Cars > Challenges > “Mean Green Machine” Vs “Animal2”

Shaggy

M–29
Louisville, Kentucky
United States

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animal

M–63
Holliston, Massachusetts
United States

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2005 Lotus Elise 111R

“Mean Green Machine”

1964 Morris Mini van

“Animal2”

No longer owned

Head to Head

About “Mean Green Machine”

UPDATE:
The Elise is no more. It was totalled in May of this year on some Indiana backroads. The short of it is that I came around an odd corner that goes hard left just as you crest over a hill. The car unweighted and went into a spin. No injuries but the car was considered a total loss. I now have an 01 BMW M3 but will probably pick up another Elise or Exige in the next few years.
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Bought this Elise in February of 2006 and have loved it ever since. In the past 10 months I've logged over 12,000 miles with the car and have had few problems with it.

You can see more photos (better quality) at my Lotus Elise Blog

I just updated the Gallery with some interior photos. The only difference in the interior now is the stereo is different. I replaced the stock Blaupunkt Acapulco with an Alpine CDA-9856. The exposed metal areas are (for the most part) the actual chassis/tub that the car is built around.

About “Animal2”

I bought this van as a shell and imported it from Wales about 4 years ago. The goal is to produce a street/strip/show car that is comfortable, fast, and worth the time and effort. Almost done!

Specs for “Mean Green Machine”

Mostly stock 2005 Lotus Elise.
1.8L Toyota 4 Cylinder & 6 speed transmission
189 hp & 138 lb/ft
Mid Engined, RWD
~1980lbs
Unequal length wishbones
Bilstein dampers & Eibach springs
Lotus/AP-Racing twin-piston fixed aluminium alloy front brake calipers
Brembo single-piston sliding rear calipers
11.3" Cross drilled rotors

Stock Numbers:
0-60 --- 4.7 seconds
1/4 Mile --- 13.3 @ 102.9mph
70' Slalom --- 71.1mph
Skidpad --- 1.02g

Lotus Elise Blog

Specs for “Animal2”

Only a few pieces of the front suspension, including the rack and pinion steering, remain.

Factory Options for “Mean Green Machine”

-Touring Pack (power windows, extra insulation, different stereo)
-Hardtop
-Lifestyle paint (Krypton Green)

Lotus Elise Blog

Factory Options for “Animal2”

None

Mods for “Mean Green Machine”

-ForcedFed Carbon Fiber front Splitter
-Green Filter and modified airbox
-Sector111 Lidbone
-Alpine CDA-9856 with 3rd generation iPod attached
-Sector111 larger front tow hook
-Sector111 rear triangular tow hook
-Zoom Carbon Fiber wide angle rear view mirror

Upcoming modifications:
-Aftermarket header & exhaust
-Tri-Point Supercharger
-Aftermarket wheels
-HID's

If Elise/Exige parts weren't so damn expensive I'd have half the list installed already. Everything on the list will be on the car before too long though.

You can see photos and walkthroughs for the car's mods @ My Lotus Elise Blog

Mods for “Animal2”

Mechanical:
427 hp, 350 ci Chevy tied to tubular steel chassis and roll cage.
Porsche G5050 5 speed transaxle, inverted and converted to side shift (same as the new Ford GT40)
Fiero coil over performance struts and disc brakes in the rear; Metro 8.4" 4-pot calipers in the front
Custom 13" Minilites up front, 15" 5-bolt Minilites on the rear with street-legal drag slicks.
Custom 10 gallon fuel cell up front behind Audi 5000 radiator and Vintage Air condenser.
Master brake and clutch cylinders relocated and pedals cut/reshaped for improved drivability

Body:
Front Bumper moved back to the body and welded to the body.
All steel ground effects with air dam to improve cooling
Tri-Star headlights frenched. LED parking lights frenched.
All body lap seams cut, butt welded and smoothed.
Roof gutter removed and reshaped over the doors
Hood corners rounded and hood hinged from the front with remote power opener
Wiper holes filled. One wiper relocated over the window
Exterior door hinges removed and doors converted to suicide (front opening)
Sliding glass windows removed. Power windows and power door latches installed
2" x 4" frame rails from front wheel wells to rear suspension.
Scratch built all steel dash to cover Vintage Air heating and air conditioning unit, including Dakota Digital instrumentation, center console, A/C vents, misc switches and lights.
Scratch built firewall with window, insulated for sound. Lower half removable for access to front of motor.
Fiero seats, cut down 6" and re upholstered.
Flaming River tilt steering column with 13" X-Force steering wheel, matching shift knob and emergency brake handle.
Custom steel rocker panels/ground effects and wheel arches.
Side scoop to bring cold air into engine compartment.
Rolled rear pan with screened vents
Wheelie bars
Rear doors modified to internal hinges, Chevy "Suburban" style windows, , license plate cutout, power opener.
Frenched LED tail lights and third brake light.
DuPont Hot Hues 3 stage pearl paint.