Frequently Asked Questions

If you have a question you don't see answered here, please contact us. Note that we also have dedicated FAQs pages for the RCR 40 and the RCR D-Type.

What's the relationship between Superlite Cars and Race Car Replicas (RCR)?
Superlite Cars and Race Car Replicas (RCR) are sister companies under the same ownership, that share the same manufacturing and design facilities in metro Detroit. RCR is primarily focused on building replicas of iconic vintage cars, mostly from the 60s. Superlite generally produces original designs like the SL-C, Nemesis, Moab and Aero. If you visit the factory, you’ll see both vintage cars like the RCR40 and the RCR917 being produced alongside the SL-C and Aero.

Where is Race Car Replicas located?
RCR manufactures car kits in Fraser, Michigan, in the heart of the Detroit area. Being in Detroit means access to the best automotive manufacturing resources in the country, and possibly the world. And being in the USA means support that is available when you are.

If you are in or visiting the Detroit area, you are welcome to visit the factory, but please call ahead to schedule a visit as we are often booked well ahead of time.

Are all of your cars street legal?
Despite the racing heritage, and race-inspired design, the replica line is generally designed to be street legal, in addition to their roles on track. As such, they are typically supplied with DOT glass windshields, DOT-marked taillights, have adequate ground clearance for the road, etc. 

If you are planning to register the car on the street, consult with RCR during the order process, and be sure to check with your local registration authority before you purchase a car, that the specific car you have chosen, with the options you have selected, can be registered. Because states vary, and drivetrain choices sometimes drive registration issues, RCR cannot warrant that any car in particular can be registered for the street in your state. However, replicas in most states have an easy time of it, thanks to the SEMA model law that most states have adopted in some form. For more details, please check our Registration page. Ultimately, however, you are responsible for any registration issues.

Most of our replicas are sold with a Manufacturers Statement of Origin (MSO) which is the document you use to give to your state to obtain a title and registration- exactly as a “regular” new car owner would do.

Contact the factory for international registration questions.

What types of events can I race these cars in?
Many of our customers actively race or track their RCR cars. The types of events that you will be eligible to enter will depend heavily on which car you choose and how you configure it. There is a detailed racing page here.

Can I get financing for these cars?
Most builders use personal lines of credit, savings, or other means of financing their dream car. Other alternatives include specialty financing companies like JJ Best, Woodside Credit , Collector Car, or others.

Does Race Car Replicas have any dealers?
All sales are direct, through the factory. This eliminates the middleman, simplifies ordering, and reduces the cost for all parties. Please contact us to discuss any of the cars on this site.

What donor car do I need?
You don't need a donor car at all.

Unlike some cars that use old parts from another car, RCR cars are designed to use all new parts as far as possible. Of course, since the cars are typically provided without a drivetrain, you can purchase new or used engines, transmissions, etc for your car, but the rest of the car, and everything provided by RCR, is generally new. Using all new parts from RCR helps to keep a high level of quality in every car. That means that resale values are higher, as subsequent buyers don’t have to worry about how old the brakes, or suspension arms, or shocks really are, for example. 

All-new parts also means you don’t spend time finding, cleaning, and refurbishing old parts. It’s much more fun to build a car with new parts, instead of having to wrestle them off a junked donor, clean them up and sometimes find that they are too far gone to use, requiring you to start the process again.

Is there a build manual?
Most of the cars have a build manual, which is available on purchase of a car. Check with the factory if you have questions about this.

How long does it take to get the car after it is ordered?
Normal delivery time is 18-20 weeks. Infrequently it may take longer, usually due to supplier delivery schedules. Occasionally, a car can be manufactured faster. When you order your car, there will be an expected delivery date discussed with you. We try very hard to meet these dates, as it is in your and our interest to be timely. Please note that a car with unusual options may take longer, and changing specifications after a car has begun production will typically increase the time to manufacture.

How long does it take to build a car?
It depends on the car, and of course, the builder. For the GT40, plan on 500 hours if you are an experienced builder. The T70 cars take a little less time, and the D-Type is probably the fastest of all to build, at under 200 hours for an experienced builder. It's hard to estimate for novice builders, as the variance among them is so great. But count on it taking at least twice as long as an experienced builder. In general, RCR cars are the easiest cars to build of any replica brand, and come the most assembled right from the factory. As a rule, a simple build, following the manual, always takes much less time than one with a lot of customizations, or deviations from the manual.

How hard are the cars to build? Are there resources to help the novice builder?
The cars vary in difficulty, but every car is designed to be as easy to build as possible. The D-Type, for example, can be built in as little as 200 hours with an experienced builder. If this is your first car, it will almost certainly take longer. In addition to the manual, there is a great online resource where builders can ask questions of other builders, show their progress, and generally get a lot of crowd-sourced help. Call the factory for details about the forum.

How do I pay for the car?
Normal terms are 50% of the car’s base price at order time, a second payment of 25% due on request, with the final 25% due before shipping or pickup. Options must be paid for in full at order time. Also, see the financing FAQ above.

Can I buy a turnkey car, ready to drive?
RCR builds only component kits for the street, but can deliver turn-key track or race cars that are not licensable for street use. 

However, there are several companies that have experience building RCR kits, and can completely assemble your RCR kit to your exact specifications, including interior, drivetrain and any other options. Of course, these are independent businesses, and RCR cannot be responsible for their work. Contact us for a referral as needed.

Depending on the car, RCR can, for an additional cost, construct more of the car, up to the "turnkey minus" level for street cars. Race cars only (cars that are not registerable for the street) can be provided on a turn-key basis, ready to race. Contact the factory for more details.

What is a turnkey-minus?
A "turnkey-minus" is a complete car in every way except that it is sold without a drivetrain. Buying such a car means you can get a finished car as fast as possible, with factory-built quality, built to your specifications, including paint and interior. RCR can provide cars to this level, for you or another party to just add a drivetrain. There are more details here.

Is it easy to get in and out of the cars?
Well, most of them are race cars from the 60s, so you won't mistake them for modern cars in terms of ingress or egress. But in general, yes. Don’t confuse these cars with a “normal” production car- they are low, and in some cases, a tighter fit than say, a Porsche. But they are still easy to get in and out of, at least compared to other cars of the type. The D-Type, for example, has no roof, and the doors make it easy to get in and out.

Is it hot in the cars?
The closed cars can have AC fitted to them to mitigate heat. The open cars just need a little speed to keep the occupants cool!  Of course, they can also be fitted with a heater as well, for those chilly nights.

Expectations and building a car

Here's a page that discusses the expectations you should have when building any kit car.