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Videos!!

Shows & Meets section

Duratec Installation and Supercharging!

De Dion and IRS plans available from Downloads section

A list of book errors are available, here

New book now available,

What is a Locost?

A Locost is a sevenesque style sports car, looking very similar to Caterhams and Westfields. But unlike those cars the Locost is a more individual vehicle. (Did I also mention a Locost will also cost you around £15,000 LESS than either a Caterham or Westfield?)

You basically start off with a rusty old donor car (a MK2 Escort, Capri, Cortina or Sierra or anything you want really! It just depends how much time you have to spend on your project), strip it for useful parts. I.e. the engine, gearbox, rear axle, steering rack, wheels, instruments...and virtually anything else you care to take. Then go down the steel stockholders and buy loads of 25x25mm RHS and weld it together to make the chassis!

Well maybe that's being a little idealistic, but you get the idea. It's a real challenge; at the end of it you have the pride in saying it really is a car you built yourself!!

Ron Champion came up with the idea of a complete self build car when his son was learning to drive. He built it on a tight budget of £250 (which is now impossible by the way)!! He then released the book on how to make this wonderful car. 'How to Build Your Own Sports Car' came out in 1996, but a second edition was released in 2002.

The book details how to do everything you need to complete the car, from stripping the donor to getting your project on the road. There are a few mistakes in the book regarding chassis member dimensions though, and the front wishbones are more than a little out!! But all things considered the information in the book is helpful and informative.

The above is the ‘proper’ way to build a Locost. I however am wussing out of building my own chassis, as I do not have time at the moment to do it. I am instead planning on buying a chassis so I can progress with my project faster. I am planning to build the GTS Panther, de-dion car over the coming months (read years). It is based on a Sierra donor car, with a Mk 2 Escort steering rack.

To find out more about the Locost phenomenon visit the builder’s forum:

Locost Builders Forum

Loads of links to Locost related pages can be found in the links section of this site!

A bit about me

I have now completed my Masters in Manufacturing Engineering from Warwick. I got a first class honours overall so I am very happy.

I am now working as a Project Engineer for a local engineering firm in King's Lynn.

 

 

  

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