Would it be terrible to make this Corvair Pickup into a LeMons racer?

Corvair
It’s for sale right now on Craigslist. The asking price is $1,250 and you’ll need to bring a trailer because there’s no engine in the vehicle. Does it make me a terrible person to think that this would make an exceptional LeMons platform?
By exceptional, I mean that it would take tremendous effort to get it into racing shape but it would certainly have a strong chance at winning the Index of Effluency prize.
So, would you feel alright turning it into a racer, or should someone save this? A third option is always tossing in some snorting V8 engine and going rat rod. Here’s the full ad for you to take a look at.

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  1. PotbellyJoe★★★★★ Avatar
    PotbellyJoe★★★★★

    The nice part with making pickups into race mobiles is that you have a place to stad while installing the roll cage.
    After that there is little upside.
    Sounds perfect.

  2. JayP Avatar
    JayP

    I was going to suggest a b-body on backward but it’s been done.
    http://blog.caranddriver.com/lemons-goodbad-idea-of-the-week-backwards-body-flipped-ford-f-150/

  3. smalleyxb122 Avatar
    smalleyxb122

    Yes, it is a terrible idea.
    Yes, you should totally do it.

  4. longrooffan Avatar
    longrooffan

    Totally recommend it…after all there is that huge front crumple zone….Wait.

  5. mdharrell Avatar

    It is a terrible idea but only because LeMons HQ has unofficially officially unofficially banned forward-control vehicles.
    Upon reflection, it is a wonderful idea because LeMons HQ would insist that you relocate the driver to the middle of the bed with cockpit access via the rampside door. Let me know if you need another driver.

    1. B72 Avatar
      B72

      Just drive backwards. Then it’s a rear control vehicle!

  6. SteveL Avatar
    SteveL

    Never race a vehicle where YOU are the crumple zone. 🙂

  7. mve Avatar
    mve

    It will never work.
    Which is why you should do it.

  8. Manxman Avatar

    You should do it because Corvair.

  9. mad_science Avatar

    A potential way to make this legal (cab forward is an issue) would be to install a Toronado/Eldorado drivetrain backwards in the bed, then lock out the actual steering.
    Rear-control, front wheel drive, backwards Corvair Rampside.
    Oh yes.

    1. Alff Avatar
      Alff

      With massive a-pillar blind spots.

      1. mdharrell Avatar

        Graft in the corners from a Chevy five-window and call it good.
        http://woodsonolives.com/sale/truck/505wrr.jpg

  10. dukeisduke Avatar
    dukeisduke

    No. Rampsides aren’t that rare, and I’ve personally seen a couple of mid V8 ones. Now if it were a Loadside (no side ramp), that might be a problem. Loadsides are pretty rare.

  11. William Robinson Avatar
    William Robinson

    Yes it would be terrible but you should still do it. Here’s why.. these have a book written for them stating “unsafe at any speed” right? Right. So my thinking that any improvement made is in the name of safety, right? Right. So in theory you should be able to stuff a whole racecar worth of suspension and brakes and cage and maybe even engine if yours is unsafe for the track, right? Right.