Ecomodder dream car build

[BHarvey]

I like the VW L1 so much I am considering a poor mans building of such, and as such, will use poor mans materials. Starting with an existing chassis would simplify matters a good bit and a base might be an old Miata. I'd prefer to build a tube chassis to lower the frontal area and build the entire car to my specs. Depends on $$$ of course.

If aero is King on the highway then a fully streamlined Miata might be pretty good. It could be lightened quite a bit and registering it should be easier since it has a VIN. If frontal area contributes to drag so much the Miata seems all out of proportion with it's seemingly low frontal area and huge CD.

The motor would be the first thing to go along with the entire body.

What would be on your short list to do build wise if you decided to tackle a project like this?

[RobertSmalls]

Streamlined first-gen Honda Insight EV with 10 miles electric range and a diesel engine sized to be capable of 20HP and very efficient in the range of 5-10HP. Something similar on a Miata platform is a very good choice too. Weight is a very important consideration, even on the highway. Be prepared to make the rear axle narrower for better aero.

[hypermiler01]

Why would you start with a Miata instead of a base that is twice as efficient? For example, an early 90s Geo Metro.

[hamsterpower]

I'm a little confused. You say start with an existing chassis and completely remove the body. Do you realize the Miata (same as most cars) is uni-body and has no chassis?An old Fiero has a chassis (why they are so popular for kit cars) and might be an easier starting point.

[BHarvey]

I am a chassis idiot, truly, not be sarcastic at all. That's why I was asking what kind of starting platform would work well. Hoping to keep weight to 1800lbs or less, less preferably.

The 'Miata' is just a suggestion, or opening bid, with nothing set in stone, just getting ideas together to mull over.

[Frank Lee]

Old Spitfires are "good" candidates for re-bodying; they are itty-bitty, light, and the frame rails run down the center spine leaving much room for the body to be different from original. I think the rear suspension is garbage but that could be fixed. The worst, low quality parts of Spitfires are the body, electrics, and engine, and those would all be gone. A 1L sized package could be based on that.

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

Old Spitfires are "good" candidates for re-bodying...

But aren't you getting into borderline classic car territory there? From a quick look at eBay, a driveable one might run $4-6K.

If not a Metro, I would probably go with a Honda Civic myself, assuming you'd be keeping all the running gear, and just wrapping new bodywork around it.

[Frank Lee]

At least one of the old Riley/Quincy Lynn/Mechanix Illustrated build-it-yourself cars used a Spitfire chassis. But, yeah, that's getting to be some time ago ain't it.

I practically gave the one I had away...

Kinda like building a kit on a Beetle pan, but there's still plenty of that going on.