[xwd]

Originally Posted by jix87

Quoted from the rulebook:

Nothing about sports cars in SM or SSM - only that SM cars have 4 seats and 4 seatbelts. Unless they put it on the exclusion list, which I don't see happening, it's eligible for SM.

Minimum weight would be 2200lbs with unlimited tires, but I think the ideal setup would be 275 tires at 2000lbs to take advantage of the small tire allowance. I have no idea about the build details on the M3 that won this year, but it would be required to weigh 200lbs more than the 86, assuming both cars would be able to reach minimum weight. It would be a very fun project, but more $$ than I'd be willing to swing.

This is from the 2012 rule book:

1. STREET MODIFIED (SM):
All sedans/coupes (models which were originally equipped with a minimum of four seats and four factory seat belts, not sports car based).
a. Sample Vehicles:
Chrysler: Neon, Stratus/Breeze
Ford: Contour, Escort, Probe, Mustang General Motors: Cavalier, Sunfire, Camaro Honda: Civic, Accord, Integra
Hyundai: Elantra, Tiburon
Mazda: Protege, MX-6, 626
Nissan: Altima, Sentra
Toyota: Celica, Corolla, Camry
VW: Golf, Jetta
b. Sample Excluded Vehicles: Porsche, all
Datsun Z car 2+2 Honda CRX JDM-spec cars MGB GT Triumph, all

The Appendix says what you quoted but the rules section says something different, I guess that's the SCCA for you. I sent a letter for clarification. I think adding a turbo would be worth the extra weight so you would be around 2500lbs which is doable even with the added weight of a turbo. I don't think in SM trim you could get the car down to 2200 lbs so adding power would be the easier way. You would end up with a car similar to the 240s which run today but smaller with a modern chassis. Maybe a few years down the road but right now CS,RTR,and STX are more attractive.