Tandem Tadpole Car

[BLSTIC]

True I could hook them up to a conventional FWD gearbox or at least some kind of diff, but then I need to make the entire car, or have components that are VASTLY over-rated for their intended use.

A modern diesel isn't out of the question. I'm sure a modern common rail corolla diesel could be had for not too much if it was a rear ended wreck. But NZ law currently has a road user charges on all non petrol/LPG powered cars. 4c/km for all vehicles under 3000kg, whatever they are. It effecteively adds a 5l/100km premium (at current prices) plus the extra purchase price of the diesel donor vehicle

[The Toecutter]

That is one regressive law; it negates the benefit of alternative fuels altogether...

In that case, a Daihatsu Mira engine with a turbo added should do the trick. If you have a final weight of 800 lbs including driver, 100 horsepower would be plenty for your needs...

Another possibility is using an air-cooled engine from a Citroen 2CV, like the Tryane II car, built of wood. But performance will be severely lacking, unless you find some means to add power. IIRC, the 602cc version only has 28 horsepower, and was the most powerful engine Citroen put in the 2CV(an upgraded model did have 33 hp). It is also air-cooled, and you'd need a means to have more cooling if you want to retain aerodynamic advantages and have more power from it. I don't imagine the efficiency of this engine being too great, either, although it is extremely light.

[BLSTIC]

Ha ha NO! No archaic 2CV donk for me. Depending on how far I can stretch the line between modified vehicle and individually constructed vehicle, I may not be able to run without a modern power plant. And a 2CV is too gutless to consider anyway