diff --git a/test/template_projects/__init__.py b/test/template_projects/__init__.py
index d83df0e4..ba6c61b6 100644
--- a/test/template_projects/__init__.py
+++ b/test/template_projects/__init__.py
@@ -1,2 +1,2 @@
 from .base import TemplateProject  # noqa
-from .c import CTemplateProject  # noqa
+from .c import new_c_project  # noqa
diff --git a/test/template_projects/c.py b/test/template_projects/c.py
index 151cc574..ef64745f 100644
--- a/test/template_projects/c.py
+++ b/test/template_projects/c.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import jinja2
 from .base import TemplateProject
 
 
-spam_c_template = r'''
+SPAM_C_TEMPLATE = r'''
 #include <Python.h>
 
 {{ spam_c_top_level_add }}
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ MOD_INIT(spam)
 }
 '''
 
-setup_py_template = r'''
+SETUP_PY_TEMPLATE = r'''
 from setuptools import setup, Extension
 
 {{ setup_py_add }}
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ setup(
 )
 '''
 
-setup_cfg_template = r'''
+SETUP_CFG_TEMPLATE = r'''
 [metadata]
 name = spam
 version = 0.1.0
@@ -79,22 +79,22 @@ version = 0.1.0
 '''
 
 
-class CTemplateProject(TemplateProject):
-    def __init__(self, *, spam_c_top_level_add='', spam_c_function_add='', setup_py_add='',
-                 setup_py_setup_args_add='', setup_cfg_add=''):
+def new_c_project(*, spam_c_top_level_add='', spam_c_function_add='', setup_py_add='',
+                  setup_py_setup_args_add='', setup_cfg_add=''):
+    project = TemplateProject()
 
-        super().__init__()
+    project.files.update({
+        'spam.c': jinja2.Template(SPAM_C_TEMPLATE),
+        'setup.py': jinja2.Template(SETUP_PY_TEMPLATE),
+        'setup.cfg': jinja2.Template(SETUP_CFG_TEMPLATE),
+    })
 
-        self.files.update({
-            'spam.c': jinja2.Template(spam_c_template),
-            'setup.py': jinja2.Template(setup_py_template),
-            'setup.cfg': jinja2.Template(setup_cfg_template),
-        })
+    project.template_context.update({
+        'spam_c_top_level_add': spam_c_top_level_add,
+        'spam_c_function_add': spam_c_function_add,
+        'setup_py_add': setup_py_add,
+        'setup_py_setup_args_add': setup_py_setup_args_add,
+        'setup_cfg_add': setup_cfg_add,
+    })
 
-        self.template_context.update({
-            'spam_c_top_level_add': spam_c_top_level_add,
-            'spam_c_function_add': spam_c_function_add,
-            'setup_py_add': setup_py_add,
-            'setup_py_setup_args_add': setup_py_setup_args_add,
-            'setup_cfg_add': setup_cfg_add,
-        })
+    return project
diff --git a/test/test_0_basic.py b/test/test_0_basic.py
index a38c1180..0bd6817d 100644
--- a/test/test_0_basic.py
+++ b/test/test_0_basic.py
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 import textwrap
 import platform
-from .template_projects import CTemplateProject
+from . import template_projects
 from . import utils
 
-basic_project = CTemplateProject(
+basic_project = template_projects.new_c_project(
     setup_py_add=textwrap.dedent('''
         import os
 
diff --git a/test/test_before_build.py b/test/test_before_build.py
index b1715238..0ce92110 100644
--- a/test/test_before_build.py
+++ b/test/test_before_build.py
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 import textwrap
 
 from . import utils
-from .template_projects import CTemplateProject
+from . import template_projects
 
-project_with_before_build_asserts = CTemplateProject(
+project_with_before_build_asserts = template_projects.new_c_project(
     setup_py_add=textwrap.dedent(r'''
         import sys, os
 
diff --git a/test/test_before_test.py b/test/test_before_test.py
index 988f7b33..0ea3e5e0 100644
--- a/test/test_before_test.py
+++ b/test/test_before_test.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
-from .template_projects.c import CTemplateProject
+from . import template_projects
 from . import utils
 
-before_test_project = CTemplateProject()
+before_test_project = template_projects.new_c_project()
 before_test_project.files['test/spam_test.py'] = r'''
 import sys
 import os
diff --git a/test/test_build_skip.py b/test/test_build_skip.py
index 30bba181..ad91c8d4 100644
--- a/test/test_build_skip.py
+++ b/test/test_build_skip.py
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 import textwrap
 
 from . import utils
-from .template_projects import CTemplateProject
+from . import template_projects
 
