The build of my Indy is currently in a state that I have to tie together loose ends, and wait for the painter to finish my bodywork, before I can finish the car. Not the most satisfying part of the build for me, so I've already started thinking about a new project.

This time I want something mid-engined with a bit more comfort. Looking at what's available in the market today in this category, is somewhat disappointing. There's the GTM Libra and Spyder: I love the styling, but a bit pricey, and how come the door never seems to close properly at the bottom?
The Marlin 5Exi; styling is ok (looks remarkebly similar to the Strathcarron!), but that soft-top really puts me off.
Sylva Mojo and R1ot: I love them under the skin, but the skins are too "basic".
Then there's a whole range of LMP style cars. Some of them are really nice, but LMP is too "hard-core" for my intended use.

To cut a long story short: with my Indy I made the bodywork myself, and now I'm thinking of doing it the other way around; design and fabricate the chassis myself, and buy some body work. For the bodywork I'm considering the body of the Smart Roadster Coupe, with a GRP copy of the metal center section. And with something like 200 bhp in the back, instead of the 100 bhp lump the Brabus version has. Of course my "Roadster" would have a spaceframe chassis, and the Smart's bodywork is mostly plastic, so the weight will be very low.

Does this sound like a stupid idea? (of course not everybody likes the styling of the Smart Roadster Coupe, but I like it a lot!)

Marcel

personally i think they're really cool. I'd love one - even with 100bhp.

200bhp scares the willy's out of me

My only critisiscm would be that for all your effort you would end up with something that looked like a (notso)Smart.

Maybe use that for the bodywork plug, but restyle so it ain't a smart.

ATB

Simon

daft question, where would you get the bodywork from & how much?

remember a story about someone who hired a lambo for a weekend, drove it to some place and spent all weekend using it as a plug for a GRP mould.

no idea how true it is or what state the car was returned in.

I agree with the "you end up with a Smart" bit. But as I like its styling, compared to most kits, that's not a bad thing. In a way it is nice to have something that doesn't scream "I'm special". Untill you press the loud pedal that is.

Where to get the bodywork; I have no clue as to what it will cost when bought new from Smart. I seem to remember that the price of the bodywork for the original Smart wasn't too expensive, a couple of years ago (something like a 1000 pounds for all of it?!? Well, all of it is just two doors, bonnet and tailgate or so). But I'm more counting on parts to come up on ebay, just like Elise body parts.

Anyway, I won't be making another body from scratch. Been there, done that (eventhough it was only for a Seven; it is a lot of work! Loads of respect for Steve and Alan for their efforts)

Marcel

ive been planning a similar thing,more LM stylie with a bike engine.
did go into elise body on my own chassis but damaged/2nd hand panels for those cost a fortune.
the smart body idea seems good,sexy looking car,get a set of panels and make a mould from them,as long as you make a few differences mercs cant sue you....i.d have a set of you

Personally I dont really like the look of any of the Smarts, but it will make a mental "Q" car. They wont see which way you go

Got to be worth doing for that alone

Cheers
Richard

"remember a story about someone who hired a lambo for a weekend, drove it to some place and spent all weekend using it as a plug for a GRP mould"

I know someone that did that for a lotus excel years ago, worked a treat. He had spun his one and stoved in the rear, it was a very cheap proposition when it came to repairs !

Have you considered the AEON.

Razman is building a 2 seater version which is looking very impressive.

have you considered the shelsley? or aeon? mid engined and not too pricey.

I don't like the bodywork of the closed Aeon. The open version is o.k., but does have too many flat sections, where I would expect a bit more shape (like on top of the front wheels), which somehow make it look too "simple", (I know it's a brilliant handling car). Razman is changing those sections on his car, but that's a lot of work.

The Shelsey; hmm, hadn't thought of that one. Not sure about the styling yet. It's not bad, but its not strong enough in its lines or something.

Yeah, I know, I'm pickey.

well ill hopefully be spending my cash on a shelsley before the end of the month, sold my beloved GT4 to fund it. I agree the looks of the shelsley are a bit left to be desired but a roof and comfortable interior and performance to shatter porsches more than makes up for it.

The aeon as you say is a very ugly car, From the front it looks ultima but from the back it looks like they lost interest and drew the lines straight

I believe bodypanels for the Smart are very expensive.. besides that, I have heard Mercedes has a very active "gestapo-department", suing people left and right for making major alterations to their vehicles..

surely you dont sign a contract when you buy a mercedes saying I will not be modifying this car?

i think if you bought the car and then modified the panels you'd be ok. I suspect its people buying panels or copying them that is the problem.

love to see the court writ if it was a case of "i've modified my own car".

(and i have to admit in some cases i'd hope the manufacturer would win with the cars i've seen some chav's driving - except that goes against my principle of let people live!)

copying them for your own use will be no problem.... it will be people selling them that will get court action.

Yep, I think Andygtt is right with that statement.

It's quite nice to think about this project, and dream about the specs... Audi 1.8T engine (225 bhp), or perhaps Honda Civic Type-R (200 bhp). Hmmm......nice. Such a shame that I have to finish my Indy first, and then find the space (and funds) to start on the next project!

I still need to start my indy........

Cornishrob & Mave,

I know that I am biased but you might want to reconsider the Aeon as it has now been redesigned. To be more accurate, I have reprofiled the front section and the result has been adopted by Aeon as the next stage in its development. I have also revamped the rear section but that is just for me at the moment.





