Any experience with "Locost" style cars?

[Because Racecar]

In my infinitely capable wandering mind, I've been contemplating my next project. Obviously this site is near and dear to my heart for muscle cars, but I was considering a different direction for my next build.

Does anyone here have experience with Locost style (Caterham, Lotus 7) builds? I'm thinking of going for a mid engine LS4 (5.3L transverse) build with an F40 6 speed. Wondering if you have any thoughts. They're neat because they can be exposed skeletal frame style, or enclosed in whatever body work you want, end up being very light on the order of 1500 lbs. I think it woul dbe a neat experience with the frame building and design, much more free hand then working in the confines of an existing vehicle.

[indydave]

I have some experience with them. Used to work at a shop where I aligned and did suspension work on them. IMO, you'd be better off building a chassis from scratch around your driveline package than starting with any of the chassis that make the basis for any of the Lotus 7 replicas. By the time you cut up the chassis you'd probably only would be left with the front clip and none of those chassis have much to write home about as far a front end geometry. The Locost chassis uses a Mazda Miata donor for the driveline and basic suspension pieces. Then you have the Brunton Stalker, it uses a Chevy S-10 as the donor, and the Ultralite XR7 uses a mish-mash of Honda and Subaru components. None of these cars are very good as built by the directions. They're like most kit cars, they work well enough as stylish cruisers but take a total rework to make them actually work.

[Because Racecar]

Thanks, Dave.



You're completely on the spot with my feelings towards the kits/instructions. I'm not so much looking at a kit as I am the theory. Tube frame chassis, minimal body panels for that open air feel, low weight high power. Just toying with the idea. I have pretty extensive CAD and FEA experience, but designing missiles is a bit different, so this would be a very long term project. Well, not so long as some projects on here, I suppose.

Then again, I may just find the right project before I get started. If the right first gen GTO comes along...