http://www.completekitcar.co.uk Septmber 2019 17AUTOTUNE MEMORIES
LETTER OF THE MONTH
What a very good looking car the Flyer
is! It’s a pity that the Dutch company
didn’t keep the rolling around roof
which was an awesome feature.
Anyway, the car still looks the part and
it’s no surprise that the production
went to Holland. The Dutch are
the most experienced old Citroën
specialists in Europe (and maybe inUS COVER FOR
A UK KIT CAR?
I wonder if you guys could help
with an insurance problem. I’m
planning to take my kit car (an NG)
on a road trip to the USA, hopefully
driving coast to coast on the Lincoln
Highway in early summer 2020. e
car will be shipped to the US, on
the road for about a month, and
then will be shipped home. It is UK
registered, and I’m a UK resident/
citizen. I’ve worked out the shipping,
temporary import processes etc, but I
am really struggling to nd any way
of insuring the car for the trip. I’ve
spoken to all the specialist kit car
insurers in the UK, and literally
dozens of US insurers and brokers,
but with no luck.
I can drive the car anywhere in
Europe, I can take the car to the US
for an organised tour if there are
more than 15 cars, I can take a
motorhome, or motorbike to the US,
but nobody can suggest a way
of insuring a single car. I’ve even
written to Top Gear to nd out
how they do it... Any help would be
much appreciated.
Paul Strickland, via emailThis isn’t a problem we’ve encountered
before, but if anyone has any suggestions
that could help we’ll happily pass them
on – ed.BESPOKE CHASSIS
FABRICATION?
I retired early and want to do a project.
I could spend the cash on a fancy new
car to drive to Tesco and back but,
being daft, I want to build my own
thing. Or should I say have it built to
my spec...
I was wondering have you any
competent chassis builders you could
point me to. I’m going EV and want
to use light aluminium 7075-T6.
e design is a very simple step
in/out vehicle.
Brendan Lynch
Co Kildare, Ireland If anyone has any recommendations
of companies that could take on
such fabrication work, let us
know and we’ll pass it on the
Brendan – ed.TAKE A FLYER
the world). No wonder, because André
Citroën’s roots were in Holland where
his (grand?)parents sold vegetables and
fruit before moving to France. The name
means ‘lemon’ in Dutch. There are also
the Burton and Le Patron companies in
Holland, which make kits based on the
Citroën 2CV chassis.
Antoine Ryckman, BelgiumMAIL
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WINS A COMPLETE KIT CAR MUG
Send us your thoughts and opinions on all things kit car related
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of Complete Kit Car mugs – perfect for a brew in the garage.EVERY ISSUE, LETTER OF THE MONTH
WINS A COMPLETE KIT CAR MUG
Send us your thoughts and opinions on all things kit car related
and if your letter makes it to this spot we’ ll send you one of our range
of Complete Kit Car mugs – perfect for a brew in the garage.After reading the article on Autotune’s anniversary (July
2019 Issue 155) I thought I would drop a note to tell you
how they indirectly helped get me into kit cars. I had
built many fast cars and a hot rod when a Dutton owning
friend was looking for a new project.
There was a Kit Car Action Day at Castle Combe near
where I live so we went on the Saturday. I went out in
the Dutton and had a whale of a time. My friend Rob was
smitten by the Autotune Gemini and demonstration rides
were being given for a small charge by Bill Batty, who is
mentioned in the feature.
Rob came back with a huge smile on his face after
going out with Bill and told me I must go out with him,
so much so he had paid for my ve laps. On meeting Bill,
he was a proper gentleman and proceeded to tell me
the drill. He would do one lap then put his thumb up, if
I responded with a thumb up he would go hard. That’s
something I do with passengers on track days now.
After one lap, he gave a thumb up and so did I and then
we were o . He was a very talented driver and spotted
in the distance a real Ferrari. Pointing at it, we were soonreeling him in. We caught up and then Bill was desperate
to get past but on the long straights at Combe the Ferrari
had the edge – just. We must have done 15 laps before
Bill pointed a reluctant nger at the fuel gauge and we
came in. He apologised for staying out so long but his
enthusiasm to race got the better of him. That required no
apology to me at all; it was a privilege.
It was a pleasure to be driven by him and the best gift
my mate ever gave me. Rob bought a Gemini from them,
which he still has along with the Dutton. His Gemini
featured in Autotune’s advertising wall at shows for years.
It was also featured in a Japanese magazine for good
measure. That day made me want a kit car and started me
o on my West eld journey which I still enjoy and hope to
do more of.
Kit cars have a knack of bringing people from di erent
walks together to enjoy all types of cars, from those with
a Dutton budget to the Ultima range and long may it
continue in this era of more controls on everything we
do car related.
Je Oakley, via email017 Letters.indd 17 31/07/2019 3:07 pm