Welcome

I created this blog to document the design and construction of a sports car I have designed dubbed the "Gecko." The car is a very compact, two seater sports car powered by a Honda CBR1000RR engine out of a sport bike. As a current student in an automotive training program, progress might be slow, but I hope to have a completed car (less body) by mid summer 2009.

Why so small?
Several months ago, I got an addiction to micro cars. Cars like the Peel P50, the BMW Isetta, Fiat 500's, and the like. I kept thinking 'how cool would it be to drive one of those around!' I would have loved one of the cars, but I wanted something FAST. And 50cc moped engines just didn't do it for me. So I started laying out plans. Concept drawings of a tiny, roofless car. One design morphed in to the next, and what I ended up with was the Gecko.

How bout some specs?
The car is very compact, a 5'9" wheelbase, and total length of just over 8 feet. The CBR engine puts out about 150HP, and will chain-drive the rear wheels through a limited slip differential. I estimate that the car will stay under 900 lbs, and get to 60mph in about 3.2-3.5 seconds. The car will get around 35-40mpg, and take two people with it.

Here is the original Gecko side concept shot for starters: