DF Kit Car
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersRed Oak, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
DF Kit Car firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- DF Kit Car
- Legal name
- DF Kit Car
- Website
- https://dfkitcar.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
DF Kit Car industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Kit Cars / Automotive Kits
- NAICS
- Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing (336211), Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing (3363), Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing (33621)
- SIC
- Motor Vehicle Parts & Accessories (3714), Motor Vehicles & Passenger Car Bodies (3711)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Specialty Vehicle Body Manufacturing (Emergency/Military/Mobile Clinics) (IMACAGAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Aftermarket Exterior Accessories Manufacturing (Body Kits/Grilles/Bumpers/Racks/Tow Hooks) (IMACANAI)
Keywords
Where DF Kit Car is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Red Oak
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
DF Kit Car business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Kit Car Sales: DF Kit Car generates the majority of its revenue from one-time sales of Goblin kit car packages. V1 kits are sold with donor-matching options (Base, Sport, SS/SC, SS/TC). V2 kits are sold in Running Stage + Driving Stage + Add-ons configurations. Each kit sale is a single transaction, with optional staged delivery payments across the three stage shipments.
- Aftermarket Parts and Upgrades: The company sells replacement parts, performance upgrades (coilovers, intercoolers, etc.), body panels, lighting, seats, and accessories both bundled with kits and as standalone post-purchase add-ons. This creates recurring revenue from existing customers customizing and maintaining their builds.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Goblin V1 Kit — Base model using Chevrolet Cobalt donor (2.2L, 145-155 hp) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Goblin V2 Running Stage — Chassis, fuel tank, cooling, brakes, control arms, and parts to mount and run the donor powertrain |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Goblin V2 Driving Stage — Suspension, brakes, steering, and all parts to get the car rolling and driving |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Goblin V2 Add-ons — Body panels, lights, mirrors, windshield, engine cover, wing mounts, dash panel |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
DF Kit Car product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DF Kit Car designs, manufactures, and sells the Goblin line of exoskeletal mid-engine kit cars that customers assemble at home using common hand tools. The buyer supplies a donor vehicle (Chevrolet Cobalt for the V1, Mk7 Volkswagen Golf for the V2) and combines it with the company's chassis, suspension, body, and hardware kits to produce a mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive sports car. The company also sells aftermarket parts, upgrades, and accessories for the Goblin platform.
Product overview
DF Kit Car offers the Goblin kit car platform, a lightweight, high-performance mid-engine kit car that builders assemble from a supplied kit and a donor vehicle. The product portfolio consists of two main generations: Goblin V1 (launched 2015) using Chevrolet Cobalt/Pontiac G5 donors, and Goblin V2 (launched 2026) using Mk7 Volkswagen Golf donors. Both share an exoskeletal space frame chassis design but differ significantly in suspension (V1 uses rear struts, V2 features SLA suspension all around), donor platforms, and available options. The V2 kit ships in two stages—Running Stage (chassis and powertrain mount, $6,295) and Driving Stage (suspension/brakes, $6,295)—plus optional add-ons including QA1 coilovers, seats, body panels, lighting, and performance upgrades. The V1 similarly offered three stages. The company also sells individual components and replacement parts for both generations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Goblin: Exoskeletal mid-engine kit car product line. Includes Goblin V1 (Chevrolet Cobalt donor) and Goblin V2 (Mk7 Volkswagen Golf donor).
- Goblin V1
- Goblin V2
Products and services
- Goblin V1 Kit The original mid-engine kit car using Chevrolet Cobalt (2005-2010) or Pontiac G5 donors. Features an exoskeletal DOM mild steel space frame chassis, with the engine and transaxle relocated behind the seats for balanced handling. Designed for home assembly with pre-drilled panels, pre-bent brake lines, and labeled hardware. Available in Base, Sport, SS, and SS/TC donor-matching configurations.
- Goblin V2 Kit Next-generation mid-engine kit car using Mk7 Volkswagen Golf (2015-2021) 1.8T or GTI donors. Features SLA double-wishbone suspension on all four corners with QA1 coilovers, T-Top or Full Cage options, tubular subframe, one-piece tunnel design, and a standalone body harness. Ships in Running Stage and Driving Stage with optional add-ons.
- QA1 Coilovers Adjustable coilovers for Goblin V2, available in single adjustable (standard) or double adjustable (independent rebound and compression tuning) configurations for all four corners.
- FX1 Pro Seats Performance seats available in Small ($1,495), Medium ($1,575), and Large ($1,635) sizes with sliders, 5-point latch and link harnesses, and mounts.
- AERO Nose Three-piece body nose with functional hood extractor for improved downforce and cooling, priced at $1,320.
- Glass Windshield Safety glass windshield with hardware that passes stricter inspections, allows wiper use, and provides better protection than polycarbonate option, priced at $800.
- Air to Water Intercooler System Front mount heat exchanger, intercooler, water pump, plumbing, and hardware for enhanced turbo performance, priced at $475.
- DFKC Steering Wheel with Quick Release D-shaped steering wheel with quick release hub for easy entry and exit, priced at $205.
- Plug and Play Body Harness Ready-to-install body harness option that eliminates donor harness rework during assembly, priced at $375.
- Proportioning Valve Kit Brake proportioning kit allowing precise adjustment of front to rear brake bias, priced at $250.
Quantifiable outcome
- More than 500 Goblin V1 kits sold since 2015 with zero reported class-action recalls or widespread build failures.
