LamboClone - The Premier Site for Lamborghini Replica Builders
The Forum => Other Topics => Topic started by: BigPines on March 05, 2014, 01:18:13 PM
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I'm not planning to build a Diablo right now but I am very interested in them and would like to know something about the kits that are / have been available. I see a lot of these kits for sale and it may come in handy someday to know something about them.
What kits are currently available and what kits were the most accurate? Were any of the kits splashed from an OEM body? They had to be, right? Anything to watch out for as far as something to stay away from? What is the easiest way to tell one kit from another?
I understand the NAERC body was very accurate (OEM splash?). I heard Cliff had an OEM splash. Total Performance / D&R was supposed to be an accurate kit. What else should I know?
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I'm curious about this also. The Diablo has to be one of the more successfully replicated bodies and I've often wondered what the most accurate body package was / is (besides OEM of course).
Chris
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The Diablo is a beautiful car. A couple of the guys here own some very nice examples and I'm thinking they probably know something about the different kits that were made. I'd like to see more active Diablo builds on the forum. I'd actually really like to see at least one active Countach build thread as well but that is another topic.
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The countach is an amazing car for how old it is, I'm not generally in to classics. I want to build one some day and a diablo would be nice too but I think I'm dreaming now lol
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When I was shopping around for a Diablo I wasnt after the most "accurate", I was looking for the best built as far as the fiberglass and most complete kit. I didnt want to spend a ton of time fixxing crappy fiberglass work. There was one guy (the name escapes now) who had a super accurate, super well made body but it was way out of my budjet. In the end I determined that DnR offered the best body/kit that was in my budjet.
Call it luck, fate or what ever, I just happened to run across someone who knew someones cousins next door neighbor who knew the friend of someone that knew someone that had a complete kit from DnR that had been in storage for 3 years that never was started. A plane ride and a wad of cash I was able to get everything but the rear inner wheel wells and the side mirrors. The shipper forgot the wheel wells and the seller coundnt find the side mirror. The rest is history.....
But I figure now days getting a good Diablo body I bet is like getting any other good Lambo replica body. You gotta deal with scammers, sleeze balls, and every other type of people that sell replica bodies....
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Tony, thanks for chiming in. Your car is beautiful. DnR is definitely a good one!
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I'm not planning to build a Diablo right now but I am very interested in them and would like to know something about the kits that are / have been available. I see a lot of these kits for sale and it may come in handy someday to know something about them.
What kits are currently available and what kits were the most accurate? Were any of the kits splashed from an OEM body? They had to be, right? Anything to watch out for as far as something to stay away from? What is the easiest way to tell one kit from another?
I understand the NAERC body was very accurate (OEM splash?). I heard Cliff had an OEM splash. Total Performance / D&R was supposed to be an accurate kit. What else should I know?
Cliff did have OEM Diablo molds. I own those molds now.
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the NAERC body and kits are still floating around on the west coast in Canada, the guy building them Ron, does a nice job...he lives a few blocks away from me, presently working on a countach build, but makes them very nice and "over" expensive for what they are, but he has all the parts still and full access the original moulds that Lamborghini had court orders for destruction...
but i guess there was more than one set floating about..... ;)
i would have to say after seeing the finished product and almost buying the "Raw" product, they are a gift to anyone who wants to put a car together without having to worry about making the body fit the way it should in the first place... beautiful bodys for sure.
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Most accurate Diablo replica was crp, aka Steve Curtis, next would be the naerc bodies however getting either will still set you back 10-15 g's.
The DnR body was great for the quality and parts that came with. Tom @ total performance is still building kits. Cliffs oem body was splashed from a crp body.
When looking for a kit I would shy away from the cheaper versions out there. The devil is in the details, make sure oem glass or aftermarket glass is available. Areas to look for accuracy IMO, door jambs, windshield area, front and rear bumpers, quarter window pocket, tailight Bezel area. Correct roof rack (d n r cars do not have the correct windshield angke)
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I am getting ready to sell my modified C6 Z06 corvette so i can start building a diablo 6.0. The main features of this build will be a twin turbo charged 427 LS1 engine, with a griffin or mendeola transaxle, C6 Z06 brakes and billet machined 6.0 wheels. I have a full cnc machine shop and will be making an insane amount of billet and carbon parts for this car.
