• From: Femont, CA
  • Registered: 2009-06-08
  • Posts: 136

Topic: Mid-engined, fiberglass-bodied, and possibly legal?

I'm actually reluctant to share this, but I think it'd be a while before I'd be able to put it together for real...

I'm thinking start with a Toyota Previa or no-name Van. They're mid-engined and body-on frame. Easy to find for cheap, and some were manual-transmissioned:
http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/cto/1218311550.html
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lgb/ct … 84866.html

Then remove most of the body.

And add a crappy clapped out boat hull, upside-down.
http://ventura.craigslist.org/boa/1226939124.html

Probably wouldn't weigh very much. You could cut/re-glass as needed pretty easily, maybe add a scoop or two for the engine/brakes/whatever.

Obviously, you'd need to reinforce the hull and mount it intelligently (so it doesn't break loose and cut you in half if you wreck)...but if you put a single-seat dragster cage around the driver, you'd essentially have a LMP1 lookalike.

...maybe call it Captain Gorton Racing. Dress in full rain gear and hand out fish-sticks everywhere you go.

There are those who call me...Judge Tim
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  • From: West Djibouti
  • Registered: 2009-05-01
  • Posts: 203

Re: Mid-engined, fiberglass-bodied, and possibly legal?

hahaha, nice

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1981 Ford Fairmont Durango
  • From: Clover, SC
  • Registered: 2009-05-13
  • Posts: 205

Re: Mid-engined, fiberglass-bodied, and possibly legal?

That's a freakishly weird idea.  Catchy, but weird to say the least.  I can bet you would probably be the first.

"Sharp as Bear Claws and Slicker Than Goose Shit"
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1990 VW Jetta
Charlotte, NC
  • From: Land Of Subarus, Colorado
  • Registered: 2009-04-30
  • Posts: 9,416

Re: Mid-engined, fiberglass-bodied, and possibly legal?

I don't see any weaknesses in that plan!

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5 Reply by Jer (edited by Jer 2009-06-18 10:51 AM)

  • Jer
  • Jer
  • Lemons Staff Stalker
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  • From: West Chester, PA
  • Registered: 2009-05-04
  • Posts: 1,316

Re: Mid-engined, fiberglass-bodied, and possibly legal?

What could possibly go wrong?!

Jer / Schumacher Taxi Service
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  • From: SF
  • Registered: 2009-05-20
  • Posts: 31

Re: Mid-engined, fiberglass-bodied, and possibly legal?

They raced one on Top Gear, though the seemed to like the Renault Espace a bit better.
http://www.topgear.com/us/videos/more/minivan-madness/

Team Formula BMW
#23 Pink Pig
  • From: SF Bay Area
  • Registered: 2009-05-01
  • Posts: 146

Re: Mid-engined, fiberglass-bodied, and possibly legal?

gmatus wrote:

They raced one on Top Gear, though the seemed to like the Renault Espace a bit better.
http://www.topgear.com/us/videos/more/minivan-madness/

Perhaps they don't like the Espace that much after all...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekpD06P7kiI

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  • From: Santa Cruz, CA
  • Registered: 2009-06-15
  • Posts: 15

Re: Mid-engined, fiberglass-bodied, and possibly legal?

Do it. My team talked about doing the exact same thing last year, but it seemed like a daunting amount of work, so we came up with an even worse idea.

Driving While Awesome #44
Porsche 944
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  • From: Houston, TX
  • Registered: 2009-06-10
  • Posts: 27

Re: Mid-engined, fiberglass-bodied, and possibly legal?

Wouldn't the Lemons Prototypes require their own class?

  • From: New Orleans, LA
  • Registered: 2009-05-16
  • Posts: 635

Re: Mid-engined, fiberglass-bodied, and possibly legal?

OverStimulated wrote:
gmatus wrote:

They raced one on Top Gear, though the seemed to like the Renault Espace a bit better.
http://www.topgear.com/us/videos/more/minivan-madness/

Perhaps they don't like the Espace that much after all...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekpD06P7kiI

Bastards! I found a Mitsubishi Van Wagon on Craigslist and thought...."nah, that'd be mad!"

http://neworleans.craigslist.org/pts/1226254901.html

Once upon a time we came across a Dodge Caravan (still Mitsu motor days) with a 5-speed transmission. So they *are* out there.....

-=Tom

-=HFC Tom
  • fabtoys
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Re: Mid-engined, fiberglass-bodied, and possibly legal?

Didn't they do that on Monster Garage?

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  • From: The other side of the fence
  • Registered: 2009-06-17
  • Posts: 388

Re: Mid-engined, fiberglass-bodied, and possibly legal?

I was thinking a 90/91 Isuzu amigo 4x4 and pull the body off the frame then drop on a mid 50s era jeep willys body on it and cage it up. Drop the whole rig about 6 inchs and put Toyota 1ton dully wheels on all four corners so you have 8 wheels total (getto run flats) and slap on a turbo from a Isuzu Impulse and you should have good reliability with 4 wheel drive great brakes not bad handling and plenty of grip. my idea got totally shot down by the group. They have NO imagination.