- Dutton returns to kit cars after 37 years with the new Phaeton 5.
- The lightweight roadster is based on the Mazda MX-5 NC.
- Buyers can build from a £10K kit or choose a factory-built version.
As modern sports cars grow heavier and more complex, the appetite for something simple and light has not faded. If the idea of a Caterham appeals but the budget sits closer to used roadster money, there is a workaround. UK-based Dutton is stepping back into the fray with a lightweight kit car aimed at delivering exactly that kind of pared-back fun.
Still run by founder Tim Dutton, the company is circling back to its roots after decades spent building amphibious machines.
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The Dutton Phaeton 5 picks up where the Phaeton 4 left off in 1989, though the hardware is far more modern this time. Instead of relying on old Ford Escort parts, the new car borrows its fundamentals from the Mazda MX-5 NC. That means a familiar chassis and a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, a combination that promises simple, honest performance without unnecessary complication.
Unlike other Miata-based builds that lean heavily on their donor car for visual cues, the Dutton Phaeton 5 does its own thing. It shares none of the exterior panels with the Mazda MX-5 underneath, instead echoing its predecessor with a slightly larger footprint and a retro attitude. You get round headlights set into wide fenders, cutouts where doors should be, side-mounted exhausts, and a chunky grille up front on a shark-like nose.
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Overall, the kit car looks like a heavily modified Caterham 7, the sort of thing you might build in Minecraft and then decide to drive for real. The example shown is finished in a loud lime green, paired with black alloy wheels and bright red brake calipers.
For those already running a Mazda MX-5, the conversion kit comes in at £9,990 ($13,500 at current exchange rates). Extras are limited and fairly straightforward, a fabric top, side screens, and alternative colors, adding another £1,200 ($1,600). If you would rather skip the build entirely, factory-assembled Phaeton 5 models start at around £14,300 ($19,300) including VAT.
