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Strip it down light enough and a Briggs & Stratton power plant becomes viable. It would take about 30HP to preserve the power to weight ratio of the original, if your powertrain weighs 100lbs.
You still need a bumper rebar to connect the two frame rails at the front, and reinstall the battery box bracket, which stiffens the chassis at the upper strut mounts.
There's going to be at least some interior: somewhere to sit, controls, instruments. Factory instruments from the engine's donor car would be cheap and easy. A heater core and radio with one speaker would be nice, but they are luxuries. Cars do not strictly need luxuries. There's also the safety aspect of a padded dashboard to consider.
Another safety consideration: ensure that the engine compartment does not ventilate to the passenger compartment, and that it is isolated by a firewall. The Insight's firewall feels like it's made of bubblewrap, and it's awesome.
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