I stumbled on to these sites looking at kit cars. The first one is th Blitz it it sami or probably Jimni based Interesting concept just a little too dune buggieish for my taste! Brits have odd offroad tastes. They also make a tracker based Kit called the Outbak.The second kit car is called the Dakar. this car is Land Rover based but from what I have read they are adaptable to just about any 4x4 with similar wheel base. one guy put one on a track/kick with frame lengthend to fit tubular frame. I like the look I just don't like the lack of triangulation on the tubular frame which has me wandering just how serious an offroad vehicle they are. Any way they have got me thinkin! Here's the Links....
                     (  http://www.blitzworld.couk/products.php?productld=58 )
                     
                     (  http://www.dakar4x4.me.uk/portfoli:/disco/disco.htm  )                                     

sorry I guess I messed up the links. Let me try again
                       
                       http://www.blitzworld.co.uk/products.php?productld=58

                       http://www.dakar4x4.me.uk/portfoli/disco/disco.htm

1st link not working. 2nd link, the B-pillar roll-bar looks MASSIVE (like 4"?), so maybe between that, and the weight it looses, it doesn't need anything else? They look as serous as a kit can utilizing stock suspension & running gear can get. They're very capable vehicles as it is - and with a few hundred pounds taken off....

I would want to put wings and a tail fin on it for parades and claim it is a space ship! 

Probably fun as 'ell to drive though.

Here is one of the Dakar rigs on a sj410 chassis.

kinda looks like a vw "thing"

I've got an SJ410 Blitz. I'm going to get shot of it soon, I prefer the comfort of the Vit. I also drove a Sammy based Dakar once, not bad but not a lot of room under the front arches.

Reminds me of something out of a bad 80's movie 

Reminds me of something out of a bad 80's movie 

LOL   X2

 I guess my biggest concern with the frame was having more side frame protection. I think having more triangulation overall you could do away with the massive center roll bar and probably reduce weight even further. Getting on your side or even top wouldn't be a problem, but if you get on your side toward the top of a climb you might be rolling for a while. That would be a worst case scenario I know, but you have to factor that possibility in. Anyway I think I am going to start sketching and come up with something I like then work out a frame design. Then find a Sami with a ragged out body for a Donner Don't look for it to happen any time soon though. I'm still working on my track/kicker...