Perfect donor car for the Zero........ The Mazda MX5 (Miata)

The Zero Mazda Self Build option is a very popular option and the Mazda MX5 (Miata) serves perfectly as a donor for the Zero & is available worldwide. The Mazda MX5 donor Zero utilises (Mk1, Mk2, Mk2.5) from 1989 through 2005 in either right or left hand drive.

Several parts are required from the donor car Engine 1.6 or 1.8, Gearbox, Differential, Front Hubs & Calipers, Rear Hubs & Calipers, Steering Shaft , Steering Column with Stalks, Brake Master Cylinder, Clutch Master Cylinder, Propshaft, Drive Shafts.

You can select from a variety of Zero self build packages to suit all budgets from our starter kit through to a complete kit of components that can be assembled easily by yourself. The GBS Zero range is available as right hand or left hand drive and as a Standard width or GT (grand tourer /wide body) chassis option, which allows greater access and a more comfortable seating position for the taller/larger driver.

Contact us today to arrange your visit to see us and to enjoy a test drive in our Zero demonstrator with one of the team.

GBS Zero Student Build - Tesla engine into a Zero.....

GBS Zero Student Build…… Earlier this year a college placed their order for their first GBS Zero Self Build Kit which the students will be building later this year. This wasn’t a standard kit as they wanted the Zero to be electrically powered by a Tesla engine. So the Zero chassis has had to be modified to suit their engine choice.

This complete custom engine installation is currently underway to accommodate a Tesla engine in our fabrication department. We look forward to following and supporting the students with this exciting build.
We are able to work with you to customise the whole power train and other aspects of the car. We recently completed a Zero build which you may have seen featured on our news page before that was powered by a Kawasaki 1400 GTR engine that is now complete and road registered and being enjoyed on the road. Before it left the GBS Workshop we made a short video talking through the spec of this Zero and this can now be seen on our GBS YouTube channel.

The Zeros can be enjoyed on the Road & Track, with the option to have this Zero kit with the Zero fully welded integrated Roll Cage, which are MSA Compliant and FIA Compliant.

See more details about the Zero Self Build options we offer including the Zero Custom kit here, or contact us to discuss your Zero build.

NEW EVENT - Friday Night at the Factory.... Join us in your Zero...

Friday Night at the Factory - Great British Sports Cars.

COME & JOIN US….

This is a new event that we have created that will be happening on the last Friday of the month from May to August. Similar style to our GBS Cars & Coffee events this is a great opportunity for you all to have a summer evening ride out in your sports cars / bikes and a meeting point to enjoy an evening of cars, bikes, car chat, music, food and drinks with the GBS Team. The GBS Car Park will be open from 5pm till late.  

The dates for Friday Night at the Factory events are planned for the below*:
Friday 26th May
Friday 30th June
Friday 28th July
Friday 25th August

All cars are welcome and everyone is welcome to join us for a great evening. Food and drinks will be available on the night. Please drive responsibly in the local area.

First Event Date: Friday 26th May 2023.
(Run every last Friday of the month -May to August)
Times: 5pm till late
Location: Great British Sports Cars - NG22 9ZD.

More details can be found on our GBS Event page and more will be released nearer the time.
*If dates are to change, the our GBS Event Page will be updated.

Bespoke paint options..... Behind the scenes at paint.....

Full custom paint for your Zero….

Our full custom paint option that we offer has become a very popular option and recently we have seen some very nice paint colour and options being chosen, as well as some that are scheduled for paint over the coming weeks that we look forward to sharing with you. Our custom paint option is truly individual to you, we work with you from start to finish to get your bespoke paint colour and design that you want.

Above is a recent Zero factory build at paint that is now back with us in the build bay for the build to continue, we will share more details on this paint colour and spec next month. A lot of preparation work goes into getting the Zero ready for paint, the paint process usually takes around 2 to 3 weeks but that can change depending on the paint design.

If you already have a Zero then we can do a full paint transformation, visit our paint option page to see an example of a customers paint transformation from orange to grey that we did. More details about our paint and vehicle graphics can be found here, or contact us and we can discuss the options with you.

