley Ind Est, Small Dole Nr Henfield, Sussex. BN5 9XR UK.