Can you mash up the sportiness of something like a Locost with an Old car like this one?

So this is a funny off the cuff idea.

I haven't contacted the owner so I have no idea if it's something I truly want, but there's this 46' body that looks great to me. I know that old cars will always handle like old cars unless you do things like replace the frame and such, but I only know simpler things like the S10 chassis and the GM A-body. Is there anything else that could make something like that handle to be the cool kid at an autocross?

All I see in the listing is a body shell. What chassis you put under there is up to you. Depending on how big it is, you might be able to use anything from a Miata to a Corvette.

Something nobody talks about is that Locosts handle like old cars :) Wobbly chassis, limited suspension travel and (in standard form) a live rear axle. Their prowess mostly comes from being very light. Dropping a bunch of hundred pounds of body on top of that is going to make it a challenge.

You'd be better off by dropping it on something like a GM A-body and going all Pro Touring on that thing.

Old cars handle like old cars because of two things, the main one is old suspension design.  Second one is weight.  There are other concerns, such as C.o.G. but those can be dealt with.

You could probably make that handle decently with the right C5 mashup.

Some people use stock car chassis, or

A few sources for aftermarket frame rails (street rod and drag race markets) + TA2 front clip + 4 link or torque arm rear suspension and you'd have something.

It's called a vintage-modified.

In reply to AClockworkGarage :

This is the answer.  End thread.

So look towards dropping it onto a different chassis, and the locost isn't as good as I think. Good to know.

In reply to AClockworkGarage :

Vintage-modified? Tell me more.

In reply to GIRTHQUAKE :

Check these out:

Love me some vintage dirt modified

Lern Me Used Modified Chassis

Add a custom chassis with This to support Corvette suspension and away you go.

That depends on what you mean by "Locost". If you mean a 'book' build, then yeah there is a lot about them that is technically pretty mediocre. If you more generically mean a DIY tube frame car that may or may not look substantially like a Lotus 7, then there are plenty that are quite good.

It also depends on what you mean by a "mash up". That could mean building a frame to connect stock body mounts to a 'book' or custom designed suspension, or it could mean dropping it on a 'book' or custom designed tube frame with 'book' or custom designed suspension to moutn the exterior panels (and firewall) to.

Your question is too vague to really be able to provide a more meaningful answer than: It's generally less about what you do than how you do it, but just about anything is possible.

If you want a locost type car with an old style body you probably want a legends type car.

Another option would be something like a Factory Five 33 roadster, a tube chassis designed for handling with a 33 Ford body draped over it. This could be done locost style with a homemade tube chassis and any vintage body of your choice in steel or fiberglass.

In reply to GIRTHQUAKE :

I certainly hope you can,  because once my JaguarXJSV12 is safely vintage racing. I intend to build a MGuar  which is a MGTD locost using Jaguar engine etc. in a locost like frame.