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Login to post Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » How about a G Body Banshee?

July 8, 2011 3:31 p.m. rebelgtp SuperDork

I was just sitting here thinking about my cars and various ways I can make myself broke building up G Bodies into something crazy. I then had an odd idea. What about an A/G body version of James Garners old Banshee race car? I mean we are talking something completely insane and crazy. Completely impractical yet for some reason it makes me giggle like a school girl just thinking about it.

Could such a beasty be a good home for that DX block I have in the shop? Build it into a twin turbo diesel monster motor to power a completely crazy offroad Cutlass? Obviously it wouldn't be quite the same as the original Banshee was a full tube frame rig with just a Cutlass skin.

And to think I havn't even been drinking today.
July 8, 2011 3:36 p.m. Javelin SuperDork

Berkeleying YES!!!!
July 8, 2011 3:41 p.m. Conquest351 Reader

I like the way you think.

THIS is why I love this community. You're all just as crazy as me!!
July 8, 2011 4:08 p.m. Matt B Dork

Um, yeeaaaah do that.
July 8, 2011 4:13 p.m. rebelgtp SuperDork

Yeah it is a sickness. I am trying to think about the most practical way of building such a monstrosity. Granted it all revolves around finding the title for the original Cutlass I have (it has to be here somewhere. I hope).

I think I would prefer to keep it RWD only and not swap in a full truck driveline or anything like that. Hmmm I wonder if I have any books that cover building rally/baja style suspensions. Guess I have some research to do. That or just build it by GRM committee and put up for forum members to vote on the best GRM way of building aspects of the car.
July 8, 2011 4:13 p.m. fasted58 HalfDork

In reply to rebelgtp:

you must have pretty deep pockets for all those projects
July 8, 2011 4:26 p.m. ClemSparks SuperDork

Start with a bare frame and a cage (cheap cages abound at places like speedwaymotors.com).

The rest is just welding on suspension and body mounts ;).

Ok...I'm mostly joking.

I know not this banshee of which you speak, but I think I'll search it out on youtube soon!
July 8, 2011 4:35 p.m. rebelgtp SuperDork

In reply to fasted58:

I would say my pockets are far from deep, especially considering what some folks around here make. Though I own my home outright, I have a total of 5 rigs not including motorcycles and have no car payments (no motorcycle payments either). My bills are minimal and living where I do there isn't much else to do. My only other real hobby at the moment is shooting and currently I am putting a hold on buying or building any more guns until I finish up the current car project.

Actually aside most of the main bits (aside from the suspension bits and the like) I would have most of the parts for another build laying around in my shop. I have virtually all the parts I need for my current Cutlass build, I still need some small parts but its mostly stuff that I won't get until I start assembly and figure exactly what I need.

If I do something like this it would be built mostly from stuff I can find in my shop and pull at the yard and use as little new bits as possible. Granted I am sure I will need to buy new suspension parts and will more than likely have to fabricate some things but heck it could be fun. And it sure as heck beats just cutting up that car and scrapping it. The other option on that particular body is to dirt track it but heck this seems more fun in some odd way.
July 8, 2011 4:40 p.m. rebelgtp SuperDork

Clem well the original Banshee was made in some 40 odd days from scratch. It has a full tube frame built specifically built for Baja racing. The body was molded from a Cutlass then shortened by like a foot. The motor was mounted IN THE MIDDLE and was an aluminum 455 mounted up to a TH400. It is said that it would hit around 140 mph on the dirt.

All that being said it would cost a fortune to replicate. However building a car inspired by it would not require going to quite those extremes to still be fun and unique.
July 8, 2011 5:02 p.m. Javelin SuperDork

Why not clone the more-sane versions? He raced like 3 normal Cutlass's in 2WD. Drop in the TT Diesel 350, raise the suspension, cut/flare fenders, cage, paint blue.
July 8, 2011 5:13 p.m. rebelgtp SuperDork

Yeah that would be the direction I would go. I just always associate his offroad Olds racing with the Banshee and always forget the more tame versions he raced before it. I think they called the earlier car the Grabber? That would be much more the direction I would go if I was to build something like this.

Actually there is video on Youtube of a guy that has an original Grabber and has restored it to run the vintage event at Baja.
July 8, 2011 5:19 p.m. Rob_Mopar Dork

I'm picturing something like a cross between S10 Prerunner and the Banshee. But I'm picturing it with one of those weird hatchback Cutlasses. In my head I can see that big spare sitting right in the back of that hatch. Prerunner:

Hatch-Olds:

Here's a better example of one of those Olds': Steal the box flares and paint scheme too.
July 8, 2011 5:26 p.m. BoostedBrandon Reader

The Banshee was the predecessor to todays modern trophy trucks and truggys. A marvel at the time, I believe it's in someones collection, and the Grabber was recently restored and featured in Hot Rod a few months ago.
July 10, 2011 3:27 a.m. Wally SuperDork

i like it. The S10 suspension above might even work for the front lift. I have an idea for a G-body if I ever run into money. I want to swap the front frame section/ suspension from an early 80s eldo/toronado and the drivetrain from a wrecked hybrid Tahoe.
July 10, 2011 8:32 a.m. jrw1621 SuperDork

Rob_Mopar wrote:

I'm picturing something like a cross between S10 Prerunner and the Banshee. But I'm picturing it with one of those weird hatchback Cutlasses. In my head I can see that big spare sitting right in the back of that hatch. Prerunner:

Hatch-Olds:

Here's a better example of one of those Olds': Steal the box flares and paint scheme too.

Actually, That Cutlass and its Buick counterpart are not hatchbacks but rather a traditional trunk, just more slopped.
July 10, 2011 4:45 p.m. rebelgtp SuperDork

I showed the fiance the Banshee and Grabber and explained the idea and she was all for it. Granted she loves four wheeling and doesn't think her Tacoma is pretty until its half covered in mud.
July 10, 2011 8:39 p.m. Rob_Mopar Dork

rebelgtp wrote:

I showed the fiance the Banshee and Grabber and explained the idea and she was all for it. Granted she loves four wheeling and doesn't think her Tacoma is pretty until its half covered in mud.

Yea, you found the right girl!
July 10, 2011 9:53 p.m. SilverFleet HalfDork

Rob_Mopar wrote:

Here's a better example of one of those Olds':

Holy mother of WANT!!! Box flares really do make everything much more awesome, even those weirdo-mobiles.

My uncle had a 4-door one of those when I was a kid. It was such a turd.That one posted above just changed my mind about those slant-back G-Bodies.

Edit: Just noticed that it says MID ENGINE 442 on the door. O M F G......
July 10, 2011 9:58 p.m. Grizz Reader

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9--ISeNexM&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9x2t6BK3E_0

SilverFleet wrote:

Edit: Just noticed that it says MID ENGINE 442 on the door. O M F G......

Look behind the drivers seat. I noticed that before I even saw the stuff on the door.
July 11, 2011 9:52 a.m. MadScientistMatt Dork

If the donk crowd can do lifted G-bodies, why not one that's lifted for real off roading? I say go for it.
July 11, 2011 10:04 a.m. pinchvalve SuperDork

Jim Garner had a cool car, so why did Jim Rockford drive the base Firebird?

Give the guy a Trans-Am or something!

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