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Donor for GT car
Pseicho - 15/8/05 at 11:54 AM

I'm planning to build a four seater GT coupe, something like the Aston Martin AMV8.

I don't want the project to be too expensive and I want the car to be reasonably light, so I was thinking of using a BMW 325i as a donor.
I plan on using as much parts from this car as possible. I want to use the complete suspension and attach is to a space frame I'm going to build myself.
Anyone got any comments on this?

Also I want the track widths to be a little wider that those of a BMW 325 so I thought maybe I could use drive axles from a BMW 5. Anyone know if this is possible?


stevebubs - 15/8/05 at 12:02 PM

why not start with a 5 series donor?

You could then start off with an all-alloy V8, too...


violentblue - 22/8/05 at 03:29 AM

toyota supra, alloy multilink front suspension and IRS, should make for a decent start, plys built with the same dimentions as the supra, it should have room for a bmw v12 down the roaqd if you fancy it.


Pseicho - 24/8/05 at 10:05 AM

Yes I'm thinking of using the complete subframes of a 5 and welding a frame to hold them in place.

But I want the wheelbase of my car to be shorter than that of the bmw, I don't know how to solve that yet. maybe placing the engine forward or shortening the drive axle.

Also is the square 5 any good (pre '98)? because the round one is a little bit too expensive.
I'm also thinking about doing the same but using a 7.


MikeR - 24/8/05 at 03:16 PM

Just fit a shorter prop shaft...... should easily sort out the length problem.

(although i've never seen a BMW under the skin so i've no idea how long the prop shaft is)