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use DF Kit Car
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
DF Kit Car technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
DF Kit Car partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Cunningham TransportcoreCunningham Transport is DF Kit Car's primary freight carrier for chassis and kit shipments across the US. Their trailers feature built-in crane systems that allow drivers to load and unload chassis without the customer needing a forklift or other heavy equipment, which is essential for home delivery of large kit car components.
- Precision Powder Coating (Crandall, TX)corePrecision Powder Coating in Crandall, TX is described as 'our local coater' and has been DF Kit Car's powder coating partner for many years. They handle chassis finishing for both V1 and V2 kits. Turnaround is typically 2–3 weeks. They are familiar with DF's parts and quality expectations.
- CopartcoreCopart is an insurance auto auction recommended by DF Kit Car as a primary source for purchasing Chevrolet Cobalt (V1) and Mk7 VW Golf (V2) donor vehicles. Wrecked salvage donors offer the best value for Goblin builds.
- IAA (Insurance Auto Auctions)coreIAA is an insurance auto auction recommended alongside Copart as a primary source for purchasing donor vehicles. Many V2 builders source Mk7 GTIs from IAA at lower prices due to salvage status.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
DF Kit Car competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Superformance: Superformance manufactures replica and continuation specialty vehicles (Cobra, GT40, Corvette Grand Sport) sold as complete rolling chassis or kits, directly comparable to DF Kit Car's turn-key chassis/body kit approach.
- Factory Five Racing: Factory Five Racing is the largest U.S. manufacturer of build-it-yourself kit cars (Cobra, Daytona Coupe, GTM, Type 65 Coupe) sold direct-to-consumer with detailed assembly manuals and active builder community — directly comparable to DF Kit Car's DIY exoskeletal mid-engine kit concept.
- Ariel Motor Company: Ariel builds ultra-lightweight, exoskeletal-style specialty vehicles (Atom, Nomad) targeting the same high performance-to-weight enthusiast segment that the Goblin serves, with similar low-volume, direct-order business model.
- Caterham Cars: Caterham is a UK-based specialty manufacturer of lightweight, Seven-style kit and built sports cars targeting the same enthusiast DIY market as DF Kit Car, with a similar power-to-weight performance positioning and direct-to-consumer sales model.
- Westfield Sportscars: Westfield produces Seven-derived kit cars sold to enthusiast builders in a similar DIY assembly model, competing in the lightweight British-style kit sports car category that overlaps DF Kit Car's positioning.
Emerging players
- Locost Builders (community): The Locost movement represents grassroots DIY enthusiasts designing and building their own Seven-style kit cars from plans, representing a lower-cost alternative to commercial kit offerings like DF Kit Car's Goblin.
- Vanderhall Motor Works: Vanderhall produces low-volume specialty three-wheel and four-wheel vehicles for the U.S. enthusiast market, comparable as another small specialty manufacturer serving the same DIY/specialty vehicle buyer persona.
- Local Motors: Local Motors pioneered low-volume, community-influenced specialty vehicle production with platforms like the Rally Fighter — comparable to DF Kit Car as a small-batch specialty vehicle manufacturer with strong community engagement.
Others
- Pontiac (donor/legacy reference): While defunct as a brand, Pontiac's G5 (and the related Chevrolet Cobalt) is explicitly listed as a V1 donor platform, making the donor ecosystem a structural component of DF Kit Car's value proposition.
- Factory Motorparts / Smittybilt (aftermarket off-road): Adjacent specialty automotive parts manufacturer that produces aftermarket body and accessory kits, comparable to DF Kit Car's aftermarket parts business for Goblin upgrades.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
DF Kit Car social profiles
Digital presenceDF Kit Car financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
DF Kit Car leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
DF Kit Car funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
DF Kit Car M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about DF Kit Car
What does DF Kit Car do?
DF Kit Car designs, manufactures, and sells the Goblin line of exoskeletal mid-engine kit cars that customers assemble at home using common hand tools. The buyer supplies a donor vehicle (Chevrolet Cobalt for the V1, Mk7 Volkswagen Golf for the V2) and combines it with the company's chassis, suspension, body, and hardware kits to produce a mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive sports car. The company also sells aftermarket parts, upgrades, and accessories for the Goblin platform.
Is DF Kit Car a public or private company?
DF Kit Car is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was DF Kit Car founded?
DF Kit Car was founded in 2015.
Where is DF Kit Car based?
DF Kit Car is headquartered in Red Oak, United States, in the North America region.
How does DF Kit Car make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Kit Car Sales are the primary driver. The others are aftermarket Parts and Upgrades.
Who are DF Kit Car's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Superformance, Factory Five Racing, Ariel Motor Company, Caterham Cars and Westfield Sportscars. Emerging players are Locost Builders (community), Vanderhall Motor Works and Local Motors. Others are Pontiac (donor/legacy reference) and Factory Motorparts / Smittybilt (aftermarket off-road).
Does DF Kit Car have an API?
No public API is recorded for DF Kit Car.
What industry is DF Kit Car in?
DF Kit Car's product category is Kit Cars / Automotive Kits. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMACAGAD, Specialty Vehicle Body Manufacturing (Emergency/Military/Mobile Clinics), with a secondary code of IMACANAI, Aftermarket Exterior Accessories Manufacturing (Body Kits/Grilles/Bumpers/Racks/Tow Hooks). Its NAICS code is 336211 and its SIC code is 3714.