Automotive Engineering Student enjoys work experience at GBS....

Last week we were pleased to have welcomed Matthew Davis Haller to GBS for a weeks work experience.
Matt who is in his first year studying Automotive Engineering at the University of Leeds, spent 4 days with us and spent time in various departments of GBS with the team to get an understanding of what we do and what we can offer. Matt already knows a lot about the Zero having built one himself with his Father.

Few words from Matt about his week with us…. “My work experience at GBS for an engineering degree was perfect – so much design and production under one roof, and to the standard of engineering excellence the company adhere to is a rare thing in the UK. It was great to get away from the theory of my degree, and see some practical engineering in real life. My previous knowledge about the Zero allowed a hands on approach to different parts of the manufacturing process that included cutting chassis members, an introduction to both Mig and Tig welding, and GRP bodywork production.
I also spent time in the workshop help preparing a car for IVA and help build the GBS race car. This brought back many enjoyable memories of when I built my own car with my father.
Richard also helped me understand the ECU they run on many of the cars (including my own), and the tuning/calibration aspect of it. Something I’m very interested in as it brings together many aspects of engineering. I look forward to working with GBS more in the future, to learn more about CNC machining, the CAD design and ECU aspects of the business.”

January 2019 was the start of Matt and Father Jerrys Zero build when they first visited our GBS stand at the Autosport’s Show at the NEC in Birmingham. They have been enjoying their Zero on road since the beginning of 2021 and have also enjoyed several road trips and track days in it. The Zero self build is an ideal project for a Father and Son to enjoy together, and also enjoy together once its on the road on both the road and track.

We are a very popular choice with Schools and Colleges throughout the country for work experience placements. We try to accommodate students for work experience when ever possible weather it be for a week or just a day. To apply and for more details please visit our GBS Career page.

GBS Owners area reserved for you all at Malvern Kit Car Show....

If you are heading to the Kit Car Show at Malvern in your Zero, then please see below a site plan of the GBS Owners area we have reserved for you all to park together over the weekend.

The GBS team can be seen with the Zeros at the Malvern Kit Car Show that is happening on Saturday 3rd June and Sunday 4th June at the Three Counties Showground in Malvern.

Visit our GBS event page for more details about this event and other events that we have planned. The next event on the GBS Calendar is our GBS Track Day which is happening at Blyton Park on Saturday 29th April.

Are you getting your GBS Zero ready for the summer months ahead.....

Are you getting your Zero back on the road and ready to enjoy the summer months ahead?

Then visit our parts website Kit Spares - www.kitspares.co.uk to see a full range of parts and spares that we offer, including some new products and upgrade options that we have available for the Zeros and other sports cars.

Below are just a few of our favourite and popular products we offer, our Kit Spares shop and showroom is also open Monday to Friday and occasional Saturdays, so why not call in and see what we have on display.
Keep checking our GBS Event page to see what events that we have planned over the next few months with more new exciting events being added soon.

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Easter Opening Times:
Over Easter GBS and Kit Spares will be closed for the long weekend from 7th - 10th April and be back to normal opening hours on Tuesday 11th April 2023. You can still order online from our Kit Spares and all orders will be processed and dispatched on Tuesday 11th April.

Thank you for joining us at our first GBS Cars & Coffee event of 2023.....

Big thank you to everyone who joined us last Saturday (18th March) at GBS for our first Cars and Coffee event of 2023…….They just get better and better each time we hold our GBS Cars & Coffee events, and what a fantastic day we had with a car park full of sports cars, even the rain held off for the morning. We would like to say a big THANK YOU to you all for joining us and helping us make it such a great event and enjoyable day, its always nice to see so many Zero’s together in the car park along with a wide variety of other cars. The gates opened at 10am and by 10.30am the car park was already getting full.

The GBS and Kit Spares show room was very busy with people and the Kit Spares   was also very busy with sales and enquires. As usual the cakes attracted a lot of attention and certainly went down well with not many left along with the unlimited supply of tea and coffee. We would also like to thank A-Plan Insurance for sponsoring and supporting our event, you can see more about their insurance they offer on our Insurance page.

