Rover V8 - because the best British V8 will always be a Buick.

I agree - I once got pulled for having a lawnmower handle sticking out the bed of my pickup without having an orange ribbon. I played dumb and got out of a ticket, though.

You mentioned in another answer somewhere the you used original recipes, drawings, etc to create your models - my questions relate to the research aspect of these materials: Where are these archival documents stored? Did you have to travel to institutions to look at physical records, or were they available digitally,…

Exactly my point - you'd better start with the cooling system (or integrate it into step 1), because if you go FI and run your block hot (blow out OEM rad, or such), you'll shell out way more than a grand to have the block shaved, etc.

A good cooling system is a must. Aluminium radiator and silicone tubing, otherwise you're sitting beside the track in a cloud of mist.

Cheap (but decent) coilovers, such as V-Maxx. Thrash 'em in autox, save up some money and buy better ones later.

Although I bothered to look up the correct identification, Oxus actually suggested the "Cosby Cobra" about 20 minutes before I did. http://jalopnik.com/people/brandonsharp

Sorry, missed that somebody else had posted this car. Still, the audio track is well worth another listen.

The Cobra Super Snake CSX 3303 that Shelby had made for Bill Cosby because it inspired this wonderful bit of jalop comedy.

Irony>science. I especially like the "ride a wheelie!" shouted near the end.

Oh yeah, I see smoke.

Duesenberg. Nothing says "supercar" like three wins of the Indy 500 during the Roaring Twenties.

Pierce-Arrow - gold plating cars for the rich and famous since 1920.

+1. Million.

#COTD

Just what I was thinking.

The downside is that the don't get very good gas mileage!

It's more a question of percentages - in a dune buggie the majority of internals are originally bug, or bug aftermarket, or handmade. Taking the chassis of one car and merely switching the VIN from another is going to land you in heap of trouble.

They start out as a donor car - usually an old Bug. Because the engine, transmission, and some of the suspension parts are re-used, the VIN from the original bug is transferred to the new vehicle. That's how they get on the streeets, sometimes. Othertimes...

In defence of the Miatas - I'm 5'10"-ish, 220lbs, and own an NB. It fits like a glove. Some of the larger guys who own Miatas do a "foamectomy" to the driver's seat, and that usually creates enough space for them to be comfortable.