I suppose this is as much a challenge as a proof of concept. I don’t plan on picking a winner, merely seeing if this is possible and how well you will do.
In 1976, NASCAR and IMSA found themselves invited to the famous 24 hours of Le Mans. Unfortunately, neither NASCAR Cup car managed to finish, with the Charger being struck by an oil leak just two hours in and the Torino’s transmission having enough during hour 11. Let’s see if you can’t change that. So here it goes…
Congratulations on the promotion! Head Engineer of the Racing Division, was it? I’m jealous. Did you hear the other great news? The company wants to move into the NASCAR scene, and guess who’s making the first model? Hey, pony cars to cup cars shouldn’t be too big of a jump for you.
You heard coworker me right, my friend, you are making a cup car, and not just any cup car. You are producing a NASCAR Cup car that will go on to compete at Le Mans in 1976. The restrictions? Oh lord, there is a bucket filled with 'em. Let’s start with the general rules:
First and foremost, no limited production parts. The sport was still a stock car competition and the cars they were based on were common.
All parts of the car must be from 1965-1975.
In regards to engineering time, the car must be done and ready for racing by 1/1/1976, so engineering time limits depend on when you start making your car (132 if you start in '65, 12 if you try to start in "75).
it must be reliable enough to have a chance at surviving 24 hours (at least 50)
it must have at least 70 competitiveness in the muscle car or pony car sectors of Gasmea or Achana
Keep the car within the acceptable price range in its market slot (muscle or pony) without changing the price markup
rules on quality may be changed by me if competitors find it too difficult (maybe impossible) to make a competitive car
No mods
On to the Chassis:
The Chassis must be from 1965-1975, as stated above and must be a muscle or pony car design
Don’t use a convertible
Ladder or monocoque, up to you
Steel or Galvanized steel chassis material
Front-Engined
Steel Panels
Double Wishbone front Suspension
Solid axle (either one) rear suspension
RWD
No wings or spoilers
Quality sliders stay at 0
The hardest part to replicate, the engine:
V8 Crossplane
5.8 Liter (358ci) max capacity
Pushrod
Cast Iron block and head
Some form of cast for Crank, Conrods, and Pistons
Naturally Aspirated
2 or 4 barrelled carb (multi carbs are allowed)
free intake choice
Regular Leaded or Super Leaded
Any Header
Single or Dual Exhaust
Any one muffler
No more than +9 quality on any page and no more than +20 overall in engine section (keep engineering time in mind)
Play with other sliders as needed
Shoot for 9 mpg
Ok, easier stuff now, just the trim left:
4 speed manual
open diff
for the love of motorsports use radials
Semi Slicks
be creative with tire sizes
Steel Rims
Drum or Solid Disc brakes
70 or lower on pad type
Brake size is a free choice
No undertray
2 or 4 full seats (this will be changed by the teams themselves)
standard to sport interior
a radio or 8 track of some kind
power steering is optional
at least basic 60s safety
Springs, Dampers, and Sway Bars are free choices (this includes their tuning)
Aero/ undertray quality slider can go to +5 max
Other Quality sliders remain at 0
Well, I think that’s everything. Quite the laundry list, eh? No real due date, finish it as you see fit. The theoretical car should manage to get 180-200mph. No pressure. Godspeed engineers!
In regards to engineering time, the car must be done and ready for racing by 1/1/1976, so engineering time limits depend on when you start making your car (132 if you start in '65, 12 if you try to start in "75)
If I’m reading this correctly, this basically means we’re incapable of building a 1975 model? I have no idea how to build a car with an engineering time of 12. This effectively limits the year range from 1965 to maybe 1969 or so, right?
Did you mean $50,000 to $100,000 dollars? I’m pretty sure $5000 is Lada money.
Also, if I were you, I’d just set the trim year to 1975/1976 and pick an engineering time limit that sounds reasonable. 1-1 engineering time implies you designing to car brand new, from scratch, with no familiarity and with no cut corners or additional funding. However, the a lot of the idea behind a stock car is that you have already designed it, or most of it, and the parts which are changed for racing are basically going to have only a few made so there’s no need to design them as “assembly line ready”- think of setting the Automation slider to 0 in Campaign.
Essentially yes, I left it up to '75 more for the sake of options. If nothing else, 1965-70 is your pratical operating range.
The average car went for about $14k during '76. Staying within the other parameters, money is of my least concern.
About the '75-'76 trim, I didn’t want to require people to make two cars, but I did see that as an option. I saw it as simultaneous development of the tuned race version which would first compete in the '76 NASCAR Cup and of the market version which would release a year earlier in order to match the homolgamation rules of the series.
So that is an option. Make a standard version that would release in '75 and make a tuned 2nd trim that would release at the beginning of '76. This is my first challenge, so I’m just trying to get the hang of things.
The aero-cars were effectively eliminated after 1971 (they were restricted on engines), but go ahead (maybe next time I’ll allow useful wings but restrict them to 5.0L engines).
And yes, the time limit applies to the engine, hence it appearing in the general rules section.
I was referring to material cost (your car will hopefully be cost competitive on the market), but as I mentioned earlier, stay within the other bounds. I am ok with you exceeding the price cap. I am more concerned with people staying within quality and part requirements.
I have adjusted the price requirement: keep it price competitive in its respective market (muscle or pony) without changing the price markup.
Quick question: Would a less Powerful, More fuel efficient car make sense for this? The build i’ve made only does about 270something km/h, But it does 11 MPG. Should i keep this, or go down to the 9 MPG reccomended to bump up the power?
Well, here in my entry for the Nascar/LeMans race. The '76 Markley Palomino GT. Engineering for the engine started in '68, with the chassis coming out a year later. It’s powered by a 360ci V8 making 300hp and 330 lb ft torque. Capable of hitting a top speed of 154mph, it’s a rather different beast than the emission strangled barge it’s based off of.
Definitely the kind of car that I would envision for the sport. Does it corner well? The top speed would mean that it would hopefully be competitive at the road courses (and Le Mans), which would require decent cornering.
Sadly, your engine is a tad too large. I needed to adjust the engine cap for conversions. The engine should be 358ci max. My apologies for being unclear.
A note to all: max engine size has been upped to 358ci/5.8L, since that was the actual engine cap back then. The Charger had a 5.6L hemi, hence why I had limited it there earlier.
1966 Centauri Marauder, previously entered in the Trans-AM series before entering NASCAR. This full sized muscle car has a 351hp/361lbft 358ci V8, and a top speed on LeMans of 166MPH for a 4:38 laptime
*technically it gets 8.4mpg so it might not quite meet the rules
edit 1
managed the 9mpg and 70% in the right category now. Top speed up to 170MPH though the extra chonk from some different settings means the laptime is still 4:38
