Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
Build your own sports car?...sure can!, 15 Jul 2000
By A Customer
And you won't have to do it alone. This is not just a 'how to' book,...This is a phenomenon! Like the orginal Lotus 'Seven' by Colin Chapman, on which it's based, interest in Ron Champions Locost 'Seven' has vastly exceeded it's creator's expectations and attracted a world-wide following of builders, planners, drivers and dreamers. So what does the book tell us? Everything we need to know to build a very desirable ('very', in this context, is my understatement for the month) road-registered sports/racing car in the UK. Since the first edition of BYOSC, clubs, race teams, 'E'groups and individual websites have formed, all sharing experiences, helping source parts, find answers to builders' questions, and, for builders elsewhere, advise on variations or plan modifications required to comply with design regulations wherever you decide you've gotta have one. This co-operative system is well supported by the second edition book, which list's organisations, books, and specialists who can provide project support. It has been particularly helpful where different market conditions, environmental or legal requirements make sourcing of donor vehicles and parts as specified in 'the book' somewhat difficult. For instance, as a frustrated Aussie builder, I was referred to "E-groups-Locost" where fellow enthusiasts told me how to re-spec'with GM Holden and Toyota bits,so I'm now powering my first chassis with a Toyota 4A-GE 1600,DOHC,16valve,fuel injected 'V8killer'. (wait till the $40000+ Lotus/Caterham bunch see this one! ) Probably the most glaring omission from this book is a warning of the addictive effect of reading it! Go on, just read it,...your build-project will add to the statistics that will help me justify my project to 'herself' when she realises that the steel tubing delivered last month is not going to be the new pergola she wanted.
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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
Enthusiasm 5/5, Technical content 2/5, 29 Jun 2004
Prospective builders! I'm going against the flow with my review. Overall I rate the book a barely deserved 3 out of 5. The book is a good introduction to building and man is it enthusiastic! But the multiple inconsistencies in dimensions, missing information and large gaps are distressing. I'm an engineer from a trade background with a few clues on cars, I found it impossible to get a good picture of the project due to the lack of proper engineering drawings. Amongst the big omissions was the lack of front suspension geometry, explanations or even one single good or complete example. It is possible if you are a bit gung-ho and just rip into building one of these cars, that you'll get it really wrong and end up with a vehicle that handles like a dog. Also beware; some of the vehicle certifiers in New Zealand have indicated that some of Champions ideas/plans don't meet good engineering practice. Don't get me wrong, there is good stuff in there but there but it not complete and you'll have to be prepared to do a fair bit of background work if you want to make a reasonable job of it. I shall be building a modified vehicle with assistance from a number of different books and sources.
I rate the book 2/5 on technical grounds and 5/5 on enthusiasm and providing a path for those new to building cars.
Overall rating: only just 3/5
Good luck and happy building. MH, New Zealand.
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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
Easy to read and understand., 21 May 2002
Bought this book second hand through Amazon Alphacraze, book was delivered brand new and quickly read cover to cover. Written in clear and concise format with no waffle, closer inspection revealed slight discrepences on measurments and angles when constructing the space frame chassis but if steel is marked and cut as needed not as a job lot, no problem to overcome.Rest of the book is interestingly put together and in parts mildly amusing,many excelent photos to acompany the text where needed.Perhaps a follow up discussing variations on a theme would be as popular, afterall we are now competeing with people who wish to restore Escorts rather than give them a new lease of life.The book was well worth the money.
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