78Brougham
"Chump"
Imagine how fast Demon or Hellcat could be if they took off some that non essential BS.
Trim the fat say down to what my Esprit weighs... 2600 lbs.
New Mid-Engine Corvette Revealed This Evening in California - Not Impressed
- Thread starter saforwardlook
- Start date
Trim the fat say down to what my Esprit weighs... 2600 lbs.
70bigblockdodge
Old Man with a Hat
Worst part of the Demon is after the NHRA finally allowed 2010 and newer cars to run cageless down to 9.99, because crash worthiness was built in.
Along comes the Demon and smashes that barrier getting itself regulated to add a cage(weight) to a already stiff car. Now you are at a "T" in the road again. Left is add a cage and make it more racecar than street, gutting it. Right, only run at non NHRA sanctioned events and or tracks.
I think I will stick with my Barracuda, cage in, iron headed big block and my fat *** I'm still way below 4000# ~3500#, also way below the $100,000 price tag.
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Sure, take the easy way.
78Brougham
"Chump"
Sounds like the nhra is like the feds... adding useless regulations to everthing. (Ie. rubber tits on the'73's) Effem you don't need to go to their tracks to prove your car is fast. You know it and your buddies know it. Use local tracks and non sanctioned events.
If folks stop supporting them they'll get the message.
My point is dodge should offer those cars both ways, with all the glitz and without all the glitz, a light weight chassis model, for those who want a simple light weight fast car.
If folks stop supporting them they'll get the message.
My point is dodge should offer those cars both ways, with all the glitz and without all the glitz, a light weight chassis model, for those who want a simple light weight fast car.
I think the 1320 was supposed to fill this niche but came up short unfortunately.
70bigblockdodge
Old Man with a Hat
The Drag Pack cars are sort of like that. The factory stock showdown (which Dodge won the championship last year even with the extra weight). These are bodies in white with stock front suspension, floor pan, cage, and a close representation of factory driveline. Kind of like 1970 pro stock all over again. Dodge was first into the 7 second range with a 7.97 and started cleaning house thereafter, hence the weight penalty. We will see if the 71, 72, 73 Pro stock scene repeats itself in the next couple of years.
70bigblockdodge
Old Man with a Hat
It's a beginner car.
Though I am more of a C3/C4 lover, I like this mid-engine version. I might get one .. used .. in a few years.
But, I'll wait till the "Z" version (rumored to be a ZR-1, Twin Turbo, 1,000 horses) shows up. Love it/hate it .. THAT sum-be-yatch would pin your ears back. I suspect it will also kick road dirt/tire chunks in the face of any mass production street car ever built.
My increasingly obsolete (as guys/gals retire, my sources dry up) knowledge of whats going on at the General confirms what was reported a few months (btw, these camo-mules were running around Detroit freeways all this year) back tho:
But, I'll wait till the "Z" version (rumored to be a ZR-1, Twin Turbo, 1,000 horses) shows up. Love it/hate it .. THAT sum-be-yatch would pin your ears back. I suspect it will also kick road dirt/tire chunks in the face of any mass production street car ever built.
My increasingly obsolete (as guys/gals retire, my sources dry up) knowledge of whats going on at the General confirms what was reported a few months (btw, these camo-mules were running around Detroit freeways all this year) back tho:
The C8’s new aluminum spaceframe actually bent during test runs with prototypes powered by the 900-1,000 hp twin-turbo V8. Described as a "structural distortion,” the rear frame twist was strong enough to fracture the glass hatch covering the engine. The frame couldn’t handle that amount of power.
Imagine if that flaw was not discovered prior to launch. Owners could have gotten into serious trouble if they were going all-out on a track. GM would have had major lawsuits to contend with.
Source: 1,000-HP C8 Corvette Prototypes Are Bending Their Own FramesImagine if that flaw was not discovered prior to launch. Owners could have gotten into serious trouble if they were going all-out on a track. GM would have had major lawsuits to contend with.
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GregG48203
Active Member
Speaking of Dual-Clutch transmissions:
Ford knew Focus, Fiesta had flawed transmission, sold them anyway
The article is rather lengthy, so here's my summation: If you have a 2012-14 Focus with the DPS6 (Getrag) transmission, you likely have problems with it. Ford says the vehicles are safe.
