Post by Stiggy on Mar 15, 2016 17:34:35 GMT
Exocet, the story so far...
The Exocet really has been an explosive success. The concept has been welcomed as the easiest and most affordable car to build in the world. The MX5 underpinnings being renowned for their bullet proof reliability and availability coupled with the reputation of great handling, short shift box and hugely tuneable engines, in fact one Exocet builder has a 460 bhp 1.6 engine in his!
So how did it all start?
Back in 2009, I was working on a design for a bike engine car and had decided to go shaft drive rather than chain. I needed a diff. Not many to choose from these days as most cars drive the front wheels. You know the ones, they go straight ahead regardless of steering input once torque is applied that grip cannot deliver! I considered that the market was lacking in true British sports car layouts, engine up front, drive to the rear wheels.
Later having arrived at a scrap yard in search of a diff I got a guy to tip an MX5 over with his crane for me to have a look. WOW, there it was, a nice diff, but more importantly I noticed front and rear uprights which looked perfect for my project, then I noticed the rack and those light wishbones, doubles all around, discs all around, coil over shocks, a nifty power plant frame (PPF) which connected the box to the diff, fairly simple electrics, twin cam 16 valve engine, short shift box, need I go on. It was a perfect donor for a traditional rear drive kit car. Perfect, but no one had used one before! I took the diff I needed and went away with the MX5 seed was firmly planted in my grey matter.
Next, project Exocet. First job was to register the trade mark, this helps ensure the public are not confused.
I researched availability and was delighted to see over 1000 MX5s on Ebay at any one time, cheaper in the latter part of the year and very cheap with rusty sills and rear arches, great, I didn’t need those bits.
The first donor we purchased cost next to nothing and I soon made a killing by selling off the parts I didn’t need, turns out these cars are worth far more in bits than complete.
The strip was easier than expected too, just 12 bolts to remove and a few hours later off comes the body revealing 2 sub frames connected by that clever PPF idea.
This was turning out better than I could have dreamed.
I started working on a chassis design, I decided on exoskeleton again but this time, front engine, rear drive, I wanted to ensure this thing handled better than the donor. The alternative, engine in the back is always going to create a more demanding car to drive but with me on board the prototype Exocet scored a perfect 50-50 weight distribution. The ideal format for fun and forgiveness.
Careful study of every single component on the donor revealed that I could develop this kit to be low in cost by design thus the inclusion of so much of the donor without compromise to final spec. My commitment was that no expensive parts were needed to add to the kit. I used the donor ECU, harness, brakes, pedal assembly, instruments, even the throttle cable, just add a kit to the donor, convenient to builders and protective of the purse! I wanted to ensure there was no welding or modification of parts required either, so I used the standard prop shaft, fuel tank, loom and exhaust for Exocet. To ensure accuracy and repeatability we made a substantial production jig.
The chassis was originally made from 50mm diameter tube but we later reduced this to 40mm to save weight once we had fully developed the structure - weight being so very important. I wanted to be able to say that the MX5 is 50% heavier, I have done quite a few times since! Kit car manufacturers have been known to reduce weight by leaving off crucial parts of structures or just increase weight by adding steel in the hope it becomes stronger, a process called empirical, or design without theory.
Once complete we handed it over to our structural analysis expert and with a green light we hit the market running in 2010 launching at the Newark kit car show to a very impressed crowd with buyers keen to purchase from day one. Everyone grasped it, low cost, ease of build, great looks and assumed excellent dynamics. This assumption was quickly confirmed too, the media loved it!
Rob Hawkins, Kit Car magazine “ this car is brilliant!”
Adam Wilkins, Complete Kit Car magazine, “something of a revelation!”
Ian Stent, Performance Publishing, “small on cost, big on thrills”
Sales in the first year took us by surprise and exceeded 100 units and by the following year the output figure rose to 150 in the UK alone, a number that has remained fairly constant to this day.
We were delighted to team up with Exomotive in the fall of 2010, they have a dedicated manufacturing facility and continue to do a tremendous job of promoting Exocet in the USA. The product was fine tuned to suit local markets and they are well known for good customer service and for producing high quality kits. Of course they have a V8 option too. See www.exomotive.com
At the 2012 Stoneleigh kit car show we wooed the crowds with our hourly demonstration which involved stripping an MX5 and loading on Exocet kit in just a few minutes, obviously we used our artistic licence but it did demonstrate the ease of the process involved and convinced many to take the plunge.
