All good points, thanks!
I may buy a set of Steve's plans yet. I was all set to when I realized the body cost would be prohibitive for me. As a former boat builder, including building the molds, I know how much work, time, and expense is involved. The La Bala body is beautiful, an excellent job! The entire car is a jewel. But, I am suggesting a book more along the simple lines of the Locost. And at low cost. I really like the "Build it for $2,500 and drive it" approach that Champion used. Of course no one does it for that, that is not the point, it is just a goal or a possibility. And Champion showed how he did it, and how others also were able to build a fun car at a very low cost. Build a car as a fun project, not as an investment.
BTW Steve, I am sure everyone has there own budget for a body and I am not implying yours is expensive at all! I think it is very reasonably priced. Personally I am leaning to the much more basic look of the 7, just updated to using a middy design. Cover the frame, throw on some fenders, a simple windshield and that's it. Although to do that, the frame itself must be an attractive shape, design, whatever you want to call it. The At-om has it, a dunebuggy does not. To my eyes anyway.
Body panels? Absolutely! I have ridden motorcycles all my life and I know what a rock will do to your anatomy at speed. When I ride, I am covered up with a padded, armored, leather & Cordura suit, boots, gloves, and helmet with shield, protective gear. And after taking a small rock in the throat, now a padded neck wrap muffler.
I like the frame idea of the At-om, but not the open dune buggy lack of protection. Looks fantastic but not for me. The curved tubes of the At-om are neat too but I like the simple straight square tubes with angles of the Mistrale. Perhaps put the aluminum panels on the inside of the frame tubes instead of the outside as the 7 has? That way the frame design is shown off and the panels still add protection and a little strength.
I read with great interest how you (JonW?) built the tube bender to curve the tubes for your own At-om inspired car. But, I don't have a lathe and paying to have the rollers turned would be fairly costly. The curved tubes in the 7 design are all pretty small and much easier to bend at home.
Someone on another thread posted an idea of using thin plywood that would be stitch & taped to form the basis for a lightweight body similar to many home built small boats. That could be nicely done. I have built small boats this way and it is easy, cheap, and when painted looks great. For the nose cone and fenders this might be a great way to go. Sharp angles to match the sharp angles of the square tube frame, sort of a modern stealth aircraft type look. Very 21st century.
I enjoyed reading Kimini and Kurt does describe how to design and build your own car, and his book in my view, is required reading for everyone interested in building. Along with the various other books on specific area design. And I think I have them all!
I am looking forward to seeing the progress of the Mistrale as it is very close to what I will likely build. Sort of a square At-om. I like his simple body shown on the model but it is not what I would put on mine. Which is one reason to build your own car, do it your way!
However, I do believe a modern Mid-engine Lowcost car type book would have a good market. How many Lowcost cars are built "by the book"? Probably few. No doubt the same would be true of a Middy book. But it would give many a good start. Mostly, all the dimensions and information in one book without the need to consult multiple books and compile everything if a builder wanted to build one "by the book". Or who at least starts out that way.
I enjoy following the build of everyone's cars and when my current project is finished I will post the story and pictures of mine. I prefer to present it completed rather than show it along the way. Just me.
Then I will either build a version of the Lowcost using the BMW donor I already have, or if I pick up a suitable Middy donor, I will go that route. Who knows? By then, if no one else has produced a book...