La Bala is a low-compromise, from the ground-up, new car. It is built using an early model Toyota MR2 powertrain. The reality is that there are many other donor choices available that may actually be better suited to lightweight vehicle construction. At this point though, construction is far along and won't change in the original prototype. The idea is to make the car as inexpensively as possible and yet make it look like a million bucks and go like stink. I am doing this by thinking creatively and doing much of the work myself.
What inspired me to build la Bala? Ferdinand Porsche, when asked about why he started building cars said, "I couldn't find the car of my dreams, so I decided to build it myself." Well, I simply have not been able to find a car sold stateside that combines light weight performance motoring with good looks AND low cost. Light weight, looks good, costs little and goes like stink... Can you name one? Didn't think so.
It seems to me that lately that production cars are really suffering from "feature-creep". Every year the manufacturer assumes that they have to add more "stuff" to last years model so that the people feel that they are getting an improved model. Just look at the Mitsu Eclipse or the Miata... They are perfect examples of feature creep. You can certainly buy an economical car, but it's a slug in every sense of the word. You can't buy an economical car that provides what sport bike riders get doses of every day; Big performance with bare essential trimmings. I just want a car that looks good, is extremely light, has race level safety features and goes like stink. And while I'm at it, it should get close to 40mpg around town.
The 1,500-pound prototype is powered by a 1.6-liter, 170-horsepower Toyota engine, and gets to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds.
Complete track car, includes all components required to assemble a complete roller.
- All body panels, unpainted
- Complete tubular spaceframe chassis with aluminum panels
- Interior panels and center console
- AIM mychron auto dash
- Team Dynamics Pro 1.2 wheels with Falken Azenis RT-615 tires
- Wilwood brake package front and rear
- Custom CNC Cut and bent plate steel welded uprights and hubs
- quick steering rack
- aluminum racing seats with covers and 5 point harness
- wiring harness for main electrical (not including engine harness)
- tail lights, turn signals, reverse and plate light (headlights optional)
- front windscreen
- shifter
- mirrors with integrated front turn signals
- All suspension components
- engine mounting brackets (for designs in-stock)
- cooling system
- fuel tank and filler
Price: $25,000