Racing was an obvious direction for the kit, it would help with the enthusiasm of potential buyers and increase our exposure. A series was started by Mazda racing and we developed a race version for them with full MSA spec cage and steel floors which became known as the MX150R, the 150 relating to the state of tune. Racing took place on grids with far more powerful Toyota’s, Subaru’s and any manner of Jap derived cars. Exocet was often driven to victory in the skilled hands of driver Jonathon Blake who ran rings around some of the competition sometimes even in heavy rain. These days racing is still going strong and is now part of the 750MC set up.
In 2015 we decided to reinvest in the product having celebrated the 500th kit going out.
Modifications were made to front of the chassis and the radiator position to allow for a much narrower nose and a one piece bonnet/nose was styled that belies the fact that an engine nestles below. We are often asked to show the engine as a finger is pointed at the wrong end. A styling success then, stream lined, low sporty front end and of course aerodynamic, as proven by Mira in the wind tunnel.
Next we decided to offer more options, wings for the front and rear an alternative more aggressive nose and all manner of accessories to choose from. A big plus is the addition of a full screen, very rarely do we witness enhanced visuals when a screen is added to a car but the Exocet looks so natural with it’s raked back, deep chord screen, next stop a soft top, or maybe something to tow behind, that’s how we roll, always improving the products and having fun doing it.
Our time with Exocet has been nothing short of fantastic, showing to visitors at car shows the length and breadth of the Country convinced so many people that they can do it, build a car and be proud, long may it continue.
It's ironic that we went out to find a diff for the Atomic which subsequently sold in very low volume but spurred the development of the most successful kit car of modern times. May we take this opportunity to thank all the Exocet owners out there, great to know you are having fun.
G type Exocet is next, a more geometric style theme, hence the G. Still using MK1 or2 donors but looking more contemporary.
Moving forward and forever evolving G type was introduced for the NC MX5 also known as a MKIII. This donor features an alloy 2.0 engine with a standard 160 bhp and alloy wishbones which look real neat. Production runs along side the lowest cost MK1 or 2 donor version. G type NC ensures Exocet will remain at the top as the best selling and rewarding kit car in the world.
website for uploading photos
The Exocet really has been an explosive success. The concept has been welcomed as the easiest and most affordable car to build in the world. The MX5 underpinnings being renowned for their bullet proof reliability and availability coupled with the reputation of great handling, short shift box and hugely tuneable engines, in fact one Exocet builder has a 460 bhp 1.6 engine in his!
So how did it all start?
Back in 2009, I was working on a design for a bike engine car and had decided to go shaft drive rather than chain. I needed a diff. Not many to choose from these days as most cars drive the front wheels. You know the ones, they go straight ahead regardless of steering input once torque is applied that grip cannot deliver! I considered that the market was lacking in true British sports car layouts, engine up front, drive to the rear wheels.
Later having arrived at a scrap yard in search of a diff I got a guy to tip an MX5 over with his crane for me to have a look. WOW, there it was, a nice diff, but more importantly I noticed front and rear uprights which looked perfect for my project, then I noticed the rack and those light wishbones, doubles all around, discs all around, coil over shocks, a nifty power plant frame (PPF) which connected the box to the diff, fairly simple electrics, twin cam 16 valve engine, short shift box, need I go on. It was a perfect donor for a traditional rear drive kit car. Perfect, but no one had used one before! I took the diff I needed and went away with the MX5 seed was firmly planted in my grey matter.
Next, project Exocet. First job was to register the trade mark, this helps ensure the public are not confused.
I researched availability and was delighted to see over 1000 MX5s on Ebay at any one time, cheaper in the latter part of the year and very cheap with rusty sills and rear arches, great, I didn’t need those bits.
The first donor we purchased cost next to nothing and I soon made a killing by selling off the parts I didn’t need, turns out these cars are worth far more in bits than complete.
The strip was easier than expected too, just 12 bolts to remove and a few hours later off comes the body revealing 2 sub frames connected by that clever PPF idea.
This was turning out better than I could have dreamed.
I started working on a chassis design, I decided on exoskeleton again but this time, front engine, rear drive, I wanted to ensure this thing handled better than the donor. The alternative, engine in the back is always going to create a more demanding car to drive but with me on board the prototype Exocet scored a perfect 50-50 weight distribution. The ideal format for fun and forgiveness.
Careful study of every single component on the donor revealed that I could develop this kit to be low in cost by design thus the inclusion of so much of the donor without compromise to final spec. My commitment was that no expensive parts were needed to add to the kit. I used the donor ECU, harness, brakes, pedal assembly, instruments, even the throttle cable, just add a kit to the donor, convenient to builders and protective of the purse! I wanted to ensure there was no welding or modification of parts required either, so I used the standard prop shaft, fuel tank, loom and exhaust for Exocet. To ensure accuracy and repeatability we made a substantial production jig.
The chassis was originally made from 50mm diameter tube but we later reduced this to 40mm to save weight once we had fully developed the structure - weight being so very important. I wanted to be able to say that the MX5 is 50% heavier, I have done quite a few times since! Kit car manufacturers have been known to reduce weight by leaving off crucial parts of structures or just increase weight by adding steel in the hope it becomes stronger, a process called empirical, or design without theory.
Once complete we handed it over to our structural analysis expert and with a green light we hit the market running in 2010 launching at the Newark kit car show to a very impressed crowd with buyers keen to purchase from day one. Everyone grasped it, low cost, ease of build, great looks and assumed excellent dynamics. This assumption was quickly confirmed too, the media loved it!
Rob Hawkins, Kit Car magazine “ this car is brilliant!”
Adam Wilkins, Complete Kit Car magazine, “something of a revelation!”
Ian Stent, Performance Publishing, “small on cost, big on thrills”
Sales in the first year took us by surprise and exceeded 100 units and by the following year the output figure rose to 150 in the UK alone, a number that has remained fairly constant to this day.
We were delighted to team up with Exomotive in the fall of 2010, they have a dedicated manufacturing facility and continue to do a tremendous job of promoting Exocet in the USA. The product was fine tuned to suit local markets and they are well known for good customer service and for producing high quality kits. Of course they have a V8 option too. See www.exomotive.com
At the 2012 Stoneleigh kit car show we wooed the crowds with our hourly demonstration which involved stripping an MX5 and loading on Exocet kit in just a few minutes, obviously we used our artistic licence but it did demonstrate the ease of the process involved and convinced many to take the plunge.
Racing was an obvious direction for the kit, it would help with the enthusiasm of potential buyers and increase our exposure. A series was started by Mazda racing and we developed a race version for them with full MSA spec cage and steel floors which became known as the MX150R, the 150 relating to the state of tune. Racing took place on grids with far more powerful Toyota’s, Subaru’s and any manner of Jap derived cars. Exocet was often driven to victory in the skilled hands of driver Jonathon Blake who ran rings around some of the competition sometimes even in heavy rain. These days racing is still going strong and is now part of the 750MC set up.
In 2015 we decided to reinvest in the product having celebrated the 500th kit going out.
Modifications were made to front of the chassis and the radiator position to allow for a much narrower nose and a one piece bonnet/nose was styled that belies the fact that an engine nestles below. We are often asked to show the engine as a finger is pointed at the wrong end. A styling success then, stream lined, low sporty front end and of course aerodynamic, as proven by Mira in the wind tunnel.
Next we decided to offer more options, wings for the front and rear an alternative more aggressive nose and all manner of accessories to choose from. A big plus is the addition of a full screen, very rarely do we witness enhanced visuals when a screen is added to a car but the Exocet looks so natural with it’s raked back, deep chord screen, next stop a soft top, or maybe something to tow behind, that’s how we roll, always improving the products and having fun doing it.
Our time with Exocet has been nothing short of fantastic, showing to visitors at car shows the length and breadth of the Country convinced so many people that they can do it, build a car and be proud, long may it continue.
It's ironic that we went out to find a diff for the Atomic which subsequently sold in very low volume but spurred the development of the most successful kit car of modern times. May we take this opportunity to thank all the Exocet owners out there, great to know you are having fun.
G type Exocet is next, a more geometric style theme, hence the G. Still using MK1 or2 donors but looking more contemporary.
Moving forward and forever evolving G type was introduced for the NC MX5 also known as a MKIII. This donor features an alloy 2.0 engine with a standard 160 bhp and alloy wishbones which look real neat. Production runs along side the lowest cost MK1 or 2 donor version. G type NC ensures Exocet will remain at the top as the best selling and rewarding kit car in the world.
website for uploading photos