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 Any rear engine zcars in the USA?

 Created by: J6collins
Orig. Posting Date User Name Edit Date
Jan 16, 2017 10:44AM miniguydotcom  
Jan 16, 2017 10:15AM specialist Edited: Jan 16, 2017 10:17AM 
Jan 16, 2017 09:15AM Alex  
Jan 16, 2017 08:30AM Spank Edited: Jan 16, 2017 12:03PM 
Jan 16, 2017 07:17AM J6collins  
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 Posted: Jan 16, 2017 10:44AM
Total posts: 824
Last post: Aug 10, 2020
Member since:May 10, 2001
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US
We've had a bunch of modified Minis on my website:

Available Now:

T
his scary-fast VTEC- powered Mini that was featured in some Mini publications is also on my website and is currently available!
//www.miniguy.com/vehicles/vtecminiorange/

Gone to New Homes:

This Hayabusa-powered Mini (on my website) went to a new home last year:
//www.miniguy.com/vehicles/minihyabusa/

This Zcars Honda-VTEC-powered unfinished project (also on my website) went to a new home last year:
//www.miniguy.com/vehicles/zcarsvtec/

This Zcars with a Hayabusa engine (another on my website) went to a new home too:
//www.miniguy.com/vehicles/minibusa/


Of course, there are always a number of conventional (A-series) Minis on my website too. Please check it out!

Also, if you know of any classic Minis that might be available, please shoot me a message offline to: [email protected]
.

 Posted: Jan 16, 2017 10:15AM
 Edited:  Jan 16, 2017 10:17AM
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Z-cars do not have first gear... You need to push it to about 20mph then the driver will start engaging it to 3rd gear once in motion then it'll start flying.  These z-cars are so fast and LOUD... Not my cup of tea.
Watch the mini cooper race in Bonneville.

 Posted: Jan 16, 2017 09:15AM
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GB

Don't forget, Z-Cars do car engined conversions as well as bike engines.

Though not a member of this forum, one of the Florida guys has a Vtec engined Z-Car on the road, and it is a hoot.
Contrary to what Spank is suggesting, it is docile and well behaved at normal speeds under daily traffic conditions, but a scream-inducing wildthing when opened up.

 

 Posted: Jan 16, 2017 08:30AM
 Edited:  Jan 16, 2017 12:03PM
Total posts: 6349
Last post: Oct 22, 2023
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[EDIT: My comments pertain to motorcycle engined, rear drive cars. Sorry for spreading my confusion, but I'll let the comments stand]

First, I do NOT have any personal experience with a Z-cars kit nor have I driven ANY rear-engined, motorcycle powered car on the street.

I HAVE been around several of them and heard enough anecdotal evidence to offer you this information:

They make a super-fun track car once they are sorted. They are absolutely horrible for driving on the street if you have to go slowly, stop and start, or deal with traffic slowdowns.

Motorcycle engined cars make toy cars more of a toy car.

Chain wear is a rear problem on the rear drive cars because the chain must be super short for packaging. Even double row, heavy duty super-duper atomic-iridium, nitroglycerinetanium chains wear out quickly. The chains get hot because each link goes through a duty cycle more often, then they throw the rapidly-liquifyling lubricant off the chain and cause them to wear and stretch faster than they would in their intended, stock length application on a regular motorcycle.

The motorcycle clutches are not made to handle the weight of a car, especially in stop and go traffic. Slipping the clutch in start and stop situations or while starting from a dead stop is very very rough on the bike clutch, even the heavy duty kevlar ones.

Because of the packaging in a mini, they are loud.

Still not convinced? Buy this:
//www.minimania.com/cars4Sale/13775/1965_Mini_Mini_Sedan

T
his is good reading:
//www.motoiq.com/MagazineArticles/ID/1367/The-Best-Engineered-Lemons--2-the-MetroGnome.aspx

//www.motoiq.com/MagazineArticles/ID/1390/Best-Engineered-Lemons-3--The-Angry-Hamster-Z600.aspx

//www.motoiq.com/MagazineArticles/ID/2115/Angry-Hamster-EVO-II-Holy-Crap-I-drove-it-and-now-Im-deaf.aspx

 Posted: Jan 16, 2017 07:17AM
Total posts: 2
Last post: Jan 19, 2017
Member since:Jan 16, 2017
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Hello everyone,
I am currently in Germany and I am highly interested in a rear engine mini. I cannot find any information on putting a zcars mini on the road in the states. Does anyone have any experience?

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