Well here is a car you do not everyday. The Riot was designed and sold by Thunder Ranch. It was a buggy like car designed to utilize a VW Bug Chassis or even a tube chassis. It was a great looking car if you ask me and for the day was very stylish. The Thunder Ranch Riot was featured in countless magazines and was even used in the TV Series Baywatch in an episode where it was given as a gift, stolen and recovered.
Some years ago Thunder Ranch stopped production of the Riot and the Molds and Tooling were sold to a person named Nathan Wratislaw. I was able to find his website and contacted him some time ago to inquire about them. He told me he did still own the molds and tooling and it was one of his “Investments”. Im not really sure what that meant due to the fact that in order to make money on said investment you would have to sell the cars. He said they are sold in turnkey only, but after much digging I was never able to find a turnkey car built by Nathan Wratislaw or his companies.Turnkey prices seem to be from $20,000-$30,000 if you can get one from them.
It is hard to tell but his youtube channel is full of old car reviews, and he appears to be a car dealer. His website also sells cereal marshmallows, supplements, and is just all over the place. Just a quick bit of info on the Riot. Who knows, maybe he has sold dozens of turnkeys and I just cant find them. I can say that it would be almost impossible for people to find info about it.
Anyway there is a Riot on Craigslist right now. It is not completed and in primer black.This is what the ad says…
71′ Volkswagen Riot kit car , $6500 , OBO, body is much newer. Runs good, has new windshield and upholstery with carpets never installed.Car has been driven for about 6 miles with no problems. Many new parts, is registered but on non-op. Car has never been painted. Car was under construction but not finished.ALSO available is a new rebuilt Freeway flyer Transmission not included
My experience says the car is worth it if you are looking for something really unique and want to finish it it and drive it. If you think you can buy it for $6500, finish it, and sell it for $20,000 you are in for a surprise. It wont happen. Cool car but not $20,000 cool.The few I have seen pop up over the years have a hard time getting in the $10,000 range.
The Riot Kit Car is one of VW kits that I think would do well if it was on a tube chassis with a good little 4cyl turbo in the rear. It still looks great. Just needs some marketing to get it going. Would you buy one of these if they were reasonably priced and could be completed at a low cost?
Get it here if you want it http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/5312860987.html
Looks pretty good, but is it reasonably possible to obtain a replacement windshield?
I believe it is an off the shelf windshield
Who would know the source on the windshield? It’s got a nice shape that I’d like to use on a future project!
Always thought that was one of the best kits ever made!
Where can you buy a windshield
As far as I know you cannot. I know who has the molds and such but he seems to think he is sitting on a goldmine but has no interest in selling kits. Turnkey only and he does not seem to want to be in the Parts business.
I have one just like this with windshield. But need to find out what parking lights are used in the front
I talked to to the lady how runs the storage lot . She said they have a bunch of windshields but the are way back in the storage. There is nobody to give her a hand with the fork lift to get them out. She said maybe in a year or two they might get them out. She was a vary nice lady by the way.
I have the baywatch riot that was used on the show
Do you have a phone number for this place?
This car looks a lot like an early Dodge Viper.
I currently own a Riot that has a cracked windshield near the driver’s side corner. Looking to see if I can replace it soon. If I can get any information on who I might need to call, It would be greatly appreciated.
Nobody is selling replacement parts for the Riot.
Try going to a shop that replaces windshields, they might be able to tell you. Have you tried contacting Thunder Ranch?
Thunder ranch does not exist anymore and they sold the riot molds long before that. I would like to tell you that the owner of the molds would be a help but he wont. After all these years the crap has just say in a montana garage.
I recently obtained the body and floor pan of this. Really excited about it, looking to sell for 1200. Northwest ohio.
both cars 4500.00
What?
Any riots for sale anywhere
I own a finished riot by thunder ranch, The windshield is the rear window from a mid 70s
Corvette. I believe a 1974, I love the uniqueness of the Riot. I still get too much attention when I drive it, I have 1800 miles on it since the build,
Its nice to see that there are people out there that are looking for such a fun unique car. I would consider offers on mine in the future I will advertise it on ebay when I do. I have many connections in Montana if anyone knows who has Molds or whatever maybe I can contact him and get more info,
I know who owns the molds but he has no interest in producing any cars/bodies