Automation Speedhunters - Share your modified and classic cars!

[Dorifto_Dorito]

#1966 OAM Chevalier Custom

Woops wrong Custom (The suspension broke… )

Much better

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##Original Model + Info

The fourth 1966 OAM Chevalier (in Laguna Green) ever produced, in the workshop following restoration.
In 1966 OAM released their first car, the Chevalier. Powered with a General Industries Medium Block 5.1L (311CI) V8 Crossplane engine, the Chevalier looked impressive with its front and rear double wishbone suspension, not often seen in many cars of this period. However, in the over saturated muscle car market during the period, the Chevalier failed to sell, with many ending up outside in the factory parking lot. The car was saved only by the movie, The Vice, which boosted the sales enough for OAM to survive into the 1970s allowing them to release their more popular cars such as the RoadCruiser and the Traveller.

Nowadays, however, the 1966 Chevalier is considered a classic muscle car, and a must have for any muscle car collector. Unlike most of its contemporaries, the Chevalier was nice to handle, owing its relatively good handling characteristics to its front and rear double wishbone suspension. The 5.1L Medium Block V8 fitted to the car also made a sizeable 205 hp, propelling it to a top speed of 124mph.

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##OAM Chevalier ‘Pursuit Custom’

This specific custom model was built in Indiana, where OAM is based, by a private owner. The Chevalier Pursuit Custom, as it is known as, is a modified 1966 Chevalier, based on the custom Chevalier featured in the 1966 Action movie ‘The Vice’. This ‘Pursuit Custom’ also featured a cameo in the 2006 reboot of ‘The Vice’, albeit as an homage to the 1966 movie.

Under the hood of this beast was still the same 5.1L V8 engine from 1966. However, this custom engine was fully refurbished and modified with more modern parts including a new direct injection fuel system ‘borrowed’ from the much more modern OAM Chevalier II’s 5.9L BZ Large Block V8. This meant that this car produces about 350 hp, 150 more than the original. To take the extra 150 horses, the Stock Chevalier tyres have been replaced with smaller, but wider wheels and new custom wheel arches were added to the car. The suspension was also lowered giving the car a more aggressive look.

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Sadly, the photo editor kept crashing on my so the only way to showcase this car was take screenshots in the car designer.

[Radster]

Contendiente Enemigo: still alive.

It is the year 1968. Luis Gómez had just opened his first car factory and thus, started Contendiente. In the following months, the engineers would design and manufacture Contendiente’s first car: the Contendiente Enemigo.

Now, why is this car special? For a simple reason: Mr Gómez intended to start his carmaking career by creating a rival to the Ford Lotus Cortina. Even though both cars are powered by fairly similar 110hp, 1.6L Inline 4s, the Enemigo is 150kg lighter. This gave it an upper hand at the track. It mounted McPherson struts on the front and a semi trailing arm at the rear, making it really agile. And last but not least, it had fantastic fuel economy for 1968: 9.1L/100km. The engine is mounted longitudinally in the front and the power is sent to the rear wheels.

Most of the cars produced back then are now in a junkyard. However, we received a letter from Esmeralda Gómez (current Contendiente’s CEO, daughter of Luis Gómez). She invited us to a test drive of her father’s (and now hers) original Enemigo.

When we arrived at their main factory in Málaga, Spain, we were greeted by the CEO and the head engineer, Petrov Mikhailovic. They took us to their test track, where the test driver would pick us up. Ride was a blast, and their test driver made drifting a 40+ year old car look easy.

The CEO then told us that the car is one of her most valued possesions. She said, and I quote: “This car carries my father’s soul. The day this car stops running will be the day my father dies. He’s still alive.” She then told us the company is planning to reboot the car next year to commemorate their 50th anniversary, and this time it will compete against the Toyota GT86.

As always, the CEO hoped we had a great day at their factory and told us we’re welcome anytime we want to show up.

[abg7]

Super Scarabs: Tuning the Nova Sportback

Special thanks go to @gridghost for supplying the Scarab Nova Sportback.

Lancashire-based tuner Gould Performance Technologies has recently released a pair of upgrade packages for the Scarab Nova Sportback. Founder and owner Henry Gould had known that, in base form, the Nova handled well, but looked faster than it actually went, claiming that it deserved proper performance variants that could do the platform justice. In particular, he cited the base car’s requirement for regular unleaded (which had long since been largely discontinued in its native Europe) as a waste of the car’s potential, except in countries in which no higher octane fuels were widely available.

