That is what I like hearing. Not making it because I made a super car into a baja bug, just not because the headlights were too small. Here at Yinzer we pride ourselves on questionable styling and engineering.
Canât say Iâm surprised. I knew from the start that a pushrod engine was going to be an uphill battle to meet the emission requirements while keeping some form of sportiness. I did what I could to help it out, but there was only so much one could get away with without completely bloating the price.
But seeing how a MGB went from making 100 horsepower to just 62.5 (yes, BL claimed that half a horse) in the same period, this could have been worse. 
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The Turbo Trio: Four People
I canât say Iâm really shocked that everyone who went turbo got binned, but it wouldâve been nice if a turbo was just given a hard no in the rules.
Curious to see what the best performers came up with!
Sports Car Faceoff: 1975
Three familiar sports cars face off once again.
Midlands Io Sprint: $15,800, Tristella Oscen 240GTS: $18,200, RĂ©gal Coati 1700-F GTE: $16,900
For automotive enthsiasts, the last few years have been difficult. But these three machines seek to prove that affordable fun can persevere.
Our favorite from our last sports car comparison, the Midlands Io Sprint carries on with minimal changes since 1970; so minimal in fact, that itâs design is completely unchanged aside from the very large bumperettes required to meed the 5mph impact bumper regulations, maintaining side exhaust that manages to include the catalytic converter. While itâs still a beautiful car, itâs design does is starting to look a little dated, and while a more elegant solution may have required a more extensive redesign, the bumperettes are quite tacked on. What made the Io Sprint so great is still there; the combination of sportiness and comfort is better than itâs similar and still low price would lead you to believe, at at 97 hp, the engine still provides enough punch for a 8.6s 0-60 sprint and a 1/4 run of 16.4s. Unfortunately, to maintain performance, the Io Sprint utilizes racing-spec carburetors, making itâs already less than stellar reliability ratings worse. Overall, we still highly recommend the Midlands Io Sprint as an affordable sports car, but check your local laws, as it may not be available in all states.
If the Midlands isnât available in your area, the RĂ©gal Coati 1700-F GTE is an interesting and quirky, if less sporty alternative. Since 1970, the Coati has seen a design refresh that, while less distinctive than before, modernizes itâs appearance from the 60s to the 70s and brings the car into compliance with the new impact bumper laws. The rear-mounted flat four has lost just 18.5 hp, down to 92, giving an impressive sprint to 60 that equals the Midlands, less than half a second slower than in 1970, and a 1/4 mile spring within a quarter of a second of itâs 1970 version. How did they manage this? Incredibly, despite the inclusion of the impact bumpers, the 1700-F GTE shed 157 lbs in the meantime. This results in impressive performance and a sportier drive. Unfortunately, though, the sacrifices have been made in the interior; considerably de-contented compared to the previous model. Combined with base price more than $2,000 more than itâs old price, itâs a tough pill to swallow. But in a dwindling field of sports cars, it can still shine bright as one of the best options.
Our favorite option is Tristellaâs newly updated Oscen 240GTS. While still more expensive than the competition, itâs price is unchanged from the 1970 model, as are itâs unparalleled driving dynamics. The 2.4 liter V6 now makes 128 hp, which is still enough to accelerate from 0-60 in 7.4 seconds and run the 1/4 mile in 15.7, both roughly .75s slower than in 1970, but still a large margin faster than other options. The Tristella incorporated itâs impact bumpers quite well; a challenge given the previous modelâs low nose, but the raised bumpers and semi-hidden headlamps make a striking, unique, and modern appearance. Overall, the Tristella is our pick.
Results
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Pretty happy with that 3rd place considering I threw the comfort/interior out of the window to make it competitive, I probably would not have make it otherwise. Grats to the winner! this new version of the Oscen seems incredibly well made considering all the hoops we had to jump through
Thanks donutsnail for the nice challenge, really was fun (and rough 
)
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Glad the straightforward approach on the engineering worked so well, which funny enough probably would have been what real life brands would have done anyways. This was a really interesting challenge to do, thank you for hosting it donutsnail!
3 Likes