the 25 greatest alternative sport cars you can afford

Unknown affordable sport cars

These cars are usually below € 40,000 and all of them are street legal

​AEON GT3

​The Aeon GT3 is a fully space framed, fibreglass bodies component car, mating the bare essential parts from a donor vehicle to a light weight chassis and competent suspension set up. It has fully adjustable independent suspension on the front and rear, which has been tested at the MIRA Automotive facility for durability and design.

The Aeon has the ability to accept any transverse 2wd drivetrain setup, with the current demo car sporting the popular Ford 1.6 Ecoboost with 239 hp. Along with the drive train options there is also flexibility within the cockpit, with a traditional 2 seater layout, and the race inspired central driving position allowing single or 3 seat options.

Price: 17,400€ - 40,600€

​AGM WRL

​Have you ever watched the Le Mans 24 - hour race on TV and thought "I wonder what it would be like to drive somthing like that?" If you have, then this one's for you!

The sensational looking AGM WLR never fails to turn heads when it's out and about on the road. Over the years, the WLR has been steadily refined. The main area of improvement being the chassis. The torsional stiffness has been vastly increased and now allows the car to run high powered engines. These include the GM LS-1 V8 (as fitted in the Corvette) and the BMW M3. With these engines installed, the WLR is now beginning to take on supercar status, but without the supercar price tag.
 Dispite its hardcore image, the WLR is surprisingly practical. The optional full screen and soft top, as well as a remarkable amount of storage space, make the WLR ideal for a trip to its spiritual home of Le Mans.

This car is supplied as kits for self assembly which cost around € 10,000. Then it must to be added the donor car cost (including mechanics). A turnkey car can be around € 25,000 - € 30,000€

​ATS LEGGERA

​50 years after the foundation of Automobili Turismo e Sport, the new ATS set out to produce two exciting models that re-invent the classic originals, the ATS 2500GT and the Sport1000, plus add a third new model, the beautiful ATS Leggera. Based in Borgomanero, northern Italy, ATS’s facilities are modern, highly specified….yet deliberately modest. Just like ATS of 50 years ago, the modern ATS wishes to remain relatively small, highly exclusive and very close to the people that matter the most – ATS customers and drivers.

​The ATS Leggera represents a completely new direction for the ATS brand: it is the first ATS front/mid-engined, rear wheel drive car that they’ve ever developed and they’re justifiably proud of it!! The designers have deliberately bestowed the Leggera a very classical look, reminiscent of the finest and most beautiful spiders and roadsters of the 60’s. Elegant, graceful lines combine beautifully with a very purposeful stance to deliver a car of rare character and style – but also one that delivers unrivalled driving pleasure (on both road and track). True to the ATS philosophy, a combination of a strong, light weight chassis, modern high efficiency engines and top quality componentry ensure that the looks are backed up by the drive – all within a very high value package. Beauty, lightness, power, craftsmanship and high value – the ATS Leggera range.

Leggera 300:  1598cc 210bhp   (650kgs)
Leggera 365: 1598cc,  240bhp
Leggera 420: Spoon Honda engine, 2198cc, 280bhp

Price starting at 30,000€ 

​AVATAR ROADSTER

 Avatar One is a no compromise track and race sports car designed from the ground up to be at home on both trackdays and race championships.

​Embracing Colin Chapman’s recipe of ‘simplify, then add lightness’, Avatar Roadster does away with fun ruining driving aids such as ABS and traction control, instead focusing on what matters to racing drivers – grip, balance, control, involvement, reliability

Two engines enable: Ecoboost 2,0L - 250bhp and Ecoboost 2.3L 350hp

Starting at 46,000€

​B RACING (K1 ATTACK)

​K-1 Attack represent the rebelion of few fresh and creative young people strongly related to automotive passion and competition against boring global automotive world. Thanks to futuristic design combined with the latest in sophisticated technology and solicitous craftsmanship. Extremely stiff tubular space frame integrating powerful sporty passed powertrain in the front of the rear axle, dressed in light radical jacket is the most extraordinary attention-getter you can ever meet on the street.

