In this alternative world, jitneys (minibuses) were never banned or strictly regulated in 1910’s - 1920’s USA, remaining a popular alternative to streetcars and other public transit. While early models were often built manually on a donor chassis, many vehicle manufacturers released dedicated minibus models in the inter-war period, further reducing the barrier to entry. Civilian car production was halted during WW2, and demand was at a record high once the war ended. The post-war economic boom led to many aspiring entrepreneurs starting transportation companies and buying new minibuses, making it a significant demographic for expanding car companies to consider.
The year is 1946, and your task is to design a minibus (or other vehicle that can seat many passengers) for the American market. These buses are in demand for areas underserviced by public transit, both urban and rural. Unlike war-torn Europe, America had low fuel costs and no widespread speed limits, which reflects in larger-engined vehicles designed for high-speed travel. Your model should try to be affordable, but customers are willing to pay more for a higher quality product.
Model, Trim, Family, Variant year: 1946
Techpool max: 10M
Negative techpool: forbidden
Body: MPV suggested, but vans, wagons, hatchbacks, SUVs are also acceptable. Other body types are not explicitly forbidden, but having less than 3 rows of seats puts you at a huge disadvantage. No, pickup beds will not be counted as a seating area.
Race parts: forbidden
Warnings: blue or yellow are fine, any red warning is an instant disqualification
Negative quality: At most -5
Cars going against the spirit of the challenge are banned, such as open-wheelers, meme bodies, exploits, etc.
Tire size: must end in 5
Max tire quality: +5
Max cost: 20k
Interiors will not be judged, but feel free to make one anyway.
Fuel: Unleaded Low Quality 85 RON or Leaded Regular 92 RON. While 92 RON fuel is widely available, it is considered “premium” for the era and comes with a +20% fuel cost penalty.
WES requirement: none
Roots superchargers: +$200 service cost penalty
Centrifugal superchargers: +$400 service cost penalty
Max loudness: 40
Number of seats - The more passengers a car can carry, the more money the driver will make per trip.
Reliability - These vehicles will be driven hard all day every day, and parts are bound to break. The less repairs, the better.
Fuel Economy - WLTP Class 3 - While fuel is relatively cheap, costs do cut significantly into the driver’s profit margins. Class 3 is used to measure fuel economy at highway speeds, encouraging bigger engines with higher cruising speeds.
Service Costs - These cars will need constant servicing, so too many exotic components will put the driver out of business.
Drivability - Jitney drivers are a different breed. They will be ignoring traffic laws and driving recklessly, so a good-handling car is preferred to avoid accidents.
Comfort - Nobody likes being cramped like sardines in a can with a plywood bench for a seat, especially on long rides. Riders would pay a premium to take a more comfortable seating arrangement.
Price - “You get what you pay for” applies here too, and minibus buyers know this. However, they will pick the cheaper of two similar cars if given the option.
Safety - Accidents are bound to happen with jitney drivers, and they know it best. They are less willing to get behind the wheel of a car with a high mortality rate.
Top Speed - In an age with no speed limits, riders will pay extra for a faster transport.
Design - While a flashier vehicle would catch the attention of prospective riders, they often aren’t too picky.
Utility - While this vehicle does not need to carry construction materials, a cabin full of passengers and their bags can get heavy. For this reason, something that drives well under load is preferable.
Car model and engine family name: AHC05 - [Username]
For example: AHC05 - br1ckfield3r
Car trim and engine variant name: Free
Car files should be submitted through Discourse DMs. A posted ad with a blurb is also required.
Rule deliberation ends / Submissions open: 2026-08-27T03:59:00Z
Submissions close: 2026-09-10T03:59:00Z (but I’ll only check when I wake up on the 10th)