Another great thing about our GBS Cars & Coffee events that we love, is that we are able to raise money for our 2 chosen charities which are the Cancer Research UK and The Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance, we all feel and hope you agree that The Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance is a fantastic service and has helped & will continue to help many people, as well as the Cancer Research UK that is again a fantastic charity that makes a big difference to so many people and their families.
The next GBS Cars & Coffee date will be announced next week.

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Join us at our next GBS Cars & Coffee event…..

The Zero can be seen at this years Kit Cars Shows.....

We are pleased to confirm that the GBS team can be seen with the Zeros at the Malvern Kit Car Show and the Newark Kit Car Show later this year.

The National Kit & Sports Car Show at Malvern, Worcestershire is taking place on Saturday 3rd June and Sunday 4th June and the Newark Kit Car Show is happening on Saturday 22nd July and Sunday 23rd July at the Newark Showground.

We will confirm nearer the time what Zeros can be seen on our stand along with a range of parts and spares from both Kit Spares and ATR Products.

We have also reserved a GBS Owners area for Zero owners to all park together at both shows like previous years, details on this will be released soon on our event page.

Visit our GBS event page for more details about these events. The next event on the GBS Calendar is our GBS cars & Coffee event which is happening this Saturday 18th March at GBS - All cars are welcome to join us, gates open at 10am. #GBSCarsandcoffee

Contact us today to discuss your Zero Self Build…..

Zero powered by a 2.5 Duratec engine goes to Rolling Road.....

GBS Zero goes to rolling road…. This GBS Zero which many of you may have seen last year on our stand at various shows and events was back with us last month for an engine upgrade and then Rolling Road.

The 2.5 Duratec engine on ATR Throttle Bodies with a Life ECU was with us for development on a new cam, rods and pistons upgrade, then taken to Rolling Road where we were testing the trumpet and inlet extension tubes. The Rolling Road map session made 252 bhp which the customer was very pleased with and is now ready to start enjoying more miles in his Zero this year, and will hopefully be joining us on Saturday 18th March at our GBS Cars & Coffee event. (See more details on our event page)

If you are interested in booking your car in with us for any upgrades, rolling road or any other of our workshop services then get in touch.

Not long until our first GBS Cars & Coffee event of the year....

ALL CARS ARE WELCOME….

Not long now until our first GBS Cars & Coffee event of the year which is proudly sponsored by A-Plan Insurance that is happening on Saturday 18th March at GBS. All cars are welcome to join us, and we are pleased to hear already that many of you are planning to join us in your Zeros and other sports cars.
Like all our Cars & Coffee events we will be offering free refreshments on the day, but ask for donations to help raise more money for two great charities…. We will be collecting for the Notts & Lincs Air Ambulance & Cancer Research.

The Kit Spares shop and showroom (www.kitspares.co.uk ) will be open on the day. Thank you to those that have already pre ordered items to collect on the day, please feel free to call us or email and pre order so they can be prepared and ready for you to collect on the day to avoid any delays as it can often be busy. For more details about the event and to let us know you are joining us please visit our event page.

All the GBS and A-Plan team look forward to seeing you and welcoming you to GBS on Saturday 18th March.

Customers Zero Mazda Build progressing well....

We always like to hear from customers and see how their Zero Builds are going and we recently received some photographs and build update from GBS customer Marin Cordeaux and his wife Jane who collected their Zero Mazda Kit from us in October last year.

Martin said they ”Spent the first couple of weeks just getting familiar with the car and going over all the parts that we collected along with working through the wiring harness, brake pipes and fuel lines. We started with the differential and lifted that into place using the engine hoist which made the whole job a lot easier picking up on the locating point on the chassis. Once that was fitted we fitted the low pressure fuel pump and some of the associated hoses and fuel lines. We then moved onto the rear wishbones which then allowed us to fit the drive shafts and rear hubs. We located the prop shaft and made up a mounting bracket for the speedo pick up sensor.

So far so good, had a few technical questions which Matt from the GBS Workshop kindly resolved and we are progressing well to date”.

We look forward to following Martin and Janes Mazda Zero build and sharing their progress with you again later this year.