The camouflaged version actually appears cleaner and better looking than the production one without it. Cleaner and simpler, more like the Ferrari.
I like your new avatar!
Aren't those camoflages supposed to hide only the details?
The body lines are not hidden quite well.
I found the black accents on the red paint in the first photo release in this thread detract most from the looks of the car - they make it look too busy and over done, not as clean and simple........................and accentuate the excessive height of the front end in a misplaced effort to get more luggage space in a car like this.
I also was wishing for more body-colored trim. Car and Driver with 70+ photos shows this green colored car, plus some structural cutaways.
I still want one .. just the C8 "Z" version of the car tho.
See the Mid-Engined 2020 Chevy Corvette from Every Angle
78Brougham
"Chump"
Paul Newman Raced one of these. Early 90's
Here is the chassis under it. This is a V8 post '95 but the chassis is basically the same as the 4 cylinder that Newman drove and his team won that year btw. Add lightness!
This is a early to mid 1980's Esprit.
Picture of the assembly line this is probably around 1989.. Hand made, over 500 man-hours to build one like mine.
Lowering the body onto the chassis..
Thanks for putting up with me and posting these pics. My whole point is that a mid engine Corvette should've happened years ago, golf bags be damned. Actually the trunk in mine probably would hold two. Be tight but possible.
Imagine what one would be like had they started building them in the mid 80's.... by now.... who knows!
I'm glad they finally got around to it!
Here is the chassis under it. This is a V8 post '95 but the chassis is basically the same as the 4 cylinder that Newman drove and his team won that year btw. Add lightness!
This is a early to mid 1980's Esprit.
Picture of the assembly line this is probably around 1989.. Hand made, over 500 man-hours to build one like mine.
Lowering the body onto the chassis..
Thanks for putting up with me and posting these pics. My whole point is that a mid engine Corvette should've happened years ago, golf bags be damned. Actually the trunk in mine probably would hold two. Be tight but possible.
Imagine what one would be like had they started building them in the mid 80's.... by now.... who knows!
I'm glad they finally got around to it!
Looks like a DeLorean chassis to me.
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78Brougham
"Chump"
Lotus re-engineered the DeLorean perhaps that's why. That backbone chassis has been a Lotus trademark since the '60's. It was used in the Elan, Elite, Eclat, Excel as front engined cars then was adapted for the mid engines Europa and Esprit.
De Lorean had that car so effed up it would fold in half in a 25 MPH crash. Colin Chapman totally revised the chassis and body but it was a destined failure due to shitty engines and running gear. Lotus had nothing to do with that. Not to mention the project was being funded by the Gov't..... we all know what that means.
De Lorean had that car so effed up it would fold in half in a 25 MPH crash. Colin Chapman totally revised the chassis and body but it was a destined failure due to shitty engines and running gear. Lotus had nothing to do with that. Not to mention the project was being funded by the Gov't..... we all know what that means.
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bigmoparjeff
Senior Member
I don't hate the C8, but I like the 1977 mid-engine prototype much better.
bigmoparjeff
Senior Member
GM X-frame, 1958-64. I wonder if you go back further, you'll find a more obscure car company that originated the design?
The front engine X-frame made for some real kooky exhaust systems. I installed a dual system on a 1960 Buick, and it was a real Rube Goldberg affair. The design looks to work out much cleaner on a rear engine car. Gives you a nice, safe place for the furel tank too.
Mike66Chryslers
Senior Member
I'm pretty sure that the pic of a bare chassis IS a DeLorean. The Esprit was mid-engine, meaning that the engine itself was ahead of the rear wheels. In the last picture showing the chassis with red body above it, you can see the engine is ahead of the rear wheels and the transaxle exits towards the rear of the car. The DeLorean was REAR engine, meaning that the engine was behind the rear wheels. In the chassis-only picture, the engine is behind the rear wheels, and the transaxle exits towards the front of the car.
The engine itself appears to be a PRV V6 as used in the DeLorean.