Kit Car: 16,000€ to 22,500€   - ​Turnkey: 58,000€

​BAUER CATFISH

Bauer Catfish kit car is based on the Mazda MX5. The kit price is 12,500€ but there are several authorized builders. You can have this car for 24,000€

​BERTINI GT25

The Bertini GT25 is an original design, body panel replacement kit to fit all versions of the BMW Z3. The vision is a modern take on classic British / Italian styling coupled with the reliability and interior quality of the German car.
It is based in the BMW Z3, the kit can be completed in approximately 12 hour

The kit cost 5100€, and you can have the car built for 16,000€ (Including the BMW Z3 donor)

​BLAZE F / BLAZE RR

​Style, Performance and Affordability a 4 weekend transformation kit for the Rover MGF

The Blaze F is a comprehensive body transformation kit for the Rover MGF. The Blaze F is a unique sports car, but with all the benefits of a mass production car. These valuable benefits include modern safety features such as ABS, airbags and crash protection zones, reliability, security and rigorous development.

The Blaze F is designed for simplicity and speed of build, with mechanic skills not essential. In fact a competent DIY enthusiast could build the car in as little as four weekends of rewarding work.

The track has been widened 50mm front & rear to fill the wheel arches of the neatly crafted body. The increase in track width also increases lateral grip, improving handling. 

The Blaze RR is a highly focused performance car that's ideal for road, trackday or competition use. The engine bay can accommodate a vast range of options from motorcycle engines right up to the colossally powerful Audi V8 with a transaxle via all manner of four-cylinder car engines. 

Kit: 2300€ - 3100€   Turnkey (external builders): About 14,000€

​DDR GRULLÓN GT8

​DDR Motorsport, was formed in 2001 by a group of designers, mechanical engineers and specialists in all car areas. The DDR GT "Grand Touring" model line resembles the design of the European GT world endurance prototype cars. Their specialists goal was to create one of the most remarkable kit car available.

More than 20 years working with a selected group of race car builders and race teams worldwide built a wealth of knowledge about performance cars, serial structures and forms ; knowledge that would prove invaluable in his subsequent design and fabrication on real scale cars.

​The DDR Grullón GT8 is a 1997-2002 Chevrolet Corvette C5 based kit car that uses most parts of this donor car.  The GT4 is based on the Toyota Mr2. The cost of both kits are 16,100€
Turnkey: 28,000€
​

​DE HAVILLAND F48

The DeHavilland F48 is a two seat, rear wheel drive, mid-engine sportscar; utilising subframes, engine, suspension and components from a single donor MGTF. These are linked together by a central, tubular steel spaceframe & aluminium skinned tub. Body construction is manufactured from chopped strand GRP with a variety of gelcoat colour finishes available.


The K series power unit from the MGTF is the same used in the S1 Lotus Elise. Total kerb weight of our F48 is only around 700kg, 100kg lower than the Lotus. This enables stunning performance! The MGTF ECU can also be re-programmed to give an extra power gain of approximately 10%, raising the total Bhp to a potential 175bhp

​This car that can be at a rolling chassis stage in just one weekend! 
The complete kit with pre prepared bodywork ready to fit cost 9,300€. Turnkey about 16,000€ with external builders

​DJC V-STORM WR3

The V-Storm WR3 is a cleverly thought out concept, with its exoskeleton chassis and central driving position the V-Storm WR3 offers a highly individual & exhilarating driving experience. The novelty of the three-seat layout teamed with its radical styling gives the V-Storm immediate appeal with its distinctive features. The V-Storm was astonishingly accomplished, with a sophisticated ride, superb handling, big power, great Scooby sound track and of course, its majestic central driving position

​Engine: Subaru Turbo charged flat four of almost any derivative for the WR3  which delivers in excess of 300bhp. 

