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  • stroker

    Nov. 27, 2010 8:06 p.m. stroker Reader

    The thread about the movie Grand Prix got me thinking.

    From 1960 to 1965 F1 was 1.5 liters, IIRC. Wouldn't a current production car, similar in tube steel frame, using a Hayabusa (or similar) engine with no aero be an absolute riot and economical as well? Couldn't you use common suspension and brakes sourced from salvage (re: Miata?)? I'd think something like that would be fairly easy to build--it'd basically be a Formula 1000 or Formula Hayabusa with no bodywork on it--just aluminum or fiberglass skin and skinny tires.

    Any thoughts?

  • Slyp_Dawg

    Nov. 27, 2010 8:17 p.m. Slyp_Dawg Reader

    so basically a Formula Skip Barber, with different bodywork, no wings, and a 'Busa engine?

  • Nov. 27, 2010 8:22 p.m. dmyntti New Reader

    I have been contemplating building a street version of a belly tank land speed car. It would be a tube frame, fiberglass body car with two seats inline. I plan on running a motorcycle engine and motorcycle tires all the way around along with motorcycle fenders. The idea would be to keep it as light and aerodymanic as possible and still be street legal.

  • BobOfTheFuture

    Nov. 27, 2010 8:53 p.m. BobOfTheFuture HalfDork

    This has crossed my mind many times. Would be epic.

  • StevenFV19

    Nov. 27, 2010 9:03 p.m. StevenFV19 Reader

    they have a class for that in SCCA. They're really, really,really fast.

  • NOHOME

    Nov. 28, 2010 9:20 a.m. NOHOME Reader

    Here is a whole thread of them from the HAMB board. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=433193&showall=1

  • 914Driver

    Nov. 28, 2010 9:35 a.m. 914Driver SuperDork

    C'mon NoHome; here I am trying to downsize the fleet, get out of cars for a while, actually do something constructive and you gotta show me this new avenue of agony, skinned knuckles and night sweats.

    Oy!

    NOHOME wrote:

    Here is a whole thread of them from the HAMB board. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=433193&showall=1

  • stroker

    Nov. 28, 2010 10:37 a.m. stroker Reader

    StevenFV19 wrote:

    they have a class for that in SCCA. They're really, really,really fast.

    What class is that?

  • stroker

    Nov. 28, 2010 10:43 a.m. stroker Reader

    In reply to Slyp_Dawg:

    Yeah, that's pretty close to what I had in mind, after looking at the Barber specs. Maybe taller tires, but that's not a big deal.

  • Nov. 28, 2010 4:53 p.m. ncjay Reader

    Sounds like a low budget version of an Ariel Atom.

  • DeadSkunk

    Nov. 28, 2010 4:58 p.m. DeadSkunk HalfDork

    I saw a Ford Escort diesel engine for sale on Detroit Craigslist last week. Combine that with a belly tank, skinny wheels and tires, maybe even some streamlined fairings over the wheels and voila!!!, you have a 70 mpg commuter !

  • racerfink

    Nov. 28, 2010 5:00 p.m. racerfink HalfDork

    It's called Formula 1000. But they do have downforce.

  • jimbob_racing

    Nov. 28, 2010 5:17 p.m. jimbob_racing HalfDork

    I would be in for a spec formula car with a cheap bike engine for power, spec tires and NO aero at all. I want them to look like vintage formula cars but be new, affordable and reliable.

  • triumph7

    Nov. 28, 2010 7:35 p.m. triumph7 Reader

    Jimbob, you just described F600... well, if we can get SCCA to accept the proposal to allow 600 bike motors in F500.

  • stroker

    Nov. 28, 2010 9:27 p.m. stroker Reader

    In reply to triumph7:

    F500/600 definitely uses aero, though. What we're talking about would be the old "cigar" chassis, or possibly something like a Lotus 72/McLaren M23.

  • MrJoshua

    Nov. 28, 2010 9:31 p.m. MrJoshua SuperDork

    http://f1-67.com/

    A little more power than you were thinking but perfect with the looks:

  • stroker

    Nov. 30, 2010 7:55 p.m. stroker Reader

    only two problems with that, the first being the chassis is aluminum (read: $$$) and the second is that it's got enough power to get going REALLY fast if the rules allowed it.

  • peter

    Nov. 30, 2010 8:00 p.m. peter New Reader

    stroker wrote:

    only two problems with that, the first being the chassis is aluminum (read: $$$) and the second is that it's got enough power to get going REALLY fast if the rules allowed it.

    third problem: I can't afford it.

  • MrJoshua

    Nov. 30, 2010 8:17 p.m. MrJoshua SuperDork

    Oh I was just pointing out an example of the shape. Build the chassis in steel with a bike motor and speeds should be a little less outrageous.

  • plance1

    Nov. 30, 2010 10:05 p.m. plance1 Dork

    stroker wrote:

    The thread about the movie Grand Prix got me thinking.

    what thread?

  • stroker

    Dec. 1, 2010 11:05 a.m. stroker Reader

    This one:

    http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/off-topic-discussion/grand-prix-remake/2855...

  • 4eyes

    Dec. 2, 2010 6:06 p.m. 4eyes HalfDork

    So formula ford, with bike engines.

 
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