Mystery Mini-Powered Sports Racer

[stvstb]

I think I need to try this again -its been a few years and I would really like to identify it so I can decide whether to sell it for someone to cut up, put in a motorcycle engine and use as a Dune Buggy at the dunes by Lake Michigan. I actually HAVE turned down a few offers. I really kind of suspect there is some interesting history to this car but I haven't yet been able to even figure-out what chassis it is. I got excited thinking it was a Centuar (Body parts look right) but I can't find any evidence that there was ever a Mini-powered Centaur. I'm not sure it would be competitive in any vintage Groups but with a built 1275 is should be FUN, if a bit SCARY! So if anyone recognizes it, or knows any history, or could tell me where to polish to look for stamped numbers, I would greatly appreciate it.
The background I have on it - A friend owned it and was working on it; he asked me if I could go get it out of the elements and store it indoors for him and then he DIED. I had loaned him my spare 997 Mini power-train and it slipped right in - the mounts were all already there. He was planning to do some body work and clean-up and paint the frame. Then we were hoping to rivet / glue the sheet aluminum back in place (new pieces, but we had all the old ones for patterns!) and we were going to wire it and plumb it and get it driving. If he was healthy enough (he was battling Throat Cancer) he was going to drive it - if not I would drive. He didn't get that far... THANKS for reading.

[t walgamuth]

I think I need to try this again -its been a few years and I would really like to identify it so I can decide whether to sell it for someone to cut up, put in a motorcycle engine and use as a Dune Buggy at the dunes by Lake Michigan. I actually HAVE turned down a few offers. I really kind of suspect there is some interesting history to this car but I haven't yet been able to even figure-out what chassis it is. I got excited thinking it was a Centuar (Body parts look right) but I can't find any evidence that there was ever a Mini-powered Centaur. I'm not sure it would be competitive in any vintage Groups but with a built 1275 is should be FUN, if a bit SCARY! So if anyone recognizes it, or knows any history, or could tell me where to polish to look for stamped numbers, I would greatly appreciate it.
The background I have on it - A friend owned it and was working on it; he asked me if I could go get it out of the elements and store it indoors for him and then he DIED. I had loaned him my spare 997 Mini power-train and it slipped right in - the mounts were all already there. He was planning to do some body work and clean-up and paint the frame. Then we were hoping to rivet / glue the sheet aluminum back in place (new pieces, but we had all the old ones for patterns!) and we were going to wire it and plumb it and get it driving. If he was healthy enough (he was battling Throat Cancer) he was going to drive it - if not I would drive. He didn't get that far... THANKS for reading.

Reminds me

reminds me of a Genie. I would not cut this up. It could have had something completely different in it such as a coventry climax. Who knows Dan or Stirling might have driven it. Is there a data plate on it with a serial number?

[EricP]

How does the shift mechanism work??? That is kinda bad when it is the way it was originally designed let alone how this may have to have been engineered.

PutInBay road race reunion is coming up… I could take pictures and ask around there… someone may Recognize it.

[tlracer]

Landar? Terrapin?

[Charlie Schmidt]

Landar (Llandar?) would have been my first guess...saw one at autocrosses years ago

I doubt it's a Unipower