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Kit cars might not be to everyone's liking, but we dare say some of them are actually pretty cool.

Kit cars, are they cool, or just badly modified home-builds vaguely resembling more exotic machinery? The answer largely depends on what car you are trying to recreate and the quality of the kit you begin with, not all kit-car manufacturers produce faithful reproductions.

Erring on the side of caution, buy the best kit you can afford, nothing looks less cool than a Fiero dressed up in a cheap low-grade GRP body, it won't fool anyone and certainly will not be viewed as cool. With the nasties taken care of, building a kit-car replica is the closest many gearheads are going to get to owning a classic Le Mans racer or even a rare American muscle car, with the bonus of handcrafting and personalizing your dream ride.

Scouring the classifieds there are dozens of sports car kits to chose from, here is a selection of the coolest ones available today.

The most famous name in American sports cars, Shelby branding is all it takes to make gearheads go weak at the knees, anything even remotely connected with Carroll Shelby is all but guaranteed to command serious price tags. Among a back catalog of successful racing cars is the ultra-rare Daytona Coupe, of which just six were built.

Originals fetch big price tags in the millions range. Fortunately, Factory Five has a cheaper solution, their accurate Type 65 coupe near identical in every detail can be had for a mere $22,000. Aside from some extensive build time, gearheads only need to source a suitable V8 motor and transmission, Chevrolet's 5.7-liter LS1 is a popular choice.

A popular replica of the iconic Lotus Seven, itself originally produced as a kit car, is now available in kit-form from UK-based Caterham cars, only now with a whole lot more power tucked away inside its diminutive body.

Caterham will sell you a turn-key 420R, but where is the fun in that? Opting for the self-build not only gives gearheads the chance to individualize the light-weight retro sports car, but also comes with a hefty price saving too. Under the hood, the kit includes a breathed upon Ford 2-liter Duratec that produces 210 hp in a tubular space frame chassis results in a supercar rivaling 420 hp per ton.

RELATED: Here's What Distinguishes A Caterham From A Lotus Seven

Loosely replicating a Le Mans Group C race car, the Ultima Motorsports RS is the latest addition to their range, and also the fastest with a potential to deliver a top speed of 250 mph. Impressive stuff when you consider most buyers opt for the self-build kit option.

Depending on your budget and how long you plan to keep your driver's permit, engine options range from the wallet-friendly but still rapid 430 hp entry model all the way to a fearsome supercharged Chevrolet LT5 motor rated at 800 hp. Remember this is a lightweight track-focused car tipping the scales at a featherweight 2000 lbs and 60 mph comes and goes in 2.3-seconds.

A familiar if slightly different take on the AC Cobra, Backdraft Racing's range of RT4 kits aren't intended to be perfect replicas, leaving room for a few upgrades. The RT4 despite to casual observers just another Cobra, only parking alongside the real deal shows up the gains in length and width.

Those gains hide a clever secret, Backdraft Racing stretched the Cobra design to use modern donor running gear, leaving gearheads free to spec their own engine choice. Once where a Cobra with 500 hp was desirable, Backdraft reports customers are looking for ever higher power figure, 700-800 hp is the new norm.

Browse any kit-car publication and the chances of spotting Ford's GT40 faithfully reproduced in fiberglass are almost guaranteed, the '60s racer is one of the most replicated sports for self-build fanatics you can lay your hands on. However, a true replica of the original down to the last millimeter is only possible with Race Car Replicas, its kits molds fabricated using the original Mk.1/Mk. II cars.

RELATED: Here's What's Fake About Ford Vs Ferrari

Niggling doubts over shape and size allayed, RCR uses an all-aluminum TIG-welded chassis for strength, covered by the hand-crafted fiberglass body complete with outer and inner panels, the results near indistinguishable from the original. Under the hood, it's designed to fit a range of Ford engines, but the 5.7-liter V8's are the preferred choice.

The slightest hint of Ferrari replicas conjures images of cheap Fiero or MR2 look-a-likes that even a blind man could tell is not a Ferrari, Fortunately, there are a limited number of decent Ferrari replica options out there that do an altogether better job.

At this point it is worth mentioning that Maranello isn't overly keen on replicas or kits of any description, leading to the wrath in some cases being released through legal proceedings. Thankfully, or maybe of high enough standard, Dehavilland Motors GT offering has avoided such complications. A near-perfect replica of the mid-engined Dino 206/246 GT is available, from a basic steel-mounted fiber-glass recreation including the panels to a rolling chassis with every component in between. The only fly in an otherwise perfect build being the MG-TF sourced engine.

Given the close mechanical relationship with Volkswagen's Beetle and an abundance of donor vehicles, it comes as no surprise the Porsche 356 Speedster is a popular choice with home builders. Wannabe wind in the hair classic Porsche owners only need to supply a mechanical sound chassis and drop it off at Chesil for a little TLC and trimming.

Factory works completed, the rolling chassis and GRP bodywork kit are ready for assembly, Chesil remaining faithful to the original keeping upgrades to the bare minimum in the name of authenticity and safety. What gearheads put into the project is reflected in the results, so good is the level of detail and build that even Porsche GB steers potential customers towards Chesil's factory.

RELATED: A Detailed Look Back At The Porsche 356

Rare and stunningly beautiful, Jaguar's road-going Le Man's C-Type racer was only built between 1951 and 53, with a total of 53 cars completed. However, like all classic cars, time and money can achieve some amazing results. UK-based Realm Engineerings investment in both now means gearheads with a hankering for a classic Le Mans racer can finally recreate the '50s icon.

Two kit packages are available, both required to complete the build, chassis plus a faithful space frame recreation in aluminum with steel bulkheads ready for a suitable donor 4.2-liter straight-six XK engines. Atop this sits the beautifully handcrafted replica bodywork, consisting of the main body and composite panels.

Porsche's 550A Spyder makes a compelling argument for replica kits, the originals produced in low numbers between 1953-56 total just 90 examples, most destined for track use. Picking up one today isn't impossible, just a little on the expensive side, getting awfully close to $5 million at auction.

A much cheaper option, Thunder Ranch's 550A kit, which once completed with a smattering of original Porsche period-correct accessories, should come in under $100,000. Available in two kit specifications, the basic option containing a custom tubular frame, molded body, and all the external panels. However, we'd recommend the deluxe kit that contains most of the essentials to get your 550A up and running, just requiring a donor engine.

Raised in a car-obsessed environment from an early age ensured a keen interest in anything car-related. first and foremost an F1 fan, but also an avid follower of other motorsports. Professional background working closely with a well established UK based Supercar manufacturer in recent years.