Interesting Lunacy

[LostKiwi]

I love reading about some of these mad things that come out of the likes of Brabus and AMG.

Found this today, really interesting example of the type of lunacy that appeals to me (much like the V6 Smart).

https://allaboutdieselz.blogspot.com/2017/07/the-first-mercedes-benz-class-amgs-a38.html

 

[ajlsl600]

See they did an a class version that must have been interesting to corner in!!!

 

[LostKiwi]

See they did an a class version that must have been interesting to corner in!!!

Exactly! That A32 must have been 'exciting'....

 

[Dean Fletcher]

Just needs a set of red wheels to finish it off

 

[ajlsl600]

Can't find any w168 amg for sale.

 

[rorywquin]

When I was a teenager (60s), a guy in our town took a Mini body and built it into a hot rod with massive rear wheels and a V8 engine. Very similar to this!

 

[Oldspanners]

I love reading about some of these mad things that come out of the likes of Brabus and AMG.

Found this today, really interesting example of the type of lunacy that appeals to me (much like the V6 Smart).

https://allaboutdieselz.blogspot.com/2017/07/the-first-mercedes-benz-class-amgs-a38.html

Reminded me of this a "few" years further back.
https://www.classicandsportscar.com...gined-four-wheel-drive-concept-tested-in-full

 

[LostKiwi]

Reminded me of this a "few" years further back.
https://www.classicandsportscar.com...gined-four-wheel-drive-concept-tested-in-full

Yes it brought back the memory of Twini Minis to me too. According to Rob Golding author of the book Mini the Twini was significantly faster than the works cars when raced in the Mille Miglia.
It was always a dream when younger to make one. At one point we built a rear engined single seater using the engine, gearbox and subframe of a Morris 1300 all mounted behind the driver. We also built a 2 seater using a space frame again with the Morris 1300 running gear in the back but also using a Morris 1300 subframe up front too. The gear linkages were exactly as we would have needed to do it in a Twini but we never took it to the next step. A shame as from that point it would have been a relatively easy project, especially using the 2 seater as a mule to test using 2 engines.

 

[John Laidlaw]

I had some vague memory of Mika and David getting these, must have been .......interesting shall we say

 

[A.J.]

The Twini featured on Chasing Classic Cars a while ago, An interesting little car

 

[00slk]

Yes it brought back the memory of Twini Minis to me too. According to Rob Golding author of the book Mini the Twini was significantly faster than the works cars when raced in the Mille Miglia.
It was always a dream when younger to make one. At one point we built a rear engined single seater using the engine, gearbox and subframe of a Morris 1300 all mounted behind the driver. We also built a 2 seater using a space frame again with the Morris 1300 running gear in the back but also using a Morris 1300 subframe up front too. The gear linkages were exactly as we would have needed to do it in a Twini but we never took it to the next step. A shame as from that point it would have been a relatively easy project, especially using the 2 seater as a mule to test using 2 engines.

Kiwi's always made their own race cars, well nearly but remember a mid engined Mini and a Hillman Imp where the engine sat beside the driver, fairly certain we referred to it as 'The Coffin'
Trevor Parmenter had a Mazda 323? which ran 4wd and Morris 1100 gearbox with home made transfer box or an adapted unit, but anyway we were reknown for making things using number 8 fencing wire

 

[peterws1957]

When I was a teenager (60s), a guy in our town took a Mini body and built it into a hot rod with massive rear wheels and a V8 engine. Very similar to this!
View attachment 58661

A mate of mine is currently slowly resurrecting a Fiat 500 show car from the 70's which is similarly built on a box frame chassis with a V8, Jag rear etc. Was known as Mighty Mouse. Those were the days ...

 

[LostKiwi]

A mate of mine is currently slowly resurrecting a Fiat 500 show car from the 70's which is similarly built on a box frame chassis with a V8, Jag rear etc. Was known as Mighty Mouse. Those were the days ...

Or you could just go properly mental....

A mate if mine built a Fiat 500 with a Kawasaki 1000 motorbike engine mounted longitudinally behind the passenger. A propshaft was attached to the drive sprocket taking the power to an Isuzu Bellet rear diff and double wishbone suspension.

It was seriously quick and sounded incredible.
He then built a Suzuki SC with a 1300cc bike engine that could monster V8 supercars on the local racetrack (Pukekohe). Used to stay with them on the straights and nip past under brakes and through the corners.

 

[LostKiwi]

Just found a picture of the first iteration of the Suzuki....

1.3 6 cylinder bike engine mounted transversely in the rear.
Built around 1986/7

 

[Blobcat]

Or you could just go properly mental....

A mate if mine built a Fiat 500 with a Kawasaki 1000 motorbike engine mounted longitudinally behind the passenger. A propshaft was attached to the drive sprocket taking the power to an Isuzu Bellet rear diff and double wishbone suspension.

It was seriously quick and sounded incredible.
He then built a Suzuki SC with a 1300cc bike engine that could monster V8 supercars on the local racetrack (Pukekohe). Used to stay with them on the straights and nip past under brakes and through the corners.

Had a mechanic friend who used to grass track in a fiesta with a Rover V8 in it. Was quite competitive until the twin Hyabusa engines ones turned up. Very light and massive BHP.

 

[Chrishazle]

Back in my teens there was a bloke near Green Street Green who had a Rolls Royce of some description fitted with a Merlin angine - all 21L of Spitfire engine! Apparently street legal as well. Never saw it, but having heard a Merlin engine on a number of occasions, including 3 on test stands at Duxford, I imagine it sounded awesome and went like the proverbial!

 

[A.J.]

Back in my teens there was a bloke near Green Street Green who had a Rolls Royce of some description fitted with a Merlin angine - all 21L of Spitfire engine! Apparently street legal as well. Never saw it, but having heard a Merlin engine on a number of occasions, including 3 on test stands at Duxford, I imagine it sounded awesome and went like the proverbial!

Was this it ? https://www.classicdriver.com/en/ar...in-engined-monstrosity-infuriated-rolls-royce I remember it well from back in the 70's.

 

[bembo449]

Or you could just go properly mental....

A mate if mine built a Fiat 500 with a Kawasaki 1000 motorbike engine mounted longitudinally behind the passenger. A propshaft was attached to the drive sprocket taking the power to an Isuzu Bellet rear diff and double wishbone suspension.

It was seriously quick and sounded incredible.
He then built a Suzuki SC with a 1300cc bike engine that could monster V8 supercars on the local racetrack (Pukekohe). Used to stay with them on the straights and nip past under brakes and through the corners.

This was a common mod on the grass racing scene back in the day , a good few minis and similar rocking bike engine set ups , awesome things

 

[Chrishazle]

Was this it ? https://www.classicdriver.com/en/ar...in-engined-monstrosity-infuriated-rolls-royce I remember it well from back in the 70's.

Not sure, as I never saw it in the flesh, and from memory the timing is a few years too late as I remember hearing about it mid 1960's.