Metro-powered sports car project

[Bruce]

Thanks for the update, Jack. I'll keep my eye on this thread for future updates.

Now to find a cheap donor Metro...

Bruce

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by JackMcCornack

My problem is finding the time to do the projects already on my list...seriously, I'm 61, how many projects do I have left in me?

I know exactly what you mean by having a problem finding time. But don't give up yet: my neighbor (yeah, the guy who in his 80s decided to plant a couple of redwood trees in his yard) is still going strong at (I think) 94.

I find RQ Riley's latest three wheeler considerably more my style.

There's a lot to like about it, but I think the Aptera would have better aero. I like the pants on the front wheels, rather than integrating fenders into the body. And a tractor engine?

[JackMcCornack]

From MetroMPG:
> It'd also be fun to see any doodles you have kicking around! (I have a feeling more than a couple of napkins have met this fate already.)

Woohoo! I found a cover mock-up from a book proposal for this car. It's pretty small but the best I've got at the moment. On the aero version inset at the bottom (the only one that matters on this forum), well, this was a year or two ago and it's got the deDion thing going on and no greenhouse, but you get the idea.

[edit] Sheesh, this jpg is only 188 x 240 and about 7k, why does it show it as a thumbnail? Sure you can click it to see it full size, but for something this tiny it seems odd. Am I doing something wrong?



[edit - added attached img, full size - Darin]

[4more]

This sounds like a really cool idea. i have built some "kit" cars and they are a great way to build some thing and have fun but most the "hard" work being done.
the debate seems to be over what engine to use. if you are planning on building one for yourself.then writing the book on how to do it. use the metro engine you want.
then in the book simply put "use of other driveline is possable at ownersexpence and abbility" or something like that.
there are kits cars on the market now that are sold minus engine because then the company isnt selling cars so they dont need to meet specs that ford and chevy ect need to.these kits can be finished with several different engines.So yours could eaily be the same way.
again very cool and i will be following the thread

[poorman]

How could you licence, title and insure such a car?

[JackMcCornack]

There's 50 sets of rules--one for every DMV of every state. Some states are easy, some are hard. In California, 500 people a year get to register their homebuilt car under the smog laws in force at the time that what the car <looks like> was manufactured (a strong motivator for '65 Cobra replicas), and there are states where the easiest way is to include the portion of the chassis that has the VIN number stamped in to it in the new chassis, and register it as an extensively modified Metro. In Oregon it's a walk in the park; it has to be recognizably a car and you need to bring in the receipts for the donor car and other materials (the steel tubing for the chassis, for one example) so the DMV can tell you didn't steal any of it. After that it's between you and the police whether it meets the equipment requirements, but other states will measure your headlight height and count flashes per minute of your turn signals, etc etc blah blah.

PS--Insurance? I insure my homebuilts with The Hartford, the same policy as my ordinary cars. And there are a number of specialty insurance companies that will insure homebuilt cars for less than conventional cars, on the assumption that an exotic car you built yourself is going to spend most of its life in a garage. But mine don't, mine are daily drivers and insured accordingly.

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by poorman

How could you licence, title and insure such a car?

Check with your state Department of Motor Vehicles, and find out how people license hot rods or dune buggies in your state.

Here (Nevada) the simple way would be just to license it as a Geo Metro (or whatever the donor car is), making sure you keep the piece that has the VIN number, and original engine & smog equipment. Otherwise it just requires a safety inspection by a licensed garage.

[dwtaylorpdx]

BTW I'd say no to the De-dion rear, I work on a lot of race cars and the d-dion is a maintenance pain in the keister. Too many stressed load points (Cracking issues) and if something hits the wheel it trashes the frame.

Look at a Spec Ford Racer, its really elegant and simple, uses the same uprights at all 4 corners and they get pounded on the track and hold up nicely. I would not use their parts, because its based on the Ford Escort from EU but the overall design is simple!

Dave

[AXMonster]

Hey! This is an idea I have been mulling over as my next project once I sell the Rover V8 (Buick 215 Ci V8) engined Lotus 7 replica I'm rebuilding.

My intention is to use a Daihatsu Charade 1.0 Turbo diesel 3 cylinder engine and drivetrain mid mounted on a spaceframe chassis with fully aerodynamic body in foam/fibreglass. It would feature fully enclosed front wheels within the body, with the body tapering down to the boat tailed rear, leaving the rear wheels out in the airflow but fully enclosed in Cessna 172 style fairings.

Rear suspension will be Macpherson strut type as fitted to the front of the car, all hinged on a horizontal areodynamic beam so the entire rear suspension to body forms an 'n' shape..... pictures to follow one day lol

All parts will be as light weight as possible, and as functional as required to achieve low drag/weight.

Its going to look odd, but cut through the air a treat

[born2pdl]

The MAX project sounds great, but finish that thing and start the metro project! You've got people interested in following and even producing their own. I know I'd like to make one.

If you think a metro drivetrain is it then stick with it. It's your baby and you're setting the design parameters.

Oh, and maybe start a new thread focusing on the technical aspects. The ridiculous DMV and American -vs- foreign thread high-jack arguements are turn-offs. Differing opinions are great, but the couple of thread high-jackers should start their own thread instead of screwing up someone else's.