Consider a few data points:
- The Arial Atom is really cool, so is the Exocet and the Exotruck.
- Pickup trucks are really useful and handy to have
- Trailers are a pain in the butt
- Going fast is fun
- Monster trucks fit inside semi trailers
It is this last point that got me thinking: why has no one made a tube-frame car that fits into a pickup truck bed? Design it so that the hubs fit inside a Dodge Ram when fitted with space-saver spares. Roll it off, then swap on monster Hoosiers for the race. You can even design the layout to accommodate the wheel wells in the bed. Since it will be small, make it a mid-mount single-seater. Put a used 1.6 from a Fiesta ST in the back. Call me when its ready.
Yes, I know carts are small enough to fit, but I want a car-engined car.
bgkast
PowerDork
12/18/19 11:11 a.m.
I was going to say build a Midlana, but it's crazy wide. 
Our FSAE car fit in the bed of a truck. Just.
Sounds like the Palatov DP1.
But basically, you’re asking for a car engined car that has a 4x8 footprint. A classic Mini is about 6” too wide and 2’ too long.
I like the idea and you could widen the footprint of the car a bit if you keep it above the wheel wells. It raises the COG on the back of the truck, but not too much higher. You'd have to limit it to long bed trucks.
But, I see a very limited market for it. There are lots of extras usually taken to the track both from a comfort aspect and from a needs aspect. Tires, tools, safety gear, fuel, chairs, pop up, etc. With a car filling the bed of the truck, that doesn't leave much room for those extras. Towing a trailer just makes it easier to load with plenty of the extras while also giving you the ability to lock it away overnight if need be.
-Rob
Keith Tanner said:
But basically, you’re asking for a car engined car that has a 4x8 footprint. A classic Mini is about 6” too wide and 2’ too long.
Are you implying that a classic Mini doesn't fit in a pickup truck?
That's with 13x6 wheels, too.
It's called a shifter kart.
Fueled by Caffeine said:
It's called a shifter kart.
"Yes, I know carts are small enough to fit, but I want a car-engined car."
I'm pretty sure a mg midget is only 4ft wide, as mine sits under a 4x8 sheet held up with 4x4 posts.
Keith Tanner said:
Sounds like the Palatov DP1.
I reckon the DP4, now D4 is probably the better fit for these specs... other than being bike engined. It still has double wishbones, and a "real sitting position", and it's quite a bit smaller/cheaper than the (now) D1 which is 'sorta' bike engined.
otherwise, Formula V?
what are the size limits for Japanese K cars ?
Build a deck on the top of the bed and go buy a 550 spyder replica. They fit just fine that way and you have room for your tools
I'm surprised there aren't more custom pick-up beds. Something like a rollback/car hauler but smaller and lighter for the sports car set. Plenty of trucks are available as cab-and-chassis (or buy a regular truck and sell off the bed).
Build it out of aluminum for weight and size it to carry a Miata. Some decent ramps and a winch and it'd be a nifty way to get your racing car to the track without a trailer.
thedoc
Reader
12/18/19 2:59 p.m.
My first thought was also to make the truck bed wider. Shoot, buy a truck with some damaged truck bed and modify it. Build a vette kart!!
In reply to pinchvalve :
The answer might be the late 80s-mid 90s Ford Festiva.
ebonyandivory said:
Fueled by Caffeine said:
It's called a shifter kart.
"Yes, I know carts are small enough to fit, but I want a car-engined car."
We have a proud tradtion around here of ignoring the op's requests in his requests..
For example"
1.. "I don't want a Miata" - Yup he does
2.. "It's not a real truck " - Yup it is
3.. "I don't want a kart" - You really do.. what you are describing is a kart....
Fueled by Caffeine said:
ebonyandivory said:
Fueled by Caffeine said:
It's called a shifter kart.
"Yes, I know carts are small enough to fit, but I want a car-engined car."
We have a proud tradtion around here of ignoring the op's requests in his requests..
For example"
1.. "I don't want a Miata" - Yup he does
2.. "It's not a real truck " - Yup it is
3.. "I don't want a kart" - You really do.. what you are describing is a kart....
4. "I don't want a minivan" - Just buy it already
It seems like some Uber tiny, custom built car into the bed of a truck is enormously more difficult to design and build............but also load and unload then just using a trailer.
How long are the ramps going to be to get it up there? Get it over the wheel wells?
The only way I see it being kind of cool, if is you bought some type of flatbed with something like an AutoCrane mini crane on the back to easily pick up and load the car. But even that seems beyond anything that someone will actually do.
What are the dimensions of a Legends car?
Kreb
UberDork
12/18/19 3:54 p.m.
My shifter Kart didn't fit between the wheel wells.
It's kind of a silly concept. Width is good for traction and handling. Cars and Karts are expensive. You're really going to compromise your cars capabilities just so the thing fits in a pickup?
stake bed truck , lift gate optional ,
I was going to say flatbed. I was able to take an 81 civic cross half the country on the back of an 89 ford with a flatbed conversion. The only problem was getting on and off required loading docks or really long ramps. Think something like this.
_
Dork
12/18/19 4:56 p.m.
sleepyhead the buffalo said:
Fueled by Caffeine said:
ebonyandivory said:
Fueled by Caffeine said:
It's called a shifter kart.
"Yes, I know carts are small enough to fit, but I want a car-engined car."
We have a proud tradtion around here of ignoring the op's requests in his requests..
For example"
1.. "I don't want a Miata" - Yup he does
2.. "It's not a real truck " - Yup it is
3.. "I don't want a kart" - You really do.. what you are describing is a kart....
4. "I don't want a minivan" - Just buy it already
5. "I wanna screw with my coworkers"- just be a nice person.
"What music sucks?"- how dare you.
The only thing that comes to mind is a minicup car with a Kei engine.
