Rear wheel drive donor

[restoman]

Apart from BMWs and Mercs anyone got any ideas for a newish rear wheel drive donor for a special?

[Sparks]

How about a Lexus IS200. Possibly not cheap enough, and only one engine. Vauxhall Omega/Carlton, which had (has?) loads of engine options.

HTH

Sparks

eta : forgot it is the Carlton in the UK, not Omega.

Edited by Sparks on Monday 2nd August 23:19

[MX7]

A few kits use MX5.

[jason61c]

I think that's all the decent donors covered, you could use a supra but the engines are a little on the large size!

[rdodger]

S2000

[fuoriserie]

I would go for the Mx5, cheap donors and sweet handling....

[Chris71]

MX7 said:

A few kits use MX5.

I think that's going to emerge as the big one for the next few years. There must be more MX5s than E30s around these days (I don't know how the size and weight of the E36 powertrain compares?)

There's still a lot to be said for using FWD engine/gearbox units in the 'wrong' end. If it works for the Lotus Exige (and the Libra)...

[jason61c]

There's more e36 and e46 bmw's around than mx-5's. The mx5 engine is all iron and so not that light, same as a 4 pot bmw lump but with 50bhp less.

[MX7]

jason61c said:

There's more e36 and e46 bmw's around than mx-5's. The mx5 engine is all iron and so not that light, same as a 4 pot bmw lump but with 50bhp less.

How much power did the 316 and 318 have?

[jason61c]

318(1.9 engine) is 150bhp IIRC.

[MX7]

Why not compare like with like? The M42B18 was a 1.8, and produced 136bhp, and the Mazda BP 1.8 went from about 130 to 140bhp, depending on year.

[Stubby Pete]

jason61c said:

318(1.9 engine) is 150bhp IIRC.

You'll be lucky!!

4 pot BMW engine from a E36 318i (including Z3) is 140bhp according to this. 6 pots produce reasonable bhp/cc for a fairly non stressed engine.

[batbuilder92]

I may be way off the mark here but why arn't TVRs used for kitcar body conversions. Look on ebay or any prestiege salvage yard and they always have a smashed up lateish models for sale. The body will have to be replaced, then why not change it to something different. TVRs are good looking cars but a Cobra body looks roughly the same dimensions. No IVA as it retains the same chassis, plenty of power, but never done... why?

[Frankthered]

Lexus IS 200 is an interesting call. (One I hadn't thought of!)

How about Jags?? S Type is fairly plentiful and has been completely ignored by the kit industry.

(Quite surprising as the industry is normally sooooo keen on Ford products!!)

[Stubby Pete]

I suppose that we ought to establish whether you're wanting front or mid engine layout?

Front engine, rear wheel drive not that common anymore BMW seems the best variation. Mid engine, the mk2 MR2 seems very overlooked. Plentiful donors and cheap too, easily tunable motors and reliable.

If it's a one off, try a Porsche 944 as an outside the box option!!

[Furyblade_Lee]

Last generation RX7? How fast do you need to go?

[Chris71]

jason61c said:

There's more e36 and e46 bmw's around than mx-5's.

True, I was thinking E30s for some reason.

As for the TVR suggestion, well apart from the heresy of throwing away a TVR body, the expense and the rarity there's the simple fact that it tends to be the chassis that goes, with a sideline in a expensive engine repairs. The bit that doesn't pose any major problems (unless you count earthing the electrics!) is the body.

[restoman]

Thanks guys and gals - hadn't thought of the Lexus.

However for the front engined rear wheel drive layout I'm after, I guess the BMW is the obvious choice.

Thanks all

[slomax]

were the older volvos not rear wheel drive?

[singlecoil]

slomax said:

were the older volvos not rear wheel drive?

They certainly are, my straight 6 960 (M reg) is RWD and has a reputed 205bhp