Have been thinking about body profiles.

Top image is the starter.

Decided to go for a higher front as it is going to be a road car (middle image), and think I will go for a lower cockpit side as per the bottom image.


[img]
bodystyle [/img]

Now to think about the front!!

I like your concept a lot, it's very similar to the 3-wheeler design I'd like to build for myself. Here's a design I've been sketching a lot that I drew on your chassis picture; you're welcome to use it if you'd like. It's not hard to do a standard formula car body on the front half, but I think the main problem with 3-wheelers is that the back end is usually left too open. The opening behind the cockpit is supposed to show off the motorcycle engine a bit, and I added some air scoops on the bottom to channel air to the radiator, or to cool the engine if it's air-cooled. The front could be extended a bit, and I like a lower front end, unless you're planning on doing something like the Sub 3-wheeler (http://www.sub3wheeler.com) in which case make it as high as you want. For headlights, I like the ones on the new Formula Ford Ecoboost (http://pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=26292), but smaller. Also, I think the body should extend to the top of the rollbar, but I wanted a lower height to make the car look sleeker; I'm not sure what the original height you specified was. Pretend that top bit of the rollbar isn't there.



[Edited on 7/9/12 by goin2fast52]

Thanks for the viewpoint and agree with most of it. Here is how far I have got with my thoughts.

[img]
nearly finalised side view [/img]

The car is for road use so I have chosen to make the front higher. Low is OK for the circuit but on a road car you need a bit more 'substance' to collapse if you hit anything and you do not want to wedge under another car.

I have gone for a low side cockpit, again because it is for road use and I like the 'airey' feeling of a '7' type cockpit side.

The side cooling vents will begin just after the rear front suspension brackets, and will provide some sort of 'crash' protection; haven't decided on their section yet.

I agree that these cars have an 'open' back end but, as long as the ugly bits of the bike are covered an exposed engine can look the part, like you have do this in your sketch.

Your sketch seems to aim for a low-slung racing car shape as you have a low cockpit front and a fully enclosed roll bar. I think it's a bad thing to be too low on the road.

I have been messing about with the front for two days and can't decide what sort of 'look' and shape I want.

Getting nearer to what I think I would like.


latest

Latest thoughts:


side2

Rounded the top of the bodywork with a 25mm curve and raised sides of cockpit.