Econo-automobile
for people who can barely afford some transportation (and can boldly 'live simply') and for saving resources.

  no auto door locks
  no power windows
    windows don't crank, just have something to slide them up and down with and lock 
     in place.
  some windows are plastic or acrylic?
  no a/c or heating
  no radio
  dials: odometer, spedometer, fuel
  buy battery separately, you might have one laying around.
  manual trans.
  no power steering
  rudimentary shock absorbers - just fancy enough that it won't kill you.
  make cylinders fire on both sides, so each one is a double cylinder?
  rotary engine?
  but shoudl probably use a completely different engine with better efficiency anyway
    like those new ones in PopSci.   
  no back doors
  no inside light - bring a flashlight if you need it. 
  no glove compartment - bring a box if you need it.
  instruments are lit just by shining an LED on them
  crank to start car? 
  have model without back seats
  seats are cheap.
    just a hard surface with some type of gel/water/air-filled sack 
     (compartmentalized into cells) over it? (this should probably help with the      
     shock-absorber issue better than a normal, expensive seat would, too.)
    can't slide forward/backward, but can adjust tilt of back. just lock and unlock 
     with notches? (no springs, turning things, or continuously variable positions)
  no microchip, those things are a pita anyway.
  no paint job, or just something to make the surface legal if it's metal.  in 
   which case, the paint has to stay on but it doesn't have to be consistent or     
   smooth or be a nice color.
  no trunk?
  really simple door handles?  just push something left or right to latch / unlatch 
   which also serves as a handle to pull it open?  the lock and key mechanism   
   would just block that sliding thing.  or is it cheap enough already to do 
   it the normal way
  can we do away with windshield wipers in lieu of anti-water windshield coating?
  contracts with junkyards to use used parts?
    could make several different types of fittings for some things to accomodate 
     different models
    maybe could even use used engines, transmissions, bodies
  small form
  have no back of the car, except for support for the rear wheels, lights and 
   license plate?

  don't skimp on safety
    airbags
    abs