Introducing the MK Indy R: what IS that exactly?

Kit cars get a bad rep, mostly because they’re perceived to be fiddly, high-maintenance, cobbled together bits of something else combined to make one car – and this is mine.

But the above isn’t always true, and certainly not in the case of this piece of kit. It’s made by South Yorkshire-based Seven-alike specialists MK Sportscars and is called the Indy R. And actually, it’s quite sophisticated.

This particular Indy R utilises Suzuki GSX R 1000 superbike power – that’s 162bhp and 82lb ft of torque at the rear wheels from 1,000ccs.

Now those numbers aren’t particularly stellar by normal performance car standards granted, but when you drop a lightweight engine with those credentials into a chassis that weighs around 450kg, things start to look a little more appealing – we’re talking 360hp per tonne at the rear wheels.

Nearly one fifth lighter than a Caterham R500 with around three fifths of the power, the Indy R might not quite have the grunt to challenge the top rung of the Caterham ladder but it will certainly match its smaller brother, the R400, blow-for-blow.

Being bike engined, max power is produced at a heady 10,600rpm – it’ll rev on to 12,800rpm before the limiter kicks in – but there’s plenty of power and linear torque available in the mid-range too, for those occasions when your head isn’t set to fully attack your favourite B-road.

The Indy R features double wishbone suspension all round with in board dampers and pushrods at the front – camber, castor, toe, ride height, and the suspension’s compression and rebound damping can all be adjusted to find the perfect setup for on track or on road driving, too.

Chassis wise, the Indy R is a match for any lightweight trackday special: its low kerb weight, decent power-to-weight ratio and sophisticated setup give it great agility and a feeling that the car wants to attack every bend with an inherent streak of vim and vigour.

While the MK might not have the same level of finish as a Caterham, or the image and integrity the badge brings, it is a well-engineered package that you’ll certainly get value for money from.

If you’re practically minded and handy with a spanner, you could put one together yourself for easily under £10,000, and for those anti-bike-engined folk out there, a range of car engines can be fitted too.

At the minute, the Indy R is tucked up in its winter hibernation location, but once it breaks cover for the start of the track day season, I’ll keep you posted on any updates and modifications I make and how the old girl gets on out on the black top.

Oh, and sorry it’s so dirty…