The CRP body kit looks very nice but Curtis wants 18K for it plus shipping...from what i remember another 2.5K to build the doors. It the end it might be worth it since his parts look so nice and much of the body work is done. Curis makes all his stuff with epoxy for no shrink.
The guy that bought out DNR is selling a body kit too. I think the complete kit is 12.5K with interior and he quoted me at 16.5K total for body installed on my soon to be built tube chassis.
Do you guys have any contact info on the NAERC guy out of canada that is still making the bodies? Or anyone else that makes a nice body? Cant wait to get started on this project!!! So excited
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Most accurate Diablo replica was crp, aka Steve Curtis, next would be the naerc bodies however getting either will still set you back 10-15 g's.
The DnR body was great for the quality and parts that came with. Tom @ total performance is still building kits. Cliffs oem body was splashed from a crp body.
When looking for a kit I would shy away from the cheaper versions out there. The devil is in the details, make sure oem glass or aftermarket glass is available. Areas to look for accuracy IMO, door jambs, windshield area, front and rear bumpers, quarter window pocket, tailight Bezel area. Correct roof rack (d n r cars do not have the correct windshield angke)
How much does the windsheild angle differ from the original car? any idea why its different?
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Cliffs oem body was splashed from a crp body.
So are you saying the CRP body was also OEM or are you saying Cliff's body is not OEM spec?
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Crp Replica diablo body was pulled from a 1991 diablo.
Cliffs body was pulled from a crp coupe body, both are oem specs
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Thanks Rodrieguz. This is exactly the type of info I was hoping to get here. You seem to be very knowledgeable about this stuff. Is CRP / Steve Curtis still selling kits?
76mx, are you selling kits from Cliff's molds are did you acquire them for personal use only?
Were there any other OEM spec bodies? Was NAERC's OEM as well?
Oh, and just for the sake of preserving the facts, if CRM/Cliff's molds were based on a 1991 Diablo, they were not a VT model (which was introduced in 1993) so they have different front and side air intakes. That is perfectly fine, I am just trying to keep everything straight (mostly for myself).
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All Diablo bodies were based on the 1991 diablo so parts are interchangeable from model to model.
Steve curtis still produces kits.
Naerc kits can be bought by contacting Ron Dolling, ronstoystore.
As far as accuracy naerc kits are right there with only subtle differences.
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Rodrieguz, I checked out your gallery on Kit Central. Nice car. I like the color. What body did you use? If possible, I'd like to get some pictures posted here of examples of the different bodies / kits.
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Orange roadster was a copy of a first generation D n R
Coupe I have is a crp, hands down best kit I've worked on.
I'll see about getting some pics together this weekend of the different bodies
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Thanks rodrieguz! This is extremely valuable info.
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The diablo bodies all look much better than the cheaply made murci bodies from Cki and rob
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FYI, Car Kit Inc. is claiming their Diablo (Dee-Low) (http://www.carkitinc.com/carkit2.php?id=8) is a copy of the D & R kit. Not bad for $3K.
"We offer the famed 'D. & R. Version' Replica Dee-Low body-kit which is the best Dee-Low version in the world, this is also called the V.T. Roadster version"
Isn't it the ONLY "Dee-Low" version in the world? ;)
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FYI, Car Kit Inc. is claiming their Diablo (Dee-Low) ([url]http://www.carkitinc.com/carkit2.php?id=8[/url]) is a copy of the D & R kit. Not bad for $3K.
"We offer the famed 'D. & R. Version' Replica Dee-Low body-kit which is the best Dee-Low version in the world, this is also called the V.T. Roadster version"
Isn't it the ONLY "Dee-Low" version in the world? ;)
The "Dee-Low" Diablo looks nothing like my DnR Diablo.... That green Diablo in the video looks pretty sad :(
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I believe there was an early D&R body and a late body. I'm thinking if the CKI body really is a D&R body, it must be the early body.
Tony, would you mind posting a good pic of your car for a reference of what the D&R kit should look like?
