Good Evening,
This idea may sound crazy, but here it goes.
A Caterham Super 7 built with a 240 diesel. Weight might be a problem, but that could be one fast and really high mpg vehicle.
Has anyone ever thought of this idea, or for that matter talking any small roadster, i.e. MR2 syder and putting a diesel in it?

Good way to make a Caterham dull.

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1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi

Caterham Super 7: Ford SVT I-4 engine: 200hp.
OM616: 67hp.

The only thing that could keep up with a stock 7 is a 2.7L or 3.2L CDI.

Why not use a 1.9 tdi engine? It'd return much higher mpg and much better performance. I mean if you have money to spend on a caterham body, you should have money to spend on a 1.9l tdi .

I doubt a 2.7lcdi 170ish hp or a 3.2l cdi 220ish hp can keep up with a lightweight 200hp car .

My friend (who is a fellow MGB enthusiast) swears he has an old magazine where they married a Kubota tractor engine to a Spitfire. The result was a high (50?) mpg car; one can only assume that it lost nearly all of the traits which made it an endearing sports car.

The 1.9l TDI might be a good fit. You'd probably want to buy a wrecked car so you could use the wiring harness and engine computer.

The only one I would put in it would be a TDI engine....its light enough and strong enough to not make you sorry you did it.

__________________
Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
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Section 609 MVAC Certified
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"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

Agreed. What about a Honda I4? Something that sings to 8k rpm, almost no exhuast, V tech, throw on a turbo for insane power levels. I'm thinking 300hp would make for a nice little rocket.

The Honda engine would make a lot of sense, pretty cheap to buy, tons of aftermarket support and ways to boost power.

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

A cater.... what? What the heck is that?

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1981 300D 147k
1998 VW Jetta Tdi 320k
2001 Dodge Ram 2500 141k
1979 300D 234k (sold)
1984 300D "Astor" 262k(sold)
Mercedes How-To and Repair Pictorials
I love the smell of diesel smoke in my hair

Its a go cart that can go well over 100mph. You need balls to drive one fast and a helmet to keep the rocks off your head.

Probably one of the most fun and best handling cars for the money, also pretty dangerious. An SUV hits you, you die.

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Oh now I see. Faster than an AC Cobra?

__________________
1981 300D 147k
1998 VW Jetta Tdi 320k
2001 Dodge Ram 2500 141k
1979 300D 234k (sold)
1984 300D "Astor" 262k(sold)
Mercedes How-To and Repair Pictorials
I love the smell of diesel smoke in my hair

Straight line? Maybe, depends on the engine. These are usually "kit cars" in this country. So lots of different things are found under the hood. I think the I4 from the Ford Focus is a popular choice.

They handle better. Much lighter, and a bit more modern suspension. Modern disc brakes all around too. You want a light engine I think one of those cars weighs maybe 1,600 pounds wet. With a big lump in the noise it would get a bit scary in the corners.

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Ok then a Tdi engine is the diesel ticket for that unit!

__________________
1981 300D 147k
1998 VW Jetta Tdi 320k
2001 Dodge Ram 2500 141k
1979 300D 234k (sold)
1984 300D "Astor" 262k(sold)
Mercedes How-To and Repair Pictorials
I love the smell of diesel smoke in my hair

I'd rather have a SCHWIMMWAGEN VW166, or a Meyers Manx VW dunebuggy I think, with a diesel engine.

But the Schwimmwagen, or a '64 Amphicar might not schwimm so well with a diesel in it.....sink or schwimm!!!

Whatr next, a Trabant? The latest ones had wire reinforced bodies, so you could boast that plastic could in fact rust!!!

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

Fun car but most of us have feet that are too big to drive it. Almost need special shoes or go barefoot. No dignified way to get in or out. Basically a street legal race car.

Kevin
240D
190D

If you want fun you can also go the Ariel Atom way :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdkEV-t9jg0