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A Car is Born

A Car is Born (1999)

July. 01,1999

5.5

A Car is Born

Over 15 episodes, 'A Car is Born' is a step by step guide to building a supercar from a kit - from choosing the kit to taking the finished car for testing by Ian Forrest - Chief Racing Instructor at Knockhill Race Circuit.The philosophy of the show is a simple one - to provide anybody watching with the confidence and the knowhow to have a go for themselves.

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A Car is Born

1999

Seasons & Episode

Seasons 1 : 1999

15 Episode

Episode 1 - Episode 1

July. 01,1999

Mark meets Ian Stent from Which Kit? at the National Kit and Performance Car Show, before visiting the factory where his kit is manufactured.

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Episode 2 - Episode 2

July. 08,1999

Mark goes shopping for tools and a second-hand car to provide spare parts, taking the Owners Club secretary along with him for advice.

Episode 3 - Episode 3

July. 15,1999

Volunteers from the local college strip the second hand car of spare parts, and the engine and gearbox are sent to a specialist for reconditioning.

Episode 4 - Episode 4

July. 22,1999

The rear axle is reconditioned with some components being sent away for powder-coating, and Mark gets a progress report on the engine.

Episode 5 - Episode 5

July. 29,1999

Mark installs axles, suspension hubs and brakes and engineer Dave Peters chips in with some tips as they succeed in creating a rolling chassis.

Episode 6 - Episode 6

August. 05,1999

A reconditioned engine is built up and bench-tested, and Mark checks out extras from retro-look air filters to race-tuned carburretors.

Episode 7 - Episode 7

August. 12,1999

Mark puts together the engine, gearbox, a new clutch and the exhaust, before testing to see if everything works!

Episode 8 - Episode 8

August. 19,1999

Mark rivets the body parts onto the chassis, finding out about shut-lines, panel fit and GRP from engineer Robert Kemp.

Episode 9 - Episode 9

August. 26,1999

Mark chooses an authentic walnut dashboard from a vintage gauge company before sanding and polishing it, ready for testing.

Episode 10 - Episode 10

September. 02,1999

Mark puts his personal stamp the interior of his replica AC Cobra, buying everything from carpeting and door lining trim to seat belts.

Episode 11 - Episode 11

September. 09,1999

Mark gets to grips with wiring his replica AC Cobra, installing a loom, connecting electric components and fixing that all-important car stereo.

Episode 12 - Episode 12

September. 16,1999

It's all about basic aesthetics today as we learn how to finish off a GRP shell by masking and priming the car bodywork ready for finished topcoat.

Episode 13 - Episode 13

September. 23,1999

Mark fits the hood, headlights, bumpers and racing wheels, and visits specialist suppliers for the badges to put his individual stamp on the car.

Episode 14 - Episode 14

September. 30,1999

Mark's creation undergoes the Single Vehicle Approval test and we travel to Bristol for the vehicle inspector's opinion on how the car measures up.

Episode 15 - Episode 15

October. 07,1999

Mark takes his creation to a kit car show to see how it compares to other models, and gets feedback from the experts as the car is entered for a car club track day.