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 Post subject: A Locost In Mexico ?
PostPosted: January 18, 2018, 1:47 am 
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Joined: January 14, 2018, 1:47 am
Posts: 8
Hi All,
I live in Querétaro Mexico about two hours north of Mexico City about an 18 hour drive from El Paso Texas. I would like to either; hire someone local to build a Locost or buy a Westfield or Caterham. There is a local racetrack here, Autódromo Querétaro with some fabricators.

Have also looked in buying and importing there seems to be a good selection of Westfield (available for less than $10,000USD used) or Caterham (available for less than $14,000 used) on Pistonheads. Would then require importation into Mexico, no small feat.

I welcome any suggestions. Can to be used for weekend drives and track days.

Thank you !


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 Post subject: Re: A Locost In Mexico ?
PostPosted: January 18, 2018, 10:55 am 
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Joined: February 8, 2014, 10:47 pm
Posts: 781
Location: Cornelius OR
The problem I see with buying a finished Locost is parts availability.

If you build one there from available parts that will not be an issue.

The true spirit of the Locost is that they are self built.
The only parts that are unique to the car are the nose and the scuttle.
The rest of the body is formed from aluminum flat stock
The rest of the parts are re-purposed from other production cars.
The frame is made from common 1" square tube.

[url]https://www.amazon.com/Build-Your-Sports-Little-£250/dp/1859606369[/url]
https://www.amazon.com/Build-Your-Own-Sports-Car/dp/1844253910

Jack at Kinetic can supply the body parts up to a finished car
http://www.kineticvehicles.com/locost.html

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 Post subject: Re: A Locost In Mexico ?
PostPosted: January 18, 2018, 1:06 pm 
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Joined: March 30, 2011, 7:18 am
Posts: 1615
Location: central Arkansas
Your best bet would be to find one of the brokers who imports used cars from the USA. They generally drive up in one or two minivans and convoy back down. They'd be thoroughly familiar with the paperwork required to import vehicles. They might even be willing to bring a Westfield back for you.

Paying someone to build a car locally... it takes a *lot* of time, which means you'd have to wait, plus what that time costs. If you're more interested in something to drive than in a project, there are many benefits to buying a finished car.

If you haven't checked already, you might want to see what's involved in licensing in your state. Some countries don't actually prohibit homebuilt cars, but their computers get indigestion if they can't just click on something in a list. The procedures vary quite a bit among the US states and Canadian provinces, from "just sign here" to "this is getting really expensive."


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 Post subject: Re: A Locost In Mexico ?
PostPosted: January 18, 2018, 1:35 pm 
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Joined: January 14, 2018, 1:47 am
Posts: 8
Bent Wrench wrote:
The problem I see with buying a finished Locost is parts availability.
If you build one there from available parts that will not be an issue.


Hi Bent Wrench,
Thank you for the feedback ! As much as I would love to build a Locost, I think the advice by mr.peabody.d is good:

1. Do you enjoy metal fabrication, problem solving, and general dirty, greasy, sharp metal shavings strewn in all directions type hard work?
Yes- Continue to question 2.
No- Stop now. Buy a completed Caterham, Birkin, Westfield etc.

To be honest with myself, I might enjoy "tinkering", but building is probably something I would enjoy.

- Mark


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 Post subject: Re: A Locost In Mexico ?
PostPosted: January 18, 2018, 1:40 pm 
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Joined: January 14, 2018, 1:47 am
Posts: 8
TRX wrote:
Your best bet would be to find one of the brokers who imports used cars from the USA."


Thank you TRX,
Do you think it is possible to buy a Westfield for less than $10,000 in the USA ? I am trying to keep the budget around $10k. The prices in the UK seem much lower. I will look into the licensing in Querétaro.

Best,
- Mark


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 Post subject: Re: A Locost In Mexico ?
PostPosted: January 18, 2018, 8:13 pm 
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Joined: March 30, 2011, 7:18 am
Posts: 1615
Location: central Arkansas
That, I can't help you with. I've seen some *very* nice Locosts go for substantially less than 10K, though.


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 Post subject: Re: A Locost In Mexico ?
PostPosted: January 19, 2018, 12:01 am 
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TRX wrote:
That, I can't help you with. I've seen some *very* nice Locosts go for substantially less than 10K, though.

Thank you TRX !
I will keep looking.

I did see this Locost on Bring a Trailer, very nice for $11,000. https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1967-lotus-seven/. It did not meet the reserve but the seller said the reserve was $11,000.

- Mark


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 Post subject: Re: A Locost In Mexico ?
PostPosted: January 19, 2018, 3:13 am 
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Joined: November 11, 2013, 4:47 am
Posts: 1617
Location: No. Nevada
From what I see there are three or four Locost for sale on this site that should easily fit your budget.
Some are bit far away, others in San Diego, Utah.
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=19236

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 Post subject: Re: A Locost In Mexico ?
PostPosted: January 19, 2018, 11:46 am 
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RichardSIA wrote:
From what I see there are three or four Locost for sale on this site that should easily fit your budget.
Some are bit far away, others in San Diego, Utah.
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=19236

Thank you RichardSIA !
I contacted the owner. That Locost is very nice, looks rough and ready, perfect for Mexico.
Please forward any other finds that you know of.

Thank you !
- Mark


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 Post subject: Re: A Locost In Mexico ?
PostPosted: January 19, 2018, 12:39 pm 
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Joined: April 22, 2010, 4:43 pm
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Location: Livermore, Calif.
TRX wrote:
I did see this Locost on Bring a Trailer, very nice for $11,000. https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1967-lotus-seven/. It did not meet the reserve but the seller said the reserve was $11,000.

- Mark


Mark,
That Locost looks very familiar. It originally sold for $8500.00 to the second owner. Keep looking you'll find one.
Cheers,
Roy

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Last edited by RoyzMG on January 19, 2018, 5:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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 Post subject: Re: A Locost In Mexico ?
PostPosted: January 19, 2018, 1:10 pm 
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Joined: November 11, 2013, 4:47 am
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Location: No. Nevada
I did not get the link right last time.
If you search this topic you will find two or three more Locost, a Blakely Bearcat, a tube frame race car, etc.

http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=40

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 Post subject: Re: A Locost In Mexico ?
PostPosted: March 11, 2018, 10:11 pm 
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Joined: December 17, 2010, 1:24 pm
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Location: Gainesville, Mo.
museguy wrote:
That Locost is very nice, looks rough and ready, perfect for Mexico.
Please forward any other finds that you know of.

Thank you !
- Mark


That car is built on Volvo mechanicals, so probably tough as nails. Also, Volvo seems to be serviced all over the world!

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 Post subject: Re: A Locost In Mexico ?
PostPosted: April 18, 2018, 7:13 pm 
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Joined: June 13, 2014, 11:55 am
Posts: 88
museguy wrote:
Hi All,
I live in Querétaro Mexico about two hours north of Mexico City about an 18 hour drive from El Paso Texas. I would like to either; hire someone local to build a Locost or buy a Westfield or Caterham. There is a local racetrack here, Autódromo Querétaro with some fabricators.

Have also looked in buying and importing there seems to be a good selection of Westfield (available for less than $10,000USD used) or Caterham (available for less than $14,000 used) on Pistonheads. Would then require importation into Mexico, no small feat.

I welcome any suggestions. Can to be used for weekend drives and track days.

Thank you !


U2U sent


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