Price: 23,200€

​​DRAGON SERIES I ROADSTER

Dragon Motor Cars has been competing with their quality light-weight High Performance original design sports cars since 2001. The Series II Dragon Roadster uses race-proven stock Corvette C4 aluminum suspension components in a dedicated race quality space frame chassis with a vintage-styled original fiberglass body and small block engine. This car is based on the Corvette C5

The vehicle is offered semi-assembled without mechanic components for € 12,000 - € 15,000. The complete vehicle, assembled by a professional assembler provided by the brand, is estimated at 26,800 €

Here you can see cars that, like the Dragon Series 1, are based on the Corvette

​​EXO

Engines options:   2.0 litre 16v Ford Zetec 150 bhp and 185bhp ​

Prices: 22,000€ to 29,000€.  

FFR (FACTORY FIVE RACING) 818

Factory Five Racing is possibly one of the world's most famous kit manufacturers. Making these vehicles takes time to think. The basic kit is offered from about € 9,000. Then you have to acquire the mechanics, assemble it, so on. Luckily, there are many companies that are specifically dedicated to assembling Factory Five Racing kit cars and even selling fully built vehicles. The price depending of your desired specs, normally you can have got one from 35,000€ to 50,000€. 

GINETTA G40

​Ginetta is a really well-known brand, with a long history and a consolidated reputation. This automaker was founded in 1958.
Ginetta G40 is a lightweight sport car (830 kgs)with a Ford 1.8 litre 4-cylinder Zetec

The Ginetta family of cars offer a genuine route for progression from entry level competition through to international motorsport platforms. Starting in the G40, drivers can progress into the G55 GT4 before graduating into prototype competition with the G57 and forthcoming LMP1 car.

​​No other British manufacturer runs three championships within the two biggest racing packages in Britain and receives the levels of media exposure gained throughout the season. The Michelin Ginetta GT4 SuperCup and Ginetta Junior Championship can be seen running alongside the British Touring Car Championship, whilst the Protyre Motorsport Ginetta GT5 Challenge is a firm favourite on the British GT package.

Price: Starting at 40,500€

GKD EVOLUTION

​The concept and design brief for these models was to ensure that as many parts as possible from the popular BMW 3-series could be utilised to enable the build of affordable, quality, and high performance sports cars without compromising GKD's race proven independent suspension geometry developed from over 50 years of motorsport.

GKD Evolution is a lightweight and high performance  two seat sports car that utilises the proven mechanicals of the BMW 3-series.

Despite its relatively small size and lightweight (less than 800kg) the Evolution has a capacious engine bay that can accommodate a wide range of engines with the initial standard fitment being from BMW’s famous and award winning range of straight 4 and straight 6 engines up to and including the silky smooth 343bhp engine and 6 speed gearbox from the E46 M3.

Price: 18,000€

GRABERCARS LA BALA

​ All frames are constructed from 4130 Chromoly tubular space frame designed with crumple zones that include break away design for the utmost safety.

Graber Cars vehicles are designed for your everyday leisure driving or you can take to the track and put it through its paces.

The exterior is made from super strong flexible 3000 series fiberglass that isn't your chop spray material that cracks and spiders. This specific type of fiberglass is designed to take a beating, and stand the test of time.

Graber Cars are designed with very low roll centers. Keeping your roll center low and near your hips forces the vehicle to hug the surface and lets you put it through its paces

This brand has temporarily ceased its activity, but will possibly be active again.

Price: 18,500€

​GRINNALL SCORPION IV

​The production version of the Scorpion-IV was launched at Autosport International 2005, the UK's premier motor-sport and sports car show. 

The Scorpion-IV features a lightweight, super-stiff space-frame chassis onto which is bonded a composite body shell.
Power is provided from the well proven Audi 1.8 litre, 4-cylinder, 5-valve motor with its slick, 6-speed Getrag transmission. The S-IV’s performance varies depending on the state of tune of the motor, from the standard 250bhp up to whopping 500bhp. With a new inlet manifold, turbo and re-programmed engine management, the standard motor can easily be tweaked to produce 370bhp and over 300lbf/ft of torque.

They currently run a 370bhp version of the S-IV

Price: 32,450€

​HARPER TYPE 5 / TYPE 6

Harper Sports Cars was originally founded to offer the world a high performance sports car.
​
The Harper Type 5 and Type 6 Sports Cars are a South African designed and built mid engine sports car intended for use on the street and race track.

