That's rough, buddy.
Step away, work on something else for a couple afternoons?
That's rough, buddy.
Step away, work on something else for a couple afternoons?
That sucks.
I do agree with Mr_Asa. Don't rush to a decision, take your time and give the hive the opportunity to brainstorm.
Since you have built the crate already, that is the expensive part of shipping, we just need to find glass. Good excuse to visit Paris next month for Retromobile. Contact Amis du Panhard in advance, but do not reveal the intent of the build before you have glass in hand.
I don't know you personally so of course I could be way off here, just my observation. I'd say since this is the second start and stop of this project with issues that wouldn't have even slowed you down on the prototype or MG build, you may not be totally into it. It might be time to just cut bait and move it on to someone else. Miata, Dyna body and all so there's no temptation to start it up again.
If you think about it and decide you really do want to move forward with this body swap, I think the path forward is simple.
I love the work you do and the projects you come up with but you should only move forward if you actually want to.
I appreciate everyone's thoughts and ideas.
In reply to AxeHealey :
I suspect that realistically you are correct. None of these issues would of stopped me with the MG or LMP360.
I think with this one I like the Idea of the project more then I am actually dedicated to completing it. Which probably means it's time to let someone else give it a go.
Your path forward is correct and If I was super into it I would probably follow that path. I don't have inspections so it's mostly just wanting to have a DOT glass windshield for wiper oper ability and such. I don't need another "nice weather only" vehicle.
I've offered the Panhard to someone. If they pass I will consider listing both it and the Miata for sale. My thought was to keep the Miata around for some future shenanigans, and just give the Panhard away. Once I've decided to be done with it having it leave NOW (more mentally then physically) is more important then any limited $$ it will generate. And the ease with which I have become comfortable with the idea of it leaving tells me I probably was forcing being into this project more then I actually am. On paper it's a cool project and someone should do something with it. It would make an excellent Lemons car or similar, or a cool project for someone who has no issue using a polycarbonate windshield.
Sorry to keep everyone thinking this will happen. Managing car projects is hard and sometimes mistakes are made.
why don't we go back to "first principles"...
See believe it or not, I have a family and do family stuff too. One of the things we do is camp with a small Class C RV with a lowish towing capacity. I want a toad to drag around behind it with a Tow Dolly. Subarus can be flat towed but they can't easily go on a tow dolly. Yes I could drop the driveshaft or do flat tow, but FWD is actually a better solution and is what the Panhard originally was. So I decided a FWD drivetrain makes more sense and started thinking about chassis I could use.
I've always wanted the car to be a bit of a cruiser, so I didn't even need something fast or powerful. I thought about lots of things, but never could manage to settle on something but FWD cars are somewhat generic and it was more important to just find something comon, cheap, and reliable.
and
So the plan is to put the Panhard body onto the Prius like a hat. The Prius wheelbase is 1.5" longer then the Panhard, Track Width appears to be about 4" wider on the Prius so some amount of flares will be required. I want to long term keep as many modern creature comforts as possible. Power locks, windows, AC/Heat etc. will eventually be merged with the Panhard.
As long as it is convenient this will be done using the GRM $2000 Challenge budget rules with the cash-in-the-envelope specialty class Addendum. I won't let the budget force me to do things like construct the firewall out of repurposed prius roof, but I will track the expenditures and track time the way I did with the LMP360 when it was a budget build.
The goal is to Road Trip the car down to the 2024 challenge. It won't be fast.. Like AT ALL, but it will be super fun and a totally different way to do the challenge.
Fundamentally, I see a "two birds with one stone" project: a) Fun FWD Family Cruiser Toad (FFFCT); b) a 2025 Challenge Car/Entry
I understand the reasoning behind combining these efforts. But, perhaps this is a good point to fork those into separate projects? Especially the idea of having the FFFCT be 'cheap', and robust enough to road trip down to $Challenge.
If these can be separated, potentially the miata (even as it sits) is a valid thing to keep and build towards 2025 $ Challenge. I say that, realizing that "hacked up miata" is almost so common as to be its own sub-class... and as such may not be of interest/motivation (and self-motivation on that project seems important?)?
some lessons/take-aways/criterions, from these two exercises that I see are:
- nocones still wants an interesting/fun/classy Family Cruiser
- said FFCT should be FWD & bullet proof
- the FFFCT 'hat' car should be uncommon, but not rare, such that 'comfort'/'weather'/'protection' elements are easily attainable/manufacturable.
- the 2nd Gen Prius is maybe too heavy and low power to be 'fun'?
What cruiser would you like to have, rather than trying to jam it into your exiting stock (or what you can pick up for $Challenge money?)?
You learn something everyday........I can't do it in my current shop, but I really liked seeing you put the car on the lift sideways, giving you complete access to either end of the car!
I've been reading through wikipedia's Le Mans yearly "reports" 1923 ~1970 over the last five-ish years; plus following these associated "Panhard Hat" threads this year. That all has me pretty well primed for searching "Panhard Le Mans" (which frequently ends up being Panhard DB Le Mans searches) images...
on the panhard racing team website there's a 1952 coupe with a 'split window'
(their site apparently doesn't condone hotlinking)
also, there's this 1956 Panhard Monopole X86, with a 'segmented' front windsheild:
I dunno how hard/ugly reworking the Dyna to take flat panes would be? But, there's at least some background for doing it.
there's also a wealth of imagery of various le mans DB/Panhard cars if you wanted to draw some inspiration for creating a panhard miata superléger
I know you already cut it off but, how about making it a convertable and using the Miata windshield and frame?
In reply to APEowner :
You know actually that probably would work pretty well.. If someone wanted to do that. They coudl probably find the 1 guy that needs a rear window and make it for cheap. Make it a longer door coupe using the Miata top and windshield. Or look at an Audi TT donor as it would wind up looking a lot like one.
These are all things the next person could try to do with the Panhard. I read everyones feedback and checked myself and realized I'm just not that into it. I've actually been pretty okay with the idea of it leaving. I think I was into it because everyone else seemed into it. And I can't build it for that. I have already developed an (old idea**) way to disposition the Miata that should bring it to the challenge with MUCH less effort such that I would be totally willing to just sell it when I'm done. Which as sleepy pointed out, this was attempting to cram together two things into one. I really just want a cathartic "I'm building something dumb that's short term" project which the Miata offers. The Panhard was tyring to do something long term with a car that probably isn't the right option.
If anyone is excited about the Panhard let me know. I will let it go for CHEAP.
**Hint there are clues in the For sale post
In reply to nocones :
If it makes you feel better about your choice, I was never that in to this either. At the end of the day you'd have a frankenstein version of an oddly-proportioned car that no one has heard of. Sorry Panhard fans!
In reply to maschinenbau :
Well... since you said it. I'll join in this thought parade.
I feel the same about this project. However, I love these threads as I learn something new every time.
This car just wasn't doing it for me either.
This stuff is supposed to be fun. If you're not having fun then it's time to move on to something different. You know, the whole sparking joy thing.
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