MID-ENGINE BMW/MERCEDES KITCAR

[fuoriserie]

Lately I have been thinking about future donors, and older Bmw and Mercedes cars are becoming cheaper by the day.

I was wondering if anyone thought about using a mid-mounted Bmw engine in a modern designed kitcar.

In the 60's Elva created the Elva-Bmw GT 1600 (unfortunately only 3 cars were ever made), and in the 70's Bmw had it's own design with the M1.

www.elva.com

Any thoughts about a new mid-engine Kit car with Bmw and Mercedes engines, would there be an interest in such a kit.

The 4/6 cylinders would be great for a cheaper and more affordable kit, with the 8 and 12 for a more powerful and expensive kitcar.

Maybe a modern designed kit....

Would like to hear your comments

Italo

[spartan_andy]

looks like youve just found urself a new project italo

[KITT]

I would have thought the older BMWs and Mercs would be better suited to a front engine, rear wheel drive layout myself. Old 3 series would make great doners for Se7en style cars, able to donate the whole drive-chain inc gearbox and diff

[andygtt]

You are right the BMW range are becoming cheaper and a real option... I'm using a V12 in my mid engined car from the 750.
I got a complete running 750il (over £50k new and electric everything!) for £500 a year ago... I've also made an adapter plate to mount an inverted G50 to it.

[fuoriserie]

Andygtt

I Will be following closely and with a lot of interest your build, but wonder how many are out there working on a similar project.

Maclaren has cancelled (maybe on hold ) their mid-engine sports car, maybe a cheaper and more creative specialist car, can be designed for less money..............

Maybe that's why Pagani is working on a cheaper Zonda with a v8 Mercedes...................

I know that Bmw is working on an M1 replacement with the new v10 engine, but out of reach for most.

I would still go for the 6/8 cylinder design using existing mid-engine kitcars, very few I have to say, that could fit these engine.

I'll take out my pencil..............

[The DJ 27]

I'm sure an Audi transaxle would be a (very) low cost gerbox option for the lower powered models. Get scribbling

[Chrille]

The DJ 27 said:

I'm sure an Audi transaxle would be a (very) low cost gerbox option for the lower powered models. Get scribbling

You can buy an Audi 100 with v6 for almost nothing. Use the V6 and gearbox in a mid engine car and you get a nice engine with quit a lot of power. I think that would be a better choice than the BMW if you are going for a mid engine car.

[Paul Drawmer]

Unless the kit is an M1 of course....

Now that would be a kit I'd like. Would have to be based on BMW donor of course!

[chrille]

Paul Drawmer said:

Unless the kit is an M1 of course.... Now that would be a kit I'd like. Would have to be based on BMW donor of course!

Well, peronally I wouldn’t even think of building a replica of a M1 but people gets going for different things....