I’ll preface this with an apology: I’m running on fumes and have been for the last few days. Little to no sleep combined with hours staring at a computer screen have left me looking less like my normal self and more like Jack Torrance from The Shining. Add in the frigid temperatures, cabin fever, and horrifying diet, and I might be a little bit delusional. Sounds bad, doesn’t it? Well, sometimes it can be fun! Yes, I know that sounds weird, but it’s in the same way that some of the greatest ideas in the world came from a few rounds at the bar. Tonight’s question was one that never, ever fails to incite some entertaining options: throw realism out of the window, and take a vehicle that would normally be ignored and build it into something worth mentioning. It’s strictly bench racing, and of course in real life you’d need all of the resources you could get plus skill to pull them together, but “what if” is always the preface to the start of something big.
1. Chevrolet Cavalier Rally Car
What do you look for in a rally car? I see three things that are necessary: cheapness, durability and a requirement that I’m not going to get teary-eyed if I so happen to stuff the damn thing into the trees. The Chevrolet Cavalier fits two of the three requirements, but to make it an entertaining rally car, I’d find an Olds Bravada and transplant the entire drivetrain, 4.3 V6 and all, into the car. I’m not sure if there’s a manual transmission that would back up to it easily, but an all-wheel-drive Cavalier with 195hp sounds like a really good setup…not overpowered, plenty fast, and solid. Just shooting from the hip, I’d expect the Bravada’s track to be wider than the Cavalier’s, so you could tack on some quick and dirty fender flares and really go for broke. You’d be the envy of anyone who is stuck tooling around in a Cavalier, and the Subaru and Evo crowd would just boil at the ire of a claptrap J-car holding it’s own against their all-wheel-drive wonders.
Why hasn’t this been built already?
2. Cloud Car Touring/LSR
The first-generation Dodge Stratus didn’t just do amazingly well in the North American Super Touring Championship, it was the car to beat. A powerful V6 and good handling, combined with handsome styling worked really well…for the actual race cars. The street-going Dodge Stratus, Chrysler Cirrus, and Plymouth Breeze could use all of the help they could get when it comes to the performance world.
In this case, I’d set the car up as a Touring Car tribute just for the looks. If I was to leave the FWD alone, the answer is simple: a built 2.4 turbo motor from a Dodge SRT-4 would go under hood. If I didn’t want to stay FWD, I’d jam the R5P7 NASCAR motor under the hood with the motor mounted as far rearward as I could manage, hooked to a sequential shifted gearbox and I’d go screw with the drifting crowd.
3. SRT RamVan
I found this picture surfing the Internet. I don’t know who did the Photoshop work (and if it’s a real vehicle, I want information!) but the concept is great! You get it all: The usefulness of a van, the hipster value of a Dajiban build, and the violence of a Ram SRT-10. Bonus points if you manage to keep the SRT-10’s six-speed manual transmission! Can you imagine this thing as a high-top camper van?
Surely you have to have some kind of off-the-wall dream that sounds like an absolute riot, so let’s hear it! Meanwhile, I’m going to bed…
I misspoke once and said “DeLorean MP4-12C” instead of Delorean DMC-12. Got me thinking about a McLaren MP4-12C chassis and drivetrain with a DeLorean body on top. That thing would definitely hit 88mph
Not really a combo, but I drew up a fantacy JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) AMC Hornet. I pictured it with bolt on fender flairs, fender mounted side view mirrors, right hand drive, Minilite wheels, and the AMC inline six running 3 Webbers. I’ve been wanting to build one for a while. Another what if I thought of was a 94-96 Caprice aimed at the Subaru Outback’s market. Body cladding, simple hood scoop, AWD using parts from the AWD Astro van, it would be the most functional vehicle ever.
I like your JDM Hornet idea, those are really cool cars, and it would be cool to see one built out like that.
VW Bug with the van conversion and Porsche flat 6 drivetrain. I thought that one up when I was maybe 12 years old and even used to draw it. Forgot about it til recently, I still think it would be just weird enough to do.
I always wanted to take my old 85 Escort Pony, cage it, and throw in fuel injection and a turbo then go road racing. It was a blast to drive on twisty roads as it was, stiffen it, give it some actual power, and it would have been an absolute riot.
A Corvette drivetrain in my old 86 CRX still sounds like a good idea to me. That flyweight little bastard with a healthy LS and RWD transaxle would be a brutal little monster.
