FUORISERIE
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| posted on 15/4/07 at 08:54 PM |
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Mid-Engine Locost design
Just thought about a modern update to mid-engine locost seven, and so here is my proposal.
The basic idea is a cab forward design, with a round tube chassis and very little fiberglass bodywork.
Engines: any fwd engine or flat four engine placed in the middle.
Just a very rough doodle on the spur of the moment......
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nitram38
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| posted on 15/4/07 at 09:02 PM |
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Nice looking.
Looks a bit like my planned "atom" type middy (R1 Power).
Where would you get a screen like that?
I am just planning a pair of bike aeroscreens on mine
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FUORISERIE
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| posted on 15/4/07 at 09:07 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by nitram38
Nice looking.
Looks a bit like my planned "atom" type middy (R1 Power).
Where would you get a screen like that?
I am just planning a pair of bike aeroscreens on mine
I took measurements of the following screens, new Fiat Cinquecento or Seicento, or in the Uk, Daewoo Matiz windscreen, it should work for something
like this type of design.
At the moment this is just a fun doodle, nothing more.....but who knows what the future holds....
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rav
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| posted on 15/4/07 at 09:18 PM |
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I like it a lot,
pretty clean lines with a well balanced blend of bodywork and exposed structure. IMHO!
Nice work.
Ciao!
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Hammerhead
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| posted on 15/4/07 at 09:52 PM |
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that looks really good. well balanced and a good solution to the 'how do we make a new 7 with a rear engine' debate. Well done.
(and I have a degree in product design)
Mine wont look anywhere near as good as that.
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cadebytiger
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| posted on 15/4/07 at 09:55 PM |
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ROUGH!! ROUGH!! I could take a week and not draw something as good as that!
Nice! 
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Chippy
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| posted on 15/4/07 at 11:33 PM |
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Write a book and call it "Build a Middy for £250", sure to be a big success. Ray
To make a car go faster, just add lightness. Colin Chapman - OR - fit a bigger engine. Chippy
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Doug68
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| posted on 16/4/07 at 05:30 AM |
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It's a nice piece of art, but if it's Locostesque then I've a few issues with it. To me Locost means that a
semi-intelligent-educated person in their shed at home can make decent example of the design so...
1. The Atom-type round tubes need big radius bends which will probably be too hard to do accurately for the average home builder.
2. The welds on the chassis will be on public display which means they've got to look nice and most peoples don't.
3. There has to be some sort of expectation that the body work could be made at home. Even if most people buy their fiberglass parts off of the
shelf. The body looks too complex for that to me at the moment.
4. To be flexible with engine choice go for a bike engine or the rear suspension design will end up too specific to the power plant it needs to fit
around.
Keep going with the thought train though the world needs more variety!
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speedyxjs
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| posted on 16/4/07 at 07:18 AM |
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I do agree with all of the above except point 4.
To ensure it is locost, a car engine would be essential with bike engine an option.
Im not against bec's, i think they're great but not very locost. How many of us cec builders got our donors for near to nothing?
How long can i resist the temptation to drop a V8 in?
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balidey
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| posted on 16/4/07 at 07:20 AM |
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What are Lotus lawyers like
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StevieB
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| posted on 16/4/07 at 07:39 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by balidey
What are Lotus lawyers like
Considering they wanted to patent the Esprit style so they could haul every other supercar manufacturer through the courts, I'd say Lotus are
pretty keen on litigation!
Unless their legal department is as reliable as their cars, in which case just unvail your car on an icy day (in my experience, nothing from Lotus
works in the cold!)
[Edited on 16/4/07 by StevieB]
[Edited on 16/4/07 by StevieB]
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FUORISERIE
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| posted on 16/4/07 at 08:04 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Doug68
It's a nice piece of art, but if it's Locostesque then I've a few issues with it. To me Locost means that a
semi-intelligent-educated person in their shed at home can make decent example of the design so...
1. The Atom-type round tubes need big radius bends which will probably be too hard to do accurately for the average home builder.
2. The welds on the chassis will be on public display which means they've got to look nice and most peoples don't.
3. There has to be some sort of expectation that the body work could be made at home. Even if most people buy their fiberglass parts off of the
shelf. The body looks too complex for that to me at the moment.
4. To be flexible with engine choice go for a bike engine or the rear suspension design will end up too specific to the power plant it needs to fit
around.
Keep going with the thought train though the world needs more variety!
You raised very good points, and just remember this is a rough doodle..
I agree with you on the chassis issue, and a square tube is easier to weld, so i will take that into account, for my next sketch.
The bodywork would need a slight rethink, to make it easier to make at as homebuilder project, and will rework a few details of the design.
Thanks for the very good feedback
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FUORISERIE
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| posted on 16/4/07 at 08:06 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by balidey
What are Lotus lawyers like
What do you mean? I don't understand your picture posting....
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Doug68
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| posted on 16/4/07 at 12:23 PM |
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If you look at the history of the 7 (there I said it, so sue me!).
It's littered with lawsuits about who has the right to make this or that who's copying who and is generally a sad, sad story.
The point about the picture is that if you were to make anything even remotely commercial that looks even vaguely like the picture then get ready for
the 'cease and desist' order to be served!
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FUORISERIE
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| posted on 16/4/07 at 12:56 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Doug68
If you look at the history of the 7 (there I said it, so sue me!).
It's littered with lawsuits about who has the right to make this or that who's copying who and is generally a sad, sad story.
The point about the picture is that if you were to make anything even remotely commercial that looks even vaguely like the picture then get ready for
the 'cease and desist' order to be served!
Doug,
Thanks for the explanation, I didn't get it.
I think it would be a little hard for Lotus to prove and sue someone, inspired by one of their designs, knowing where they got their inspiration for
their 340R.....a mid-engine street dune buggy with exposed wheels!
If this would be the case, then China is in deep trouble then...... and who is going to tell them!
I'm not worried at all ......, .
Ciao
Italo
[Edited on 16/4/07 by FUORISERIE]
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JonBowden
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| posted on 16/4/07 at 02:28 PM |
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I think that your design is quite different - and quite a bit better looking.
The similarities are -
both mid engined
both minimal bodywork
exposed front and rear wheels
Jon
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JonBowden
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| posted on 16/4/07 at 03:26 PM |
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A few more views might provide some inspiration.
A view from above would be especially useful if any one actually wants to build one
Jon
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