Pre-Millenia Mid Engined Cars

[henk4]

The Tucker is rear-engined, not mid.

but post #1 asked for both mid and rear engined cars....a whole minefield of course...

[Dino Scuderia]

Aw, fack....indeed it does.

[kingofthering]

Chevrolet Corvair, Ferrari 308/328, Ferrari Dino, Lancia Stratos, etc.

[HILL33]

Tatra
fiat 126p

[Ferrer]

Tatra

Of course, how could we forget it - rear engined and air cooled V8s.

Very left-field.

[henk4]

and the Zaporoshets of course....and the Subaru 360. My favourite mid engine car: THe Isetta 300....

[NSXType-R]

Does front midship count?

[blingbling]

thats what we are trying to figure out

[wwgkd]

Does front midship count?

I'd say not, it's just a better placement of a front engine and I hate it when people call it a mid engine. It has it's place (viper with rearward weaight bias) If you're looking for different, why go with that?

[henk4]

I'd say not, it's just a better placement of a front engine and I hate it when people call it a mid engine. It has it's place (viper with rearward weaight bias) If you're looking for different, why go with that?

have a look at the 1964 Cheetah...

[kennyknoxville]

you could turn a civic into a mr. ive seen some where they put the engine on top of the car and drive backwards

[wwgkd]

have a look at the 1964 Cheetah...

Yeah, they're cool, but I still don't count them as mid-engine.

[csl177]

well, all im really looking for is something interesting and reliable. just an everyday car, but i wanna stand out you know? here is America it's hard to find one of those and no one my age realizes the purpose. mainly to show off haha. it doesnt have to be fast or famous.

You don't mention budget so let's assume it's...
Limited mid-engined choices in the States, look for a clean 2nd gen. MR2. Exceptional in nearly every way, best bang for buck.
Alternate would be '73-'76 914 2.0, best years and the 2.0 is far better than the 1.7 or 1.8.
Live near the Canadian border? Check autotraders and eBay for a Honda Beat. They are very cool little cars.

There are lots of rear-engined choices. If you want something unusual but dependable, look for a VW SP2 and massage the engine.
They're underpowered but have great lines. One sold recently on eVilbay for under $4000. (pics copped from Renato Bellote's excellent site-thnx!) Or, consider a Miata or CRX... lots to choose from, priced right. Take your time, buy the right car for you.

[wwgkd]

Good call. Midengine for cheap it's hard to beat an MR2. Friend of mine has one and I remember being extremely surprised at the time that a toyota could be that much fun. But if you want it for an everyday car it's hard to find midengine with much space behind the front seats. Did you want more than two?

[henk4]

If you want something unusual but dependable, look for a VW SP2 and massage the engine.
They're underpowered but have great lines. One sold recently on eVilbay for under $4000.

any more on those? production numbers? y.o.b?