Welcome to Bruce Borrows' Locost donor page. (under construction)
home home page - my own initial ramblings about building a Lotus 7 replica as per Ron Champion's book
engine engine info (a bit sketchy at the moment)
donor My thoughts on which donor to use
links Personal compiled list of other Lotus 7 links
specs specifications and donors, what performance can you expect from which donor - no info yet
pictures Pictures of a locost build - my friend's locost based special
e-mail feed back e-mail link
Car donor info table: (Please note the information in this table is for interest and guidance only and I, Bruce Borrows, accept no responsibility for any issues arising out of its poor accuracy or lack of completeness.)
Ford cars:
Model + features Advantages Disadvantages Other info
Escort Mk 1. .Kent 1100, 1300, 1300GT. Also Lotus twin cam, but these are collector's items.

Solid rear axel. The Locost was designed for this (and the MKII).

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Escort Mk 2 .Kent 1100, 1300, 1600, also Pinto in RS2000. Some twin cam versions around (BDA) but these are collector's items. Solid rear axel as MKI. The Locost was designed for this car. . .
Cortina .MK I Cortina/Anglia engine (not crossflow) plus Lotus twin cam.

MKII Kent Engine 1300/1600.

MKIII, MKIV, MKV all used Pinto engines in 1300/1600/2000 sizes.

Solid rear axel

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Capri .Three MKs with different generations of engines according to age. Kent 1300/1600, Pinto 1600, 2000, V6 Essex, V6 Cologne

Solid rear axel

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Sierra .Rear wheel drive "Jelly-Mould" replacement for the Cortina. Early ones had Pinto engines. The car was also available with the V6 Cologne engine and twin cam Zetec units. .Disadvantage for the Locost is taht the Sierra featured independent rear suspension. This could be made to work, however. See Locost car club site. .
Granada . . .
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other donor options:
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Bike engines various light, air and water cooled, DOHC, 4 valve engines up to 1300cc. Up to six speed sequential gearboxes.

Also some engines designed for shaft drive. BMW R (boxers) and K (brick) motors.

Also 2 strokes!

Drive train problems (small clutch, no reverse gear!). Really needs a light car.  
American V8s (~5/6LITRES) Several big engines available with alloy blocks. Very thirsty Mustangs, Cameros, Firebirds, etc.
Please send e-mail feed back or more information to: scorchie@dsl.pipex.com