Thread: Best donor car for "Locost" ?

One of the best looking MC conversions is the T-rex built in Canada, most often built using the ZX 12 Kawa motor, one of the best MC engines around.

I think this is the AIM 2 car.
In amongst all the thai scribbling I can see Suzuki and 750

It would appear that Suzuki has zero understanding of how to promote a race formula.
In 2005 and 2006 they ran a Female Challenge and had a load of thai girls driving around in them.
Doesn't matter how good the car is, this is not the way to promote a formula

I watched one of those female challenge races, cars all painted in pink, Hi so girls drivers who had obviously never driven anything more challenging than a shopping centre car park, they could have least given them some training on race lines . Dead boring, girls more interested in getting their make up right for the camera pics than getting a car around fast.

Originally Posted by Deck Ape

OP can do a piccie thread on this, IF I could get off my ass long enough. And if this god damned house stopped eating up every non procrastinated minute I own.

In fact I was disgusted by the price and nonavailability of MIG welders so I carted on to LOS two trips ago. Cost 180 USD with a spool of flux core wire. Unfortunately I have to fab up a few things around the house before I could even think about a car.

Still seeking opinions about cheapest/ best donor car for Locost. 1980-85 Toy Corona?

don't bother with the mig.
get yourself a gas welding setup. much cheaper and more versatile- you will need to cut and heat stuff as well, so the gas will come in handy.
also, if your welding skills are anything like mine, it is far easier to fill in the holes you will blow in the thin-walled steel tube you will be using!!

Originally Posted by peterpan

I watched one of those female challenge races, cars all painted in pink, Hi so girls drivers who had obviously never driven anything more challenging than a shopping centre car park, they could have least given them some training on race lines . Dead boring, girls more interested in getting their make up right for the camera pics than getting a car around fast.

Know I'm preaching to the choir here, but the Thais are defininetly at their wierdest when they dabble in western culture.

Those cars look like a blast. Wonder if any of them are for sale. They have some locosts down south for 1.6 million, see if I can manage a link. Checked out that engineer's locost page. Excellent stuff.

Originally Posted by Deck Ape

They have some locosts down south for 1.6 million, see if I can manage a link.

Where down south DA?
I'm downloading the whole series of " a racing car is born" now, its a BBC build diary of a Caterham, I think, on dial up so its a long wait, but should be finished in a day or so.

Interesting reading some of these build diary's, makes one a bit jealous on the availability of parts in the US, "Old" Miatas for a 2/300 Dollars, almost every custom part for a build is available somewhere, from wiring looms to custom made suspension parts.
LocostUSA.com :: View topic - David Hempy's Miata +442 Locost

Dalton has a motorbike enging.

PP - My Thai mates ( I know you said don't listen) were admiment that it wasn't possible to register a Lotus 7 or Caterham (legally) here because they had no doors.

Dunno, sounds plausible with all the nonsense that goes on.

Anyway, Lotus 7 would be well gay compared to this



GSX1000 engined Smart Car.

Originally Posted by mrsquirrel

Dalton has a motorbike enging.

PP - My Thai mates ( I know you said don't listen) were admiment that it wasn't possible to register a Lotus 7 or Caterham (legally) here because they had no doors.

Dunno, sounds plausible with all the nonsense that goes on.

Anyway, Lotus 7 would be well gay compared to this

There's a youtube video of a Ferrari F430 taking on a modified Chinese Chery (or I should say the Chery is taking on the Ferrari). I've tested at that track in China and I can tell you by watching that vid that the Ferrari driver is either very much the pufter (more likely) or he just isn't pushing the car even close to 50% of it's potential and the Chery driver is a top pilot. I can guarantee in no uncertain terms were I in the Ferrari no matter how modified the Chery was it would not even be in my rear view mirror...

But just based on the vid it's obvious to me that the Ferrari is not being driven even close to it's potential just based on those occasions when you can hear the exhaust note, let alone see the cars attitude in corners..

