By Keri Luiz
Assistant Editor

When the average person hears the words “kit car,” they may automatically think of Shelby Cobra or Porsche replicas.

But there are many more types of automobiles that kit car — or handcrafted automobile — enthusiasts dedicate their time to building: a Mercedes-Benz, a Bugatti, or a Jaguar, for example.

Want to get an up-close look at some great examples? Members of the Northern California Kit Car Club are gearing up — pun intended — for their annual car show this weekend at the Hilton in Concord.

The NCKCC, a nonprofit founded in 1983, is “one of the oldest car clubs in the United States. Not the oldest, but one of the oldest that are still active,” Chuck Maddux, NCKCC vice president, said Tuesday.

While the group’s median age may be from 60-65, and they come from all walks of life, they have one thing in common: They are car people.

“Some are retired, some are semi-retired, and some are actively working,” Maddux said.

“They’re very diversified. Some drive trucks, some are computer nerds. We have a wide variety of people.”

Cars are the common thread.

But not all kit cars are replicas.

“We also have what they call specialty cars,” Maddux said. “Their look is not based on a specific classic car.”

Diversification is embraced, and in addition to cars that are not based on replicating specific vehicles, many classics are being electrified, he said. “Some members have converted their cars to all electric, which is rather interesting. This is the new thing that is happening, in the United States especially,” he said.

Among the many cars shown at this weekend’s event, one belongs to Maddux: a replica 1935 Mercedes-Benz 500K Special Roadster that was build by Al Bohr out of Salem, Ore. The car was built using the front and rear end, motor and transmission, as well as other parts required from the donor car to assemble the kit.

Maddux purchased the car from Bohr in 1998 after selling his first kit car, a Liberty Motors 1929 Mercedes SSK replica, for a Volkswagen chassis.

He had some changes made to it, adding a new Chevrolet 350 engine and a four-speed R700 automatic transmission, with an Edelbrock fuel injection system.

He also added an after-market Vintage Air air conditioner, replacing the existing one that was ineffective, and swapped out the 12-gallon fuel tank for one with a 19-gallon capacity.

The NCKCC car show has traditionally taken place the weekend following Labor Day for years. One more tradition: Every year the club helps an area charity.

“For the last two years we have been with the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano,” Maddux said. “Any profits we make from the show also go to them.”

If You Go
The NCKCC’s handcrafted and special-interest car show will take place at the Hilton Hotel, 1970 Diamond Blvd., in Concord, on Sept. 8-9, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. A $2 admission fee “donation” is
encouraged.