Time to open my own Auto Company

Marty Howard · **Posted:** Tue Oct 10, 2006 2:36 pm

Because I have given up on any current manufacturer creating an inexpensive RWD 4 person coupe, I am going to build my own.

I am going to buy one of the plants Ford, DCX, or GM is closing for a facility. Then I will buy the die and tool rights for a discontinued chassis and buy create motors and transmissions to put into them. The two offering will be a coupe and a sedan, both RWD and manual Transmissions (auto and option), weight under 2600 lbs for the coupe and 2800 lbs for the sedan, and have at least 200 HP (240+ is even better). All for >$24K loaded. Will sell 30K of each a year.

So I need to figure out a light RWD chassis, engine choice, and transmission choice.

Maybe a modified Miata chassis with a Turbo I4 (hmm, all those parts exist in Mazda)

What would you suggest using?

(yes, this is all a pipe dream).

Wes Eargle · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:47 am **Posts:** 3683

Marty Howard · **Posted:** Tue Oct 10, 2006 3:07 pm

Not bad...

Chris Landi · **Joined:** Mon Mar 08, 2004 6:31 pm **Posts:** 579

Ah, outed another NASIOC OT'er! CROSSPOST!

Todd Breakey · **Posted:** Tue Oct 10, 2006 3:52 pm

Wes Eargle wrote:

That is one Bad Ass, albeit heavy, custom that they did. I'll bet that would be one fun car do drive.

The only problem is it doesn't meet Marty's requirement for 4 seats as the grafted the rear of a GT right behind the front seats.

Marty Howard · **Posted:** Tue Oct 10, 2006 4:02 pm

Chris Landi wrote:

Ah, outed another NASIOC OT'er! CROSSPOST!

Doesn't count....

Marty Howard · **Posted:** Tue Oct 10, 2006 4:21 pm

A Modern day 510, BMW 2002, Corolla SR-5, RWD Capri (the non-Mustang one), or the Cosworth Vega (bad Example) would be a great seller. Or at least I think so.

Mazda has the Miata and the 2.3
GM has the KAPPA
and Dodge had a great concept with the Razor, but no one will pull the trigger and build a small RWD coupe.

Scott Johnson · **Posted:** Tue Oct 10, 2006 4:36 pm

You can get a GTO for pretty cheap these days. Heck, RX8's aren't that expensive either (used or year end closeout).

Marty Howard · **Posted:** Tue Oct 10, 2006 4:56 pm

scottjohnson wrote:

You can get a GTO for pretty cheap these days. Heck, RX8's aren't that expensive either (used or year end closeout).

Holden and Lightweight can't be used together...well it can, but it would be stretching it.

The RX-8 isn't as light as it could be.

The Corolla, Celica, and Versa area all under 2600 lbs. Making them RWD wouldn't add that much weight. The Celica was 2400 lbs.

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Tue Oct 10, 2006 5:09 pm

Marty Howard wrote:

Holden and Lightweight can't be used together...well it can, but it would be stretching it.

The RX-8 isn't as light as it could be.

The Corolla, Celica, and Versa area all under 2600 lbs. Making them RWD wouldn't add that much weight. The Celica was 2400 lbs.

My ST* legal Celica was at 2325# and could have been about 35# lighter if I removed the A/C. - AB

George Bright · **Posted:** Tue Oct 10, 2006 5:17 pm

I think this will meet your power requirements if it might be just a tad heavy.

Under the hood blower lightning motor

Rear wheel drive as it should be

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Tue Oct 10, 2006 5:37 pm

George, that car ran SM at National Tour and ProSolo events in '03-'04. It didn't do very well, but I think it's because of the massive power with a short wheel base

- AB

Jason Mauldin · **Posted:** Tue Oct 10, 2006 5:59 pm

Marty Howard wrote:

So I need to figure out a light RWD chassis, engine choice, and transmission choice.

240sx + ls1.
http://www.hinsonsupercars.com/partsMai ... ipment.htm

Marty Howard · **Posted:** Tue Oct 10, 2006 9:04 pm

Little old to get it back into mass production, but it may work.

Patrice Bousquet · **Posted:** Wed Oct 11, 2006 2:59 pm

Here the 2 persons sport coupe version of your car.

Patrice

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