Super Car Buggy Matra Murena
Discussion
...and now for something completely different.
The plan, a 3 seater Matra murena LHD, it will live in Spain, Almeria. I want to turn it into a supercar buggy. So I would need to extend the rear wheelbase, and widen the track front and back (so longer training arms, strengthened longer axles) tube frame work onto existing chassis for strength. Does anyone know a company that can do this? it's not a Jumpacan (see youtube huracan, they did the same but with two zeros more than me for budget). I don't need cad designers simulating stress tests in autocad and panels of designers in black polo necks mocking up 1/4 scale models, I'm not Thomas Crown, I just need straight to it, get on with it fun do'ers, petrol head tube benders with mental welding skills. It's supposed to be a cheap fun car.
My Mock up
Jumpacan
The plan, a 3 seater Matra murena LHD, it will live in Spain, Almeria. I want to turn it into a supercar buggy. So I would need to extend the rear wheelbase, and widen the track front and back (so longer training arms, strengthened longer axles) tube frame work onto existing chassis for strength. Does anyone know a company that can do this? it's not a Jumpacan (see youtube huracan, they did the same but with two zeros more than me for budget). I don't need cad designers simulating stress tests in autocad and panels of designers in black polo necks mocking up 1/4 scale models, I'm not Thomas Crown, I just need straight to it, get on with it fun do'ers, petrol head tube benders with mental welding skills. It's supposed to be a cheap fun car.
My Mock up
Jumpacan
Buy an L200 or other pickup. Remove body but keep all the running gear n oilybits.
Sellotape/bluetac/weld /bolt your new bodywork to the chassis.
Register with DVLA as a "Radically altered vehicle" using the L200's identity (V5).
Fairly straightforward - no IVA needed as long as you do not alter the mecanicals of the Mitsi.
Sellotape/bluetac/weld /bolt your new bodywork to the chassis.
Register with DVLA as a "Radically altered vehicle" using the L200's identity (V5).
Fairly straightforward - no IVA needed as long as you do not alter the mecanicals of the Mitsi.
RedAndy said:
Buy an L200 or other pickup. Remove body but keep all the running gear n oilybits.
Sellotape/bluetac/weld /bolt your new bodywork to the chassis.
Register with DVLA as a "Radically altered vehicle" using the L200's identity (V5).
Fairly straightforward - no IVA needed as long as you do not alter the mecanicals of the Mitsi.
Good idea but the only reason i'm not going that route is I wanted rear engined, hence the murena donor (also as it has the 3 seat layout and LHD that I need). CheersSellotape/bluetac/weld /bolt your new bodywork to the chassis.
Register with DVLA as a "Radically altered vehicle" using the L200's identity (V5).
Fairly straightforward - no IVA needed as long as you do not alter the mecanicals of the Mitsi.
RedAndy said:
Funny you put that up, I was looking at it, but the cabin is too small for three seats. Cheers
This project is so interesting that it has made me join the group!
What is the final goal for this vehicle? Guessing just fun blasting down dirt roads rather than an outright competition car. 4x4 or rear wheel drive?
Depending on your goals and budget I would imagine it would de a fairly straight forward thing to build.
What is the final goal for this vehicle? Guessing just fun blasting down dirt roads rather than an outright competition car. 4x4 or rear wheel drive?
Depending on your goals and budget I would imagine it would de a fairly straight forward thing to build.
Firthv10 said:
This project is so interesting that it has made me join the group!
What is the final goal for this vehicle? Guessing just fun blasting down dirt roads rather than an outright competition car. 4x4 or rear wheel drive?
Depending on your goals and budget I would imagine it would de a fairly straight forward thing to build.
Nooo too much pressure on me, joining the group because of my crazy plan.What is the final goal for this vehicle? Guessing just fun blasting down dirt roads rather than an outright competition car. 4x4 or rear wheel drive?
Depending on your goals and budget I would imagine it would de a fairly straight forward thing to build.
Welcome to the group!
So yes you're right, not a serious capable Baja race car, more blast in the desert tracks of Almeria, tapas, blast, tapas beer and sleep in tent, next morning rinse and repeat.
While I'm here today I'll update how it's going....
Well not much has happened, you know why? because of the 'no can do attitude' so prevalent in Engerland.
