Project Description
The finished product may hopefully look something like this - actually this is Paul Murtagh's exquisite PRB Clubman
Paul tells me that the monster wheels are soon to be replaced with ultralight (4kg) 13 inch 3 piece wheels, and the car will have T.R.D. racing cams and a lightened flywheel .
I am constructing a Locost, built in accordance with the Western Australian Department of Transport’s publication "Minimum Requirements for Kit Cars and Custom Built Vehicles". You will need to obtain a copy of this before you can start. See  FAQs

 If the following description appears written in fluent "Legalese" it is because I have copied it from my submission to the Department  for approval of the project. I realised early on that  it is better to provide the Authorities with as much information as you can, demonstrate to them that you have done a lot of research and are knowledgable in the relevant engineering practices and the rules, and make sure you give them the impression that you are seeking "their help", and let them know that you appreciate" their help", even if what the inspector says is going to cost you a load of  bucks, make sure you say to          him "thanks for telling me that, doing it right will save me heaps of money".

 Basically the Locost is a rear wheel drive, two seat roadster-style vehicle,  utilising a TIG/MIG-welded tubular steel space
  frame, with fibre-glass and sheet metal body panels. The vehicle is powered by a Toyota 4A-GE 1600cc 4 cylinder             engine, fitted with complete factory fuel injection engine management systems,  and a Toyota T-50 5 speed gearbox. The rear axle is from a Cortina Mk2 and steering lower column and rack-and-pinion are supplied from a Ford Escort Mk2. Upper collapsable steering assembly is from a KE-35 Toyota Corolla.

  The G.R.P. Body Panels and other items are supplied by Northshore Boats, 26 Sultan Way, Rous Head (North Fremantle,
WA) Note: Northshore Boats may now be out of business (Jan 2000). GRP parts are being finished by Lucas Motors. Sheet Metal Body Panels will be computer cut my brother in law at a local  sheet metal fabrication firm.  The space frame and suspension arms will be welded by a Guru Welding, Cohn  Street, Carlisle a commercial welding firm specialising in in auto and racing welding (the number of Racing Porsches that are always in being welded makes me wonder how much it is going to cost!).

As of 31 March 1999, Guru Welding pulled out of finishing the chassis - haven't figured out what to do yet, wouldn't it be nice to be able to buy a finished chassis from the Locost club in the UK, for only 400 UK Pounds!

All welded items will be submitted to Jamie Guard (Chartered Automotive  Engineer-Australian Institute of Engineers),
of "Replicars", Poole Street, Welshpool, for  "Torsion/Bending tests" and other inspection, as required by the Department
of Transport.

The chassis and suspension plans are published in the book "How to build   your own Sports car", by R. Champion (Haynes
 Publications ISBN: 0-85429-976-9 ).

The cover of the first edition of this "Bible".

Construction will also follow the procedures outlined in the "Westfield SportsCar   Build Manual". Construction is mostly conducted at mostly at my home in Kelmscott, Western Australia (26km South east of Perth) in a 25 square metre workshop, and 60 square metre garage. Guidance in construction techniques will also be provided by a relative who  is a qualified automotive mechanic and by a  local service station owner (David Scholes, Ampol Kelmscott), who has constructed a vehicle of this type  (Westfield) recently. Detailed diagrams and plans (mostly from 'The Book') and a   list of parts were included in the Appendices to my Submission to the Department of Transport
for approval to commence construction.

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