DIY project for less $2,000!
Motorsport is expensive - unless, of course, it's not, as evidenced by this homebuilt Subaru race car. Pieced together for less than $2,000 by Illinois-native Dan Cummings, this Frankenscooby is what you get when clever engineering and DIY ethic combine with a taste for go-fast fun, and now, we're getting an update on the current state of Cumming's wild LMP360 homebrew.
The last time we saw Cummings and the LMP360 was back in February, at which time the Subaru race car was looking a bit rustier than it does now. For those readers who may have missed it, this thing was created for the Grassroots Motorsports $2000 Challenge, which, as you may have guessed, encourages enthusiasts to produce a competitive racing machine for less than two grand. The Challenge includes an autocross competition, drag racing, and concours judging, and often results in highly creative and completely unique builds.
Cummings' LMP360 Subaru race car ticks all those boxes, and then some. Inspired by the thought of Subaru going sports car racing, rather than rally racing, Cummings sought to create an LMP-style competition vehicle from a mound of junked Subaru parts. The body was chopped together from the shell of a 1968 Subaru 360, while the rear-mid-mounted engine is a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter flat-four from a 2002 Subaru Outback. The transmission is from a GC8 Subaru Impreza Brighton, exclusively driving the rear wheels, while the steering rack, brakes, and suspension components are all Subaru bits as well.
Cummings incorporated all of these components in a homebuilt 4130 chromoly steel tube chassis, with highly adjustable pull-rod suspension to ensure proper set-up for both autocross and drag racing.
All told, this Subaru race car absolutely rips. Now, it's back with a slew of crucial updates.
For starters, Cummings added several new body components, with large fiberglass fender flares front and back that look much more complete when compared to the flimsy metal fenders the car was running previously. Cummings also added a pair of massive wings, while the body was sprayed with light blue paint, complemented by a set of gold wheels.
Although we were digging the rusty rat rod aesthetic seen previously, the LMP360 Subaru race car is now looking far more "complete." Check it out at Cummings' social feed (@noconesgarage), and hit play on the video below for a feature walkaround, courtesy of Bucky Lasek at Subiefest Midwest 2022:
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