Sleepers

[leighton]

Sleepers are my favorite cars. Ever since my dad used turbo Volvo Wagons to piss off Corvette drivers in front of their dates, I realized they are the most fun vehicles to own. The wagon "Looked like it was standing still even when it was doing 90".

Much like this minivan beating a Mustang:

Comments

[flastron]

Don't forget the 1986 Omni GLHS, the S is for Caroll Shelby.

I once saw a Chrysler minivan with a big block conversion, and a push button transmission. I forget if it had a 383 or a 440.

For a while, in addition to wanting to build a funhouse in my backyard, my insanity manifested itself with dreams of building a JuSTi, which is a Justy with a WRX powertrain. You could do it with an STi powertrain, but that's almost too much. It's suppose to be driveable.

[leighton]

You could keep the CVT in the Justy and have no shift loss! (well, after axel loss).

If you ttok the badging / wings off a WRX / STi, they's be true sleepers, but as it they look ricer for sure.

[flastron]

Those CVTs were mostly experimental. Also, the chain-based ones aren't good for absorbing/transferring large amounts of power. To go near or past 200 hp, you need the twin-toroid CVT design developed by Audi. And a 3-d visual to understand what the heck it does.

What I really want to do is make a sleeper 1991 Crown Vic. Nowadays, most on the road are granny cars, I'd like to first reduce the curb weight:replace panels/hood/trunk with fiberglass, take out the power windows and doors, redo the cushy bench seats to appear the same, but jus tbe the skin stretch over lighter mesh seats. Then put in a crate engine and open a private detective agency.

[leighton]

I dunno, even if a 109 year old spinster tailgates me in one of those Crown Vics, my feet involentarily lift off all pedals. Teh headlight pattern alone can throw up brake lights in opposite lanes for miles.

Maybe a Taurus SHO with no badges and the police spec?

[flastron]

On a 91? The boxy quad headlights? The last time they were in service, Clinton hadn't even been elected yet, and BBS boards were cutting edge.

[leighton]

Yeah, I guess they were still on Caprice Classics back then. I missed the year.

Now for the 2002 Impala SS cop spec?

badging/wing

[revgeorge]

You'd have to pull the hood scoop too, which I would think means you'd need to move the intercooler too. Oh, and the 2006 WRX has an extra wing to pull too. A better Subaru sleeper is probably the 250hp Legacy wagon, which has a more subtle intake.

Or you can go the other way and build one of these.

Re: badging/wing

[leighton]

What are they thinking with that wing? It looks like the one on the Beetle Turbo. Why don't they just make planes? Wait, the engine used to be in planes!?!

The Legacy GT sedan looks like a blander Accord but is supposed to be a Subaru sleeper too.