Is this just mental

I've dreamt of a mid engined mini van the last few nights. 80s-90s caravan with the heart of an audi. I guess the escape F1 has been on my mind lately. So thoughts?

You know Toyota made mid-engine minivans in the eighties and '90s... some were even factory supercharged.

The 1st generation of them even had a 4WD option that could be had with a stickshift!

Or a A/C powered cooler in the LE autos :P

ReverendDexter wrote: You know Toyota made mid-engine minivans in the eighties and '90s... some were even factory supercharged. The 1st generation of them even had a 4WD option that could be had with a stickshift!

Yeah my parents had one, I recall a really high center of gravity. And you prettyuch sat on the engine while driving. I'm thinking the engine should be slightly foward of the rear wheels, if not right between them. Of course I lack the fabrication facilities to accomplish this...for now.

I mourn for Toyota of the '80s.

*Mid-engine minivan

*mid engine sports car, rwd sports car, and fwd sporty econobox, all using the same kickass engine.

*rwd sports coupe with pickup drivetrain

*rwd "proper" sport car with a turbo I6

*Indestructible mini-trucks.

*Go-anwhere 4x4 pickup/proper pickup-based SUV

espace?

The Previa is mid engine. Early ones came with a manual trans but are rare. Later models were available in awd and sc but no manual trans. I've thought about a wrx motor in one. There's a vid of an Estima aka Previa drifting in the youtubes. Then there's also that VW with the Porsche motor

driver109x wrote: The Previa is mid engine. Early ones came with a manual trans but are rare. Later models were available in awd and sc but no manual trans. I've thought about a wrx motor in one. There's a vid of an Estima aka Previa drifting in the youtubes. Then there's also that VW with the Porsche motor

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Previa

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neQYzRBKM8Q

wherethefmi wrote: So thoughts?

Yeah, don't eat fish tacos before bed.

Ok that previa is pretty darn cool

Ford made what I consider a mid-engine mini van starting in 1961. Ford E-series

I had one of the first year (1961) cargo van versions. Bought it used from the Board of Education with 120K miles on it. Ran it up to 250K miles before I sold it to get a newer second gen(1971) version.

YES!!! Finally some is thinkin like me!! Ok, I think a Honda Passport with a Jag XJS V-12 swapped in the middle, huh?

ReverendDexter wrote: *rwd "proper" sport car with a turbo I6

I don't know about that being a proper sportscar. I think it's more of a gt car, or maybe a japenese pony car? Not that I wouldn't take one...

Joey

Nice vid!!! If I ever end up in a minivan I know exactly what I am going to do with it...

I've had a dream to build a Previa with AWD, manual trans, and boost (all available from the factory, of course not all on the same car) for a long while. Unfortunately for me, my girlfriend hates minivans and jelly bean shaped cars. Ok, that's not so unfortunate. However, it seems unfortunate when I want to build the ultimate sleeper van and she won't approve.

As mentioned, the old 60's vans were mid engined as well. A lot crappier handling, etc...but mid engine still.

Bryce

Yes it is mental. :)

I don't see Mental anywhere in this thread.

THIS is mental:

What happens in Mexico stays in Mexico....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neQYzRBKM8Q

The phrase, "Just because you can doesn't mean you should" kinda comes to mind here.........

Unless the Previas are different from every other minivan (and Pontiac Vibe, too) that I've ever seen, I don't think I could get past the driver's seating arrangement. Something about that bolt-upright soccermom-wagen seating position doesn't inspire me to go fast.

-jeff d

wherethefmi wrote: So thoughts?

I wouldn't say it's mental. My recent brainstorms during downtime at work include a VW Squareback body over a Subaru Legacy SS floorpan and drivetrain(a la jhaas, low and loud, preferably olive drab with blacked out wheels and chrome), a late '80s Tercel EZ hatch with a 4EFTE and box flares, and a rally inspired Citroen DS Safari.

It's not a mid engine minivan, but here's some inspiration:

Honda built an Odyssey for the One Lap of America and did pretty well - 25th out of 72 overall. http://www.nextautos.com/aftermarket/one-lap-of-america-up-close-and-personal-with-the-86-honda-odyssey/

They were turning thing up a notch for 2009 when their budget got cut: http://www.onelapofamerica.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=727&sid=3d9eb97b4ec69346237898cd8962d46

Bob

driver109x wrote: The Previa is mid engine. Early ones came with a manual trans but are rare. Later models were available in awd and sc but no manual trans. I've thought about a wrx motor in one. There's a vid of an Estima aka Previa drifting in the youtubes. Then there's also that VW with the Porsche motor

Dan Gurney used to take one of these out and embarress the uninformed.

I see a panel side SWB caravan, with some sort of longways FWD drivetrain. Kind of a maxi sized shogun. I'm sure something could be done to improve the seating position.

This is my next VW Van

http://www.race-taxi.ch/download.htm