Modern Husler

[Ozzie Dave]

Ok, so currently I'm in OZ but ..., I'm thinking of making a modern version of the Husler, the issue being it must be FWD (probably 1600/2L) modern mechanicals (within 5 years) but here is the crunch, it must be MCPherson Strut front and rear as it will be carrying a wheelchair most of the time. It needs a very low floor and a clear width of 750mm and length of 2.5M with a height of 1.5m for the rear door access. I am thinking of the rear floor being on linear actuators so it makes it easy to get in and out dropping at the rear and not needing the usual 2M ramp to get in and out.
So any thoughts of what might make a good doner platform as I would prefer to use a vehicle that already has that layout rather than hybrid 2 sets of FWD mechanicals.
Thanks
Dave

[Frankthered]

Any particular reason that you want MacPherson strut? I get that it would give a wide opening, but there are lots of rear suspension set-ups that do that.

Would torsion bars (for example) be difficult to accommodate in your chassis design?

Anyway, the only car I can think of that features McPherson struts on the rear is the Fiat 127, but that was unconventional because it used a transverse leaf rather than coil springs.

[Equus]

Frankthered said:

Anyway, the only car I can think of that features McPherson struts on the rear is the Fiat 127....

Where they're fitted at the rear, technically they are often 'Chapman Struts'.

...Which means you'll also find them on Lotus Elans and the Type 14 Lotus Elite. Oh, and the Fiat X1/9 and Lancia Stratos.

That probably doesn't help the OP much, though.

Are you actually planning to build the car in Oz? In which case we need to remember that the Australian domestic market is rather different to the European, being dominated by Asian brands. Hence stuff like Fiats are rather rare, but you might find something like a Nissan Maxima J30, which has struts all-round, but would be rarer than hens' teeth here in the UK.

[Ozzie Dave]

I rather like the idea of a Stratos based wheelchair vehicle, after all Chapman had the Elanbulance!, the issue is the rear struts make the most sense if I have to allow the rear floor to drop to ground level, and a torsion bar setup would interfere with that. That makes entry far easier when cars park behind not allowing the ramp to fold down.
You are correct with the vehicle issue, here the rules are much tighter so the doner must be far newer, but it makes more sense than the poorly converted people movers that are chopped about here, at least I can put a descent frame inside and make it far more suitable. the existing vehicle has a swing arm but they eat bushes and tend to break hence the alternative direction.
I may even do something crazy and speak to the guys at Lister Bell.
Thanks
Dave

[Ambleton]

Can you get hold of 2cv components in OZ? If you can I'd be looking at using the whole rear sus set-up from that.

Or, if you're really adventurous, design your own suspension on a similar theme. Trailing arms with a fulcrum and a horizontal spring/damper with a tie-rod.

The limitations are:
Shock control/damping. With the fulcrum arrangement you need to ensure the chosen damper is up to the job as the motion rates are nothing like a "conventional" design. About 5:1 IIRC.

Same for the spring. Travel will be less, therefore you're spring rate needs to be higher to compensate.

Unless you're doing something complex like a multi-link trailing arm design, then your camber and castor will be fixed and not tunable at all.

[Ozzie Dave]

Thanks for the suggestion, unfortunately 2CV's are rare and expensive here, I suspect I may have to create something like you suggest. the load is also quite variable, in a standard wheelchair 70kg, but in her powered its closer to 150kg! the aim is to make something thats sensible for my wife to use and far more practicable size and use wise than what is currently available and does not look like a disability van (in my head i have a thought also of a modified smaller hummer hx). Thanks dave