Arrow

Just a random thought I'm sharing 'cause I'm bored...

What if Ford offered buyers Mustangs in kit form? Instead of delivering a completed car, you get a kit-car package, with all the pieces in boxes and a nice painted (or unpainted) body. You could actually build your 'Stang in your garage yourself!

Anyone else think that would be awesome?

1 COBRA

Liability? Demand? New department expenses? Promotional costs?

Ford is beginning to get its head above water due to quality control and new model introductions. I doubt Ford would pursue such insecure adventure in a flooded aftermaket. It is likely the direction to follow is the proven one.

Dixie_Flatline

Would never be considered road legal from the Federal Safety people....

But... you can do that, but it's not cheap... Ford offers their body in white racing kit Mustangs. ;-) Think FRPP has them....

Clino

You mean like this?

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/12/f...te-for-racers/

SuperSugeKnight

Or like this.

http://www.dynacornclassicbodies.com/ford_models2.html

Clino

Wow, that's pricey...but very cool. Why so much? You would think you could find a decent original and have the work done to bring it up to near perfect quality for far less.

Dixie_Flatline

When was the last time you priced out a decent original?

Arrow

I don't think I meant for Ford to stop manufacturing built cars and start just selling kit-cars instead. That would be retarded.

If anything this "S197 kit car" would be a catalogue item, like ordering a race-prepped vehicle.

Why would it be different than any other kit car?

Those are just bodies, not whole kit-cars. You'd have to gather up every single part. People do that, of course, but it's a bit more involved than getting a whole kit in package.

PTRocks

With respect for their prices, from their website FAQ:

Reason 1 - Tooling:
Reason 2 - Licensing fees and costs:
Reason 3 - Better materials than original:

Dixie_Flatline

As for the racers, I think the people who buy the cars to race want them to be as customizable as possible since their drivers and conditions are so varied. People tweak things like crazy.

I see what you're saying, and my guess is there's no profitability in it for Ford. My other guess is that none of the kit cars are offered from large car manufacturers. From what I researched on single engine airplanes a few years ago, the kit build was a way for a company to offer a unique product without undergoing FAA certification for the model which costs an insane amount of money.

The way I look at it: buying a Mustang is already like buying a kit racer. There are so many options in the aftermarket for upgrading the suspension and performance, that you can build out your Mustang in almost anyway you want. There are very few cars out there that have such strong aftermarket support for mods. :-)

1 COBRA

Neither did I and there was no implication Mustang sales off the assembly line would be affected. To provide for your idea Ford would have to create a new department to deal with the logistics of such program to accomodate such a minor segment of the market. The success of any product is dependant on its sales volume.

There has been a few ground up restoration stories mostly dealing with classics posted on TMS but I don't recall ever one dealing with a complete build or even a body on white project.

As an enthusiast there is no reason not to like your idea. As a business venture for Ford it doesn't seem as it would be profitable.

Dixie_Flatline

What I was trying to say, but with the simple eloquence I failed at miserably. :-)

Coupe66US

Can you say body in white? Isn't that what you are doing when you buy those?

WaltM

That's what I was thinking...

Dixie_Flatline

Yeah, but the body in white is A) expensive B) far from complete as it's intended for professional racing teams.

Arrow's idea was for the average Joe to buy a kit and build their Mustang. Like the Shelby Cobra-ish kit cars you see around.

hi5.0

BIW also cannot be registered for road use. Well.... ahem. I think the main problem with a "kit car" approach would be quality of parts and assembly would vary along with vehicle safety/crash performance.

SuperSugeKnight

Depends on the state, but I know in California, Body-In-White Mustangs cannot be registered.

From CA DMW.

1 COBRA

That is why aftermarket tuners or builders as they like to call themselves, have to adhere to the same safety and EPA standards as the original manufacturers or the vehicle in question is thus classified as not street legal. Add to the equation those businesses are replacing or adding parts and components not building a car from the ground up.

Adam

Worst idea ever.