This is my little monster. !953 MG-TD with Corvette 350, 5 speed and Corvette suspension. She goes like stink and handles like its on rails. Its kinda like a go-kart on steroids. It's a blast to drive,but way beyond my driving skills. It will kill you if you make a mistake. A lot of work went into maintaining a stock look, and most people think it is as long as it's not running. The wheels and tires are a bit of a givaway also.
February 2009- http://www.hotrod.com/featuredvehicles/113_0703_volvo_1800/index.html By the way, love your Stude.
If anyone's interested in this vehicle I can put you in touch with someone who can give you some history on it. Got a Mk1 GT shell waiting for me to clear some working room. Cortina engine compartment fairly wide but very short unless you're prepared to move the firewall; twincam Fiat swaps were common at one point, SBF and Buick/Rover V8 swaps not unknown though they fit better in the Mk2 'Tina; my measuring tape says a GM LS2/LS3 won't fit in a Mk1 without significant surgery. Been looking at Cologne V6s but I'll probably end up with a turbo Zetec. I've supposedly got a freebie Saab B234T motor headed this way but it won't fit in the Cortina; thinking Vega or early Nova might be about right for that one... In California if you want to get into swaps into post-HAMB-era vehicles you've got to consider how you want to address the smog-legality issue. It's not quite HAMB-compliant but California smog-legality issues aside for the original poster's requirements I'd propose an E30 or E36 BMW with a GM LS2/LS3 in it.
Personal opinion, of course, but I never much liked the baby-Mako Opel GT. The Mantas and Asconas (US 1900) are great, they're kinda thin on the ground but still have a fair following especially in Europe. I don't think they'd be a good/easy V8 swap candidate but there's folks putting the LNF direct-injection turbomotor (Solstice GXP/Cobalt SS/etc, 260-300HP with a beautiful fat torque curve) in the things.
I was at one time seriously looking at a VW-based TD replica, the idea being to lose the VW floorpan etc. and substitute a front-engined ladder frame. The result wouldn't have been a de-faked TD as much as a loose K3/KN replica, as I was thinking in terms of a tube-axle front end. Tickford was one of the coachbuilders known for fhc's/dhc's on T-type chassis:
You just reminded me of the Lombardi GP/ Otas / Abarth Scorpione ( all basically the same body ) It also has a long overhang in the front, and lift because of the shape of it. View attachment 1369908 But one was modified for racing with a short nose that probably gave more downforce. View attachment 1369909 View attachment 1369910 Is that kinda wat you were thinking of?
Small Cars like 62 Cortinas and European rwd 68-80 Escorts are better with Zetec fours than with V8s. I also have a rwd MK2 Escort I'm currently building. They are rare in the US but very popular in Europe. Ed P.S. Topic is totally OT. But if it works as a big advertisement for Dogfight, maybe it will be worth letting it run. As the response shows, a lot of us also like sports cars and should be covering these topics on dogfight. Use the same login name so we know who you are.
Google MG ZT 260 and ZT-T 260 and Rover 75 V8. I own No. 505. Mostly in the United Kingdom, but also mainland Europe, New Zealand and Australia. Never exported to the US. It's not the first MG V8 though. Europe had a MGB GT V8 in the 70s and the MG RV8 in the 90s, both with Buick/Rover aluminum V8s.
Ok... if early 50's American coupes are too big, try one of these. Gary http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=522436&highlight=french
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Vedette http://www.philseed.com/fordvedette54.html http://www.motorbase.com/vehicle/by-id/1704711124/ They did make other models. Gary
I haven't seen a Nash Metropolitan coupe mentioned yet. Yeah, most of them are "cute", but the right wheels, paint, and stance and I'll bet they could do the GT Coupe thing pretty well. I'm thinking Buick/Rover V8 for power? It's too bad MB only offered the 190SL as a roadster. One of those would be cool as a baby Gullwing. Also, Karmann Ghias have good styling shared with a '50s MoPar dream car the name of which I forget. -Dave
How 'bout one of these? Small, American-made,kinda European styling. I've seen a few with V-8s stuffed in.
I love the little Healeys and had to do a search to see if they made a coupe. There is one guy that made one. looked ok but wasn't great. Then I saw this. Evedently they made roofs for them. I guess it would be impossible to find one. Wouldn't be too bad to make. Clark
These would be cool, too. If I had the budget, I'd put one on a sporty frame and while chopping the top I'd shave a little more off at the rear, sloping the roof down at the back a little like a P1800 or Dodge Magnum wagon. Gary
I had a '56 100-6 for awhile after high school. I sure wish I had one of these tops on it. The Healy version kinda sucked. Gary
I'm positive it's built of Unobtanium, but the Rally-inspired Cosworth-powered Model A that hit YouTube and a few car mags a while back sure as hell looked fun to me! It's wayyy OT, but the notion of a 240, 260, or 280Z with an aluminum SBC has always appealed to me. Only minor deal is the roofline on a 2+2 is sorta ugly. ;-).
I really like the idea of a V-8 powered early 60's Austin Healy Chevy II or Falcon. The Falcon and Chevy II accept a V-8 w/o any fabrication and are easily updated in the suspension/brake dept. Consider an early 50's Willys Aero, Hudson Jet (smallish 53/4 Ford look). From the late 50's, Hillman made some nice looking smallish coupes and 2 dr. panels/wagons. Call me nuts, but I always thought a tricked out Rally style V-8 Trabant would be different. Going further out of the box, here's a few oddballs from the bay; A Kellison body, ready to be dropped on a Vette chassis; http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1962-KELLISON-J5-/170665689444?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item27bc77c164 1960 Borgward Coupe (in Socal), which I think has a lot of body style; http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Tan-...5730478?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item27bc7861ae
That's wicked sweet!!! What drivetrain? <input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="if(typeof(jsCall)=='function'){jsCall();}else{setTimeout('jsCall()',500);}" id="jsProxy" type="hidden">
^^I don't know any of this car's mechanical details, but it seems pretty likely that it's SBF powered.
It's an original brass-tag TA car IIRC, actually ran in the '60s, it's been written about pretty extensively. Go google 'Mike Eisenberg falcon' or go to his company site (http://maecomotorsport.com)
Probably better. It does sort of need something there. Some big fat side pipes might not hurt the look either.
How about an early corvair with a mid mount high perf. v6 out of a Chevy berreta gtu instaed of a back seat? Use the whole engine and transaxle. Build some mounts for the top of the struts, fab up some body mounts for the engine cradle assembly. Get rid of the steering rack and make a solid mount for the tie-rod ends so it wont be "rear steer". Put the radiator in the back with the stock electric fans and shrouds. It could be interesting to say the least.
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