Easiest donor vehicle for buggy
Discussion
For my next project I'm looking to build a buggy type thing for autocross/going around the field.
Was just wondering if anyone had any experience with this and if there were any good build threads.
Seems like a classic VW Beetle is a common choice, with the ability of just being able to unbolt the shell whilst leaving the chassis being very appealing. Just wondering if there are any other good choices for the donor vehicle?
Was just wondering if anyone had any experience with this and if there were any good build threads.
Seems like a classic VW Beetle is a common choice, with the ability of just being able to unbolt the shell whilst leaving the chassis being very appealing. Just wondering if there are any other good choices for the donor vehicle?
I guess rear engined RWD is best because it completely divorces the front from the rear in mechanical terms whilst giving you decent traction.
Of course you don't have to use the same car for the front and rear. You could get the front subframe of a FWD car, fit fixed track rods and use it at the back; then take the front of another car to use at the front without the engine?
I suspect something like a Beetle would be easiest though. They must be as popular as they are for a reason.
Of course you don't have to use the same car for the front and rear. You could get the front subframe of a FWD car, fit fixed track rods and use it at the back; then take the front of another car to use at the front without the engine?
I suspect something like a Beetle would be easiest though. They must be as popular as they are for a reason.
doogz said:
I've won every production car trial and grass autotest that I've entered, in my Mk3 MR2.
Mid engined, rear wheel drive, limited slip diff as standard, fairly light, pretty reliable, quite cheap.
Suzuki Jimny? Sounds like it pretty much does what you want, straight out the box.
I want a bit of a project to keep me occupied, something different, and cheap to insure as its a kit car.Mid engined, rear wheel drive, limited slip diff as standard, fairly light, pretty reliable, quite cheap.
Suzuki Jimny? Sounds like it pretty much does what you want, straight out the box.
geeks said:
Beetles are well supported and there is a huge wealth of knowledge out there, it is well covered conversion with plenty of off the shelf parts available. Simple mechanically too which helps. Mini Moke is the other one i think?
Some Gump said:
Beetle is deffo the easiest, helped by being air cooled. No plumbing to worry about =)
All of this is undoubtedly true. It's just unfortunate the Beetle was old tat 30 years ago and things haven't improved!Mini Mokes, if you can find one which hasn't disintegrated through rust, tend to be crazily expensive.
If you start with a pre-1974 donor car you will get free tax discs. Which is nice!
Skoda estelle or rapid.
Rear engine and RWD. Independent front and rear suspension. Cheap. Up to 100 bhp from the 1.2/1.3 ali block. 4 and 5 speed engines. The front and rear end are self contained subframes.
They even do a kit car chassis for it it already.
However, if you do use a skoda, don't cut up a good one please!!! There are plenty of engines etc out there, an the 1.4 fuel injected engine used in the fabia up until the mid 2000's is the same engine from the 60's and is almost a direct fit if you want modern fuel injection etc.
Rear engine and RWD. Independent front and rear suspension. Cheap. Up to 100 bhp from the 1.2/1.3 ali block. 4 and 5 speed engines. The front and rear end are self contained subframes.
They even do a kit car chassis for it it already.
However, if you do use a skoda, don't cut up a good one please!!! There are plenty of engines etc out there, an the 1.4 fuel injected engine used in the fabia up until the mid 2000's is the same engine from the 60's and is almost a direct fit if you want modern fuel injection etc.
Ozzie Osmond said:
geeks said:
Beetles are well supported and there is a huge wealth of knowledge out there, it is well covered conversion with plenty of off the shelf parts available. Simple mechanically too which helps. Mini Moke is the other one i think?
Some Gump said:
Beetle is deffo the easiest, helped by being air cooled. No plumbing to worry about =)
All of this is undoubtedly true. It's just unfortunate the Beetle was old tat 30 years ago and things haven't improved!Mini Mokes, if you can find one which hasn't disintegrated through rust, tend to be crazily expensive.
If you start with a pre-1974 donor car you will get free tax discs. Which is nice!
Spotted this on a popular website but I don't know whether to laugh or cry but seriosly, search for "unfinished project" and you might find a deal.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Unfinished-Subaru-WRX-Tu...
|http://thumbsnap.com/iShLy3Qn[/url]
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Unfinished-Subaru-WRX-Tu...
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