If you are near the completion of your Zero build and looking to get it IVA tested and registered then please see more details here about our IVA Service we offer for the Zeros and other sports cars.

The NEW MSA & FIA approved Zero Race Car.....

The new FIA Zero Race Car was seen for the very first time at the Autosport International Show at the NEC in Birmingham last month, and its now back in production for the build to continue and will soon be ready for some track days later this year.

For maximum safety and rigidity our Race chassis comes with a fully welded intergrated Roll Cage that is MSUK compliant or to full FIA Compliant spec. The custom Zero Race allows you to tailor the Zero to the engine and running gear configuration of your choice to suit the race series you are competing in, weather that is an already compatible engine or a completely custom engine installation. This allows you to customise and optimise every aspect of the car for ultimate performance and enjoyment.

The NEW 2023 Zero Race car specification can be seen below:
FIA Homologated Race Chassis, Painted Gloss White / Satin Black, 2.5 Duratec Engine / ATR throttles / Life ECU, Power options 200 - 350 bhp, 5 Speed gearbox / Quick shift, GRP Dash with AIMS Dash, Race Seats / TRS 6pt Harness, Momo Steering Wheel, Lightweight Floor & Bodywork, ATR Adjustable Suspension, ATR Brakes, Sports Race Fuel Tank & Swirl Pot, 4-2-1 Exhaust Manifold, Team Dynamics Wheels & Yokohama Tyres.
The Zero Race is ideal if you are looking for a track day car or a competition race car to compete at all levels. There are a range of optional extras and upgrades available along the way, so you will be building a truly individual race car that is unique and bespoke to you.

Chassis package prices start from £5,500, click here to see a short overview video and more details on the Zero Race Car.

Great to see the Zeros being enjoyed in all weathers all over the world....

We enjoy our Zero demonstrators all year and its great to see that many of you do too! GBS customer Jacob Dowling sent us these photographs of his Zero out in the countryside in the recent snow fall that we had in the UK. While over in USA GBS customers have been out enjoying their Zeros together meeting in Saratoga for a run up Highway 9 and 35.
Another GBS Zero self build kit was collected last week that is now on its way to the USA which is going to Seattle Washington, where the owner is looking forward to enjoying it on the beautiful Cascades mountain roads. Two more shipping crates are also expected to be with us later this week for more Zeros that we will be preparing that will be going to USA over the next few weeks.
There are now GBS Zero’s on the road or under construction in many USA states. Contact us if you are interested in a GBS Zero in North America and Click here for more details about the Zero Self Build options that we offer.

The first event of 2023 for the GBS Team was a great success….

It’s been a busy start to the year at GBS as we were straight into preparing for the first event on the GBS Calendar which was the Autosports International Show at the NEC in Birmingham. The event started on Thursday 12th until Sunday 15th January, it was great to be back there as it was 2019 since we were last there due to Covid. It was nice to see and catch up with so many customers over the 4 days as well as meet many new customers that we look forward to welcoming to the GBS Factory over the next few months.

We were based in Hall 3, where we had two very nice spec Zero’s on display. Including our new high spec Zero Race Car along with a Gen 2 factory built Zero that GBS Customer Robin Copley kindly let us have on display for the show. Both Zero’s attracted a lot of attention and we were also delighted to have Tri-Tech 3D join us on our stand. On display, along with the Zeros was one of the newest 3D printers from Stratasys – the F370CR. Built for robust applications and ideal for the Automotive industry, this industrial FDM printer 3D prints in ABS-CF10 and Nylon-CF10 materials – perfectly suited to supplement traditional fabrication technologies. Tri-Tech 3D also bought with them a host of 3D printed models & previous projects that attracted a lot attention including some components that were created and displayed on our Zero Race Car on our stand. We will share more details on them later this month.

The next event on the GBS Calander is our GBS Cars & Coffee event that is proudly sponsored by A-Plan Insurance which is happening on Saturday 18th March at GBS. Visit our events page for more details and to see what other events that we have planned for 2023, its updated regularly so keep checking.

