Lawson's 818C Build

I'm a Georgia Tech Mechanical Engineering Student

• I'm a member of the Georgia Tech Wreck Racing team. We build cars to compete in the Grassroots Motorsports Magazine $2000 Challenge.

  • One being a Subaru powered mid-engine Honda Insight that won the challenge. It actually had a very similar drivetrain layout to an 818.

• Co-oping with General Motors

Bought the Subaru and did the donor teardown in Michigan but the build is happening in Georgia

The kit was picked up May 14th, 2018 . Became street legal July 2020.

The donor was a 2004 Subaru WRX with an STI shortblock I picked up for $2300 (It looks better in the pictures than it really was)

Comparable Production Car: Lotus Exige S

• This is a similar performance and comfort benchmark for my build if you're looking for an idea of what an 818 is like. It's a very fast car, but nothing insane and its comfort levels/features are on the high side of what's achievable with a kit like the 818C. Plus, then I only have to live up to British reliability standards...

Creature comforts (AC, power windows, stereo)

Livable weekend car with occasional autox/track days

~ 280HP at the wheels

Fully finished exterior and interior

• Painted or well-vinyled bodywork

• Upholstered interior

Road Legal