BUILD YOUR OWN SPORTS CAR ON A BUDGET
Chris Gibbs
$50

The days of father and son building up soapbox racers in the shed may be over, but that doesn’t mean you can’t build up your own budget racer thanks to this handy guide.
The aim is to build a two-seater, open-top sports car, kind of like an Elfin or similar, using basic tools and low-cost materials, both of which are covered in some detail within the book.

Using a variety of templates, 3D working drawings and CAD illustrations, this title runs you through how to build up your tarmac bud in a logical fashion, moving from the chassis and suspension, through to the body and engine. It even shows you how to mould your fenders for crying out loud!

Although not applicable to us as much as those in the UK, the chapter of gaining single-vehicle approval is nonetheless interesting if you’ll be seeking to engineer the thing over here, and there are a stack of useful tips and techniques covered that could be applied to pretty much any car out there.
With over 190 full-colour pages, if it’s a cheap-as-chips sports car you want, this will deliver.

Final verdict: 3/5

DO IT UP! MAZDA MX-5
Paul Hardiman
$59.95

In a similar vein to the book above, and building on the instructional know-how of Haynes in general, the Do It Up! guide to the ultimate driver’s car really strips it back to its birthday suit.

What to look for when buying second-hand is covered, along with how to renew worn and tired parts, including the troublesome soft top, clutch and even the window mechanism. There’s also a step-by-step breakdown of fitting common modifications like dials, brakes and lighting, and really, things couldn’t be more straightforward given the 500-plus illustrations within.

Detail? This books like the kama-sutra of MX-5 car-dom, covering just about every nut and bolt you’ll find on the early Mazda, from wishbones through to door panels and just about everything in between, including the four-banger sitting up front. There are also handy little ‘tip’ breakouts, which also seem quite the useful initiative.

The book is largely focussed on the original NA MX-5, though most articles could be tweaked slightly to work with the NBs. Those with later-model NCs might just have to wait until the aftermarket catches up with the latest on-rails roadster before a tome like this comes to hand.
All in all, it’s not a bad effort.

Final Verdict: 4/5