9 Kit Cars You Can Build Without Going Broke

Kit cars have always been the budget-friendly way to enjoy unique styling, hands-on building, and serious driving fun without supercar prices. From classic replicas to lightweight performance builds, there are dozens of affordable options that let enthusiasts create something truly personal. These 25 kit cars prove you don’t need a massive budget to own something exciting, distinctive, and surprisingly capable.

Factory Five 818

dude, the 818… I don’t know man, it’s like a Subaru WRX that had a midlife crisis and decided to get abs. it’s all lightweight and raw and noisy in a good way. I sat in one once, it felt like the dashboard was made of determination and zip ties. if you’ve got, like, twenty grand, maybe thirty if you mess up a lot, you could make one that outruns way pricier stuff. the seats smelled new but also cheap, like those old gym mats. but I kinda liked that.

DF Goblin

ok this one’s wild. you basically take a Chevy Cobalt SS, strip it down, and rebuild it into this little angry go-kart monster. I swear it looks like something a bored engineer would throw together at 3am. it’s loud, it’s ridiculous, it’s like being inside a blender with wheels. maybe $10-15k if you’re smart with parts? but then again, who wants to be practical when your car makes squirrels scatter?

MEV Exocet

um yeah, this one’s nuts. Miata bones, right? but like the Miata after a breakup and a gym membership. no body, no nonsense, just skeleton and screaming engine. I remember watching one at an autocross and thinking “that looks illegal.” it’s around ten grand, give or take. smells like burnt clutch and someone’s bad choices. but in a romantic way.

Factory Five Cobra Replica

ok listen, everyone and their uncle builds a Cobra kit at some point. it’s tradition. big V8, shiny curves, and more noise than sense. but every time one rumbles by it’s like instant goosebumps. the irony is these replicas often drive better than some real ones. $35-45k maybe? if you do it right. but don’t cheap out, otherwise it feels like you’re sitting in a tin can full of thunder and regret.

Porsche 356 Speedster Replica (Beck or Vintage Speedsters)

ah the fake Porsche for people who want to look cooler than they actually are (me, basically). the way these look, man, it’s pure nostalgia bottled up. fiberglass dreams. smells like sunscreen and leather if you get one built well. could be twenty-five grand, could be sixty depending on who’s robbing you. I’d take one just to park it and stare at it forever honestly.

Caterham Seven

ok ok, so technically not always a kit but yeah you can still build one yourself. this thing’s like running barefoot at full speed while on fire. super light, no frills, just adrenaline and windburn. $40k maybe if you’re lucky or patient or both. the steering feels alive, angry even, but in that “please don’t spin out” kind of way. I respect it, even though I’d probably stall it instantly.

Factory Five GTM

man the GTM feels like someone tried building a supercar in their garage and accidentally succeeded. it’s wild. mid-engine, exotic vibe, way more power than sense. it looks like it should be parked next to a McLaren but nope, just some dude who spent sixty or seventy grand and a couple of frustrated weekends. panels never fit perfectly but who cares, it’s yours.

Lister Bell STR (Lancia Stratos replica)

this one’s pure childhood fantasy. the original Stratos was chaos on four wheels, and this one, even as a replica, keeps that energy. loud, twitchy, stubborn as hell. and it smells like old suede if you’re lucky. about $50k if you import it right. honestly I’d sell a kidney just to look at one. I mean… that rally DNA hits something deep.

Ultima RS

bro this one’s unreal. like an alien car that accidentally got classified as road legal. you can build one that humiliates million-dollar cars, seriously. 1000 horsepower if you go wild. but it’s terrifying, like riding a thunderstorm made of carbon fiber. costs maybe $100k to $130k all in, depending how insane you go. worth it though. maybe. if you survive.