Kit Car Profiles - Robin Hood 2B, SubK and Super Spec

Robin Hood Sports Cars History and Development.
Following the introduction of the SVA test, the Robin Hood 2B range was by far the most prolific of kits sold.
The sales Brochure states Robin Hood has “Clever and Original Innovation” and that’s been pretty much exactly how their business model worked.
They were always looking for ways to promote their product at a very competitive price point.
After Robin Hood discontinued their popular S7 range of monocoque kits, they then introduced the “bent tube” (aka "Tubey") framed chassis kits (the Robin Hood 2B).
The new kit with its exceptionally attractive price point was an instant hit and between the dates of August 21st and December 11th, 1999, exactly 205 kits were collected from the factory.
Trevor owns and built his 2B and he’ll show some of the creative ways that Robin Hood kept kit costs to a minimum, the related build budget, high-spec derivatives and some of the prototypes that never quite made it to production.
Sadly, Robin Hood Sports Cars are no more.
The assets and engineering rights were sold on to Great British Sports Cars in 2006 but the history, passion and fun times live on today in the hearts of passionate owners and the many Robin Hood Kit Car Groups throughout the UK.

[@catherinewright8933]

You could make a whole series on Robin Hood Engineering ! The product list goes on and on, remember the Daytona kits based on the Rover SD1 in the beginning followed by Jaguar V12 and then TR7 based examples. The S7 Lotus Severn kits with proper space frame with Triumph Dolamite donors followed by the monocoque versions. When the Locost craze started a sister company was launched called LoLocost ! RS also tried a front wheel drive Cobra to test reaction !The company was big and was for a short while one of the largest British owned car makers in the UK. The owners club was huge too with thousands of paid up members at during the peak in the late 1990's. All the major kit car shows were attended in big numbers, I remember a turn out of over 200 cars at Stoneleigh a couple of years !

[@jamesprince4991]

That's a throwback! Had forgotten the FWD Cobra. He built about three mid-engined 7s based on the Metro, too.

[@JohnNorrisMetalSculpture]

Wow awesome video, thats brings back some memories. I built a stainless steel fully welded monocoque RH back in 1994. I remember the pick up day well! Well over 100 people there to fill up the backs of their transits with pieces of car. We stuck a 1600 Pinto in it with a twin choke weber and at 19 years old I daily drove it for at least 4 years in all weathers ... fun in the wet! Ultimately got in to motorbikes and didn't have the capacity for two vehicles with limited carrying capacity. In the end I sold it to a guy in Holland. Apparently they weren't allowed to build kit cars over there but they could import them and modify them so that's where it went. It was a beautiful looking thing with the long red wings, mirror finish and a set of 8 spoke alleycats ... although I did manage to go through a couple of nose cones! Never did quite get that Sierra brake bias valve to work properly! Loved it to bits though, Q413APN for the record and the home stamped chassis number was my initials and date of birth ... cool! Always thought the 2B was a significant upgrade in design although never drove or had a good look at one. This video has answered a lot of questions. I really like that design and something tells me a signficantly lower number of drill bits were used in making it than its predecessor! Funny, I work with stainless steel now but by the time we'd finished it (690 hour build time) I was totally done with drilling and hacksawing through the stuff! Was a good one though, my old man was an engineer and I had the creative touch back then too so the finish and fit of everything was sweet. The only thing I didn't like was the protruding rear subframe in front of the rear wings, still ... considering the value for money compared to Westfields and Caterhams of the day it was a small price to pay for such a great looking thing. Cheers again for the vid, loved it! Have a great day!

[@7Spot556]

Thanks very much

[@jtm2003dad]

Great vid. Thanks Trevor - keep it up !!!

[@alanlofus3100]

This is the first time I have looked at your channel, so interesting & thank you, but you missed out the "2B DOHC" ... this was a different tubular chassis to the 2B and was virtually the same (just different engine mounts as I recall) as the 'Super Spec' that was to follow it some months later, because it was widened in the middle to take the fatter 'MT75' gearbox which was so much nicer to use and could take loads more power than the prior 'Type 9', along with the more powerful 'DOHC' Ford engine (No, not a BDA) that gave 125bhp as standard on fuel injection models. This engine could be modified to over 200bhp, albeit relatively expensively. I know this, as I picked up my DOHC kit in 2002 from the Mansfield Woodhouse factory ... and the resulting evolution is my history, because I have something both quicker & much faster now :)

[@callanderbarbers]

im still bombing around with a series 2 robin hood [cortina subframe shouved under the front] 4 speed gearbox escort live axle, The stainless monoque and fiberglass is still in great condition for a kit from around early 1990, Iv also built an original exmo but sold that years ago, I agree ford parts are getting crazy prises nowadays

[@peterscandlyn]

I think the Rager would go down well in India - it has a kind of Mahindra look about it?

[@davidcannon2464]

Very interesting video Trev well done

[@ozziejoes]

Interesting video. 👍😎

[@stevejones1318]

If only someone offered a budget Seven today.

[@7Spot556]

The Robin Hood 2b build video kzbin.info/www/bejne/en-kYo2pbc-Mlas