What will never show up at the challenge?

Assuming it is a vehicle that can meet the SCCA and NHRA safety/classification requirements, what do you think will never compete in the challenge, at least in the under budget classes?

I think the obvious is anything from Lamborghini, Ferrari and, McLaren.  My hot take is the C5 Corvette, but it would be nice to be proven wrong.  It was such a huge evolutionary jump over the C4, but the C6 and C7 seem to be small enough improvements that a C5 is "good enough" of a value proposition against them to keep prices out of challenge range.  I suppose there is a slim chance at getting a blown up one for about 2K, selling off the bodywork, stuffing a truck 5.3 in it, and running it as a Vette kart but even that seems unlikely.

Now that I've said it, who wants to bet one shows up in 2026?

How about a Lamborghini kit car?

Lamborghini Diablo kit car for $2000. Needs assembly.

In reply to David S. Wallens :

Oh yeah, lots of potential for the Challenge (or financial mistakes).

It works if you build it well or hack it together. 

In reply to eastsideTim :

You never know what might show up. I mean, we've had a Cadillac CTS-V, right?

I imagine there will be a C5 one day, and I suspect a 'modern' Lotus (think trashed Elise) will someday too. And Rolls and Bentleys are certainly attainable for this, and how many Jags have we had? Several. 

I've hoped against hope that one day someone brings a VW Phaeton. I've seen a few of them parked in lots, abandoned. 

- Bill C

I bet no one will show up in an old school pre-war hot rod... record for oldest Challenge car is currently a 1949. It would take someone really crazy to do that.

In reply to maschinenbau :

So you’re saying more T-bucket builds?

In reply to BillCuttitta :

I'll second the Phaeton.

Would I like to drive a W12 Phaeton? Yes. Would I like to be responsible for maintaining it? Absolutely not.

In reply to BillCuttitta :

Phaeton could be the new BiTurbo!

Edit:  Here's a running Phaeton that needs work for $2000.

In reply to eastsideTim :

It actually doesn’t sound so horrible. 

In reply to David S. Wallens :

Alright, who do I need to enable so it makes it to the next $2000 Challenge? 

In reply to Colin Wood :

This just in: special W12 Phaeton class!

David S. Wallens said:

In reply to Colin Wood :

This just in: special W12 Phaeton class!

"We'd love to hand out the trophy to the winner, but, sadly, all the cars broke down before they could even get to the event."

Me, sadly. 

Just too far away.

In reply to eastsideTim :

It's missing 4 pistons 😁

Colin Wood said:

David S. Wallens said:

In reply to Colin Wood :

This just in: special W12 Phaeton class!

"We'd love to hand out the trophy to the winner, but, sadly, all the cars never started running before they could even get to the event."

Fixed it for you.  I suspect a W12 is a bridge(or 4) too far.

In reply to David S. Wallens :

That's exactly what I had in mind when I suggested a Phaeton - the V8 would be good, but the W12; spectacular. 

- Bill C

I'll just leave this here:

Challenge priced W12

In reply to No Time :

That poor car. 

Last night I made a challenge friendly offer on the most roached out S281 Saleen Mustang ever... 

Clipped at both ends... All the Saleen panels replaced with copies... Multiple bad paint jobs 

The offer was not well received 

In reply to No Time :

I'm verklepmt with the thought of this running in the Challenge

- Bill C

Byrneon27 said:

The offer was not well received 

Something something the worst thing the seller can say is no? 

In reply to Byrneon27 :

Pictures? 

I was willing to go $2000 for the car and $2000 for the story but I've always wanted one of these things. Saleen people a freaking weird group think trailer park Corvette guys with a more agressive command of statistics

Has an Intrepid ever run? It's not exotic or rare but for some reason every single one I find needs an engine and is double the budget and the cars have minimal recoup value unless you have an LH die hard fan yearning for some random unbroken piece. 

In reply to DjGreggieP :

Nope.  No LH cars have ever run the event.  In the days before cheap LS engines, I had thought the 3.5 and its transaxle would make a good donor for a competitive mid engine car.  Nowadays, it just wouldn't be powerful enough.

In a similar vein, I have doubts about a Chevrolet Beretta ever competing.  Most are dead and gone, but it seems like the remaining ones are way overpriced for what they are.  Too pricey for "novelty" entry, and not good enough to try to win with it.