The very popular Smartuki is now available in kit form. The Smartuki, as you’ll recall, is the GSX-R powered Smart car originally built by Z Cars for Peter Bee. Although the Smartuki was an incredible little beast, Z Cars didn’t have the time to turn out a kit and sold the whole project to Bill Allen. Allen, who was involved in building the original Smartuki, took the time to get everything sorted out and organized into a kit so anyone with the time and desire, plus a little cash, could now do it himself.
The Smartuki kit looks very well finished and once you close the rear hatch, no one knows what lurks inside. The engine bay is covered with sound deadening foam and closes around the engine and you still have a package shelf in the rear. You don’t need decals and racy paint, just don’t start the engine before placing your bet. Hey buddy, wanna race?
The Smartuki is available in four optional levels, from the basic level of almost totally doing it yourself along with finding most of your own parts to the highest level of drive in-drive out after writing a check. Prices range from £2000 to £9000, convert to your own currency for your cost. He will ship all over the world, too, so if you have a Smart and want to buy the kit, give Bill a ring and let him know.
The Kneeslider: Smartuki
The Kneeslider: Smartuki to be made by Bill Allen
The Kneeslider: Motorcycle Powered Cars
aaron says
here’s one for ya…..
motorcycle powered cars = cool
diesel powered bikes = cool
suzuki engines going into smart cars = smart’s 600cc turbodiesels coming up for sale? I’m already checking for motors on ebay…
todd says
It’s too bad they aren’t available over here in the US. I heard that Daimler Chrysler sued a company for importing a couple Smart cars and selling them. I know there are some companies working on bringing them up to US standards but with a lawsuit against anyone who tries we may never see them stateside. I guess Daimler is worried people will start bringing them in for service and they won’t have support. I think this also is similar to gray market KTM imports where the official importer is the only one allowed to import and sell the vehicles.
-todd
sfan says
todd, they may be closer to the US than you think. Smart cars have been available and selling well in Canada for over a year:
First Drive: 2005 smart fortwo cabriolet
http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/pw/05smartcabriolet.htm
Smart sells out in Canada:
http://www.zapworld.com/about/news/watch_smartcanada.asp
todd says
yes but I don’t want daimler to sue me for bringing one in the US and later selling it…
-todd
martin grant says
If you guys are serious about buying smarts I can get them for you right now! I work for the first zap! smart car dealer in the U.S. and we just got a shipment of fortwos in. call me at 480- 228- 3375 martin
George says
Its nice to see a very small economy car that does a terrific 12.4 in the 1/4 mile! Numbers like this will silence the critics that think all ultra small cars are junk. As a motorcycle rider, I would be interested in owning a car like this in the future. P.S.- the Honda S2000 is another small car with impressive preformance numbers that has been selling well the last few years and also qualifies as an “ultra high efficency” vehicle.
Ryan Haskins says
Zap is now importing FORTWO’s with DOT and EPA certification….Available at Zap of Phoenix… The premier USA Dealer…call 480-212-0002…Ask for Ryan Haskins or Martin Grant…
todd says
Does ZAP have California approved “FORTWO’s”? I assume the fortwo is a Smart car.
-todd
Jesse says
So very tempted to buy another Fortwo for this reason.
Herb Bell says
There seem to be two guys in Phoenix (Martin & Ryan) at Zap who claim to be selling Smart cars. Their website says nothing but “coming soon”. Looks like the old come-ons we’ve been seeing for years now. The proof would be in the pricing, the service/parts picture and the ability to get them registered/insured in the various states.
Jame says
They are here in the us heck i have senn three on the road’s in the mooresville area of nc just two week’s ago, I beileve they are from the lake norman area zap world.com based dealership, you can also get them imported to the us with out a motor and save a ton of money as a glider than add your own like the one above
Bruce says
The 2 seat Smart car is available in 46 states of the USA through ZAP dealers. The conversion by ZAP is not EPA legal for new cars 4 states: Mass, Maine, New York and Calif. After 7500 miles the cars are legal in Mass as used vehicles. I have seen one in NH. ZAP has sold about 200 cars so far. They sell for about $25-28K (US). Both coupes and convertibles are available. They buy cars off the lots in Europe and ship and convert them in the US. All are two seaters
Big announcement expected this week (June 27, 06) by Diamler Chrysler (DC) on offically importing cars through DC dealers starting in 2007 for about $13K. If it’s a go, should kill Zap’s current efforts.
LargeFilipino says
Haha….haha…HAHAHAHA!!!!
I NEED a SMART car conversion.
It would complete my life.
chris says
i think it is cool and i want to do it to my smart car 2four pulse. i was just woundering how much it will cost to transform.
Beverly says
Zap home base is Santa Rosa, CA they are electric Smart Cars are gas.
john r dedeian says
anyone know if a smartcar can be towed with all 4 wheels on the ground, as behind a motorhome or similar.??
billymillennium says
Wutta car!!! it would be kool to have on a track at an amusment park. Id deffently wouldnt put that on public roads or wunna be aproching one.
It would be just as safe as a Mattel PowerWheels.
I hope the US bans anything like that being regesterd for public transit.
Jon says
When will the US get the Diesel ver? Projected 70mpg
motoxyogi says
Haha! Billy sorry to break it to ya but those smart cars are tough little things. They stand up to impacts nearly as well as anything on the road. Bar the obvious exceptions such as trucks. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju6t-yyoU8s if you watch this vid just check out the damage on the merc but incase i sound like i’m saying the smart is invunerable the rest of the video puts it all in perspective. I’m willing to bet that if they’d crashed a full size car the results would have been similar.
Sampie says
I am resident in Pretoria – South Africa. I would love to convert my Smart but has lots of questions. With the current exchange rate I believe a convertion would cost more than a bew car here? Is it possible to make a kit here with some guidence from you? Would you help a guy out here?
Thanks
Sampie
shark says
please give us a web site to buy the kit for gsxr in the smart car
kneeslider says
Follow the link to smartuki.com above. Smartuki kit from Bill Allen.
bill says
They’ve been in Canada for years so I’m puzulled on why they are not in the US.
BOOCAKE4U says
they are available in the US and have been for quite some time…
http://www.smartusa.com
there are some great videos of a busa powered smart on youtube…just unreal