Challenge Car Ideas (Shop Class Edition)

I teach automotive technology at a tech school for underprivileged youth, and I want to have the kids build a $200X Challenge car. But what car to build? I asked them today and the most common answer was Honda Civic or a Fox body Mustang, and a couple said McLaren F1. Since I'll be funding this project - not the school - I get the final say as to what we build. That said, the purpose is to create a project the kids will care about and be invested in doing well. What are your suggestions for what to build?

I'd contact local dealerships and ask if they'd donate a manual transmission vehicle that came in on a trade that they were planning on sending off to wholesale auction.

Other than that, BG chassis mazda.

You could make it a research project. Maybe search CL locally for sub $2000 and see what the CL gods offer up. Might be able to come with with something different that others haven't thought of.

Where you are located Brian?

Will the kids every actually drive this car?
Will the kids have the option of coming to The Challenge?
If no, will they locally get a chance to autox it or drag it?

If no then you are trying to build something the kids will be proud to have had a hand in and be proud to read about the results.

As I see it you have the following segments to choose from:
Wild build: Biggest engine/turbo/charger stuffed in smallest space.
Proven paths: Civic/e30/Mustang/Camaro/Miata
Aristocrat: Depreciated lux-barge. Infiniti/Lincoln Mark 8/Lexus
Minivan Specialty Class: teach that you really can race anything you have.
Unique approach: whatever you can imagine, ie: Justang, Insight/Subaru, Jeep XJR.

New thought:
Encourage your group to compete against the College teams. Sure, college vs HS may not seem fair but you might be surprised. Additionally, this could encourage that opportunity for competition like this continues in life.

Sample: Your near stock Lincoln Mark 8 that actually finishes may be more impressive than an Insight/Subaru that suffers issues.

Stampie wrote: You could make it a research project. Maybe search CL locally for sub $2000 and see what the CL gods offer up. Might be able to come with with something different that others haven't thought of.

I like this, make the students do the search and bring in the results and have them explain why it is the best for the project. You can give them a couple items to explain such as initial spend, projected recoup of funds, performance, for starters and then have them add at least one of their own. Then they get together and pick the winner.

Steve

In reply to WOW Really Paul?:

western Massachusetts

In reply to captdownshift:

I was in the wholesale car business for many years, and I did ask a few my old colleagues, but didn't have any luck at all.

lrrs wrote:

Stampie wrote: You could make it a research project. Maybe search CL locally for sub $2000 and see what the CL gods offer up. Might be able to come with with something different that others haven't thought of.

I like this, make the students do the search and bing in the results and have them explain why it is the best for the project. You can give them a couple items to explain such as initial spend, projected recoup of funds, performance, for starters and then have them add at least one of their own. Then they get together and pick the winner.

That's a great idea, Steve! Thank you

In reply to M030:

here's how i'd spin it to them,

Dear (GM of dealership, don't mess around with anyone below the GM)

I'm an instructor at (school name) where i teach automotive technology. This year I have a particularly promising class of bright an enthusiastic students who have expressed an interest of undertaking the ambitious project of preparing a vehicle for competition in the Grassroots Motorsports $2016 Challenge to be held in Gaineville, FL (include date info and media kit info available on this site for GRM). Unfortunately resources are tight at the school so we're looking to procure a vehicle via donation to assist with the project and in training this group of (insert the number of students who will be participating in the project) students. We're hoping that there would possibly be a used car with a manual transmission that has been traded in that is destined for wholesale auction that would be suitable for donation to the school that would fit the project's needs. We'd also love the opportunity to arrange a field trip to the dealership for the students to tour the service department, meet with the department manager and some technicians about their jobs to showcase to them careers in the automotive industry. We'd also be more then willing to provide the vehicle for showcase and display at the dealership upon completion if you'd like, as long as the scheduling of which doesn't interfere with the scheduled competition. I'm sure that the students would be incredibly proud to see their project displayed at a dealership event.

