Stratos Kit opinion.

**Jeff** · 12-03-2012, 11:05

Originally Posted by catswhiskers

I'm now building a Hawk which is about 80% finished having just been painted. Without getting in too deeply, the Hawk is a much more challenging car to build. More is needed in the way of fabrication and manufacture of special parts to acheive the build. If you can use spanners, a welder and have access to a small friendly engineering shop, then you shouldn't have any problems. If you don't, then you will spend more time and money sorting things.

Would just like to add that this is pretty much what I've found building my Hawk (about 50% done at the moment). While not actually impossible if you don't have all the necessary skills (I started with none of the skills

), it can be done but it'll take longer and probably involve some back tracking as you learn on the job.

Which is better really depeneds on why you want a Startos replica I suppose.

**tipo158** · 12-03-2012, 13:12

So how close to completion is the Italian LB?? It looked pretty close that last time he posted. I know Craig has been very busy lately, so there should be a few more LBs out there soon.

**john** · 12-03-2012, 23:03

The question of trying one before buying is always going to be a tricky one with any manufacturer.
You are going to have to prove you are very, very serious about parting with your cash and convincing the owner that you really can drive the thing before you get behind the wheel of something which not only represents a high monetary input, but also a high investment in time too.
In these litiginous times there is also the insurance aspect to consider. It's hard enough these days getting a courtesy car from the main dealers, let alone a high performance specialist car from a low volume manufacturer to try out.
Anyone who is serious about buying a Stratos Replica kit should know what they are looking at, and so I don't consider that it should put off a potential customer if he can't drive a current demonstrator.
You only have to look at Craig's components to know that the LB is a serious piece of kit, far, far in excess of anything which is or has been offered in the Stratos market up until now. And it looks authentic under the skin.
Enough people have already made that decision for themselves.

**Paul** · 13-03-2012, 02:29

When it's built, a really cool option would be to rent the Ferrari powered Listerbell from: http://www.rentacarclassic.com/

and tie it in with a European vacation.

**ProtoTipo** · 13-03-2012, 09:34

The first time I drove a Stratos (Hawk) replica was on the way home after I'd already bought it.
Knowing how it was going to drive, didn't seem to matter too much to me at the time. I wasn't disappointed though.

Regarding kits today, the LB kit that could sway me is the SWB Mondial subframe version.

**peteracs** · 13-03-2012, 10:42

Originally Posted by Paul

When it's built, a really cool option would be to rent the Ferrari powered Listerbell from: http://www.rentacarclassic.com/

and tie it in with a European vacation.

That sounds like a good idea, hope they are putting some good aircon in it.........

Peter

**Coupe Stratos** · 13-03-2012, 22:21

Thanks to all for the info on the ST kits ... LB seems on be on top at the moment... ... mean while I found this link that for sure everyone will like of an original Stratos being restored in Japan.

http://teamspeed.com/forums/maserati...kreissieg.html