Matador

In 1970s Ontario, California, Matador Motor Co. chased the GT40 dream with a compact, home-build coupé called the Matador GT. You could even buy it finished: a turnkey car hovered around $3,300, leaving you to choose only the extras—glass or Plexiglas window sets, an interior trim package, and a lineup of magnesium wheels that gave the little GT its stance.

Most enthusiasts, though, came for the kits. The entry path was a budget $795 bundle supplying the fiberglass shell in three major pieces—nose, center, and tail—along with doors, a dashboard, a set of wheels, and the instructions to make it all come together. Step up one rung and the package grew practical: two seats appeared in the crate, plus Plexiglas covers for the headlights, hinges to tip the front and rear sections, and brackets to mount the indicators. The top specification, the “deluxe” tier at $995, aimed to take the sting out of parts hunting by adding a molded front-trunk insert, proper door hinges with locks, latches for both ends, and a complete assortment of fasteners and small hardware.

Part GT40 homage, part garage-born ambition, the Matador GT offered three clear build paths—and a ready-made option—for anyone who wanted Le Mans flavor without Le Mans prices.