Editing Locost

{{Short description|Home-built car}}
{{Distinguish|Locust (car)}}
{{More citations needed|date=January 2017}}
[[File:Locost front SRF 2005.jpg|thumb|right|230px|Canadian built example using running gear, engine, transmission, diff and brakes from a [[AE86|Toyota Corolla GT-S Twin Cam]], uprights from a [[Hyundai Stellar]] and steering rack from [[MG MGB]].]]
[[File:Bja n.JPG|thumb|right|230px|Locost spaceframe.]]
[[File:Locostframe.jpg|thumb|right|230px|Locost frame and some body panels.]]

A '''Locost''' is a home-built car inspired by the [[Lotus Seven]]. The car features a [[space frame]] [[chassis]] usually welded together from mild [[steel]] {{convert|1|x|1|in|mm|abbr=on}} square tubing. Front suspension is usually [[double wishbone]] with coil spring struts. The rear is traditionally [[live axle]], but has many variants including [[independent rear suspension]] or [[De Dion tube]]. Body panels are usually [[fiberglass|fibreglass]] nose and wings and [[aluminium]] side panels. Each car is highly individualized according to the resources, needs and desires of each respective builder.

The original design was intended to be built from scratch. However, the design has become so popular that several fabricators have begun producing the chassis in [[kit car]] form. Additionally, fibreglass body components, suspension pieces and other Locost-specific components can be sourced from various suppliers.

==Ron Champion's Locost==
The Locost pattern originated in the mid 90s, and then with the publishing by [[Haynes Manual]]s of the book ''Build your own sports car for as little as £250'' by Ron Champion ({{ISBN|1-85960-636-9}}). This design was based heavily on the original [[Lotus Seven]]. It also used a live axle rear suspension. The De Dion tube setup was used in factory racers and some of the models offered by Caterham.{{Citation needed|date=February 2009}}

Both [[Colin Chapman]] and Ron Champion have a background in the [[750 Motor Club]] and the design of the Locost is based on a Lotus Race Car designed and built by Colin Chapman in 1963. The front of the Locost is of course "inspired by" the Lotus 7.

==Haynes Roadster==
{{Main|Haynes Roadster}}

Ron Champion's original book was followed up with ''Build Your Own Sports Car: On a Budget'' ({{ISBN|1-84425-391-0}}) by [[Chris Gibbs]]. The subject car differs most significantly from the original in that it has an [[independent rear suspension]]. Additionally, the car was designed using [[computer-aided design|CAD software]], eliminating the measurement errors inherent to the original design. Other additions to the original Locost design include information for fabricating a rollbar and advice on using engines with [[fuel injection]].

The suggested donor car is a [[Ford Sierra]]. The book contains alternative suggestions for incorporating other donors including a [[BMW E36]], [[Mazda MX-5]] and also motorcycle engines.

Roadsters are becoming an increasingly popular choice over the Locost due to the more plentiful donors and the more advanced suspension. Approximately 10 (as of April 2010) cars have been completed and passed by their countries' governments for use on the road. In the UK this entails an [[Individual Vehicle Approval|IVA]] test and registration with the [[DVLA]].

==Other Variations==
The Locost is not to be confused with the similarly named [[Locust (car)|Locust]] which is also a Lotus Seven-inspired car. In contrast to the Locost's [[space frame]]-inspired [[chassis]], the Locust uses a [[ladder chassis]] and a body constructed from [[plywood]] skinned with [[aluminium]].

===McSorley Locost===
The Champion Locost and the Haynes Roadster share similar chassis dimensions to the original Lotus Seven. Locost Builder [http://sevenesque.com/intro/ Jim McSorley] revised the Ron Champion design in order to accommodate wider engines, rear axles, and seats. In particular, the McSorley 442 design was referenced by [https://web.archive.org/web/20070919103225/http://www.caranddriver.com/features/11304/features-review-the-homemades.html Car and Driver Magazine] in August 2006.

==="Australian Modifications"===
<!-- Image with inadequate rationale removed: [[File:Locost.PNG|thumb|230px|A Locost chassis under engineering analysis]] -->
In [[Australia]], kit cars must pass structural testing for certification for road use. This has led to a series of improvements to the Champion design, including increased reinforcement at the nose of the chassis and around the occupants. These modifications also increase the stiffness and torsional rigidity of the chassis and have been adopted in Locosts in other countries.

Various projects have analyzed the strength of the Locost Chassis under [[finite element analysis]] for interest's sake. The FEA is known to show the original Locost's design to be slightly under engineered.