But some of these smaller cars with a large engine might be nimble enough to give it a run on a tight course..

I've seen that video, too- the smartcar looks extremely scary with that much power in it. PP- looked all morning for the link to the Thai locosts. Believe they were being sold down in Pattaya near that Bira recetrack. I dont think the link is there anymore. 1.6 mil pretty steep for a locost even if it is new.

Originally Posted by peterpan

I'm downloading the whole series of " a racing car is born" now, its a BBC build diary of a Caterham, I think, on dial up so its a long wait, but should be finished in a day or so.

Where from?

Originally Posted by Deck Ape

I've seen that video, too- the smartcar looks extremely scary with that much power in it. PP- looked all morning for the link to the Thai locosts. Believe they were being sold down in Pattaya near that Bira recetrack. I dont think the link is there anymore. 1.6 mil pretty steep for a locost even if it is new.

Those you are looking for are the "Westfield Seven" based in Pattaya.

I've been downloading Chop Shop.

Decent show. quite enjoyable

Smart Car plus GSXR equals “Smartuki,” a VERY Smart Car - The Kneeslider

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

Originally Posted by peterpan

I'm downloading the whole series of " a racing car is born" now, its a BBC build diary of a Caterham, I think, on dial up so its a long wait, but should be finished in a day or so.

Where from?

Give me a kiss (green) and I will tell ya sweetheart, Hint, one term for what girls have between their legs?

Cobra International Arbitrage GT | Sports Cars

My first link so I hope I got it right. Was snooping around, Googled Thailand racecars and came up with this. A SUPERCAR IS BORN. Did anyone know they're trying to build a supercar in Chonburi? If interested the link is above.

Mrs Q

PP - My Thai mates ( I know you said don't listen) were admiment that it wasn't possible to register a Lotus 7 or Caterham (legally) here because they had no doors.

Of course they are talking crap, as TM reminded me, there is a company importing Westfields, have seen a couple around Pattaya.
Also know that Powerhouse (the 'arley place) assembled a couple of radicals for street use, again they have no doors.

Thailand may not be the most likely place to spawn a supercar. But the Arbitrage GT produced with a combination of Cobra International's composite materials experience and Galmer Engineering's race car design and engineering expertise looks set to buck the trend.

I was thinking about local donors and things to day and had a look under my Vigo, the front suspension on that looks useable.
So measured it up as best as could, ran the numbers thru my suspension program and surprise, its actually not too bad suspension geometry, way to much travel and the roll centre moves around a bit but fixable.
Clever little buggers those Japs ain't they?

YESSSSSSSS have thought a little about a donor truck instead of car. By far the most readily available donor vehicle.

Not a stupid idea at all DA, standard, 163 Hp and 350 Nm of torque, the guys that race pickups say they can get 200HP from that motor with no effort.
In a car weighing half of the Vigos 1.8 Tonnes it should go like hell. You would have to sort out a more elegant and higher ratio solution for the final drive rear supension but other than that, can't see too many problems.
It has the makings of something that could actually be low cost and pretty dammed fast.

Originally Posted by peterpan

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

Originally Posted by peterpan

I'm downloading the whole series of " a racing car is born" now, its a BBC build diary of a Caterham, I think, on dial up so its a long wait, but should be finished in a day or so.

Where from?

Give me a kiss (green) and I will tell ya sweetheart, Hint, one term for what girls have between their legs?

Thanks for the green its on "the box" 2.55 Gb
"a racing car is born" I hope its Ok after waiting a bloody week for it to download, dial up

Originally Posted by peterpan

Not a stupid idea at all DA, standard, 163 Hp and 350 Nm of torque, the guys that race pickups say they can get 200HP from that motor with no effort.
In a car weighing half of the Vigos 1.8 Tonnes it should go like hell. You would have to sort out a more elegant and higher ratio solution for the final drive rear supension but other than that, can't see too many problems.
It has the makings of something that could actually be low cost and pretty dammed fast.

Indeed. The first major decision would be whether registration or a pure racing car is the goal.