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small 90s hatch for conversion job
smart51 - 28/9/15 at 05:36 PM

The local scrotes have tried to steal my trike by forcing the ignition. With damage to the chassis where the steering column bolts on, and damage to the one off fibreglass housing I made, I reckon its not worth fixing. So I'm idly considering a new project. I was thinking of taking a 90s hatch and cutting off most of the body work, after welding in a tubular steel chassis. Lower the suspension and the front seats. Ditch the rears. Some GRP bodywork and I'd have an open top fun car.

So what would make the best donor? Something that handles well and is light weight. What would you choose?

balidey - 28/9/15 at 06:10 PM

Cinqecento sporting.
Its light enough not to need too much body removing.

[Edited on 28/9/15 by balidey]

bi22le - 28/9/15 at 06:22 PM

mk5 fiesta zetec s with a 1.7 puma conversion. . . .or 2ltr zetec

gremlin1234 - 28/9/15 at 07:08 PM

mx5 ?
or given your username
smart car...

owelly - 28/9/15 at 07:16 PM

I have a Puma that needs to live again!

DIY Si - 28/9/15 at 07:35 PM

Hardly the 90's but I know that a VVC K series engined Metro is rather brisk!

JC - 29/9/15 at 06:17 AM

quote:
Originally posted by smart51
I was thinking of taking a 90s hatch and cutting off most of the body work, after welding in a tubular steel chassis. Lower the suspension and the front seats. Ditch the rears. Some GRP bodywork and I'd have an open top fun car.


Banham???????

MikeRJ - 29/9/15 at 03:54 PM

The answer is:

A Corvette C4

As they are a bit thin on the ground in the UK, how about something along the same lines (V8, RWD, cheap) e.g. an old Lexus? By the time you've removed most of the interior and a sizeable part of the bodywork the weight should be pretty reasonable.

smart51 - 29/9/15 at 04:54 PM

quote:
Originally posted by owelly
I have a Puma that needs to live again!


I'd dismissed the fiesta because I've always disliked them. The puma was a fiesta underneath and had the tidy 1.7 engine. It could be an option. The Ka was also a fiesta variant and the Street Ka already has the roof removed. I've just looked up prices and they're quite cheap.

quote:
Originally posted by DIY Si
Hardly the 90's but I know that a VVC K series engined Metro is rather brisk!


I'd forgotten about the metro! I remember Talon did VVC engine swaps, which might be fun. The metro pool cars we had at work were tidy handlers too.

quote:
Originally posted by JC
quote:
Originally posted by smart51
I was thinking of taking a 90s hatch and cutting off most of the body work, after welding in a tubular steel chassis. Lower the suspension and the front seats. Ditch the rears. Some GRP bodywork and I'd have an open top fun car.


Banham???????


Erm, No.

[Edited on 29-9-2015 by smart51]

olberj - 29/9/15 at 09:33 PM

205 base 3 door with 106 gti/306 gti6/xsara vts running gear.

Cheap, 90s and can handle fantastically.

Get a cti and you just need to remove the windscreen.

morcus - 29/9/15 at 09:33 PM

Cut down small Fiats always look super fun, maybe an cinq or an Uno.

Even his Holiness is a fan.