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SPEX ELF Kit Car Also Known as the Spyder
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 In 1985 a couple of Canadian designers Paul
Deutchman & Kell Warshaw manufactured in Montreal a kit car based on the first generation
Honda Civic (1973-1979). The
Spex Elf was a two seat fibreglass convertible with a sub frame for added
structural integrity. The styling was comparable to that of many Japanese
cars of the mid to late 80's. The Elf used the Honda chassis/drive
train as well as other parts from the donor car, while the front lights
came from the Honda Accord and the tail lights from the back
of a Mercury Capri. A build up of the kit was
featured in the September and November 1985 issues of Kit Car magazine
published by Petersen's. Kit value was approx. $3,750.00 basic and
$5,995.00 for the deluxe. 20 Kits were built before the moulds were
sold.
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The idea was
fairly simple - take an early (e.g. 1970's) Honda Civic 3-door. Cut
off everything above the window sills and remove the doors and all
of the bolted front panels (guards & bonnet). On to this shell
was bolted a steel strengthening frame and the whole lot was then
covered by a simple but elegant open body, complete with opening
doors etc using the Honda hardware. The original Honda running
gear was untouched so it was mechanically simple
and reliable. Performance was improved a little by the slightly
reduced weight. Looks and style were GREATLY
improved.
Dominic
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SPEX/ELF BUILD UP
Many thanks to Darren Segan for this wonderful
contribution
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Click on the images
below to view some pages on Kit Build Up Part 1
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Special tanks to Tor and Paul
Deutchman for providing these ads to help solve some of the mystery behind
the wonderful kits.
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Click on the images
below to view some pages on Kit Build Up Part 2
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 Paul
Deutchman has some big credits to his name.
If you've seen the Porsche Spexter or any recent Callaway cars
(the C7 Corvette or CS Camaro, for example), you've seen his
work. Deutchman
Design
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Local Ontario Ad from a dealer below
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Popular Mechanics Jan 1985 Volume 162
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Road & Track Jan 1985 Volume 36
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These kits have been built with the popular
1200 engine as well as the CVCC motor used in California
because of strict pollution requirements. Rumour has
it that one was built with a first generation Honda Prelude engine.
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Blue
Spex Elf below
owned by Richard (Ron Patterson cousin) has 1978 1200 EB3 Engine.
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1974 Spex Elf
Honda Kit Car Owner Jon
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1976 CVCC 4 speed (1980 model Spex Elf)
Owner Tor
This car was the one used in the second build
above
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Brochures
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