Automotive design, original cars Options

[jayi12-15psi]

I am not any sort of engineer or graphic design artist, but I have always dreamed of building my own car. I'm always critical on what cars look like, and I'd love to make a project car so I could make it the way I like it. This isn't a project I'm looking to start now, but rather in a few years when I have enough money.

I was wondering, if I build everything right down to a new welded frame, would it be illegal to drive? Since I can't have it crash tested?

I would use an already existing engine and frame if need be, my concern would be more what the car would look like. This might seem to be pretty crazy, but if anyone has some kind of experience building kit cars, I've got a few questions about the legality of such things.

thanks for taking the time to read this.

[BlackSTX]

Here's an example of what you're talking about. Look through that site and see how they build the body. It's made from a shell and put on a tube frame. It's street legal too. They use a Corvette engine and Porsche transmission. I'd like to have something like that with a Targa top and a custom interior job. You can do anything if you have the skills. A friend of mine in engineering school used to build Baja buggies and Formula race cars. The school had a team and there was a yearly meet where they'd race other schools. The entire vehicle had to be made from hand each year.


GTM Supercar

[Kwanza26]

Depends on the size whether or not it is legal/illegal.

[jayi12-15psi]

well, it would be the size of a regular car, could I drive anything I build within size limits with some type of liability insurance?

I would of course have all required lights and features such as a crash bar. I'd like to use something similar to the mr2 platform. Maybe an old supercharged 2, remove all the panels, custom make some out of fiberglass. Lose some weight, and it would make an awesome little car.

not 100% original, but pretty original none the less.

[boosted_K2]

theres different local laws for legalizing custom and hand built cars... id check with your local DMV on what these requirements are... but you also have to remember there are alot of reasons why a car doesnt look how you think it should... a great example of this compromise is focused on in this video found on the porsche website about the new cayman S

http://www.porsche.com/usa/models/cayman/c...ery/c7s/rivals/

[orvillescelica]

i use to know a guy who did this. He made his cars from the ground up, but he made them look like the old 1920s classic cars rather than anything innovative. Basically, there are some forms to fill out and a guy from the DMV comes and inspects every part of the car. He determines if it can be street legal or not. If its a custom built, one of a kind type car, it doesnt need crash test data as long as it has all the othe saftey stuff.

[jayi12-15psi]

thanks, that was one of the main things I was curious about

[97lestyousay]

My friend used to build lambo replicas on a all tube chassis. He used the tub
from Fieros along with the vin plate to make them legal. He started his own
car company and makes it all now.
http://www.sscautos.com