At the centerpiece of the Stage 1 upgrade package is a 240-bhp version of the Nova’s 1.6-liter turbo four, running on 95RON premium unleaded and fitted with a high-flow intake. To achieve this output, the compression ratio was reduced, while the cam profiles and ignition timing were revised, allowing for increased boost (1.0 bar) and an enlarged turbocharger. Other mods include retuned suspension, a mechanical LSD, 4-piston front brakes, and 18-inch wheels wrapped in high-performance tires.

The example shown here started life as a base-model example without the upgraded interior and infotainment system - the lightest and cheapest spec. It was also the first Nova to be fitted with these upgrades. However, for those who consider this kit to be too tame, an even more extreme package is available.

Stage 2 adds still more boost (1.5 vs 1.0 bar), an even larger turbo, straight-through mufflers, and 19-inch forged magnesium wheels shod with 235-mm tires. It also includes a more aggressive suspension tune compared to Stage 1 and a close-ratio gearbox. However, this variant requires 98RON super unleaded, and develops “around 300 horsepower” - a lot for such a tiny engine, especially considering the relatively small size of the intercooler.

Gould claims that while the Stage 1 package is “potent enough to make an 86/BRZ or MX-5 look silly,” the Stage 2 kit “can give Golf R drivers a serious fright”. All in all, these upgrades, especially those found in Stage 2, can easily turn a mild-mannered family car into a true giant-killer - without voiding the factory warranty at all.

[abg7]

Here’s another one of my tuning projects born out of curiosity, serving as a case of what could have been.

Killer Kramer: The Story of the K23 V8 and How It Launched Mason Motor Sports

Enterprising race driver Troy Mason once drove for Albury Motors, the brand’s factory team, before acrimoniously leaving after the 1972 season due to not being offered a contract for the following year, despite a string of good results. Undaunted, he set up a new operation - Mason Motor Sports - in March 1973 along with a few of his close friends and other associates. Initially, the brand focused on tuning Kramer products such as the K216.

His first project was fitting a mechanical fuel injection system to a K23 Sprint’s 12-valve straight-six. Coupled to a set of more aggressive cams and a higher compression ratio, it felt much more eager at high revs, and had far superior throttle response. The tradeoff was increased fuel consumption, but the improvements in reliability negated this somewhat. This package was fitted to a few hundred K23 Sprints, until it was discontinued when Kramer started offering their own fuel injection system as an option in 1978.

But Mason was not content with modifying the K23’s existing engine, and having grown accustomed to the sheer grunt of a pushrod V8 over the past few years, he soon began craving more power. One night in September 1974, he spotted a 5.7-litre Albury Universal V8 engine for sale at a local car parts store. Without further ado, he bought the engine - a non-blueprinted one, but a V8 nonetheless - and the next day, he set about retrofitting his personal K23 Sprint with it.

The results were startling. It was immediately obvious that the extra power and torque provided by the V8 made it much more of a straight-line performer. Of note were the significantly increased top speed (now over 140 mph) and the far quicker 0-60 mph time (6.9 seconds). It was thirstier than a stock Sprint, and its weight distribution was even more nose-heavy, but this did not matter to enthusiasts, especially those in America, where new Federal legislation had drawn the teeth of many contemporary muscle cars.

The resulting car was called the K23 Super, and apart from its characteristic V8 rumble emanating from its wider exhaust pipes, there was little to distinguish it from a stock K23 Sprint. Using his links to Albury Motors, he was able to procure a steady supply of Albury V8s to offer as part of the conversion kit until 1980, when the last K23 left the Kramer production line. In addition, he also offered a handling pack alongside the engine swap; it consisted of rear disc brakes and a retuned suspension with monotube dampers and could be ordered separately, or along with the Super kit.

Ultimately, this would be just the first step in Mason Motor Sports’ growth, firmly establishing its reputation as one of the world’s best-known tuners in the years to come. As for Troy Mason himself, after the K23 Super was discontinued, he went back to fettling Albury V8s in 1982, by which time they had port fuel injection as standard. Eventually, his business became so successful that, twenty years later, he released a twin-turbocharged, all-carbonfibre, scissor-doored supercar - the Goshawk - and the rest is history.

