| Car owners seldom build component cars by | | | | explained, the Sterling is less expensive. Moreover, it |
| themselves though they are all experts in the field of | | | | does not require a lot of separate parts. |
| automobiles. But one stood out above the rest. | | | | The Sterling cars were designed and created in 1971. |
| Four years ago, David Aliberti bought a Sterling | | | | Originally known as the Nova, it was built in England by |
| two-seater component car with quality Sterling oxygen | | | | Richard Oakes, a sculptor and Phil Sayers, an engineer. |
| sensor. He became so obsessed with the car and | | | | Road and Track Magazine in 1972 tagged it the "most |
| now owns the Sterling Sports Cars, LLC that supplies | | | | beautiful kit car ever made". Moreover, it was the only |
| the auto parts to build those cars popularized in the | | | | component car ever to appear on the cover of Car |
| 1970s. | | | | and Driver Magazine. |
| As the month of June began, Aliberti, a resident of | | | | Aliberti said that something about the shape of the car |
| Verona, officially exhibited the complete Sterling | | | | seems to drive people crazy: low-slung body that is |
| component car that he built by himself at the Carlisle | | | | usually painted with a fiery red, flashy blue or bright |
| Import-Kit/Replicar Show in Carlisle, Cumberland | | | | yellow. |
| County. It is the largest of its kind national show. | | | | The cars sold in different countries all over the world |
| Aliberti said on the phone between talking to | | | | and were given a different name in each during the |
| approaching visitors at the show that many companies | | | | 70s and the 80s. According to Milne, when the 90s |
| of component car are on the West Coast so the | | | | came, the Sterling lost its popularity but in recent years, |
| people were very glad seeing that the company is on | | | | still many people show interest on the cars. He added |
| this coast. | | | | that people are curious about the cars because they |
| He has been, for the past years, innovating and | | | | are somewhat uncommon. |
| supplying parts to current owners of Sterling cars in | | | | Milne further said that the Sterling Club at present has |
| the United States and other countries such as the | | | | 53 members, and this number continues to increase |
| Virgin Islands and France from the '70s. | | | | each as months pass by. In the United States, there |
| He said he will be shipping a hood to a guy in Australia | | | | are nearly 1,000 Sterling cars and 5,000 all over the |
| next week and also has received a number of | | | | world. |
| requests to install "Targa" roofs removable hard tops. | | | | Aliberti, a design engineer working for Leeds |
| As of the previous season, Mr. Aliberti had found a | | | | Promotional Products in New Kensington, has been |
| supplier or manufacturer for every single part of the | | | | obsessed with cars and their engines since he was 2 |
| car and can now provide the complete kit to build the | | | | year old. He innovated and crreated a 1979 Monte |
| whole original Sterling, making him the only person all | | | | Carlo to help him enter the Carnegie Mellon University's |
| over the world to do so. | | | | Industrial Design Program. |
| He has a mini local company that builds the frame, | | | | Aside from his sponsorships for a prototype |
| wheels and suspension (chassis). In his Apollo shop, he | | | | mid-engine race car, he also hopes to participate in the |
| builds the body. His nationwide located different parts | | | | Vintage Grand Prix in Oakland this summer that |
| manufacturers supply everything for cars. | | | | attracts about 250,000 audiences to the streets of |
| The cars are built with the goal of fitting on the original | | | | Pittsburgh city. In this race, he will put the car on track |
| chassis of the Volkswagen Beetle. Nonetheless, these | | | | for a testing. |
| cars can also function using a mid-engine tube chassis. | | | | Aliberti also plans this summer to take his car from the |
| According to the Verona man, the average final cost | | | | 1970s and make it new with the current trends. He will |
| for the entire package usually ends up being almost | | | | be doing this by bolting an electric motor to the existing |
| $25,000. Aliberti can hook those cars up with a | | | | transmission. He explained that its eco-friendliness and |
| licensed manufacturer for those clients who want their | | | | sporty features are assured because he will make a |
| cars built for them. And the total cost depends on | | | | new body out of soy-based and other alternate |
| what features the client wants. | | | | composite materials instead of fiber glass resins. |
| Rick Milne, the Pesident of the Sterling Club, an | | | | This year at the Carlisle show he was surprised at the |
| organization for owners, said that the quality of these | | | | number of inquiries there were as regards electric cars |
| cars is so much better those in the '70s due to the | | | | and said that next year, he is definitely going to have |
| different innovative manufacturing technologies that | | | | an electric car. |
| are used in making them. | | | | Electrical engineering consultant, Nigel McQuin, of |
| There are several companies that supply parts to | | | | McQuin Electric Power Consulting, Inc. in North |
| design other types of component cars. Aliberti | | | | Versailles serves as Aliberti's adviser in the |
| discussed that most of them are much more | | | | development of a hybrid electric car and an electric |
| expensive such as the Lamborghini component car | | | | car. |
| that can go into the $100,000 range. Because of | | | | He further added that developing an |
| Sterling's mono-copied chassis, or one piece body, he | | | | ecosystem-friendly design is the latest trend right now. |