As you can see it is quite different from the original design - the flat front profile is more rounded with different light units. This is not the finished product either - just one of the trials before the real thing which is much, much better (and a bit hush hush until the actual launch )

The rear section has Lexus style lights moved above the bumper and a rear window which opens!

More still to come in the pipeline so don't write it off just yet

[Edited on 5-1-06 by RazMan]

quote:

---

Originally posted by RazMan

I know that I am biased but you might want to reconsider the Aeon as it has now been redesigned.


[Edited on 5-1-06 by RazMan]

---

Razman; very well done indeed. However, I still don't like the shape of the "cockpit" (from the front). Maybe the roof is just too flat or something. Or the sides are to flat. I dunno.

Fair comment Mave, but as I said before this is not the finished design yet. The doors are being revamped as we speak (I'm covered in fibreglass dust ) and have a slight convex shape for rigidity along with an inner skin which makes them much more substantial. I hate flimsy kit car doors and wanted to make them look more 'production' like.
One of the big advantages with this type of car is that you can easily change any aspect as far as your expertise, budget or imagination allows

that looks better, still not sure on the splitter on the front, i think it needs to be incorporated into the front tbh but thats the way i would like to see it.


have you changed the sides at all to include vents? this was something i think the aeon lacked, the ultima has them as a feature as do most mid engined cars have some form of ventilation in the quarters and i think the aeon would have a lot more character should it have them

Side vents could easily be incorporated but as the radiator is in the front there is no real need unless intercoolers are needed for a twin turbo setup

In my own rear section I have installed a couple of NACA ducts behind the rear window for getting cold air to the air filter.
I was originally I was going to put these on the rear wings but my twin fillers (my tanks are in the sills) took that spot. Here's another 'work in progress' pic. I really must take some up to date ones!



[Edited on 6-1-06 by RazMan]

[Edited on 6-1-06 by RazMan]

Eh... those NACA ducts do nothing since there is no rearward laminar airflow to feed them. Far better would be to move them to the sides of the car, both for asthetics and function. Where they are now will be pointed at and "discussed".

Not entirelly true.... if the air filter is sealed against them then it will suck clean low pressure air throught the ducts quite effectivelly IMO.

Thats assuming the ducts function is purelly to feed the air filter.... if it is designed to take cold air into the engine bay generally then that will not happen... it will only allow hot air to escape.

Well okay, fair enough, though having it the shape of a NACA duct is pointless other then styling. Yes it will work but looks funny. In fact, they would probably work better turned around backwards, to catch some of the turbulant air curling around behind the cab.

Of course my car looks funny too, so who am I to say...

[Edited on 1/6/06 by kb58]

The main reason for choosing the NACA duct was that I had already got them in my odds & sods bin.

I know they are not in an ideal position for airflow at racing speeds but normal road driving should be ok - better than nothing. As Andy says, they also allow hot air to escape from the engine bay so you could even say they are dual purpose I am very concious of the pitfalls of driving a closed mid-engined car in the heat of summer with no aircon so I am trying to find all sorts of ways of letting heat out.

As far as styling goes, I agree they look rather harsh at the moment but they are not staying like that and will have a curved cover to blend them in a little - watch this space.


[Edited on 6-1-06 by RazMan]

Are these vents for lead cool air to the engine or to let hot air out?

I gota say your mini looks awsome in your advatar.

Thanks Andy, there's more pictures on the site.

quote:

---

Originally posted by kb58
Are these vents for lead cool air to the engine or to let hot air out?

---

Nice modifications Razman. Much better than standard!

I have to agree with the negative comments about those NACA ducts tho'. Nothing about the ducts themselves (I love em), just the location and function of them.
NACA ducts by their design have to be in a high pressure laminar airflow situation to be of any use at all. With them in your position they are nothing more than cosmetic and if anything would restrict any necessary aiflow to or from the engine bay. At best the area will be a low pressure area and will be trying to draw air out of a tiny little slot with very little airspeed. There is just not enough of an opening to do any good as ventilation.
You would be far better putting in large mesh grills in order to let hot air to escape.

Other than that looking good!

Terry

Thanks for the comments Terry - much appreciated.

I must say that I wish I had stuck to my original idea and put them in the buttresses, therefore back in the higher airflow. I just couldn't find a suitable shaped duct so I went with the present setup.
The best thing the NACA's did was stiffen up the top panel nicely. If it is really a big 'no no' I suppose I can always fill them in and put a larger grille above the engine to let heat out more easily, although the problem of rainwater comes up. I still think that the air filter will benefit though so I am still in two minds - that V6 is going to generate a lot of heat.

lots of people have air filters sticking out in the open - mostly the bec boys. They don't seem to have a problem. Unless the car is stationary with the engine off i can't see it being an issue.

quote:

---

Originally posted by RazMan
Thanks for the comments Terry - much appreciated.

I must say that I wish I had stuck to my original idea and put them in the buttresses, therefore back in the higher airflow. I just couldn't find a suitable shaped duct so I went with the present setup.
The best thing the NACA's did was stiffen up the top panel nicely. If it is really a big 'no no' I suppose I can always fill them in and put a larger grille above the engine to let heat out more easily, although the problem of rainwater comes up. I still think that the air filter will benefit though so I am still in two minds - that V6 is going to generate a lot of heat.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by MikeR
Unless the car is stationary with the engine off i can't see it being an issue.

---