What Are The Lightest Front Engine RWD Production Cars ?

[redgriff500]

As above what were / are the lightest production cars for various decades.

I was chatting to a mate about base vehicle for a project and these were what I came up with off the top of my head (then Googling the weight)

70s
Lotus Elan 725kg
Mk1 Escort 770kg

80s
Chevette 800kg
Mk2 Escort 880kg
TVR S2 960kg
E30 BMW 1100kg

90s
MX5 940kg
TVR Griffith 1060kg
BMW Compact 1175kg
RX7 1250kg

2000
TVR Sagaris 1080kg

[DrTre]

caterham/westfield are obvious omissions aren't they?

[RobM77]

DrTre said:

caterham/westfield are obvious omissions aren't they?

I presume the OP had ommitted these because they're kit cars, and as such not full production vehicles. Mind you, the original Caterham R500 was never sold in kit form, so that should be in the 90s section. Also, do Ginetta count? Oh, and how about the Alfa Spider? Not the modern Brera based one, but the original from the 60s and manufactured up until recently.

Edited by RobM77 on Wednesday 19th January 15:34

[Proxy]

The Ariel Atom must come into play here, surely?

[DrTre]

Fair point. C21 then

[Petrolhead_Rich]

Reliant Robin?

are they not sub 500kg???

[RobM77]

To add to the Alfa Spider and Caterham R500, I'd suggest the Alfa SV and 75 as well.

[RobM77]

Petrolhead_Rich said:

Reliant Robin?

are they not sub 500kg???

I'd always assumed they were front wheel drive, but I might be wrong!

[SteveS Cup]

Old Toyota Starlet, AE86 Corrola.

I know of a Mk2 Escort which I believe is weighing in just over 550kg's with about 200bhp on tap... fun!

[redgriff500]

TBH I was suggesting cars he might want to play then added the TVR's more as a benchmark as I was surprised how light they were.

But feel free to suggest anything although a weight would be handy too.

[SteveS Cup]

RobM77 said:

Petrolhead_Rich said:

Reliant Robin?

are they not sub 500kg???

I'd always assumed they were front wheel drive, but I might be wrong!

As epic as it'd be to have a 1 wheel fwd car, they're RWD!

[SteveS Cup]

SteveS Cup said:

Old Toyota Starlet, AE86 Corrola.

I know of a Mk2 Escort which I believe is weighing in just over 550kg's with about 200bhp on tap... fun!

Starlet is about 750kg's and AE86 is 1000kg's.

[redgriff500]

Reliant Kitten
Suzuki Cappucino 725kg
Toyota Starlet 750kg
AE86 Corrola 1000kg

Added to list

Edited by redgriff500 on Wednesday 19th January 15:53

[Mr2Mike]

Bond Bug (70's) 395kg.

[Chris71]

Petrolhead_Rich said:

Reliant Robin?

I like the lateral thinking there, but I'm fairly sure Reliant has ceased to exist?

I suspect the Suzuki Capacino is probably the lightest front engined RWD car that's recently been imported by a mass manufactuer. There may be others in Japan (kai cars or whatever they're called).

I think one of the kit car manufacturers has got a front engined Seven-type car down to about 400kgs. That even makes the average Caterfield look podgy.

[Strangely Brown]

Proxy said:

The Ariel Atom must come into play here, surely?

Front engined?

[300bhp/ton]

redgriff500 said:

TBH I was suggesting cars he might want to play then added the TVR's more as a benchmark as I was surprised how light they were.

But feel free to suggest anything although a weight would be handy too.

I don't know exact weights, but Morris Minor and Ford Anglia/Pop 100E would seem likely candidates too.

[kambites]

RobM77 said:

DrTre said:

caterham/westfield are obvious omissions aren't they?

I presume the OP had ommitted these because they're kit cars, and as such not full production vehicles. Mind you, the original Caterham R500 was never sold in kit form, so that should be in the 90s section. Also, do Ginetta count? Oh, and how about the Alfa Spider? Not the modern Brera based one, but the original from the 60s and manufactured up until recently.

That would put the Elan out of the running too, that was available as a kit.

[Mr2Mike]

Chris71 said:

Petrolhead_Rich said:

Reliant Robin?

I like the lateral thinking there, but I'm fairly sure Reliant has ceased to exist?

The OP didn't set any requirements for the manufacturer to still be around.

[davepoth]

300bhp/ton said:

redgriff500 said:

TBH I was suggesting cars he might want to play then added the TVR's more as a benchmark as I was surprised how light they were.

But feel free to suggest anything although a weight would be handy too.

I don't know exact weights, but Morris Minor and Ford Anglia/Pop 100E would seem likely candidates too.

Minor is a good shout for engine swaps - the engine bay was designed for a flat 4 so it's very wide.