==Cost of Construction==
While the title of Ron Champion's book claims to offer a means to build a car for £250, most Locosts are usually as much as ten times that cost or more.

The £250 figure does not include the cost of tools, which can equal or exceed the cost of the car. The book also is based on purchasing a Mk1 or Mk2 [[Ford Escort (Europe)|Ford Escort]] that has been rejected for road use by the [[Department for Transport|British MOT]]. At the time of printing, Champion claimed said cars could be purchased for £50. Rear wheel drive Escorts are now hard to find due to their becoming a classic car in their own right, continued use in Rallying and increased interest from collectors.

The book gives some hints and tips on how to cut the costs for the build:
*Build the chassis from scrap metal instead of buying new
*Make your own fibreglass nose cone and wheel arches instead of buying them
*Use the rear seat from the donor or one from the junkyard instead of buying new race seats
*Use the donor gauges, steering wheel and rims instead of buying new
*Buy wrongly mixed paint at a discount and paint the car yourself
*Find some aluminium sheet metal at the scrapper (for instance from the side of a van) to use for the bonnet

Some builders have come up with additional cost saving tips:
*Use the sheet metal roof of the donor for the bottom of the chassis instead of buying new sheet metal
*Use the fuel tank from a [[Saab 96]] or [[Triumph Spitfire]]
*Use the headlights and chrome rims from an older [[Volvo 240]] (or 8" round [[sealed beam]]s) and an 8-inch stainless steel salad bowl from [[IKEA]] to make the headlights
*Make your own coilovers.

Even at ten times the £250, Locosts frequently cost far less than a car of similar performance.

==Common donor vehicles==
The car described in the Champion book is built using parts from a Mk1 or Mk2 Ford Escort with front spindles from [[Ford Cortina]]. Due to the dwindling supply of Escorts, the [[Haynes Roadster]] is based on mechanicals from the [[Ford Sierra]]. Some use small car-based trucks as donors such as the [[Mitsubishi L300]], [[Mazda Bongo|Mazda E1800]] (same gearbox as the [[Mazda MX-5|{{nowrap|MX-5}}]]) and [[Suzuki Carry]] (aka Bedford Rascal, Vauxhall Rascal, Holden Scurry, Chevrolet Supercarry and Maruti Omni).

In [[North America]], the [[Toyota Corolla]] and [[Mazda Miata]] are popular donor cars, as are the [[Ford Fox platform]] cars. The [[Wankel engine|Wankel]] engine-based [[Mazda RX-7]] is also starting to become popular.

Many different companies make and sell parts and complete kits for building the car. Examples include MK Engineering (who have continued on the concept and now offer their [[MK Indy]], based on the [[Ford Sierra]]), [[RaceTech]] with their [[Lada]]-based [[ESTfield]], DD7 in [[Umeå]], [[Sweden]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rejsa.nu/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10104|title = S: Locost byggsats}}</ref> and many more.

==Racing==
[[File:Brands.jpg|thumb|230px|Locosts racing at Brands Hatch in 2005.]]

The Locost has produced one of the most successful championships in UK Club Motor sport, the Formula Locost. Organised by the 750 Motor Club the championship regularly sees around 35 competitors racing at circuits such as Brands Hatch, Donington, Oulton Park and Silverstone, to name but a few. Running with very tight regulations and deliberately limiting costs, the 750 Motor Club have ensured affordable and close competitive racing for the enthusiastic amateur. While it is not really possible to build a race car for the £250 quoted in the title of the book by Ron Champion, it is one of the cheaper forms of motor sport available in the UK, with season costs of around £5000 after racewear, car and trailer.

While Locost racing is not as popular in North America, Locosts are eligible to compete in several amateur racing formats under many governing bodies such as the [[SCCA]] and [[National Auto Sport Association|NASA]]. [[Grassroots Motorsports]]' $200X Challenge has a special category for Locosts and other kit cars.

==See also==
*[[List of car manufacturers of the United Kingdom]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Locost}}
*[http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/ U.K. forum for builders of Locosts].
*[http://www.locostusa.com/forums/ American forum for builders of Locosts].
*[http://www.haynes.co.uk/forums/index.php U.K. forum for builders of the Haynes Roadster].
*[http://www.lotus7.co.nz/ NZ forum for builders of Locosts and Seven replicas].

{{Lotus Seven}}

[[Category:Sports cars]]
[[Category:Lotus Seven replicas]]