Thanks for your time and consideration in providing to the future of the automotive industry,

(remember sales managers have client contact list, they can reach out to current and perspective customers to host a fundraiser event in the showroom with the car on display. Suggest that if you get a response, even if the response is "we'd love to be able to help, but we're not in the position to lend assistance at this time, or we don't currently have anything that would fit your needs". If you secure the venue of the showroom and they market to their customers to come out with note that donations for the project will be accepted at the event, or can be sent to (information to be put on a response card with the mailer) , and you can then contact catering companies about donating their services as it benefits the school fundraiser (the food will bring more people into the dealership, creating more potential donations and show the GM of the dealership the impact of the relationship with the project and school. Having the car, even before any work is done, on the showroom floor for the event would be a huge plus. If the dealership agrees to such an event be sure to contact local media outlets, newspaper, radio and tv networks. Especially any that the dealership currently advertises with. Any exposure garnered benefits you from a potential donation standpoint and is good will that the dealership can't buy. If you get a 2 minute live shot or piece on the local news, or a blurb in the local newspaper about the event you'll be able to get your car, if not from dealership a in year one, you will in year 2 if not from dealership A, it'll be from his competitor across the street.

S-10 pickup is also cheap and full of potential. 82-93 are the easiest to work with.

In reply to M030:

No problem, wish I had a shop teacher as cool as you when I was in high school.

Steve

as I suggested in another shop teachers thread, Start with a running car. only modify with parts you have on hand or collect everything you need before removing parts that cripple it's mobility.

E36 M3, if you were in mn, i have a car sitting there I'd give you. Its crusty, but its turbocharged, and more than one of us know f2ts.

In reply to Gearheadotaku:

S10's are probably the cheapest, along with 82-late 80's Camaro.

Either one with a 96-99 GM 350 Truck Vortec motor swap

M030 - nice job with this project idea with the students! This is something I tried in the past with a couple of youth church (groups), but the legalities got in the way

I think a Saturn would be a good cheap candidate. Like a late 90's early 00' SC2. They were light enough and are super cheap these days. Best part is with the plastic panels they still all look in really good shape on the outside, which means less time doing body work.

Found this one near you https://newhaven.craigslist.org/cto/5422210908.html

I have this "awesome" 2002 Infiniti Q45 sitting around that I don't know what to do with if you were interested.

GTXVette wrote: as I suggested in another shop teachers thread, Start with a running car. only modify with parts you have on hand or collect everything you need before removing parts that cripple it's mobility.

I started that thread, too, to see what the concensus was on a specific project I had in mind; I've since decided against that project, hence this thread.

My favorite proposed project, so far, is a turbine-powered CRX "with a rocket booster" it'd dominate the drag racing portion of the Challenge. Seriously, though, I think I've got a commitment from a local auto salvage yard to donate a fox-body Mustang for this Challenge project. We already have a 302 in shop, so...

I also want to thank the good people at our favorite magazine, Grassroots Motorsports, because they said they'll ship us a box of GRM magazines (Challenge issue) so each student can have a copy for inspiration.

Heck - throw up a GoFundMe page and hit us cheapskates up. I'd chip in some money, just based on the sheer awesomeness of what you are doing!

Yes, as the road trip of getting the car south, and back, won't be cheap.

Hit up a local chapter of the Mustang club of America about the project and see if they work closely with a local ford dealership to get the foot in the door. They'd ensure that people from the club attend, some of which might have spare parts to donate. It'd also likely get published on their website and in their newsletter, win-win for the project, and again for any involved dealership. It being a mustang, hit up cj's pony parts, turn 14, motovisity, Summitt and jegs as well. You never know what may shake free. Don't just ask for stuff for the project. If the dealership okays an event, ask about gift certificates or bits for newer mustangs that could be donated to be door prizes, raffled off or used in a silent auction.

Having a platform with such a following and support is a launching pad from a fundraising standpoint.

If you are going to push for this much public support then my advice would to be sure that your car of choice fits the very traditional definition of "race car".

Though I would rather see a Ford Festiva with an oversized turbo engine added, the public perception will be different. They will want Mustang or Camaro, etc. If you use anything else you will then have to over-explain the project all the time.

Q: Race car
A: Mustang or Camaro
No further explanation or project justification required.

In reply to Andy Neuman:

What are you looking for out of said Q?

Hey, I see that you are in MA. I might have a car you could use. Sent you a message.