The Kneeslider

Doers Builders and Positive People

Street Legal Motorcycle Powered Legends Race Car

By

Street Legal Legends Race Car

If you want something a little different, why not do it yourself? That’s what Lincoln Brier thought as he stood there looking at his slightly used Legends racer. The Legends Car Series, if you’re not familiar with it, is a class for 5/8 scale fiberglass bodied replicas of the old NASCAR modified racers from quite a few years back. They’re powered by a Yamaha FJ1200 engine and come in various body styles like a 37 Chevy or Dodge, 34 Fords in both sedan and coupe versions and I think they look really neat. Wheelbase is 73 inches, they’re just over 10 feet long and weigh just 1300 pounds with the driver.

Legends Race CarLincoln had a 34 Ford Sedan looking a little tired after track duty but with a bit of work, he figured it would make a nifty little street car. He added lights and turn signals, mounted rearview mirrors from a Harley Sportster, a horn, radio, rear windows, and a reserve fuel cell activated with a toggle switch. He added an exhaust and muffler and changed rear gears from 3.58 to 2.50.

The car tops out around 90mph due to wind resistance, after all, these have the aerodynamics of a brick, but they’re still one helluva lot of fun and they look really cool. Lincoln says the major drawback is only being a single seater and so far, no reverse gear, a common ailment of motorcycle powered cars. That can be remedied for about $1400.

If you think this looks like a project you might like to try, be sure to get a certificate of origin when you buy it, otherwise you can’t get it registered. I bet you won’t see a lot of these on the street. I like it.

Link: Legends Racing series

Related article: Motorcycle Powered Cars

Another photo below:
Street Legal Legends Race Car

Comments

  2. they run those up here at what passes for a race track in these parts. streeting one was my first thought! my second thought was that I could use the cash to set up my new-to-me integra for autocross and have enough money left over to start supermoto racing. my third thought was that I really have no money at all to speak of…

    maybe in my next life I’ll try this, or go about fitting a motor and 4 wheels to a steib sidecar! yeah – that’s the ticket….

  3. what about the goldwing engine….doesn’t that have a reverse gear? I know it has loads of torque

  4. they also make an indy-a.j. watson replica that to me at least would be a lot cooler looking on the street than a miata, or 350z. would love to build one.

  5. These cars can do over 130 if they have the proper gear. This guy must be running the 3.58 (good for small ovals) where as the 2.50 gear (road course gear) will the top end be a non-issue. I have one – they are a true blast to drive. On a road course – most street cars are rolling pylons.

  6. Doug,
    The Fire Aero sported a GL engine.
    One of the nicer reverse 3wheelers.

    Lincoln,
    Must solve that single-seat thing. I already have a two-seater and it only weighs 526lbs. If I’m gonna push around that much mass I need to be able to put the Mom (who won’t get on the bike) or the girlfriend (who won’t get on the bike if it’s raining) somewhere. Otherwise, sweet.
    Have you considered maybe a Lil’Lincoln for your next project? Maybe a Miata-sized Continental? (Suicide doors, please)

  8. I have been researching this type of project for some time now.

    i have located a very nice reverse box that is very compact and it is thru driect drive when not in use so as not to add drag to the power train.

    I have one question is what state is this car regestered in and what kind of hoops did they put you thru to get papers on it.

  10. I too am wondering what state your in? I have been researching it for a while but have discovered ground clearance requirements. Do you have any other helpful info?

  12. to framesliders: the guys who race say the power to wt. ratio is = to a nascar…..i agree.
    to flyingk9: alabama, email me @ lmbrier@hotmail.com for more registration info.
    to jim cass: i believe i was told by the factory (600racing.com) that they have a reverse kit. also, yahoo groups’ bike-engined-cars message board has info on different reverse gearboxes and some pictures. search ‘reverse’ on the board.
    to streetrodder: clearance shouldn’t be a problem. adjust the shocks all the way up. if that’s not enough, fit larger diameter wheels/tires. a friend of mine used 17″ wheels.

  14. yeah i was thinking of making one of these for my highschool car and was wondering once you got the car how much did all of the manditory items cost you ??
    __

  15. Howdy All,
    Wow. Simply beautiful! Someone actually doin’ somethin’ that I (along with tons of others probably) have just been a dreamin’ of… Thanks Lincoln for pushing the envelope of what can be done. Form and function comin’ together in such a practical, yet still unique totally performance related way.
    In my mind, at least, it makes some of those semi-functional choppers look boring by comparison.
    Maybe there should be a specific, well defined new catagory of “motorcyle engine powered cars” to the right, as there is for “m.c. eng. pow’d airplanes” presently.
    Now, how to extend that dream into encompassing a two seater would be to push the envelope to it’s next logical limit, at least for those of us who don’t/can’t always just solo. BTW, I am aware of someone above claiming to have developed the two seater version, and I have no reason to doubt them, but I was disappointed not to find any pictures or references to such a vehicle on their web site or numerous blogs. Please share with commentary and pictures. So what about those two seaters?
    In the meantime, thanks again Lincoln for leading the way…
    cheers, Al.

  16. Oops, sorry I forgot to thank the messenger. Thanks to Paul for the great article. -Al.

  17. Rock on. I love racing legend cars. I had the idea to do this for my senior project in school. Didnt think it was possible until i found this site. Couple of questions tho… What to do for speedometer. is there a pick up on the engine somewhere?? will the bike guage cluster adapt directly to the fjx 1200s in the cars?? Turn signals…what to do with and for the interupter?? what kind of horn did you use.?? i would greatly appreciate any feedback. My father and i plan on building a car for the street this winter. Anyone have intel. on where i can get a coupe frame…even if its the old style w/o the reinforced canopy…anywhere i can get parts for little to no cost would?? im 17…moneys hard to come by.. please respond…

  18. Please help me find an affordable fun commuter car that looks like the Lamborghini, Yamaha OX99 or similar; but tiny & yet street legal, capable of struggling up to 70 or 75 mph for a 40 mile long freeway commute every a.m. Please e-mail me at fixter53@aol.com

  21. The first time I ever seen one on TV I wonderd what a street rod would look like???
    Thanks for showing me it could be done,very nice, I just love it. Now if only I had the money to make one. Thanks Again

  22. This is a neat commuter car. This is what a lot of us need! What state is it registered in? What is the M.P.G.? Thanks for showing it: Steve

  23. Lincoln,just want to say great job. I been wanting to do the same ever since a friend of mine raced “Dwarf” cars in the 90’s. I would like to see more pics if you could send me some that would be great. Thanks George

  24. i have had the same idea. only i wanted to suprcharge it. add gears, etc. if you get this . please let me know. TOM

  25. want kind of glass did you put in it? can you roll the window up if so how did you do it? thanks

  26. But are these”legends”scale models of cars?Esim.1:43 Where can I subeeribe?

  28. wow….i dreamed this…then someone made it. One more time, what state was this registered in? I doubt PA will allow this but its worth the effort. Do you think that a harley 883 or 1200 motor would work in this?

  29. can you drive on the highway with the offsit rear end? ——–[—- —–[—–