-project_with_skip_asserts = CTemplateProject(
+project_with_skip_asserts = template_projects.new_c_project(
     setup_py_add=textwrap.dedent(r'''
         # explode if run on Python 2.7 or Python 3.7 (these should be skipped)
         if sys.version_info[0:2] == (2, 7):
diff --git a/test/test_dependency_versions.py b/test/test_dependency_versions.py
index bef12a72..87a849c7 100644
--- a/test/test_dependency_versions.py
+++ b/test/test_dependency_versions.py
@@ -5,10 +5,10 @@ import textwrap
 import cibuildwheel.util
 
 from . import utils
-from .template_projects import CTemplateProject
+from . import template_projects
 
 
-project_with_expected_version_checks = CTemplateProject(
+project_with_expected_version_checks = template_projects.new_c_project(
     setup_py_add=textwrap.dedent(r'''
         import subprocess
         import os
diff --git a/test/test_docker_images.py b/test/test_docker_images.py
index 725779f2..be5ceaa8 100644
--- a/test/test_docker_images.py
+++ b/test/test_docker_images.py
@@ -4,9 +4,9 @@ import textwrap
 import pytest
 
 from . import utils
-from .template_projects import CTemplateProject
+from . import template_projects
 
-dockcross_only_project = CTemplateProject(
+dockcross_only_project = template_projects.new_c_project(
     setup_py_add=textwrap.dedent(r'''
         import os, sys
 
diff --git a/test/test_environment.py b/test/test_environment.py
index ce45990a..9dcfab07 100644
--- a/test/test_environment.py
+++ b/test/test_environment.py
@@ -3,10 +3,10 @@ import pytest
 import subprocess
 import textwrap
 from . import utils
-from .template_projects import CTemplateProject
+from . import template_projects
 
 
-project_with_environment_asserts = CTemplateProject(
+project_with_environment_asserts = template_projects.new_c_project(
     setup_py_add=textwrap.dedent(r'''
         import os
 
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ def test(tmp_path):
 def test_overridden_path(tmp_path):
     project_dir = tmp_path / 'project'
     output_dir = tmp_path / 'output'
-    CTemplateProject().generate(project_dir)
+    new_c_project().generate(project_dir)
     output_dir.mkdir()
 
     # mess up PATH, somehow
diff --git a/test/test_manylinuxXXXX_only.py b/test/test_manylinuxXXXX_only.py
index e3753ea9..e159cbae 100644
--- a/test/test_manylinuxXXXX_only.py
+++ b/test/test_manylinuxXXXX_only.py
@@ -4,10 +4,10 @@ import textwrap
 import pytest
 
 from . import utils
-from .template_projects import CTemplateProject
+from . import template_projects
 
 # TODO: specify these at runtime according to manylinux_image
-project_with_manylinux_symbols = CTemplateProject(
+project_with_manylinux_symbols = template_projects.new_c_project(
     spam_c_top_level_add=textwrap.dedent(r'''
         #include <malloc.h>
 
diff --git a/test/test_ssl.py b/test/test_ssl.py
index 18b9ebb6..13c81b24 100644
--- a/test/test_ssl.py
+++ b/test/test_ssl.py
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 import textwrap
 
 from . import utils
-from .template_projects import CTemplateProject
+from . import template_projects
 
-project_with_ssl_tests = CTemplateProject(
+project_with_ssl_tests = template_projects.new_c_project(
     setup_py_add=textwrap.dedent(r'''
         import ssl
         import sys
diff --git a/test/test_subdir_package.py b/test/test_subdir_package.py
index 67e3eef6..ab52c274 100644
--- a/test/test_subdir_package.py
+++ b/test/test_subdir_package.py
@@ -4,11 +4,11 @@ import jinja2
 
 from . import utils
 from .template_projects import TemplateProject
-from .template_projects.c import spam_c_template
+from .template_projects.c import SPAM_C_TEMPLATE
 
 subdir_package_project = TemplateProject()
 
-subdir_package_project.files['src/spam/spam.c'] = jinja2.Template(spam_c_template)
+subdir_package_project.files['src/spam/spam.c'] = jinja2.Template(SPAM_C_TEMPLATE)
 subdir_package_project.template_context['spam_c_top_level_add'] = ''
 subdir_package_project.template_context['spam_c_function_add'] = ''
 
diff --git a/test/test_testing.py b/test/test_testing.py
index 64ad4bac..8c5a92d2 100644
--- a/test/test_testing.py
+++ b/test/test_testing.py
@@ -5,9 +5,9 @@ import textwrap
 import pytest
 
 from . import utils
-from .template_projects import CTemplateProject
+from . import template_projects
 
-project_with_a_test = CTemplateProject(
+project_with_a_test = template_projects.new_c_project(
     setup_cfg_add=textwrap.dedent(r'''
         [options.extras_require]
         test = nose