About this season
Over 15 episodes, 'A Car is Born' is a step by step guide to building a supercar from a kit - from choosing the kit to taking the finished car for testing by Ian Forrest - Chief Racing Instructor at Knockhill Race Circuit.The philosophy of the show is a simple one - to provide anybody watching with the confidence and the knowhow to have a go for themselves.
Episodes (15)
1. Episode 1
Aired 1 July 1999
Mark meets Ian Stent from Which Kit? at the National Kit and Performance Car Show, before visiting the factory where his kit is manufactured.
2. Episode 2
Aired 8 July 1999
Mark goes shopping for tools and a second-hand car to provide spare parts, taking the Owners Club secretary along with him for advice.
3. Episode 3
Aired 15 July 1999
Volunteers from the local college strip the second hand car of spare parts, and the engine and gearbox are sent to a specialist for reconditioning.
4. Episode 4
Aired 22 July 1999
The rear axle is reconditioned with some components being sent away for powder-coating, and Mark gets a progress report on the engine.
5. Episode 5
Aired 29 July 1999
Mark installs axles, suspension hubs and brakes and engineer Dave Peters chips in with some tips as they succeed in creating a rolling chassis.
6. Episode 6
Aired 5 August 1999
A reconditioned engine is built up and bench-tested, and Mark checks out extras from retro-look air filters to race-tuned carburretors.
7. Episode 7
Aired 12 August 1999
Mark puts together the engine, gearbox, a new clutch and the exhaust, before testing to see if everything works!
8. Episode 8
Aired 19 August 1999
Mark rivets the body parts onto the chassis, finding out about shut-lines, panel fit and GRP from engineer Robert Kemp.
9. Episode 9
Aired 26 August 1999
Mark chooses an authentic walnut dashboard from a vintage gauge company before sanding and polishing it, ready for testing.
10. Episode 10
Aired 2 September 1999
Mark puts his personal stamp the interior of his replica AC Cobra, buying everything from carpeting and door lining trim to seat belts.
11. Episode 11
Aired 9 September 1999
Mark gets to grips with wiring his replica AC Cobra, installing a loom, connecting electric components and fixing that all-important car stereo.
12. Episode 12
Aired 16 September 1999
It's all about basic aesthetics today as we learn how to finish off a GRP shell by masking and priming the car bodywork ready for finished topcoat.
13. Episode 13
Aired 23 September 1999
Mark fits the hood, headlights, bumpers and racing wheels, and visits specialist suppliers for the badges to put his individual stamp on the car.
14. Episode 14
Aired 30 September 1999
Mark's creation undergoes the Single Vehicle Approval test and we travel to Bristol for the vehicle inspector's opinion on how the car measures up.
15. Episode 15
Aired 7 October 1999
Mark takes his creation to a kit car show to see how it compares to other models, and gets feedback from the experts as the car is entered for a car club track day.