Local Motors was founded by U.S. Marine Jay Rodgers. Jay’s grandfather also owned the Indian Motorcycle company for 13 years after the end of WWII. The Local Motors is an American built car, and their goal is to move the technology of cars forward. Design of the cars, inside-and-out, are completed by a design group. The assembly of the cars is completed by employees of the company, but also alongside is the buyer of the car. When the customer orders the car, the specifications are hashed out, and when the assembly of the car is begun, the customer comes in and helps assemble their own car.

The body is made from fiberglass and the chassis is custom made in-house. The components used range from a GM drivetrain, Ford master brake cylinder, to Volkswagen and Honda lights. Their idea for using all of these components is to make the car more user-friendly and the parts readily available almost anywhere in the U.S. As you would expect from a rally car it has a full rollcage, off-road wheels, and the engine is mounted in a front-mid position.

The Interior of the car has a fighter jet feel to it, with toggle switches inlaid in the dash. Toggle switches are even used for the dome lights; Sparco racing seats, air conditioning and beautiful instrumentation complete the cockpit. The engine is a GM, LS3 E-Rod V-8 connected to an automatic transmission with a pistol-grip shifter. The suspension is highly-modified with 18-inches of travel in the front and 20-inches in the rear. Being a Gen 2 model, the rear suspension has been updated to a four-link system and a Ford 9-inch rear end.

Most importantly, the Rally Fighter has current California registration, is titled in California, and is CARB exempt for life.