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Thanks Rodrieguz. This is exactly the type of info I was hoping to get here. You seem to be very knowledgeable about this stuff. Is CRP / Steve Curtis still selling kits?
76mx, are you selling kits from Cliff's molds are did you acquire them for personal use only?
Were there any other OEM spec bodies? Was NAERC's OEM as well?
Oh, and just for the sake of preserving the facts, if CRM/Cliff's molds were based on a 1991 Diablo, they were not a VT model (which was introduced in 1993) so they have different front and side air intakes. That is perfectly fine, I am just trying to keep everything straight (mostly for myself).
Those molds came with his Reventon and Mercy molds which I was more interested in and they kind of put me in an awkward situation. I have a deal with Bob at B&B Custons (Who also has Diablo molds that have not yet been mentioned) to build chassis for his cars and then I found myself with Diablo molds as well. I would sell a body from my molds but only after Bob got first shot at it. I know that his glass work is quality stuff and at a reasonable price.
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So are you saying you acquired some Reventon and Murci molds from Cliff as well?
So where does B&B customs' kit fall in? Is it an OEM splash?
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BigPines,
Yes, I have Cliffs Mercy, Reventon, and Diablo molds. I am not sure the history of Bobs molds.
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76mx, I had no idea you were such a major player in this industry. Good to know.
The Murci molds were OEM right? I think I heard they were copies of Watson's kit but I'm not sure about that. I assume the Reventon kit does not have an OEM source. ;)
So are you selling kits of Reventons and Murcis? Do you have prices yet? Pictures? A website?
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Bigpines,
You have not seen major player yet. Wail until April 10.
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I am intrigued.
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BigPines,
Sorry, I forgot to answer your other questions. I will sell whatever I can make a buck on, including my other Lambo bodies and three different dune buggy bodies. The Mercy molds are supposed to be OEM, clues point to this, and the accuracy indicates it, but to say for certian would be hearsay on my part. All of this is the same for the Reventon molds. We have 14 employees in the fiberglass shop and do world class work. I do not have a website, it is my opinion that they only attract tire kickers. I stay plenty busy with chassis work (all DOT certified with international VIN) and Countach stuff. I have had an ad in Kit Car Builder for several years and a vendor display at Carlisle and Pomona.
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Sounds like you are the man to know. I welcome a reliable vendor for an OEM Murci body. It has been A LONG TIME since that was the case. I will be watching with interest.
Oh, what is the name of your company?
When is Pomona? I am interested in going.
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76
Will you be in carlisle this year??
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AB,
No, absolutely not, I am tired of beating that dead horse. I realize that is a controversial statement but let me get up on my soapbox and rant a little, but let me start a new thread so the reaction does not pollute this thread.
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BigPines,
Thank you and I would like the opportunity to earn your business. Before entering this market I did a lot of research and one thing became clear. All a company had to do in order to be successful here was to do what they say, when they say, and how they said it. What a concept! A company that would add a little bit of paper trail is not a bad idea either. To all of the ones out there that waited two years for parts, or are still waiting, what did your receipt say the delivery date should have been?
I am a dealer, distributor, or OEM for about 30 companies. Some of them like Wilwood, Painless Wiring, and Afco, I have had for some time, dating back 30 years to the racecar days, to the point of knowing their owners when their shop was a one car garage.
Others such as Alpine, Centerline, and Old Air Products, are newer franchise purchases and unique to Lambo replicas.
Charley Strickland
Strickland Racing Inc.
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Very well said Charley! I wish I could mark your post as "liked" more than once!
I have been blown away by the lack of basic professionalism displayed by some of these vendors.
All a company had to do in order to be successful here was to do what they say, when they say, and how they said it. What a concept! A company that would add a little bit of paper trail is not a bad idea either. To all of the ones out there that waited two years for parts, or are still waiting, what did your receipt say the delivery date should have been?
Amen brother!
I am getting pretty excited. :)
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JMHO,
If you find a dnr, b&b, Corey Davis and certainly anything called dee-low RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN.
If you are going to build better be with NAERC, CRP or a splash there of. If not you will run into issues! You have been warned