Mini-Baja 1977 represents an attempt on the part of the academic community to increase the industrial readiness of engineering students. The object of this simulated industrial design and fabrication project is to construct a marketable, manufacturable, high-performance one-man, all-terrain vehicle for the least possible cost. Each university started with the same air cooled engine and a $550 manufactured cost limitation. The designs evolved from a series of performance vs. cost, styling vs. cost, and design features vs. cost decisions. Because of the close simulation to the actual industrial design process, engineering students have found this type of competition to be a valuable addition to their education.
