New one off car a friend built

Hi, Looking for some opinions and /or constructive criticism on a one off car a friend built.

It was based on a 1995 Civic Si Coupe with the engine relocated to a mid engine. He engineered and built the chassis, did the styling, and built the body out of fiberglass using the Civic interior and other odds and ends. I was pretty impressed that he was able to build the entire thing himself.

He originally made it as a roadster to get it completed, but is now looking at doing a convertible or removable roof for inclement weather. He used the original windshield for convenience sake, but wished he would have made it a lot smaller, so that is still being considered as a future modification.

Wow, nice work.

Very nice... does he have a build diary?

I like it, a couple of points, that roll bar is not supported enough to actually be safe or strong. The windshield needs to be shortened it makes the car look too small. IMHO

1. WOW, i want one

2. How big is the fuel cell, what kind of range does it have?

3. I want one

edit imagine a similar build, but with the 3.5L V6/6spd combo out of the new Accord

Wow. That is pretty amazing. I love the rear end. I don't really go for the whole tuner car look to the front, but WOW.

Remarkable work. I echo the sentiments on the bar. I'd love to see the headlights as one unit on each side, rather than individual projectors. He did a nice job....how does drive? Is he happy with how it handles?

Very impressive. If I was going to pick it apart, I'd agree that the windshield is too long/tall, but I also realize how much of a pain in the ass it would've been to shorten it. Also, IMO, the front bumper and headlights look a little ricey. Still extremely cool though. The profile looks like something BMW should've produced.

Using a stock windshield makes sense, if making it shirter was the goal, maybe theglass from some other car would work? Miata, capri, or something like that?

Very nice! Second the "I'd like to read a build diary" comment.

As far as the front end goes, I like it. The hood is Evo-ish and you can see donor car lines in the bumper and headlights, but in a nice way.

Windshield is a balance. Big enough to actually do some good and let you see traffic lights from a stop or short enough to really look good but be very impractical when it comes to head room when you put a top up.

looks visually similar to a del sol in profile. lighting styling is not my tastes.

Unfortunately, there is no build diary, but I have attached a photo that shows the body under construction.

Thanks for all the comments so far. Paul, the designer and builder of the car is really interested in hearing your opinions.

At this time he thinks the handling needs a little fine tuning by balancing out the roll stiffness with the sway bars. It currently has the original front bar in the rear and no front bar at all. Getting the AC operational is also on the to do list.

I have not driven it myself, but I am hoping to get a test drive once the snow melts.

Definitely a much better interpretation of the Del Sol idea than what Honda came up with. How much does it weigh?

VERY cool.

In reply to randyvr6:

Wow, nice car! He should put it into production. I want one!

Profile is very nice, as said before, the front isn't really my thing, the rear is VERY cool, but I would have used door handles from something other than a civic...they make it so much more mundane... shave the handles and get a door popping mechanism that operates from the key fob...

The body shape is very nice, well proportioned. The things that kill it for me is the lighting and the roll bar. The extensive use of tiny and round lights make it look very very kit car like. The headlights could use freeform like covers. The tails could use something that looks more modern and in scale with the body. The round roll bar needs a bit more style/complexity/scale to fit with the body. For a comparison, the K-1 Attack kit car is well done. The proportions and details on that car are complimentary and very well balanced.

Dynamics wise, how does he like the car so far?

bravenrace wrote: In reply to randyvr6: Wow, nice car! He should put it into production. I want one!

He was hoping to license the design to a kit car company for use with a donor Civic, but so far there have been no takers.

neon4891 wrote: 1. WOW, i want one 2. How big is the fuel cell, what kind of range does it have? 3. I want one *edit* imagine a similar build, but with the 3.5L V6/6spd combo out of the new Accord

Fuel cell holds 12 gallons

Range is about 400 miles

Thanks!

MadScientistMatt wrote: Definitely a much better interpretation of the Del Sol idea than what Honda came up with. How much does it weigh?

Weight is 2200 lbs.

Thanks!

Best luck to the builder with ironing out the issues and finding a company to buy it.

My sentiments are much the same as everyone else's. I like the suggestion of sourcing a windshield from a smaller car. Change the proportions on the rollbar, and/or add extra bracing so it's more functional.

For the front. I agree, too ricey. It does not fit with the rest of the car. Everything else is clean, smooth, and tapered. The vent is too big, and probably not that useful, and the front lip is too wide. I would keep it in proportion to the rear and taper it down a bit. Make the front bumper narrower than the rear. Make it more like the front of an S2000 than a civic. Another upside of that is that you would accentuate the front wheel arches, which is always sexy.

I like the back but not the front. The front still has that honda look.

I'll echo some of the other opinions as well;

If he were to "trim" the lower front lip, (where the lower intakes are 1"-3"), it would change the front appearance alot, cleaner and not so boy racer/ricey.

Integrate the blinkers!

Tough call with the windshield, the seating position is fine now, but if he were to shorten it....you'd be looking through the visors.

Pretty damn good first effort. Years and years ago there was a man named Dave Piontek, who built a somewhat similar styled car powered by a motorcycle engine. He also had some good styling cues.

-John

Thanks to everybody for all the great comments. Please keep them coming.

Paul ,the cars builder and designer, has been looking for some good honest feedback. Human nature being what it is, people around here that have seen the car in person are sometimes reluctant to tell the owner to his face what they really think. I thought I would get some really good opinions here; you guys have been great so far.