Building a Lola T616 like replica (C2 class Le Mans)

Home today with a cold, so part working, part goofing off. This is more dream than reality. And yes both the 67 and 68 car are currently for sale (I don't have a mattress full of money though). But still........

First off, here's the car:

So how would you do this? I'm thinking build a locost tube frame of appropriate dimensions powered by a screaming 13b Weber P-port (because if you're going to do this, you need to do it right). The rub is the body. How would you handle that?

More info here T616 Mazda

I would make a duplicate chassis, using PVC piping. Take the duplicate chassis, start cutting and make a general outline around the body, similar to this:

fill with foam, to make a fiberglass mold.

Yes, the body would be the tough part. Fiberglass is the obvious choice. I'd probably start with a scale model (IIRC, Tamiya used to sell one). Scale up the body and build a full-scale body. Then use that to make molds. Make parts off the molds. From what I've read, it's a long tedious process.

Building it out of sheet steel or aluminum is also possible, although you will still have to build a full-scale buck.

I've had similar day-dreams about building a DBR or D-Type replica, hence the thumbnail research.

^ this is probably the best choice. It will take time but be so worth it in the end.

Been doing some digging and yes, I need to get a hold of one of the Tamiya scale models as the will be the staring point for the body and mocking up the tube frame (with major help from Herb Adam's book). Thoughts on where to get the model (have the book)?

Let's talk front suspension: Could you use a strut type assembly? I know it has limitations, but it's really simple, only requires one A arm, and I have a very nice Moton that I think I could make work. The 935 Moby Dick had a strut, though it's body height is a bit higher than the Lola ( I think). Thoughts?

Possibly. In most strut cars, the upper mounting point is considerably higher than the top of the tire. Looking at the picture in your OP, that would put the mounting point above the body-work. Unless the ones you have happen to be very short.

TBH, if you're fabricating an entire frame, compromising the design just to reuse a set of struts you already have is sort of counterintuitive. From what I've seen over the years, a double A-arm with coil-overs is much easier to fabricate and tweak for a given chassis design.

Just buy someone's unfinished IMSA style kit car and be happy - like find a dead project of one of these cars http://www.superlitecars.com/. If you haven't done a from-the-ground-up buck and fiberglass body, be thankful.

Another approach is to hire a pro and get an owner of the real thing to let you take a splash mold off it.

Chop & Re-Mold Body

Bradley GT II - $700 OBO - $700 (Magnolia)