[titleguy1]

The Darkest Kimura

Kimura, at one point, was featured in a very top-secret illegal street racing ring.

Some of you may know it.

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Pictured on the right is a 1967 Kimura K24-C. Debuting originally with a affordable price tag, contemporary styling, 4-wheel disc brakes, and high-output 2.4L DOHC Inline-6 with 166 HP, the K24-C was an immediate hit. Thanks to it’s ease of tuning, it quickly took over the Japanese car tuning industry. Unfortunately, Kimura killed the K24-C in 1972; the Helruna became it’s spiritual successor.

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The Mid Night Club was a notorious street racing gang who broke the molds of what was possible on the famous C1 loop. Reaching speeds of over 300 KM/H, the group certainly was questionable, but is notable for their prioritizing pedestrian safety. However, in 1999, a high-speed chain-reaction crash immediately led to the clubs disbandment.

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The K24-C was featured in the Mid Night Club and was the only car of it’s kind. Running for but a brief month before being destroyed in the accident, the car - nicknamed “Murashi,” an amalgamation of the Japanese words for Purple and Angel - was rumored to harbor a bored and stroked H-Series engine previously found in the Auriga. The unit in the family sedan was a 3-Liter engine with around 190 HP; Murashi had been bored and stroked to almost 4 liters. In addition, twin-turbochargers were added to boost output to what has been said to be over 900 WHP through a highly modified 6-speed manual. Short videos have been shown with Murashi, but only one official picture was ever revealed.

The tale of Murashi did not die with the car; many have tried to replicate it’s iconic style. Very few members of the Mid Night Club are willing to comment, though, and as such an accurate replica is uncertain. All we know is what history has foretold.

[Radster]

Offroad fun!

An enthusiast modified a Conte Pulga Mk2 to turn it into an offroad Baja machine!

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The 1985 Contendiente Pulga was launched as an affordable, practical yet somewhat fun package. Making 70hp from a 1.1L I3, with semi independent rear suspension and macpherson struts at the front, this car was nothing special as you might imagine.

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This one, however, is a special one. With wider offroad tyres, a 2015 Pulga engine swap, kept N/A and retuned to make 115hp, rally shocks and springs and a lift kit, combined with a mechanical limited slip differential, this Pulga is a offroad fun machine. The interior has been stripped as well, with only two bucket seats remaining. The weight has gone down to a mere 720kg.

We found it in the Baja California, Mexico. Its owner, Eduardo, took us for a spin around some dirt roads and it was quite the blast: jumping and sliding on the dirt are Eduardo’s main pastime, and we understand why. All of the imperfections of the roads and the bumps can be felt, the adrenaline shot the car gives you as its tiny I3 pushes it through the turns and straights, with the driver scandinavian flicking the turns, was an incredible experience.

He intends to enter some minor local rallies with it next year; we wished him luck before leaving, and thanked him for his time and for showing us his car.

[Oskiinus]

I like it.

[abg7]

Into Another Dimension: A Tale of Two Hierophants

Special thanks to @Deskyx for providing me with the car.

When Houston mechanic Carl Blake first heard about the '94 Dimension Hierophant, he knew that it would be his dream car sooner or later. In fact, he had enough money in the bank to buy two: a non-turbo for daily use, and a turbo model for the track. But having owned and driven both of them for a few months, he realized that they would make great tuning projects. Yet from then on, the two could not have had stories that were any more different.

For the non-turbo model, he installed a new close-ratio gearbox, tweaked the cam profile, added a high-flow exhaust system, reinforced the bottom end, fitted 4-piston front brakes, retuned the suspension and replaced the oversized wheels with 17-inch items to improve ride comfort. The result was a much faster (nearly 10 mph more at the top end, and more than a second faster to 60) and better resolved car, with astounding straight-line performance for something with less than 300 bhp. But Blake was not satisfied and soon found himself wanting more.

The Hierophant Turbo, meanwhile, received similar engine, gearbox, and suspension mods to its NA counterpart, and also shared that car’s fancy brakes, but in addition to all that, it was fitted with a new turbocharger installation with ball-bearing turbos, a water-to-air intercooler, and 40% more boost, among other things, while the rev limiter was decreased to 7200 rpm for reliability’s sake. As such, its power delivery was even more violent, with much more torque and less lag than previously. However, the extra grunt, especially in the mid-range, made it much more of a handful than before - as Carl Blake himself found out the hard way when he spun 360 degrees on an autocross run, fortunately without any damage to him or the Hierophant.

Fearing that he might not be so lucky next time, he put the turbo Hierophant into storage and used the non-turbo model as his daily driver for the next few years. It wasn’t until drifting became popular in the United States that he seriously thought about using it again. And when he finally brought the beast out of retirement, he was surprised to find out that he had finally found a use for it - as a drift car. With ample midrange torque, he found it easy to kick the tail out in the corners, although it took a while for him to keep it under control. But when he mastered it, he laughed maniacally at the insane drift angles he was consistently getting. So he used it as a street-legal drift car and entered it in various sanctioned amateur competitions, which he duly proceeded to dominate.

Both cars survive to this very day, and while Blake believes he could have done a few things differently, he does not regret what he did at all. In fact, he is proud of what he had built, and only recently has he thought about offering the pair for sale - he now wants a single car that can easily do double duty as a track weapon and a daily driver. So if you want to own a piece or two of '90s nostalgia, with the ability to beat the Japanese at their own game handily, now might be the right time to do so.

[Dorifto_Dorito]

“SooperPulga” 1973 Pulga Mk1

(Thanks to @Mr.Computah for letting me have some “fun” with the Pulga )

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When you think of a Contendiente Pulga Mk1, what often comes to mind is a tiny Spanish car with a quaint, little 850cc i3 engine in the rear, powering the rear wheels. What doesn’t quite spring to mind is a track tearing, spatial rending monster that wants to kill its driver.

Well that is exactly what Contendiende did, with a little help from Nohda, proving that you dont have to own a million dollar hypercar to outdo everyone on the track, but instead purchase a small 1973 Pulga, and shove a superbike engine in the rear.

Now, you may think this sounds a little silly, and it is. The Pulga is a small little city car designed to do nothing more than ferry its passengers from one parking spot to another; but dont worry, this Pulga is hiding a little secret.

Pull away the body panels, which are of course custom made from lightweight kevlar reinforced fibreglass, and you will indeed find a 1973 Pulga Mk1 Chassis. Except for the suspension, because that is lifted straight from a Conte Enemigo WTCC race car.

Going to the back where the new 1.0L Nohda inline 4 sits. Now this isn’t any ordinary Nohda inline 4. No, this Nohda inline 4 is “borrowed” from the 2013 Nohda SB0013 World Superbike, and has been modified to fit a turbocharger. Which lets the car produce around 380hp and redlines at 11,000 RPM. This is then mated with a gearbox and differential lifted a 2016 Conte Pulga rally car, and what you have is a go kart on steroids.

The lack of weight (the car only weighs in at roughly 600kg), mixed with the tricked out engine, gearbox and differential means the “SooperPulga” goes from 0-60 in just 2.5 seconds, much faster than most sports cars, and considering that it is still RWD, quite amazing.

The only thing left to do now is to take it down to the local test track in Dunsfold and take it for a whirl

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“After taking the car round the track several times, I noted that on most occasions, the car tried to kill me. Whoever had the bright idea that shoving a superbike engine in such a lightweight car is a crazed lunatic…if you want me Ill be back at home on the sofa watching reruns of Top Gear on Dave” Matt Sierra

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After being dragged back into the Pulga, I set off on the timed lap. Fighting the wheel (as it had no power steering) I managed to get the car around the track in an astonishing 1.13.31. This made it about .5 seconds faster than the Pagani Huayra while only costing a fraction of the cost, roughly $30,000 at 100% markup. Of course, you wont get everything the Huayra has like nice seats, soundproofing, a radio, carpets or even airbags, but at least you will have a certain smug face as you pass it in the corners.

Overall, this “SooperPulga” is without a doubt, the epitome of the “Thinn Meme” Matt Sierra signing out…

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Oh and one extra thing…

@titleguy1

2 Liter inline-4 producing 468 HP, giving it the highest specific output for a gasoline engine ever.

Cough 380hp from a 1 Liter inline-4. I think you’ll find this is higher

[Hshan]

I am literally speechless.

[abg7]

As far as UE4 cars go this one is utterly psychotic - huge turbo lag, minimal weight, loads of grunt and an engine slung out at the back.

[Fayeding_Spray]

Instant Torque; Instant Fun

story by Jamie Harvey

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Think of Belgium. What do you think of? Probably not an Electric Vehicle parts supplier, right? Well, I’ve come to Belgium to talk with Benjamin Chagnon, the co-founder and CEO of Electric Vehicle Engineering, about his rather… strange sports car. From what I know about Mr. Chagnon, he’s a former engineer for Merciel, who left the company in 2010 to pursue his interest in the future of the Electric Vehicle. He joined together with Belgian national, Stijn Poissonnier, and they made EVE a reality in 2012.

Now, enough about the history, onto my arrival at EVE headquarters in Liege. I arrived by Uber to a rather fancy looking, mostly glass building situated not too far from the University of Liege. I was greeted at the door by Mr. Changon, who struck conversation with me about working at Speedhunters, and other car related things.

“Now, You’re probably thinking 'Hey, where’s the Electric Vehicles, Benjamin!” Mr. Chagnon said to me in a very Belgian-French accent, “I’ll tell you. Hidden. Mine’s the only one you can see. My one is special.” He lead me through production rooms, building motors, and other components related to the EV. “Through here, quickly.” He lead me through a rather cramped storage room, but that room lead to easily the most wonderful looking 240z I’ve laid my eyes upon.

"Now, there’s always an odd thing about the way I got this car. Not many of these 240z’s are around in Belgium, or Northern France. I got this one from a friend in the USA. Was empty, had been sitting in the Nevada Desert for maybe 10 or 15 years. No VIN, no engine, nothing. Wanna know how much I paid for it? 250 American Dollars. So f***ing cheap.

"It arrived at my home in 2013. My instant plans were to put [EVE] parts into the car. Because why not, right? Be unique, cool, interesting. We have four motors, one per wheel. It’s an AWD 240z. We just launch off of the line real fast. I mean, we rarely take it anywhere. I’d dare say Belgium is the worst place to be a petrol head, maybe behind Denmark, or The Netherlands, but we have little in the way of night culture. Want to go to a car meet, best bet is heading to France, or Germany. I mean, we’re not too far from Spa, but that’s only alive when a race meet is there.

"This is making I think 400hp to the road, but we are pushing an acceleration time in the low 3s. I mean, range on this thing varies, but I drive it when I can. Most days, I’m driving it to work. It’s a nice distance, there-and-back. When I finished this I’d get looks. I know it sounds odd, I’m in an EV, they can’t hear me. That’s part of why I got, and still get looks. I’m in a f***ing silent car from the late 60’s. Everyone is confused.

“We shamelessly took heavy design inspiration from Pandem, and Rocket Bunny. It’s a nice style that I enjoy, the Japanese Widebody look. It makes the car look big, heavy, powerful. We got this thing lighter than a the normal 240z by 10kg. Such a slim margin, but we did it.”

Mr. Chagnon is an odd man, at the helm of an odd company, with easily the best 240z I’ve seen in a long while.

I want one.

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This trip took place on October 17th, 2017. Photos were taken by Jamie Harvey

[Radster]

Barn find, restoration and tuning: a '58 Brivio Vieste, the “Punisher”.

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(Props to @CadillacDave for lending me the car!)

Hi, I’m Nathan García and this is my latest creation. A 1958 Brivio Vieste I like to call “Punisher”.

The car in its original state.

I found this antique a couple of weeks ago, back from a roadtrip in my beloved rat rod Erin Visto Mk3. I stopped at my local dinner to get a burger and some fries when I saw this thing abandoned at the parking lot, inside a sea of Shromets, Kimuras and the ocassional Nohda and Cavallera, with a “for sale” sign on it, and couldn’t help but approach the car. Seeing as the car was pretty rusty and the tyres deflated, I called the number on the sign and managed to buy it for only $2000. I brought it to the shop and I started working on it.

The first thing I did to it was removing the rust. A couple hours of scrubbing with a chemical agent later, the chassis was free of rust. The next thing I did was take the engine out and see if it would run, but unfortunately it wouldn’t, so I left it for later. I replaced the worn shocks and springs for stiffer springs and gas dampers; I replaced each and every corner of the car, and the worst part was the rear end (them Europeans insisting on fancy independent systems).

I then removed the rear seats, replaced the front ones with leather bucket seats (the American way!) and removed the radio and safety systems. And to top it all off, I gave the front a nice lip to generate some downforce and a splitter at the rear with the same purpose. After all these modifications, it was time to give the car a nice new set of shoes, so I shoved some nice radials there and swapped the wire rims with some nice alloy American Racings.

So naturally the engine was the next step. And I was going to do it proper: carburetors and natural aspiration. No turbo bullshit here. The original engine was pushing 114 horsepower approximately from its 2.5 liters of displacement; I started by replacing the crank, conrods and pistons for forged components, installing a custom high end cam, and replacing the alternator and deleting the mufflers. The jewel of the crown, though, were the three Weber carburetors feeding the engine; I tuned them to deliver around 1 part of fuel for each 13,8 parts of air, then gave the engine quite a few degrees of advancement and shaved off the head until the gas was compressed in a 11.0:1 compression, roughly. The previously 92 octane leaded fuel was replaced with 95 octane premium unleaded. To top it all off, I extended the rev range, hell yeah!

When the moment of truth came, the engine was placed back into the car and on the dyno. The engine was producing 230 horses at 7100rpm. Might not have the low end of a big block, but it sure packs quite a punch. With all that sorted, I replaced the old 4 speed trans with a 5 speed manual from a Caliban Thunder kit car, and played around with the ratios. The last two things were a Quaife LSD and a British green paintjob. Why British green on an Italian car? Because I felt it could give it that “posh” touch.

So I took it for a ride, and while it’s not too powerful, this thing pulls! The LSD and 5 speed box make it capable of going from 0 to 62 in just 5.9 seconds, and top out at 145, which is more than a lot of classic muscle cars can achieve.

The cornering was also greatly enhanced by the shocks and springs. The Punisher was now pulling 1.12Gs at 20 metres and 1.08Gs at 250m.

In retrospect, modifying the car was very much worth it. While hard to work with due to its sheer age, the car greatly rewarded me with a quick, corner happy experience, while at the same time being as classy as only a 50s car can be.

Would I modify another Brivio? Goddamn right I would, but probably a different one from a different era. Perhaps I could try to see what these guys made back in the day and see if I can get my hands on any of them machines? Who knows. But for now, I’ll just enjoy this grand tourer turned rocket.

[abg7]

Project Saker: Tuning the Falcon Dynamo S+

Special thanks to @Chipskate for lending me the car.

Project Saker was the result of a plan to turn the svelte but soft Falcon Dynamo S+ into a harder-edged, track-ready supercar-baiter. Developed by the Northamptonshire-based Norwell Performance Systems, the program resulted in a car that could “take the fight to the 360 Modena, Tuscan Speed Six, and 911 GT3”, according to company owner and CEO Henry Norwell.

The project actually consisted of two upgrade kits. The SR (Sports Racing) package consisted of a comprehensive reimagining of the car, turning a boulevard cruiser into a trackday warrior. Out went the rear seats, stock five-speed gearbox, viscous LSD, 16-inch wheels, standard brakes, all-season tires and semi-active suspension; in went a lightweight sports interior with Recaro seats, a six-speed ZF close-ratio manual gearbox, a Quaife mechanical LSD, 18-inch forged magnesium wheels wrapped in low-profile Michelin Pilot Sport tires, larger Brembo brakes, and fully adjustable suspension at each corner, courtesy of Bilstein. In addition, the standard car’s rear wing and front splitter were replaced by carbon-fibre items.

The most significant changes, however, were to the engine. It was given a more aggressive cam profile, fitted with forged internals, and had its stock intake replaced with a set of individual throttle bodies. In addition, the stock exhaust system made way for a custom 2.25-inch dual exhaust with long-tube headers and straight pipes. Finally, the compression ratio was increased to 11.4:1 on 98RON super unleaded.

This resulted in 381 bhp @ 7200 rpm and 295 lb-ft @ 6200 rpm - well worth the reduction in fuel economy to 20.3 UK mpg (even less if the driver exploited all of the engine’s performance, which was more likely to occur than before since the powerband had now been shifted further up the rev range). Supercharging and turbocharging were not considered because Mr. Norwell wanted to preserve the sharp throttle response that could be achieved with a normally aspirated engine such as that which powered the Dynamo. Even so, with a specific output of just over 100 horsepower per liter, this engine felt like it belonged in a true supercar, which the Dynamo had effectively become thanks to the other upgrades it received, as described above.

Unsurprisingly, the performance gains were obvious and considerable. Top speed increased to 170 mph and the 0-60 time dropped to 4.90 seconds, while the car now weighed just 1380 kilograms. In addition, it could now pull 1.08 g on a 200m skid pad and lap the Top Gear Test Track in 1:22.46.

The ST (Sports Touring) package was very similar to the SR but retained the standard interior (complete with rear seats) and stock aero kit, while 17-inch cast alloy wheels were fitted the SR’s forged items. Also, it was fitted with adaptive dampers and progressive-rate springs. The extra weight of the ST meant that performance was reduced very slightly compared to the more extreme SR, but it was still very fast, and easier to live with thanks to the retention of the rear seats.

Norwell sold 500 each of both kits worldwide between 2001 and 2006. Many of the converted cars are still around to this day, and provide a refreshing, analog contrast to the turbocharged self-shifting banality that has since become commonplace.

In the words of Henry Norwell himself:

“In all its forms, Project Saker has delivered on its promise to transform the Falcon Dynamo S+ into a legitimate supercar rival. The extra power, combined with the reduced weight, upgraded mechanicals and retuned suspension have yielded something that can be wonderful on a track and yet remain enjoyable on the road. I proved this myself when I took one example each of our SR and ST Dynamos to some B-roads in Wales. That’s when I encountered a 360 Modena and 911 GT3, both of which I had benchmarked during the development process. Both Dynamos acquitted themselves well with their significantly improved performance, and in fact neither the 360 nor the 911 could shake off the Dynamos. All in all, it was a very satisfying encounter, and it helped put us on the aftermarket tuning map.”

[Aaron.W]

The Craziest 3rd generation TSR Kansai

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This is one hell of a monster. To be precise, a time attack monster. It is gold, it has a massive wing, it is straight-piped, it has a massive splitter and it has 950HP!!!
Anyways, this thing started its life as a 2002 TSR Kansai NR5 Spec A (The 3rd gen Kansai has 2 versions of the NR5 trim, the Spec-B and the Spec-A. The Spec A is the more aggresive one out of the two). The owner (she prefers to be private) replaces everything from the rims, tires, differential, the transmission itself, suspension parts, and intake. She replaced everything with BBS rims (from the TSR Taikan NR5 N1), Tyrelli racing slicks, electric LSD, 7-speed sequential transmission, coilovers, active roll-bars and ITB’s. She also adds a Varis wide-body kit, custom Time Attack front splitter, Time Attack rear wing, a big Garrett Turbo, straight pipe exhaust and a stripped-out interior. The carbon hood you see there is standard on the Spec-A. All that together creates a 950HP time attack monster. Luckily, it’s AWD. So, you can get traction.

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Note: Time Attack is a fictional brand

[cardude]

Malaise-era muscle car:

1978 Maxton Menace 525 TURBO

Year: 1978
Make: Maxton
Model: Menace
Trim: 525 Turbo
Body Type: 2-door 2-seat coupe
Exterior Color: Orange
Interior Color: Black
Transmission: 4-SPD Manual
Fuel Type: Gasoline 86AKI
Engine: 8.6L V8 16V 2 BBL OHV TURBO
Displacement: 8.6L / 525 CID
Horsepower: 250 hp @ 4500 rpm
Torque: 520 lbs.-ft. @ 1700 rpm
Bore x Stroke: 4.25 in. x 4.625 in.
Compression: 7.2:1
Fuel economy: 13.6 MPG

Facelifted 1981 Model:

1981 Maxton Menace 8.6L TURBO

Year: 1981
Make: Maxton
Model: Menace
Trim: 8.6L Turbo
Body Type: 2-door 2-seat coupe
Exterior Color: Gold
Interior Color: Black
Transmission: 5-SPD Manual
Fuel Type: Gasoline 86AKI
Engine: 8.6L V8 16V FI OHV TURBO
Displacement: 8.6L / 525 CID
Horsepower: 255 hp @ 4200 rpm
Torque: 520 lbs.-ft. @ 1700 rpm
Bore x Stroke: 4.25 in. x 4.625 in.
Compression: 7.5:1
Fuel economy: 16.2 MPG

[Chickenbiscuit]

This 1953 LMC Captain has been rescued from a sorry state and rebuilt into the ultimate GT cruiser. The engine began its life as a 1959 384ci. “Seabeast” V8 making just over 260 hp. Fitted with forged internals, direct injection, and a new exhaust system, the new engine now cranked out a meaty 434 hp. The old transmission was replaced with a 5-speed manual that could handle the increased power. The new active springs and dampers allowed for a lower stance to go with the 19" alloy rims.

Inside, the custom leather seats were made to resemble the original while giving modern comfort. Sound insulation, the sound system, and climate control were all updated. Relatively minor changes to the body were made to cool the 13.6 in brakes and added safety features. With the larger engine and all of these features added, this beast weighs in at over 4,800 lbs. It was 3,370 lbs stock.

While made with comfort in mind, the Captain packs a punch. 0-62 mph time is just under 5.6 seconds, top speed is at 172 mph, and this barge will still pull over 1 g in the corners.

the original car
<Leviathan Motor Company (LMC) - No longer updated - #20 by Chickenbiscuit

[Dorifto_Dorito]

Its been long enough, time to revive this thread.

1953 Caliban Type SC (Whittingmore Custom)

_{Thanks to @Mr.Computah for letting me modify his car.}

In 1948, ACA and Caliban would form a partnership whereby ACA helped Caliban produce cars in the US, and in return, Caliban would help the development of ACA’s own sports car and racing team. In 1949, ACA would help Caliban bring along one of their most famous models onto US shores, the Type SC.

The Type SC was a sleek fastback coupe with independent front and rear suspension and an advanced 3.2L OHC V8. This made the Type SC a favourite for privateer racing teams in both the US and in Europe, with many custom variations on the design. This is one of them.

Benjamin and Audie Whittingmore were ACA engineers by day, but by night were busy hot rodding cars to go fast. When the opportunity came to purchase a 1951 Caliban Type SC, the brothers jumped at the opportunity to modify it for racing round a circuit.

Being assigned to assist the Caliban production facility, the Ben and Audie were already well acquainted with the Type SC as such, they were able to modify it to push the most of the chassis.

Taking 3 years to finish, the result was the Caliban Type SC Whittingmore Custom.

Extensive modifications were done to the overall car. Ben and Audie had decided to ditch the fastback design for a more traditional roadster look, complete with a detachable hardtop. As such the chassis had to be heavily modified to increase structural integrity. The body panels were also swapped for hand beaten aluminium panels to reduce the weight of the car.

The next modification made to the car came in the form of a new engine, the ACA 303 Flathead V8. While some would see this as a downgrade from the 3.2L Stomcast V8, there were several reasons as to why they modified the car this way.

Due to the simpler design of the engine, the 303 Flathead V8 was much more reliable than more advanced Stormcast V8. Also since the 300 Series Flathead V8s had been around since 1942, spare parts and aftermarket components were easy to source making maintenance cheaper. And with the larger displacement, the 303 was easily capable of overcoming its deficiencies over the 3.2L Stormcast.

With all the modifications done to the Type SC, the custom car weighed only 9 kilograms more, but made 50 more hp.

The car would eventually be sold on to a privateer driver who planned on racing it in the 1955 Le Mans, but failed to attend due to illness. As such the car would never be driven round a track in anger…

Some extra images of the car being driven around the test track

[Radster]

Well that is quite the car I’m glad you picked my car to modify! The result is really really nice, wonder how it’d have done had it entered Le Mans

[SideswipeBL]

Walden Priam Injection “Trackday” (original in background)

Sadly, I lost the .car file but I do have the BeamNG export.
https://leopard.hosting/dl/ncsxn/sideswipe_walden_priam_injection.zip - Stock
https://leopard.hosting/dl/jrvmn/sideswipe_walden_priam_trackday.zip - Trackday

Not much of a story behind this one, just wanted to customize one of my own cars. I think it came out well.