What car? For 2015 Challenge?

Hey All,

I've boldly decided that after all these years of coulda woulda shouldas, I'm going to buck up and make it to the challenge. So I need a car. Here's what I need:

EDIT: Link to Build Thread as promised.

• RWD a must
• 300 HP preferrable stock
• 15 second 1/4s stock
• 155 MPH top speed stock
• must have 12 cylinders
• must fit challenge budget

Sorry to be a buzzkill (I would like to know the ENTIRE list of cars that fits those needs though, I have only found one), but I did already buy a car. There will be a build thread shortly, and will be linked here.

Presenting: 1990 BMW 750iL Running and driving, heater core, brake, and self-leveling suspension leaks. But all the pixels work! Initial cost = $1100

Plan is to fix the brakes and suspension, then "add lightness" as much as possible. Starts around 4200 lbs, I think.

I haven't decided yet if I feel like a genius or an idiot.

Blow the rest of the budget on nitrous and 18x12 diamond steelies. Wrap in the biggest Hohos you can find.

Would this be the first V12 challenge car?

Seems like a grand idea.

Wow.

Do those have the standard BMW bolt pattern? I so you are in luck. Corvette wheels bolt on and craigslist is full of guys dumping ugly Vette wheels. The "wagon wheel" come in a staggered 17" front and 18" rear set on vettes and can usually be found for sub $200. Buy two sets, pick your diameter, sell matched diameter set to next guy.

alfadriver wrote: Would this be the first V12 challenge car? Seems like a grand idea.

I think technically it would be a two grand idea

This oughta be interesting. Cant wait to read about this.

I'd like to see enough V12 cars show up to "necessitate" a V12 Challenge class.

I want to see all the truly terrible V12 cars for $2k that are out there. Think of the potential for failure. Now you have TWELVE rods all waiting to violently exit the block!

Why challenge a 4 banger when you could have 3x the potential failure points!

I keep resisting the urge to call on this Jag V12.

1994 jaguar xj12 with 85,000 mileage color brown four doors 12 valve engine electric windows sunroof automatic clean title

this vehicle is driving in good conditions .

Yes, yes, and yes. I dunno about the first v12 challenge car thing, I thought there is also a jag v12 being prepped for the challenge right now, no?

But about nitrous and 18x12's? Seems like a great idea. Do vette wheels fit? Yes - though I am unsure of the backspacing. it is BMW 5x120 though (to the best of my knowledge) and that is close enough to 5x120.7 or whatever the inch equivalent is. why challenge 4 when you can bring 12? my thoughts exactly.

Realistically though, if I have budget left over I think my first two 'performance' mods will be (outside of weight reduction):

1. Diff. This thing is a 3.15 from the factory. I believe I can grab a 3.64 from the junkyard for 200-300.
2. Chip. Turner still sells the Jim Conforti ECU chips for these things. Its like +30 hp or something. $400 though.

Also: taking team member requests. Ha. if you'd like to come work on the car, drink beer, talk trash, go to the challenge, etc, and are in the Chicago area, this is by no means a closed team.

dyintorace wrote: I keep resisting the urge to call on this Jag V12. 1994 jaguar xj12 with 85,000 mileage color brown four doors 12 valve engine electric windows sunroof automatic clean title this vehicle is driving in good conditions .

How do you NOT call on that? Seriously, what could possibly go wrong?

um, these are awesome (15x10 and 15x8.5 - 160 ask). I wonder if 15 is big enough to clear my front brakes:

Craigs link

dyintorace wrote: I keep resisting the urge to call on this Jag V12. 1994 jaguar xj12 with 85,000 mileage color brown four doors 12 valve engine electric windows sunroof automatic clean title this vehicle is driving in good conditions .

Has bronze tint. YOU BUY NOW.

Is there a way to boost this? I mean, can you somehow get 4 stock IHI or some other not so great small turbos and make a quad turbo V12?

That just makes too much sense in my head.

As last years 11th place finisher...I commend your approach!
Make it happen.

Thinkkker wrote: Is there a way to boost this? I mean, can you somehow get 4 stock IHI or some other not so great small turbos and make a quad turbo V12? That just makes too much sense in my head.

Well, the motor does have 8.8:1 compression, and the rods and crank are forged, sooooo

Engine bay is already a bit cramped, but there is plenty of room in the backseats!

In reply to JohnRW1621:

Are you going to be there again this year? and yes, I thought many times about your Q while trying to decide what to buy.

Sadly, I will not be bring The Q but shopping many options. http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/off-topic-discussion/potential-for-the-challenge-car-185/101263/page1/

I could swing by sometime and help chop things off to add lightness I'm in the nw suburbs. Don't think I can make it down to the challenge this year tho

you guys are making my Mazda ideas seem incredibly boring

I thought there was a challenge v12 benz at one point, but maybe I'm mixing events. I remember a roadside repair on the return trip that included a wooden block in iirc the front suspension.

Is that a Euro market car? Any euro bits to sell and recoup $?

Lof8 wrote: Is that a Euro market car? Any euro bits to sell and recoup $?

I kinda doubt it, though it looks like that front license plate holder is the wide euro style one. Since I HAVE to take that off for the challenge anyway, might as well try to sell that.

Also, I am just finding out, the wheels are 16 inch style 5s, and I have all 4 center caps. According to what I know so far, these wheels (in 16 inch variety) are all 7.5 inches wide, and only came on e30 m3s, e28 m5s, and could be ordered as an option on e34 5ers. There 'might' be a few dollars there, but I also would have to get another set of wheels. And these 16 x 7.5 wheels could fit theoretically a 245/45 16, which would be a smaller diameter and further improve gearing.

Cotton wrote: I thought there was a challenge v12 benz at one point, but maybe I'm mixing events. I remember a roadside repair on the return trip that included a wooden block in iirc the front suspension.

There was the infamous LeMons Benz V12. The story was that it had been brought in by a South American diplomat with diplomatic plates. Then somebody in the embassy used the car to smuggle drugs and the government seized it. A dealer bought it at auction and then found that there was absolutely no way to get a clear title for it. They just about gave it away to get rid of the paperwork problems.

rcutclif wrote: - RWD a must - 300 HP preferrable stock - 15 second 1/4s stock - 155 MPH top speed stock - must have 12 cylinders - must fit challenge budget

I like these criterea and would like to follow similar but I have come across a real unicorn that though not quick enough, may still be cool.

• RWD a must check
• 300 HP preferrable stock mearly 190 hp
• 15 second 1/4s stock a lowly 16.8
• 155 MPH top speed stock unknown
• must have 12 cylinders tiny 3.0L V6
• must fit challenge budget asking $1,500

Like I said though a real unicorn at 88k miles. If I did this one, I would attempt a drive-in, drive-out approach.
That means 1,000 miles to reach Gainesville then compete and drive back 1,000 miles. A little extra Challenge but this car should be a real pleasure on the open highway.

http://toledo.craigslist.org/cto/4953415379.html