Happy Christmas to you all and best wishes for 2023.... From all the team at GBS

All of the GBS and Kit Spares  team would like to wish you and your families a very Happy Christmas, and also like to take this opportunity to say thank you all for your support this year.

After a successful and busy year, we are now looking forward to a continued busy & successful 2023 with many new and exciting plans ahead for us. We will be announcing some very exciting news in January.

But for now we are all looking forward to a well earned break and rest over the Christmas period and we look forward to seeing you all in the New Year. Don’t forget you can still follow us over the Christmas break on our social media channels for updates – Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Happy Christmas Everyone & Stay Safe

Best Wishes From
Richard and all the GBS & Kit Spares Team.

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GBS & Kit Spares Christmas & New Year Opening Times….
Both GBS and Kit Spares will be closed from Friday 23rd December and we will be open again and back to normal opening hours on Tuesday 3rd January 2023.

You can still place your orders online from our parts website Kit Spares but please note any orders placed after 23rd December 2022 may not be processed or dispatched until 3rd / 4th January 2023. www.kitspares.co.uk

Happy Christmas & Happy New Year

The learning curve of building a Zero is one the most rewarding things I have ever done......

We always love to see photographs and hear about customers Zero build stories and experiences they have had and how we as a team can improve and make the build experience even better and more enjoyable. GBS customer Andrew Ives has been enjoying his Zero on the road for some time and we asked him to write a few words about his experience…….

My name is Andrew and I've been asked to write something about my experience with the highs and lows of building and owning my own GBS zero race.  
After lots of research and meeting the team at a car show, followed by a factory visit, I made the decision to go with GBS for lots of reasons but mainly for their attention to detail, and design. The quality of the wielding and powder coating on the frames and parts was also a very good reason as its nothing short of remarkable.
With the build, I took my time. From the trestles to being on the road, it took me just under 4 years. I would say the whole build went as I envisioned it, with only a couple of surprises, one having to do the IVA 3 times down to just emissions, funnily the road tax on my Zero is less than the MX5 the engine came from! And two, having to shell out an extra £900+ on individual throttle bodies because the MX5 engine plenum would not fit in the engine bay, at first this stung but now in hindsight it may be the best upgrade on the car and I would highly recommend them. Talking of upgrades, well one that I chose to buy, I would also recommend the solid rear end bushes as they transform the feel of the rear end and you can set up the geometry exactly how you like it.

 Being 6 foot 4 and fed up of feeling cramped in other 7en's, I chose the GT frame. The GT also only comes with lowered floors which meant I had lots of headroom for my crash hat under the roll cage, this means I wouldn't have a problem with scrutineering on race events. I've owned and done a lot of work on MX5's, so it was an easy choice to go down the MX5 donor root. It also kept the cost down, then and now due to parts being cheap. 

At first, I thought I may have bitten off more than I can chew, as I decided to build as much of the car as I possibly could, starting with the ECU, a Megasquitrt MS3X kit. A full engine and diff rebuild. A custom wiring loom to my own design but using the fuse box from the MX5. The headlight switch I used from a VW Golf, this helped with the IVA fog light rule. Setting up the geometry, doing the tuning and finally taking it through the IVA. But this was another nice thing about GBS and kit spares, If I got stuck at any point, I was safe in the knowledge that I could just call GBS for help or spend some money for a short cut to get me over the finish line.

 And yes, without question, before I started, the idea of not having a build manual was terrifying but looking back on it now, it allowed me the freedom to build something fit for my purpose and unique to my needs.
I'm currently using the car on the road and track but also for grassroots motorsport which has to be the most enjoyable thing I do with the car. Being a member of Farnham district motor club has opened up a world of new possibilities that I've only just started to discover. Click here to watch a short video. 

If you're like me and grew up building RC cars and unable to stop yourself thinking about everything on wheels, you have to put building a kit car on you bucket list. The learning curve of building a Zero is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done! - A. Ives

The learning curve of building a Zero is one the most rewarding things I have ever done…. 

GBS Christmas Competition - WIN a Sealey Mechanic's Tool Kit 144pc....

COMPETITION TIME……WIN THIS SEALEY Mechanic's Tool Kit 144pc.

