Creative Thinking With Odd Cars Thread

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

This thread is for anyone who likes to think creatively about cars. The idea is to post an unusual automotive choice, and then see what ideas everyone can come up with as to how to make something cool from it. They do not have to be 100% reality based, but should be plausible. So, I will start it off with Communism's most famous automotive offspring: The Trabant.




The East German Sachsenring Trabant P601. Now, the Communists believed that this odd little car, with a body made of Soviet cotton scraps molded together with resin, was perfectly adequate with a 2 cylinder 2 stroke engine making 26 hp. Well, it is, but only if you are using a V6 G body as your metric of stupefying acceleration! I say, I can make it better. The cool thing is, it only weighs about 1350lbs, not bad for a car that can seat 4 adults and take their luggage too. It is front wheel drive, but that's ok if you don't need lots of power to make it fast. So, given the need to keep FWD, what car would you take the drivetrain and suspension parts from?

 

[2000.malibu.ls]

um.. i would think a golf r34 would be kinda cool, updating german engineering. My favorite fwd is a cobalt ss turbo or a dodge neon turbo. either would be good matches as both make plenty of power, and handle farily well.

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

Specs:http://www.trabant.ca/specs.htm

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

Okay, here are my ideas. Given the car weighs 1355lbs (!), and comes with a 27hp engine stock, here are a few things I could source an engine from:

Hayabusa! Yes, that mightiest of bike engines in a small Communist car.
Chevy Sprint Turbo 3 cylinder
Honda D16Z6-SOHC VTEC. 125hp, light weight, requires a very small radiator
Honda B16 DOHC VTEC- also light, 160-170hp. Heavier than D series
Suzuki Sprint 1.3 liter DOHC 4


Any other suggestions? Remember that weight is the enemy. The car is so light, that any added weight will significantly affect performance.

Cosmetically, I think it would look cool with wheel flares, a small front spoiler, rear deck spoiler, and a set of Panasport wheels. Add a small East German flag to the rear quarter panels (like a Triumph TR-6), lower it slightly, and have the exhaust exit out the side at a 45 degree angle like an AAR Cuda. Put stock Integra disc brakes at all 4 corners, and man what a little terror it would be. Especially if it had a 'Busa engine in it. Nothing like a light car with a 14,000 rpm redline!

So, given the car, and access to whatever parts you wanted, what would you do with it?

 

[custom442]

Is the idea to keep it FWD? because if I was throwing money at it, it would have 4 drive wheels.

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

How about: Pro Street Trabant?

http://www.oddrods.co.uk/portfolio/cars/v8_trabant.php

Solar Powered Trabant?

http://www.solartaxi.ch/.../10/from-berlin-to-dresden/

Stretch Limo Trabant?

 

[custom442]

How about: Pro Street Trabant?

http://www.oddrods.co.uk/portfolio/cars/v8_trabant.php

With a hayabusa? I wonder if a big v-6 could be fit in there, or in the back. Then you could put some real power behind it.

I just followed the pic link, that is too funny. I bet it hauls

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

The actual idea in this thread should be restated. It's more to use your mind to create something new out of the car posted. Whatever your ideas could be, post them. I am in no way going to buy one (unless it were to fall in my lap somehow), this is just an exercise in creativity for anyone who wants to join in. I have a few other cars I will post for people to play with if people like this thread and want other things to create with. The Trabant is a natural choice because it was turned into an art object by quite a few artists in the 90's as a symbol of the fall of Communism. Instead of art, why not make a more useful car from it?

Here's another one: Monster Truck Trabant:

 

[Blake442]

I'd get one of those wagon bodies, and I'd use a GM 3800 supercharged engine and FWD trans and have it mounted in the rear. I think that'd be a pretty fun set up.

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

As an Ice Sculpture:

Another Monster Truck Trabant:

As a Double Decker Bus:

Garden Trabant: