1992 EMR EX8
One of my two entries for the Leaky Roof Challenge, and the basis for my Me and the Wife submissions.
The actual challenge submission (in red) has a 285-bhp 5.0L OHV V8 with an iron block and alloy head; I also created another trim with more standard equipment, a six-speed manual gearbox (instead of the standard five-speed unit), uprated brakes and suspension, plus a set of larger forged wheels (17-inch items instead of the 16-inch cast-alloy ones on the base model).
No-limits, no-frills version
After the conclusion of the LRC, I cloned the entire car, engine and all, to find out its true potential without the $16k budget cap.
The chassis was now made from AHS steel, with fiberglass bodywork on top. Also, the entire engine was an all-aluminum/silicon unit, tuned to provide 400 bhp in its most potent form.
The resulting car now weighed 1252kg (a ~250kg weight saving) thanks to a lightweight sports interior and the weight slider cranked all the way to the light end. Moreover, all the driving aids were removed to save weight and cost, yielding a rawer, harder-edged experience.
Finally, the wheels were enlarged to 18 inches, and the suspension was stiffened up to better suit its hardcore feel.
In its base form, it may not have won the challenge outright, or even troubled the podium, but I was pleased at how this build turned out; its higher-spec trim would not have qualified on price alone, but at least it had a useful performance advantage. The no-limits version, on the other hand, is an animal, with monstrous power in a far lighter platform, and no driving aids to protect the careless from their mistakes - essentially a harder-edged TVR Griffith, but with the nose of an S1 Elise.