Just seen a ginetta g15 on eBay, needs quite a bit of work but all there.

Got me thinking, this is a true rear engine/transaxle setup (similar to Porsche 911) using the imp engine/gearbox.

So, I know someone on here is doing a blackbird conversion but how about an aprilia rsvr / Honda vtr v twin connected to a Sierra /mx5/bmw diff upside down with a very short prop shaft/Cush drive (similar to the MeV atomic or fisher menace). This should sit in the frame behind the rear bulk head so no problems with slanting the engine to fit under it. Bit of box section and composite drive shafts and off you go. Should sound pretty good too.

Open to comments, criticism, ideas or let me know I am barking mad.

Please don't vandalise it, look after it even if you can't restore it properly.

I vandalised a lovely Clan a long time ago, using a Fireblade engine mounted longitudinally where the passenger was supposed to be, short prop to a Sierra differential. Imp trailing arms were retained (de-flanged to lighten them and tidy them up a bit), did the same to the front wishbones, though with the G15 the Imp ones aren't used.

It was sold to a chap in Scotland years ago, the car may still be out there, owner might even be reading this?

Funnily enough, a friend of mine just bought a G15 from Bristol yesterday. He also has a clan crusader(a rare Motorsport car apparently), had a zzr1400 motor now been replaced with an imp motor and straight cut box , he also has a singer chamois in rally spec. I think he likes imps!

Back on topic though, there is no reason it wouldn't work but the v-twin noise from a car is a bit weird!

The one on eBay went for £2600, needed a bit of work on the body/interior so if the chassis was OK looks like a bargain. There is a yellow clan project on eBay at the moment, must be the worst ad I have seen in a while.

classic cars

Another alternative would be the pan european st1300, v4 130hp at 8k, reasonable torque, shaft drive, quite compact, may fit nice behind the bulkhead. Also seen some ideas about the bmw k1000 series sideways four, looks like a modern version of the reliant engine. Also seems to have a separate box so may even bolt to the reliant box.



[Edited on 22/8/16 by Ugg10]

A month ago I spotted a FIAT 500 with the Aprillia in the back, but it was using a Quaife reverse box, lovely engineered conversion with lots of CNC'd adaptor pieces to get it in.

The BMW K-series does have a seperate box, but it also has an intermediate shaft to offset the box. So bolting a different box is trickier then on first sight.
Although on last years classic car show in the NEC, there was a Imp with a rear mounted K1100/K1200 engine.

What's the gear reduction at the wheel like on that bmw? Having to add a diff may nutsack the final drive ratio right up

Quick google and the k1100 has between 2.8 and 3:1 for the final drive so suspect the rest of the K engine are similar. So the freelander diff may be a possibility.

[Edited on 31/8/16 by Ugg10]