Hello Gents

I am interested to know what mid-engine kit-cars exist that are in-line / transaxle, but are not of the V8 variety (i.e not a GT40 / GD spyder etc).

I am thinking about a closed-cockpit group C style car (a smaller sized ultima I suppose)- the only thing that comes close is a Kellforms Retoga - but that comes with a hefty price tag and seems a touch delicate for road use.

Hence, thinking about using an existing chassis (car engine) but adding cage hoops and creating a bespoke set of body panels.

Off the top of my head there are a few kit cars that sort of relate to what I am thinking:

1. Midtec Spyder (if any still exist)
2. Spire GTR (car engine)
3. SDR sportcars (subaru engine)


any other suggestions?

(the audi v6 engine / transaxle combo is what I have in mind.. )


cheers
Richard

The Ginetta G12 is a handsome car, very compact.
From what I remember the complete kits are expensive, but you could look at buying the body shell parts and building your own chassis etc.
For example:
http://www.g12plus.com/

[Edited on 27/7/09 by Phil.J]

I don't know if this is any good to you, but how about the MR2 donor, Ultima style, DDR?

http://www.ddrmotorsport.com/kits.php

Thanks for the link - was looking at the other way round : of buying a middie and making my own body- an idea kicked off by the Midtec Spyder..

A good (Lee Noble) chassis, but clothed in a fugly bodyshell.

I remember a while back a single-seat style car with an audi engine and gearbox mounted in-line.

I cant recall the name of it - red pointy thing.. only one seat was the main problem with it.

@ Dickie B, I think you mean the Edge Devil!

linky

[Edited on 27/7/09 by rost]

aha - thats the one !

Bit pie-in-the-sky thinking all this, but just needs two seats and it may be closer to enable a bodyshell of 'LMP1' type proportions (stubby front.. longer tail)

Idea is all the ingredients (and lower costs)of a regular kit car brew but running in-line under a racing body.

hmmm...

IIRC Tiger people produced a Lotus 23 lookylike. Fits the bill, maybe?

Loadsa luck with yer build.

This looks nice

Ginetta
[img][/img]

yup - overall size and layout ; this is kind of what I had in mind, but with more of modern bodywork.

a sort of middle-weight budget Ultima I suppose - but without the expensive componentry ! Not sure anything along these lines exists on the market at the moment.

quote:

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Originally posted by dickie b
yup - overall size and layout ; this is kind of what I had in mind, but with more of modern bodywork.

a sort of middle-weight budget Ultima I suppose - but without the expensive componentry ! Not sure anything along these lines exists on the market at the moment.

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Hi superuss

Have had a good old nose around your build pics. Wow that is some undertaking eh? Impressive stuff.

The car is shaping up great by the way and as you say, very close to what I am gabbing on about.

Your build has certainly inspired me to tackle a full bodywork project, although the chassis would be bought in (and modded accordingly with screen hoops etc)

Weirdly the MNR wolf / tytan that is currently for sale on ebay is closest I have seen to a chassis that fits the bill. Uses Audi power and dimensionally isnt that big either.

The body styling is not to my taste - Just a pity MNR have sold it on and it isnt in production as that would of given me my starting point.

quote:

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Originally posted by dickie b
Wow that is some undertaking eh?

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talking of Stratossss ( stratii?) - remembered this:

http://www.superstratos.com/corse_car.html

They have moved the engine and box into longtitudinal for the GTE version, but price is still way off my beam !

holy crap £5,595 + VAT???? for the chassis.?? dont think il lhave spent that much on my entire car when its finished.

There is a kit called the Blaze, based on a similar chassis to the Aeon but some were/are produced with the engine installed north-south. The body style is open top and not very LMP although I did speak to the company a year or so back when I was looking for something similar to you and at the time they did say they were working on a more LMP style body.

Another option is MNR they have mentioned doing a car engined version of there LMP style car, again open top but looking very nice

[Edited on 28/7/09 by orton1966]

quote:

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Originally posted by suparuss
but i reckon if you are going to tackle the bodywork then building a chassis from scratch is a doddle in comparison.

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The bodywork is the side that rather excites me the most - though this is coming from someone who has never attempted it before, ever.

Looking at various sources it does sound a messy time consuming business, but love the idea of seeing the form of a car emerging from out of the ether. So to speak.

quote:

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Originally posted by dickie b
The bodywork is the side that rather excites me the most - though this is coming from someone who has never attempted it before, ever.

Looking at various sources it does sound a messy time consuming business, but love the idea of seeing the form of a car emerging from out of the ether. So to speak.

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This'll be making a comeback in 2010:


lmp-07

...with a number of updates.

quote:

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This'll be making a comeback in 2010:

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Totally agree, I loved the TAD LMP (correct?!) first time I saw it!

I also came across this one (TAD LMP) when I was looking for options for my own mid-engined build. At the time I think the price seemed prohibitive (for my budget) looking at their website it now appears they will now only be available pre-built, it would be interesting to see some prices/specs!

Although it wasn't quite in production whilst I was looking (I have know decided to build from scratch) MNR's LMP was the car of this type that I thought had the best combination of; value, performance (potential) and build quality/engineering.

There is a single seater with a BMW engine and trans in line on E bay right now.
Sorry I can't do the linky thing.
Denis.

this one

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/unfinished-F1-style-single-seater-rolling-chassis-BMW_W0QQitemZ150371614897QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAutomobiles_UK?hash=item2302d8c0b1 &_trksid=p3286.c0.m14#ht_500wt_1182

nice and long at the back

^^^^^

No wonder it was unfinished! What a disaster