6/21/07

There is a Locost frame for sale on e-Bay. It is in Houston. I'm the high bidder at $1.00 but the reserve has not been met. I asked the dude what his reserve is but haven’t heard back. He has a Ford Zetec engine and Camaro rear axle, as well as some other bits I'm sure, in the auction but I'm not really interested in anything but the frame. I can probably unload the engine on someone though so I'm not too worried about that. The other bits might come in handy someday, Juan never knows. Here’s what I'm thinking, if one of my friends doesn’t make me an offer I can’t refuse for the thing, I'd build it with Datsun suspension bits and make a swoopy body to cover it all. It wouldn’t be a Seven once I was done with it. It would be a DLR Zorn or something. I'm thinking bodywork along the lines of a Morgan Aero 8 perhaps. That is if the body can be made to cover the struts in such a way as to be attractive. Hmm, how gay did that sound? Let’s say, “If the body can be made to cover the struts in such a way as to be unobtrusive.” Yes, I like that better. What engine would I use? Well, my first choice probably won’t fit. I'd like to think about an L-series six cylinder from a Zed. My second choice probably won’t fit either. I'm thinking a VG-33 V6, since I have one sitting on the floor. Most likely what would go in would be an L-series four cylinder. Of course I include the NAPS Z engines and the KA series in that general “family” of engines in this case. But back to the Zed, I'm thinking about using the front and rear suspensions from a Zed as well. I suppose if I made the bodywork to fit the Zed windshield, and used a bunch of other parts from a donor Zed, this thing could conceivably go into “production” as a single-donor kit. Ok, ok, I need to slow down and not get all set to conquer the world with my DLR kit car. Ooh, if I started with a PL 510 rear suspension, which we happen to have a “spare” of, it could be built around a donor Zed X. By the way, when I say “Zed,” you do realize I'm talking about the 240 Z, 260 Z, and/or 280 Z, right? I know John and Spiderman realized it, being as how they are one in the same, but I thought some clarification might be in order in case someone else is reading this. Anyhoo, we’ll see what the guy has to say about his reserve and what his price would be without the engine. Did I mention he’s in Houston? So a trip down with Mr. Wiggly and the trailer would be… well, maybe not “easy,” but not totally out of the question. John, how’s that sound? Ok, ok, I really need to stop this line of thinking. I need to move on. Well, I can’t think of anything else to talk about so I think I'll go play solitaire until lunchtime. I may be back. Ok, I got a couple e-mails from the dude with the Locost. He wants $1,000.00 for everything but has a guy interested in the engine. I called Dick Brink to see what a Zetec engine was worth and found out it is anything from $200.00 to $800.00 for one. I told the guy that I'm going to the Tail of the Dragon thing and can’t do anything until I get back but promised that if the thing doesn’t sell in this auction, we’ll make a deal. So, I it doesn’t sell by Tuesday when the auction ends, it looks like I'm buying another Seven. I'll keep y'all informed on the progress as things, um, progress. Whatever. Have a day.