They can be supplied in fully built turnkey form locally or for export. Right or left hand drive versions can be ordered with a range of engine and specification options which are all meant for normal road use, as well as being competitive on the race track.

The basic 2.0 litre Turbo model offers 400 bhp/ton performance or upgrade to V6 or V8 cylinder turbo’s with the sky being the limit. The weight of this car is 685kg of average with a power of 175 hp

Price: Starting at 12,500€

​HEYNSDYK 2500SF

​In 2006 RJ Heijnsdijk designed his first lightweight special based on the Porsche 944 rolling chassis with the standard Porsche 944 transaxle drive that guarantees ideal weight distribution. In Heijnsdijk's cabrio the centre of gravity is lowered by 15%, the weight of the car is reduced from 1200 to 900 kg and the frontal area is reduced by 35%. This new cabrio from Heijnsdijk Sportscars is available with an optional hardtop that can be folded and stowed in the boot.

The motor, drive-line and electronics of the 944 give the Heynsdyk the behaviour of a mature, fully developed sports car. And with over 300 kilos removed it becomes one lightweight sports machine.

Moreover the choice embraces the "Cradle to Cradle" concept: don't throw away – reuse. Heijnsdijk: "You can of course recycle a car, but the 944 is so well built, that you can also quite easily extend the life cycle - and that's what we do with the 2500SF. With that we show that a passion for beautiful cars can be combined with a healthy green view on reuse."

The bottom chassis of the 944 is modified in the Heijnsdijk Sportscars production location in Eindhoven. After that the original drive-line and the body panels are assembled. Depending on the motor type, the top speed is good for 150 mph and has a 0-60 acceleration of 6 seconds. In spite of this performance the 2500SF has an acceptable fuel consumption (dependent on motor type) of 34 mpg. Through its virtues and easy maintenance is the 2500SF suitable for daily use. The original basis of the 944 remains so that the 2500SF can be registered under its donor's registration. The serious hobbyist can choose to build the car himself for 15,000€ 

Price: 35,000€

​JAVAN R1

​Brutal performance is matched by superb levels of grip and handling to provide the ultimate in track-day thrills and excitement.

Stripped out and weighing just 670kg, the thrilling Javan R1 is capable of speeds in excess of 140mph and will take a mere 3.6 seconds to get from 0-62.  This is achieved by using aerospace technology in the design and build, which creates an incredibly strong yet extremely lightweight car.

Each R1 is hand-built to order using proven race and track components, with a number of options and upgrades available if desired. The result? A car built with your needs in mind that gets you closer to the road or track than ever before.

Price: 33,400€

Note:   Regarding this car, we have to mention Marlin 5Exi and Strathcarron Sports Cars ​as an alternative manufacturers to this vehicle

​JMC ROADSTER

​The base of the kit (the main part and the front bumper) is attached to the donor chassis with steel and aluminium bars. These metal frames and brackets are fixed to the chassis's donor vehicle by clamping and bolting. No welding is allowed on the original chassis.
The other components are fixed on the base of the kit.

This car is based on a Westfield and the kit cost 4,800€. With an external builder, you can have thi car completed built for about 35,000€

​KAIPAN 14

The company was founded in 1992, but the first car, Kaipan 47 based on Lotus Seven (1957-1972), has been manufactured since 1997. Later it was replaced by modified type 57 with Volkswagen engine 1.8 20V Turbo. Kaipan 14 is powered with a 1.3 skoda engine.

Price: 19,550€

​Kozmo

Kozmo has got an engine 1.4 T-Jet which reaches 175 hp and 300Nm. The weight is less than 800kg. Weight distribution 46 - 54%. 

Kozmo is a car born of passion and dreams, created to bring the world of racing closer. 
An inexpensive racing car approved for street traffic.

At present, they are finishing works and tests of the first prototype are underway

The price expected is about 16,000€

​KYBURZ EROD

The Kyburz eRod is the epitome of a roadworthy electric sports car. It cuts no corners when it comes to technology and how it handles, meaning it offers maximum driving fun for those keen motorists among you. The powerful electric drive ensures it has that thrust when you need it for raw driving pleasure. Pure driving - Emotion without emission.
The price is 30,000€

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