Take a cheap full size truck, put a turbo 4 cylinder diesel converted to run on vegetable oil in it, use that to power a generator, have a rack of batteries in the bed, as well as one of those agricultural hundred gallon auxiliary fuel tanks. Drive anywhere, free fuel is abundant, and have the torque of an electric motor.
There’s dozens of ideas so bad they are good rattling around my noggin.
Too late there Tedly ole bean . First off,… all Type 2 VW Beetle Buses are built on the Type 1 Beetle chassis . Second ; Its been done . Multiple times . With Porsche taking the concept a step further by stuffing their twin turbo flat six along with the AWD out of what was soon to be their 959 into two Micro Buses for them to act as chase vehicles during the development stages of the Porsche 959
So … errr … I’s afeared yer a dollar short and at least 30 some odd years too late on that one . And ahh … you were saying about what else is rattling ’round the ole noggin ?
😉
Who cares if it’s been done already? Besides, I’m not talking about a bus. I’m talking about an original Beetle with a van conversion. I’ve never even seen one in person, let alone one like I’m talking about. You find one, you let me know.
Completely wrong about VW Bus’ being built on type one beetle chassis or pans. Have you ever even looked at the two? Early type 2 engine similar, maybe a few parts shared, chassis completely different. Wheelbase different, trans different, front beam different, etc
That Ram van can use a big blown Hemi right behind the drivers seat. That would make it a real cool grocery getter. Or pick the brat up from school car.
miata with an awd drivetrain. and power. lots and lots of power.
late model buick regal drift car.
i have plenty of stupid and expensive ideas.
I would love to take a 74 Ramcharger (or any fully convertable year) and add a 5.9 Turbo diesel with a manual transmission.
Bullet proof the axles, upgrade the interior for comfort and untility. Must have a full cage and mabe box the frame, winch…I am sure someone has beat me to the punch but man that would be a killer rig…
That’s the Nacho Ramcharger…
http://ramchargercentral.com/rcs-tds-durangos-etc/78-%27nacho%27-%28-end-of-an-era!-%29/
I’ve wanted to take an ’80s era Crown Vic body, drop it on a 2003-up Crown Vic Police Interceptor chassis, and put a Coyote 5.0 with a six speed transmission in it. Like the “Men in Black” car, except the flying is only metaphorical.
For some reason even though I identify as a GM guy (and would only ever buy GM junk) I always think of off the wall Ford combos.
A Panther towncar with a four valve V10 (how did this never happen??!!)
A Wrangler Unlimited sized Bronco with the 2.3 Ecoboost… but with IFS/IRS to piss off the Jeep guys.
There was a Crown Vic on the Panther platform with the Triton V10 stuffed into it on ebay a few years back. Don’t know if it ever sold or the guy ended up keeping it.
The van is cool
I have so many weird ideas:
1. First generation 4Runner with a Cummins 4BT and a 6-speed stick.
2. A tuned and balanced SAAB 900 for rallycross.
3. Collectible Chevy car with a Ford power plant, just to piss off the Chevy fans.
4. Mercedes 190 junkyard Gasser.
5. Best of all: An M37 chassis with a FI Ford 300 I6, ZF 6-speed with an SM420 behind it, Atlas 4-speed t-case and Sterling axles on 40s.
Well … errr …. mooseface … ahhhh
Both #2 #3 and #4 have all been done . For #2 & #4 you’ll have to look over Scandihoovian way . And actually #2’s been done so many times in Finland Sweden and Norway I’ve lost count years ago
That doesn’t really matter.
The 4Runner 4BTs been done, I know two guys who have done it, and a third with a Merc Diesel. Also a friend of mine has a homemade extra cab FJ45 on an FJ 60 Frame with a 4BT.
As far as the SAAB goes, if someone has already done it has no bearing on my desire to want to try it, I like SAABs, they’re good cars and it would be a fun project.
The ForVrolet isn’t even an idea original to me, a friend of mine I grew up with introduced me to the idea, and I like it. Chevy engines end up in the lion’s share of rebuilt or restored cars because they’re cheap, and Chevy fans are they most vocal, in-your-face preachy people on the planet (except for sportsball fans) and it would be fun to turn both ideas upside-down.
The Merc 190 idea is certainly not original, but was hatched on a parts run at the local Pick and Pull when I found a total gutted 190D hulk and thought about buying it for 300 bucks, slapping in a 500 dollar LS/4l60E and just having fun with it. Fun car for fun times.
Finally Fred Williams has built up a really awesome M37 Called The Dumpster.
None of what I suggested are original in the slightest, they’re just my bench racing ideas that I’ve toyed with and would someday like to build.
