SO WHAT IS A KITCAR?

BEGINNERS WELCOME
This section is aimed at those who are new to kitcars. If you are already familiar with the kitcar market, and you know all there is to know, you’ll have recognised that the Marlin 5EXi is something very special. No doubt you’ll want to get back to some of the other pages on this website. For those of you who have only just discovered kitcars, read on...

THE REST OF THE WORLD
Some of the following information applies only to the UK. We regularly receive enquiries and orders from all over the world, and we are confident that the 5EXi stands up to ALL competition, but the legal situation, regarding build and registration regulations, does vary from country to country, so we suggest you check it out with your local authorities.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (Also see FAQ’s)
With years of experience in the kitcar market, we have answered thousands of questions over the years, both from experienced kitcar enthusiasts and from newcomers. To help you get the information you need, we have answered the following frequently asked questions. If we haven't covered your specific query, do please get in touch.

What is the kitcar market?
In the UK, the kitcar market is an established and enthusiastically supported sector of the specialist car market. Producing cars in component form, without the need for costly assembly lines, allows small companies to design and sell exciting models in niche markets that would not be well-served by the mainstream companies who are motivated by high sales numbers.

What is a donor car?
The 5EXi kit is designed to be built around donor car mechanical components. This means that the chassis and body parts are supplied with appropriate mounting points to accept components taken from the donor, a Rover 200/400. In fact, the 5EXi uses a great many parts from the donor, from the more obvious engine and gearbox assembly to other mechanical parts like driveshafts, brakes and steering column - and smaller components like the windscreen wiper motor, pedal box assembly and even the horn. As any experienced kitcar builder will tell you, this makes for an easier, quicker and less expensive build-up because you do not need to search for, and buy, from other sources.

Could I build a 5EXi?
Kitcar designs obviously vary, as does the time, money and skill level required to build them. We believe that the 5EXi is the best of both worlds, requiring enough assembly work to keep costs to a minimum, but designed to be put together simply and, therefore, suitable for the first-time kitcar builder. Little details like pre-cut (by laser for accuracy), pre-formed and pre-drilled aluminium panels won’t mean much to you now, but when it comes to assembling them, you’ll wonder why everyone doesn’t do it like that. But believe us, not everyone does...

Do I have enough space, equipment and time?
Providing you are practically minded, have a reasonable set of workshop tools and a garage in which to work, you’ve got virtually everything you need. Marlin can hire you a unique build trolley, which is designed to accept the 5EXi chassis. The trolley is on castors, so the chassis/body unit can be manoeuvred in, out and around your garage, creating space where you are working. If the weather's good, you can even work outside - and just push it back inside when the rain returns! We suggest that you get together all the parts you need for each stage of the build before you start it, and if you can get organised and label things, it’ll save you time and your temper. We would expect the average build to take around 100 hours - less if you are building a stripped-out version for competition or trackday use, a little longer if you are planning a fully-detailed show car.

How do I get the finished car registered and onto the road?
Once your 5EXi is built (how good does THAT sound?), it will be put through an SVA test, a sort of super-MOT designed to ensure the car is road-worthy. The law allows you to drive the unregistered car to your local test centre (full details are on the build-up manual CD). The test costs £165 and is actually worth every penny for peace-of-mind. We have, of course, already put identical cars through the SVA test and they pass with flying colours. You then take the car to your local DVLA office (or make an appointment for them to visit you) to be registered. Your 5EXi will be given an age-related registration number from the same year as your donor vehicle (eg, P123 ABC), or a new registration mark if you have used ALL new parts (and you will need written proof that you have used new parts, so keep all your receipts). A full, step-by-step guide to this stage, like every other, is clearly laid out on the CD build-up manual supplied with the kit. Then it’s time for your first testdrive...