Hayabusa inna smartcar & Isetta (was "New tow vehic

[Kevin A]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiEC2_6j ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cV4HdsDZ ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wi_CgGGD ... re=related

[raprap]

The Isetta is truely amazing...well Isettas in general were amazing anyway, but one with a hyabusa is TRUELY amazing---wonder how it would do compared to a origional cooper, say with a M-class BMW.

Rap

[bledsoe3]

That has more HP than my last 3400# tow vehicle.

[angib]

Sticking Blackbird, R1 and Hayabusa motors is cars is pretty common here. We have a thriving kit car industry and bike-engined Lotus Seven clones are very popular cars for track days (taking your road car to a race track).

But if you want a saloon (sedan) body, neither the Isetta or the Smart seems an ideal choice - the Isetta has very basic suspension plus that narrow rear, whereas the Smart is waay too tall for a sporty car. A better choice is the original Mini, either with a steel bodyshell or a fiberglass/carbon body.

And designing and making it all yourself is such hard work, when you can buy a kit: http://www.zcars.org.uk Even faster than their Hayabusa model is their model with a supercharged Honda Civic engine. 0-60mph in 2.8 secs is exactly the same as a Hayabusa engine when it was still in the bike....

Andrew

[caseydog]

Over here, people are making all kinds of Lotus Seven "inspired" vehicles, using everything from Honda Vtec motors, to Miata platform sections, and motorcycle motors, as well.

I got to drive some at a "Southwest Sevens" gathering last year. Fun cars.

The thought of a Hyabusa engine in an Isetta kind of scares me.

Besides, I'd rather restore an Isetta than hot-rod one. Most of the Isettas I see here are the BMW versions. I'd like to have an Iso, just to be different.

The first one in the YouTube video is a TriTech -- a replica you can't get anymore.

[caseydog]

BTW, love the guy in Video Two....

"Hey dude, stand here while I do donuts around you."

"Gufaw, snort, snort -- okay dude."

Moron! No really, I'm guessing an IQ of 78, maybe.

[jasoncpg]

thanks kevin cool vids. i need one. the smart car will be the next thing i make.

[asianflava]

I read about this place in Georgia that is doing Honda engines into Minis. They keep it FWD and replace the front subframe with their own.

http://www.superfastminis.com/index.html

[doug hodder]

Moron! No really, I'm guessing an IQ of 78, maybe.

Caseydog...78 rates "borderline mental retardation" Perfect for a "hold my beer" experience! Just glad I'm an 82! Doug

[dhazard]

Moron! No really, I'm guessing an IQ of 78, maybe.

Caseydog...78 rates "borderline mental retardation" Perfect for a "hold my beer" experience! Just glad I'm an 82! Doug

Doug was that 82 before or after all of the epoxy fumes?

[doug hodder]

Dan...not so much the epoxy as it is the paint! Doug

[dhazard]

That clear is good stuff.

[Nitetimes]

That clear is good stuff.

Too sweet for my taste tho, I'm more partial to the lacquer!

[Alphacarina]

This company makes a Hayabusa based V-8 engine (from two of the 4 cylinder banks off the Hayabusa engine) which weighs 200 pounds and outputs 400 HP @ 10,000 RPM

http://www.h1v8.com/page/page/1562068.htm

There's a guy in Oregon who has put one in an Atom chassis

Don

[CASHCOW]

don't tell Brenda, but I already got plans to build one of those!!