My screen name comes from my time on MM.Net when I had a Marauder. My thought was take an 03-04 Marauder trim about 12″ off both ends and another 10″ out of the middle and make a 2 door out of it.
My long time favorite is a 60’s Econoline van on the ground with a mid engine GT40 , (64-68 type), 427 FE.
Both of those would be pretty damn wicked!
Take one Lincoln LS
Shove the motor from a Shelby GT500 under the hood .
Toss in a couple suspension and drive train upgrades as needed
And watch them Bimmers … Audi S6’s and Asthmatic Kitty Jaguar Type R’s run for cover
Too late. There’s quite a number of supercharged 4.6 and 5.0 LS’es already out there. What’s your next groundbreaking plan?
Wait, so you’re the originality police in regards to people’s bench racing ideas, but it’s cool for you to suggest an idea that’s been done?
Notice the people he’s trying to break down? I think we’ve made a friend, Moose. I’m actually kind of hoping he steps up his trolling game, this is like dealing with a third grader.
I was thinking that, too. I’m sure that had John T. posted some ideas, he would’ve attacked him, too.
By the way, did you catch the “Tedly, ole bean” turn of phrase earlier? He just outed himself as TJ Martin. That’s really lousy internet trolling.
He’s not good enough to really cover his tracks. Honestly, once you realize what he’s doing and that he really is both a troll and desperate to feel superior to everyone else, you realize it’s just kinda sad. What makes it worse s that he could be a really cool guy and probably does have tons of cool stories and experiences (if he is who he says e is), but instead he’s just an arrogant prick. Sad.
Lotus Super 7 with a Rolls Royce Merlin and a Tremec 6 speed. Try not to laugh………..
I’m not laughing, I like all of those things.
Not laughing, but I am very curious how you’d pull it off. Isn’t the Merlin roughly the same size as a Super 7?
Now that you mention it, you’re right. Plus the Merlin weighs roughly the same as the car.
I always liked the idea of an EcoBoost 6 in a Lotus 7.
How about a late model Challenger with the rear roof and hatch section from a Dodge Magnum grafted on to make a Challenger (SRT8?) Shooting Brake. Or maybe a Charger nose on a Magnum. Another would be a period-correct appearing 1969 Boss 429 Mustang, complete down to the Magnum 500 wheels but with a late model Boss 302 and 5-speed manual. Stiffen up the chassis, 4 wheel discs w/ABS, A/C, modern sound. Good to go. If we can afford that, we can afford to spend enough to make it almost look like a real Boss ‘9 when you open the hood.
Don’t get me started.
‘F-glass ’48 Anglia, tube frame w/ custom IFS. Power from blown Yamaha V-Max or Honda Goldwing, drive shaft to IRS from some jap 4WD car. Late model sport-bike wheels and tires all round, dualies in rear. Reverse provided by electric motor driven, pneumatic cyl. actuated, retractable 5th wheel mounted just behind rear diff.
Holy hell, that’s bat shit. I LOVE IT!
You win.
Chevy citation X-11 given the Renault R-5 turbo treatment…big flares, mid mounted Z34 engine with turbo.
Also, Model T with front-mounted Corvair flat six.
I like the Amc hornet idea above…I actually had a 79 and was planning on building it as a euro-style saloon racer with a turbo 4.0, but I found out it was a VAM and couldn’t bear to chop it up.
My idea was to put a 78 -81 malibu body on a syclone frame…v-6 turbo all wheel drive malibu to me thats some sick stuff there …if money ever comes my way i think i’ll have it built,but i’ll use the astro awd since its the same as the syclone from what i’ve heard!!
Corvair with a rear mounted turbo’d Subaru flat 6 (yes the 6) hooked to a Porsche 911 Carerra 4 AWD transaxle and front diff. To make it even more crazy, make it a wagon…
78 Pinto Sport Wagon with full Nissan Skyline R34 drivetrain. Built it in plastic, now i want the real thing.
OK, this one I did not see coming. I like the way you think!
FJ40 cut down to a 45 style cab, then chop the top in a bit of a z cut 3 1/2″ so the hardtop is chopped as with height also being removed from the doors, apron, grill, and main body. Center the Yota rear axle and run some long ladder bars, tube or I beam front on radius rods and build a gasser/street freak out of it with a tunnel ram solid roller engine of whatever flavor you want (I personally like a 389 Pontiac for this exercise) and Jerico DR4.
Had the body roughed out once and the drivetrain put together, maybe I’ll try again someday.