Stiggy Mills Your next design?
Discussion
Afternoon Mr Mills and fellow pistonheaders
I have been watching with interest the development of your Exocet mx5 based car. I also see you are about to launch an MX5 based coupe.
Now you are a convert to the 5 have you any plans to take it further as a donor?
I would love to see something along the lines of a lightweight body (similar to the Phoenix?) on a lightweight chassis running MX5 suspension, engine, box diff etc. Basically using as much as possible from the donor.
I believe the MX5 is the perfect donor. FR, Cheap, light, plentiful and most of all is already a pretty lightweight, good handling car. For a grand you can supercharge it to around 200bhp. Sounds to me to be made for the job!
I would guess the kit could be pretty cheap as there are no suspension parts to fabricate, just a chassis and 2-3 piece pretty body.
I think the MX5 should take over where the MK2 Escort left off. Just better!
What do you think?
Make it pretty, light and cheap and I would be your first order.
I have been watching with interest the development of your Exocet mx5 based car. I also see you are about to launch an MX5 based coupe.
Now you are a convert to the 5 have you any plans to take it further as a donor?
I would love to see something along the lines of a lightweight body (similar to the Phoenix?) on a lightweight chassis running MX5 suspension, engine, box diff etc. Basically using as much as possible from the donor.
I believe the MX5 is the perfect donor. FR, Cheap, light, plentiful and most of all is already a pretty lightweight, good handling car. For a grand you can supercharge it to around 200bhp. Sounds to me to be made for the job!
I would guess the kit could be pretty cheap as there are no suspension parts to fabricate, just a chassis and 2-3 piece pretty body.
I think the MX5 should take over where the MK2 Escort left off. Just better!
What do you think?
Make it pretty, light and cheap and I would be your first order.
Thanks for the reply.
In my mind the car would weigh much less than an MX5. Around 500-600kg.
I mentioned retro as they seem popular. I like the Raw Fulcrum but many don't.
I wonder why a few companies are now developing cars based on the 3 series when MX5 components are more suited. They are lighter for a start and more suited to a small sports car since they are from one. Better gear ratios etc.
I will come and see you at Newark. I will be very interested to see the Coupe.
In my mind the car would weigh much less than an MX5. Around 500-600kg.
I mentioned retro as they seem popular. I like the Raw Fulcrum but many don't.
I wonder why a few companies are now developing cars based on the 3 series when MX5 components are more suited. They are lighter for a start and more suited to a small sports car since they are from one. Better gear ratios etc.
I will come and see you at Newark. I will be very interested to see the Coupe.
Furyblade_Lee said:
Sounds interesting Mr. Mills. Cannot understand why you posts get deleted though, stooooopid. I am also a lover of the MX5, cannot wait to see what it is. I am off in my kitcar spanking round the Alps on the 17th, will have to wait till i get home on the 27th to see what you have come up with!!!
Will you miss me 
Hard tops a readily available for the mx5 for between £200 - £400 depending on condition and original or aftermarket.
The market for a replica of the concept coupe would be enthusiastic but very limited. I know a few mx5 enthusiasts would bite your hand off but would you sell 50? Probably not. Not within a reasonable time frame anyway. There is a company in the USA who have it available already.
I think the bigger market for body conversions is people who want to build a car but don't have time, money or skill to build a full kit or want something with more practicality than a typical kit can offer.
The reception on the MX5 forums of the MEV5 was cool to say the least. I like it but it doesn't offer me anything extra from what I already have. I have a hard top for winter and I quite like the style of the original car. Many people will prefer it to the standard mx5 and relish the challenge of building something nearly unique, that looks more overtly sporty.
For me as I said in my original post I would love to see a more light weight, track biased kit to take the fantastic donor parts. My recently MP62 supercharged mx5 is starting to get really good with my continued mapping and would be awesome if 2/3rds the weight.
It seems though that the kits that have been available in the past that use the donor haven't sold so well. Westfield, MNR, Cyana. Why is this? Surely the engine/gearbox combo is far better than a sierra engine,box, diff and probably much cheaper now!?
The market for a replica of the concept coupe would be enthusiastic but very limited. I know a few mx5 enthusiasts would bite your hand off but would you sell 50? Probably not. Not within a reasonable time frame anyway. There is a company in the USA who have it available already.
I think the bigger market for body conversions is people who want to build a car but don't have time, money or skill to build a full kit or want something with more practicality than a typical kit can offer.
The reception on the MX5 forums of the MEV5 was cool to say the least. I like it but it doesn't offer me anything extra from what I already have. I have a hard top for winter and I quite like the style of the original car. Many people will prefer it to the standard mx5 and relish the challenge of building something nearly unique, that looks more overtly sporty.
For me as I said in my original post I would love to see a more light weight, track biased kit to take the fantastic donor parts. My recently MP62 supercharged mx5 is starting to get really good with my continued mapping and would be awesome if 2/3rds the weight.
It seems though that the kits that have been available in the past that use the donor haven't sold so well. Westfield, MNR, Cyana. Why is this? Surely the engine/gearbox combo is far better than a sierra engine,box, diff and probably much cheaper now!?
Stuart Mills said:
rdodger said:
It's getting there Mr Mills
Now we just need the rest of the body with no doors, a lightweight space frame chassis to accept the mx5 running gear (without subframes) and we will be there! Get it down to around 500kg and it will be awesome
Rog
All in hand, you will need to attend the Exeter show to see what is in my head at the mo and about to make it to realityNow we just need the rest of the body with no doors, a lightweight space frame chassis to accept the mx5 running gear (without subframes) and we will be there! Get it down to around 500kg and it will be awesome
Rog
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