The 1970s were a glorious time for kit car manufacturers. Back then, and in fact going back to the ’50s, magazines like Mechanix Illustrated published many articles on how to build your own sports car. In those more mechanically inclined days, many weekend warriors decided to do just that. The end result of all of it was a number of kit car manufacturers coming out of the woodwork, and twice as many half-completed kit cars in suburban garages. This one beat the odds and appears to be a functioning vehicle. But what is it?
[ED: We now know what it is! Read on…]
It seems like 3/4ths of kit cars were either Bradley GTs or MG TD replicas, all VW powered, but I haven’t seen one of these before. Granted, many of these companies were not volume producers. My first thought was it was perhaps Pinto based, judging from the Ford truck wheel covers and Pinto/Maverick taillights. The door handles, however, appear to be GM. And that rear exhaust appears to be VW doesn’t it? (thanks Paul!) It has a really narrow track too. Just look at those fender flares, they’re a good six inches past the tires!
At any rate, I just don’t know what this thing is. So I’m turning it over to you, the CC Commentariat. Ever seen one of these? I’d love to identify it.
image: britishv8.org
UPDATE: Well, the CC Commentariat Corps is most impressive – and speedy! roger628 identified this car as an early ’70s Fiberfab Jamaican. With that bit of information, I ran across a very nice one featured (shown above, before restoration) on britishv8.org, detailing a restoration of one riding on an MGA chassis. Full details of that car are here. I must say, it looks quite nice with those MG wire wheels!
Gotta be a Ford somethingorother underneath. Aren’t those Maverick taillights?
Maverick or Pinto…taillights were the same for both of those models.
Early 70s Fiberfab Jamaican
Yes, but this is the “poor” one, based on a VW pan/engine, as that VW stinger exhaust on the back makes all-too obvious. They were also available as front-engine kits for MGA, TR 3-4, and Austin Healey chassis. And later on Fiberfab offered it with their own chassis, suitable for V8 engines.
Talk about a narrow track! Wow.
Are those 70s Ford truck hubcaps there?
As Ron White said as he poured his bottled water into his scotch and ice…
“Look, it’s a kit!”
The wire wheels don’t work for me, I don’t think they belong on any car past the early 60’s (cars that remained in production excepted, eg MGB)
Not a bad looking car, given a chassis that actually fit the body!
Well, according to the article on britishv8.org, this kit came out a bit earlier, in 1968.
Yep later than early 60’s!
Looks like the bastard offspring of a Maverick and a 240Z
THAT would be one bastard I’d like to have, especially if the 302/C-4 genes somehow mixed with the japanese reliability genes.
http://lainefamily.com/240Z_V8_Conversion.htm
Apparently it isn’t impossible to do.
V8 swapped Z cars are very popular. They mostly use Chevy power since it is generally cheaper to gain extra power if slightly heavier.
Yeah I posted a Ford based one on purpose since it fit Marc’s fantasy.
I think an aluminum 5.0 block, aluminum heads, & aluminum intake with headers instead of a cast iron exhaust manifold shouldn’t weigh that much more than the steel/iron Datsun 2.4L Six.
Maybe the Pontiac OHC six with double the horsepower and no more weight?
I still want to see someone swap a Chevy Atlas I6 into a formerly inlne 6 car!
@steve65
It’s worse than that..
It’s like a 71 Mustang, 70 Maverick (taillights and wheel arches) and a 70 “.5” Camaro had a dirty 3 way.
That was the thing to do in the 70s according to the movies I’ve seen with an accompanying boom chicka bow bow soundtrack. They probably did it in a Dodge SWB van with shag carpeting and a Gandalf the Wizard mural on the side.
I wish people would stop taking pictures of my car, and posting it on the internet.
Its not a kit car, no they aren’t ford tail lights, although I understand why people think that.
Its a OPEL 1971 gt with body modifications and the tail lights are actually off a 65 opel.
John; I got bad news for you: that is not, nor ever was an Opel GT. I’ll wager a considerable sum on that. It obviously is a Fiberfab. And that exhaust on the rear is obviously a VW stinger. And those are not 1965 Opel taillights either. They’re a bit similar to the ones from a ’65 Opel Rekord, bot those warp around the the side of the body.
Send us some more detailed pictures (at the Contact form), of the engine, and the interior, and I’ll send you a the winning bet.