In pursuit of the ideal (for me) minimalist RWD roadster, I've considered quite a few... This, I just found today:



Looks like it would be a blast to drive! If anyone knows about these, please share...

http://www.twintechcars.com/more.html

Some more info... http://www.kitcarmag.com/featuredveh...ch_v_twin_kit/

 

Just how much fun would that be with a proper engine in it ?

The S&S motor is a lot better than a stock Hardley motor, but it is still pretty rubbish.

Stick a 'Busa' motor in there and it would be quite a lot nicer.

horribly ugly though....

 

Geez, the reinvention of the Morgan Three-Wheeler!

 

I don't know squat about that engine. Why do you feel the way you do about it? I guess with a SC, getting 200 bhp is not a problem.

Appearance... I'm fine with it, just as I am with the Atom.

 

Indeed, reminiscent of the Morgan!

There's some pretty good photos here:

http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/10/...r-the-streets/

I like the idea about a kit, not just to save money, but for us in CA, it would be much easier to license it...

 

I would rather have an I-4 motorcycle engine in a car. The Hardley (and S&S) motors are especially slow and low revving devices, sure they have plenty of low-end grunt, but running out of revs at 5K makes them more like a diesel in their power delivery.

200hp is probably attainable, but a Hayabusa motor will give you almost that with little more than careful tuning, 300+hp is merely a turbo away, and you get that insane 12K+ red line Some

Why do I not like S&S / Hardley motors ?

Mainly because every Hardley that I have ridden has tried to shake my fillings out, made really vast amounts of noise, and has had all the performance of a wet weekend. They are really nasty engines. S&S produce a hot-rod engine based on the HD designs, but you are still talking pushrods, horribly out-of-balance V-Twins that only produce 100hp or so out of 1.5ltrs - hardly ground breaking when a modern 600cc I-4 is pushing 125hp+ not to mention weighing less, costing less and having decent service intervals.

Saying all of that, my motorcycle of choice is a 93hp 900cc Ducati, another V-Twin, but about as far removed from the HD design as an F16 is from the Wright Brothers Flyer. For one, it revs, quickly, has desmodronic valves, produces good power 100hp/ltr is reasonable, and it is beautifully balanced.

Hence my opinion that it is interesting, but the choice of engine is poor - drop a modern sportsbike engine in there and it would be way more fun.

 

Wow, thanks for your input MaxN! I have an email in with these guys, I will inquire as to why they chose this engine, and if they plan to have optional powerplants... Thank you.

 

I am also a motorcycle junkie.....

Given the light weight, you do not need a whole heap of low end torque. So the S&S motor really does not make a lot of sense, especially given the pricey nature of the units and the pricey nature of the tuning parts.

Personally I would want to run a GSXR1300 (Hayabusa) motor, but you could always go for a GSXR1000, R1 (Yamaha) or Kawasaki ZZR motor - all of these are in the 150htp+ range as standard and all rev to infinity.

A few $$$'s spent at APE in SoCal and you can build the 1300 motor into some insane 1500cc 250hp motor, THEN add a turbo and NOS 400hp is reasonably acheiveable from 1.5ltrs and you retain streetability too.

Oh - and the sound of an I-4 at 12.5K vs a HD based V-Twin at 4K is very one-sided decision

 

need to get a track for that car.

that's awesome.

 

The Hayabusa has been pretty popular in Lotus 7 replicas. I would indeed prefer it, performance, and sound-wise as well... I hope there will be such an option.

1.1 g's is a major appeal.

 

damn, me and my dad were thinking of making a little car with a motorcycle engine in it. i am glad to see these lightweight low horsepower cars coming out, much better then huge heavy beasts with 800 hp, not that they ain't cool, but there are other ways to go fast then a ton of hp.

 

how about this car with a Honda RC51 motor in it or a Suzuki SV1000 motor, just like the Ducatis but with the reliablility of the Japanese bikes, without the service costs of the Ducs.