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We have teamed up with Sealey Tools and are giving you the chance to WIN this Red 144pc Mechanics Tool Kit worth £225….

One of a comprehensive range of Premier Hand Tools, suitable for daily professional use.
• Comprehensive range of frequently used hand tools.
• 1/4" and 1/2"Sq drive 72-Tooth offset comfort grip ratchet wrenches.
• Includes 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2"Sq drive sockets, hex keys, spanners, screwdrivers, pliers, bits and accessories.
• Housed in a sturdy storage case with reinforced corners, aluminium trim and lockable metal catches.
• Lifetime guarantee*.

Ideal to have in the Workshop and for anyone building a GBS Zero or something similar. For the chance to WIN head over to our GBS Facebook page to see more details.
*The Winner will be picked at random and notified on Friday 16th December 2022. Good luck!

Visit our parts shop Kit Spares to see our range of Sealey Tools or contact us with the part number and we can give you a quote. www.kitspares.co.uk

This competition is now closed. Thank you to everyone who entered.

GBS & Kit Spares Christmas Opening times & Gift Ideas….

All of the GBS and Kit Spares team are all looking forward to a well earned break over the festive period, below are our Christmas opening times.

The GBS Factory and Kit Spares Shop will be closed from Friday 23rd December and we will be open again and back to normal opening hours on Tuesday 3rd January 2023.

You can still place your orders online from our parts website Kit Spares over the Christmas break, but please note any orders placed on or after 23rd December 2022 may not be processed or dispatched until 3rd / 4th January 2023. www.kitspares.co.uk Don’t forget to follow us on our GBS, Kit Spares & ATR Products Social Media Channels and over the Christmas holidays to see what we are up to!

Its also our GBS Christmas Cars & Coffee event this Saturday (3rd December) at GBS, we hope you can all join us. More details can be found on our event page the Kit Spares Shop will also be open on the day and also Sealy Tools will be joining us, if you need any parts to keep you busy over the Christmas holidays or are looking for some Christmas presents.

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Below are just a few Christmas Gift Ideas for you and your Zero’s, visit our parts website Kit Spares or contact us for details.

A Kit Spares Gift Voucher could make the perfect gift….

Fantastic time at the Classic Motor Show with the Zeros….

We had a fantastic time this weekend at the Classic Motor Show at the NEC in Birmingham. Thank you to everyone who visited our stand over the 3 days this show is one of our favourite shows of the year and it never disappoints. Both the GBS & Kit Spares stand were busy all 3 days particularly the Saturday, it was great to see so many customers over the weekend as well as meet many new customers that we look forward to welcoming to the GBS factory over the next few months.

On our stand this year was a customers Zero build by Jim Burge.
The Zero Build Spec: Zero Ultimate Self Assembly Customer Build Sport Chassis / Painted Ford Focus RS Blue / 2.5 Duratec Engine Power 200 - 350 bhp / 5 Speed manual gearbox / Carbon Dash with Smiths Gauges / Carbon Fibre Finishing panels / DRL Style Headlights / ATR Adjustable Suspension / ATR Brakes Front: ATR 300mm floating discs 4 pot caliper Rear: Disc & Caliper Standard. Click here for more details about the Zero Ultimate Self Build Kit and other Zero Self Build options we offer.

We also had a range of Kit Spares and ATR Products on display attracting a lot of attention particularly the popular Ford 2.5 Duratec engine. Visit our parts website www.kitspares.co.uk or come and visit our showroom and shop that is open Monday - Friday to see more products and details.

This was our last show of the year but we still have one event left, which we are all very much looking forward to which is our GBS Christmas Cars & Coffee event that is happening on Saturday 3rd December at our GBS Factory, please click here for more details.

The start of 2023 is looking very exciting for the GBS team and the GBS calendar for 2023 is looking very busy with lots of new and exciting events scheduled in, the 2023 GBS calendar will be released very soon. We hope to be at more events, do more track days and much more! So make sure you keep visiting our event page.

GBS Christmas Cars & Coffee is happening at GBS on
Saturday 3rd December.