So I phoned one out fit,
Engineer "Nah, mate, nah, you'd need to strengthen the frame front and rear"
Me" Yeah, yeah"
Engineer "Ooh, oh, ah, well, we'd have to work on the car to do that"
Me "Well of course, I would er..................pay....you...that's why I am calling"
Engineer "Ooh, ah, well, er, it would mean me and the team ...er working"
Me "yeeee-eeeees?"
Engineer "Oooh, er hold on"..................................."Nah, can't do it"...."TINA PUT THE KETTLE ON"
Imagine a "B Is for build" UK version, it would be all "Nah" and "Nah"
OK so I'm exaggerating a bit, but I had four calls like this, no one wants to do anything, and it's not the project in question. I hate the fact that everything gets made in China, a friend of mine needed some bicycle forks made for a production run of specialised bicycle components, he needed 1000s of them, yet he spent 1 year trying to get them made here, EVERYONE was too lazy, so he too had to go the China route, it wasn't because of cost, just that no one here could be assed.
Anyway rant over, new guy come back! don't be scared!
Well not much has happened, you know why? because of the 'no can do attitude' so prevalent in Engerland.
So I phoned one out fit,
Engineer "Nah, mate, nah, you'd need to strengthen the frame front and rear"
Me" Yeah, yeah"
Engineer "Ooh, oh, ah, well, we'd have to work on the car to do that"
Me "Well of course, I would er..................pay....you...that's why I am calling"
Engineer "Ooh, ah, well, er, it would mean me and the team ...er working"
Me "yeeee-eeeees?"
Engineer "Oooh, er hold on"..................................."Nah, can't do it"...."TINA PUT THE KETTLE ON"
Imagine a "B Is for build" UK version, it would be all "Nah" and "Nah"
OK so I'm exaggerating a bit, but I had four calls like this, no one wants to do anything, and it's not the project in question. I hate the fact that everything gets made in China, a friend of mine needed some bicycle forks made for a production run of specialised bicycle components, he needed 1000s of them, yet he spent 1 year trying to get them made here, EVERYONE was too lazy, so he too had to go the China route, it wasn't because of cost, just that no one here could be assed.
Anyway rant over, new guy come back! don't be scared!
Easiest way to do it ( if it were me), would be a mid engine Audi v8 with six speed rear wheel drive box. Tube frame chassis much as your previous build.
Slightly more complex would be a rear engine driving forward to a transfer box then out to front and rear giving you 4x4. Same way as most Comp Safari cars.
Any regulations you need to fit in with or just go crazy with the build.
Slightly more complex would be a rear engine driving forward to a transfer box then out to front and rear giving you 4x4. Same way as most Comp Safari cars.
Any regulations you need to fit in with or just go crazy with the build.
Firthv10 said:
Easiest way to do it ( if it were me), would be a mid engine Audi v8 with six speed rear wheel drive box. Tube frame chassis much as your previous build.
Slightly more complex would be a rear engine driving forward to a transfer box then out to front and rear giving you 4x4. Same way as most Comp Safari cars.
Any regulations you need to fit in with or just go crazy with the build.
That would be tasty for sure, but it being and audi R8 would bring it into a different ££ category of project. Hence the murena, it screams "Yep crazy, but not crazy money"Slightly more complex would be a rear engine driving forward to a transfer box then out to front and rear giving you 4x4. Same way as most Comp Safari cars.
Any regulations you need to fit in with or just go crazy with the build.
fesuvious said:
What's the size of the cheque?
£40k upfront would likely get attention. But 1000 hours is six months work. That's it.
CHeers, but the murena has a sub frame that needs wider trailing arms, and the structure to support them, it's not starting from scratch.£40k upfront would likely get attention. But 1000 hours is six months work. That's it.
This is the second problem, each time I speak to anyone they want millions. Once on a 1968 dodge charger I had I wanted to install a manual transmittion, in the USA to installation fee was $1200- $1500 here the MINIMUM they all wanted was £7k, YEP £7K, with all of the same "well mate arl 'av to take aaat the gear box, phawr, phawr, phawr tut tut, how dare you even ask me mate"
Wouldnt need to be an R8, quite easy to put a six speed behind something like an ABZ. Can also run it on standard ECU so has factory reliability and no need for rolling road etc. Lexus v8 another option. 
