Merlin M1 Project

Last Friday, together with Frans Amsing, we went to pick up an engine for the Merlin at Bikers Best in Renswoude. The choice ultimately fell on a Honda Goldwing GL1500 6 cylinder boxer engine, what do you think?

Bikers Best helped us a lot with finding this bike, the company is very excited about our project. We would therefore like to thank them very much!

Bikers Best is a wholesaler of Goldwing parts and accessories.

We have also been busy imitating the A-pillars using sheet metal, with which we want to replace the wooden A-pillars of the car covered with filler. By making these A-pillars from sheet metal, space is created to make a rollcage, which significantly increases the safety of the car!

Next week we will focus on making the chassis and A-pillars. Updates to follow!

We designed and simulated the new chassis. The chassis is designed according to FIA guidelines. The chassis is almost 5 times stronger than the old original chassis that Merlin Cofano made for this car.

With this new design, the car should be many times safer than before. The new tubular chassis is stiff enough to pas FIA regulations!

In addition to designing the chassis, we have been busy with the choice of engine for the car. Initially we wanted to build a Porsche or Subaru boxter engine in it.
After much brainstorming together with Frans Amsing, the current owner of the car, the engine choice has changed. Now they are trying to find a Honda Goldwing engine for the car.

Today we disassembled the car to the bone. This week we will continue to bare the chassis. A number of tubes will be retained from the current chassis, these tubes will form the basis of the new chassis.

The new chassis will mainly be constructed from tubular steel, this chassis is currently being worked on digitally. After developing this chassis and validating it by means of simulations, it can be built.

In addition to working on the chassis, a suitable powertrain is being sought. There are a number of options on the table for this, which are examined one by one. It is not yet clear what it will be, looking at a gas turbine engine in combination with an electric drive and a regular fuel engine.

Updates will follow!

The first steps of developing the upgraded chassis for the Merlin M1 are done. As seen below the current chassis is virtualized in Solidworks. From here we can start to do upgrades and start simulating the chassis. After the simulations are done we can start to make some real changes in the base of the car.