Affordable DIY Sports Car Created for Driving Enthusiasts on a Budget

A pair of engineers has developed an inexpensive lightweight sports car aimed at enthusiasts who want an engaging driving experience without spending a fortune. Even better, anyone can build one—the creators are selling the complete blueprints and assembly guide for just about $13.

Building the car costs approximately $6,700, making it significantly less expensive than most factory-built performance cars.

The single-seat sports car weighs just 915 pounds and is powered by a Honda CBR500R 500cc parallel-twin motorcycle engine producing around 50 horsepower. The engine is paired with the bike's six-speed sequential transmission, giving the tiny sports car a lively character.

Top speed is electronically limited to 71 mph, although the chassis is designed primarily for lightweight handling rather than outright speed.

The car rides on a tubular space-frame chassis and features double-wishbone suspension at both the front and rear. The builders sourced components from several production vehicles, including wheels from a Ford Ka, a differential from a Ford Sierra, and a modified steering column from a Mazda MX-5 Miata. Exterior body panels are formed using a simple single-axis sheet-metal bending process, helping keep manufacturing costs low.

The project's creators are already working on an all-electric version of the car.

The EV is expected to use an electric motor producing roughly 90 horsepower, along with battery modules sourced from a Jaguar E-Pace. Even with the added weight of the battery pack, the electric model is projected to tip the scales at only about 1,257 pounds, which should still make it an exceptionally lightweight sports car by modern standards.