Pic is earlier in my current build Audi 3.7 v8 and auto box in the rear of an Audi a3. All my own work.
Pic is earlier in my current build Audi 3.7 v8 and auto box in the rear of an Audi a3. All my own work.
Edited by Firthv10 on Thursday 25th February 20:59
I've been modifying cars for 30 years and my father has dealt in modified cars for 40+ years - trust me unless you have a spare fortune you can't build it like you think.
The first reply suggesting a donor was the correct answer if you are on a budget
I've driven a Matra - they are underpowered as standard and would struggle to turn wheels that large !
If you really can't find a suitable donor and won't buy a ready made one then you either need to speak to buggy builders or good car fabricators.
The first two people I'd contact (as I don't know any buggy builders) would be Zurawski Motorsport - because he's mental and will try anything or Craig at Dyno Torque but you'd better have £40k to hand
The first reply suggesting a donor was the correct answer if you are on a budget
I've driven a Matra - they are underpowered as standard and would struggle to turn wheels that large !
If you really can't find a suitable donor and won't buy a ready made one then you either need to speak to buggy builders or good car fabricators.
The first two people I'd contact (as I don't know any buggy builders) would be Zurawski Motorsport - because he's mental and will try anything or Craig at Dyno Torque but you'd better have £40k to hand
Firthv10 said:
Wouldnt need to be an R8, quite easy to put a six speed behind something like an ABZ. Can also run it on standard ECU so has factory reliability and no need for rolling road etc. Lexus v8 another option.
Pic is earlier in my current build Audi 3.7 v8 and auto box in the rear of an Audi a3. All my own work.
Oh nice.Pic is earlier in my current build Audi 3.7 v8 and auto box in the rear of an Audi a3. All my own work.
Thing is is the plan literally is for a Murena only, and the reason being is it's LHD and has 3 seats and is rear engined and is cheap, so I could not and cannot think of another car that ticks ALL of those boxes, plus as bonus it has a completely galvanised chassis, and the body is fibreglass.
KTMsm said:
I've been modifying cars for 30 years and my father has dealt in modified cars for 40+ years - trust me unless you have a spare fortune you can't build it like you think.
The first reply suggesting a donor was the correct answer if you are on a budget
I've driven a Matra - they are underpowered as standard and would struggle to turn wheels that large !
If you really can't find a suitable donor and won't buy a ready made one then you either need to speak to buggy builders or good car fabricators.
The first two people I'd contact (as I don't know any buggy builders) would be Zurawski Motorsport - because he's mental and will try anything or Craig at Dyno Torque but you'd better have £40k to hand
Thanks. There are many upgraded engines I can put in, I know I would need to have new axles machined to hold the bigger wheels, i would also bring the wheel off set in as much as possible to eleviate unnecessary stress,The first reply suggesting a donor was the correct answer if you are on a budget
I've driven a Matra - they are underpowered as standard and would struggle to turn wheels that large !
If you really can't find a suitable donor and won't buy a ready made one then you either need to speak to buggy builders or good car fabricators.
The first two people I'd contact (as I don't know any buggy builders) would be Zurawski Motorsport - because he's mental and will try anything or Craig at Dyno Torque but you'd better have £40k to hand
bigger thicker training arms etc.
fesuvious said:
Mark Hammersley of PPC fame and nuttyness could also build it.
I have 'Christine' here. His spaceframed wide arch Capri that began life as a pile of tubes....
But, 2.5 days a week at workshop rates of @45-50/hour with a project that could easily do 1000 hours.... Means 1 year and an upfront payment of @£30k with 20% of that to materials and parts.
I hear you but again, for the project I am suggesting which is modifying a Murena 1000 hrs would never be the case. It's not starting from scratch, or creating one off new frame. It's 'just' new axles, thicker longer trailing arms, and new additional tubing (welding to the existing frame) to attach the bigger suspension to.I have 'Christine' here. His spaceframed wide arch Capri that began life as a pile of tubes....
But, 2.5 days a week at workshop rates of @45-50/hour with a project that could easily do 1000 hours.... Means 1 year and an upfront payment of @£30k with 20% of that to materials and parts.
Edited by OSMojo on Thursday 25th February 21:13
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