Customs I finished my Mysterion clone and have a book contract!

Congratulations! That is just amazing. Big Daddy has to be smiling right now.

This car, and a few of Big Daddy's other creations, were the reason that all of the cars I drew from first grade on, had bubble tops. My teachers had no chill when it came to little kids drawing hot rods.

 

Very nice job. This is one of the few occasions where I can see it's worthwhile to build a clone. Who did the bubble top for you? Looking forward to your book. Congratulations.

 

Trust me, I wouldn't have built a clone unless the original was totally gone. Have better uses for 2 years of my life!! Bubble was done by California Quality Plastics. I built the mold, they blew the top (actually did two just to be safe). I have a whole chapter in the book on the bubble.

 

Awesome. Congrats on the car AND the book!

You HAVE to get that running. Imagine DRIVING that into a car show!?
If you have to, get a local motor head to do the initial prime/fire/tune. I bet you could even find someone willing to do it in trade for a shot at driving the car.

Can't imagine what the chrome plating bill was. After all that chrome work, did you ponder the thought that buying a plating shop might have been the route to take?

 

I can do the deed, just not in a rush. I had to do extreme surgery to the engine and tranny pans so am tracking down leaks, etc. I didn't want to chance messing anything up before getting some good photos so postponed starting it.

Yes, the chrome $$$$$$$$$$ was the big hurdle I had to come to grips with. Key find was a chrome shop who did my carbs for a fraction of what most shops charge and they are world class. As far as total investment, I have no idea. I was committed to finishing the car so did not care what the cost was, didn't even try to keep track. I still economized wherever possible but didn't keep track. The project stretched over a decade with serious construction occurring over just the past two years so $$ burn rate was spread out and manageable.

Funny you should mention buying a plating shop; when I was in high school back in the 60s I talked my folks into buying me a plating tutorial course from an ad in one of the how-to books at the news stand. As I recall the course cost $200 which was a huge investment for them at the time. Needless to say the 4 or 5 mimeographed pamphlets they sent were way over my head and not very useful to a geeky kid.

 

Great job on the car, and congrats on the book. An outcome like that makes it all worth it.

 

Way to go Jeff ! Only you can know the satisfaction you feel right now. The rest of us can only imagine and speculate.

 

One talented and dedicated guy, Good job, Jeff.

 

beyond cool. Hope I get a chance to see it in person some day.

 

Did the originals engines run? It's great to see this project completed. Job well done,be proud that the goal was achieved and that your efforts will be in print so that other enthusiasts will absorb the fruits of your creation.

 

I talk about that in the book in some detail. All indications are that at least one engine ran in the very beginning.

 

This is insane, but in a helluva good way. Hats off to you, sir. Nice job, want to read the book, too.

 

Willys36, What can you share about your avatar?

 

I think I have discussed the car sometime in the past but that is my '36 Willys coupe daily driver. Haven't driven it in about 4 or 5 years, has a freeze plug that keeps blowing out so I need to take the time to put in some better expanding copper ones. All it takes is time! Bought it in '65 (picture below is circa '67) along with a 331 hemi and '55 Hydramatic. has all the old parts; hemi, '56 Olds rear, Corvair steering gear, home made 'glas tilt front end, 4-speed Hydro which I converted to manual/auto 4-speed. Now that my grandson's '59 El Camino and the Mysterion are done, can get the gasser back on the road this summer.

 

Cant wait to see it! My favorite all time car. I drew this car a million times when I was a kid and I still have every one of them in a folder. This book will definitely go in my collection! Congrats!

 

Fantastic job on the Mysterion - top notch ! Congrats on the book.

 

That's just awesome.

 

Image by Fakesy posted Jan 3, 2016 at 11:23 PM

Nice work man! Good to see people still building stuff instead of flipping thru catalogues. Check out my rod the Astroflame. obviously heavily influenced buy Roth. Same story it's all steel the only thing I didn't do was upholstery and the screens.

This is my rod

 

I bet it took awhile to find the correct parts? Is it to the original 100%(for except tires) Do you go in to detail of the build in the book? Did Dave Shuten, Mark Moriarity, and all the Roth gurus give you a hand?

 

Wish I knew about your rod before I finished my book. I have a chapter on the Roth legacy and mention several of the tribute cars that have been built over the years. Yours would have been a prime example. I religiously avoid buying billet stuff. "If it ain't in the junk yard, it ain't good enuf for my car!!"

 

Fantastic recreation, I hope the book is a best seller among Rodders and your return is ten fold on your investment.

 

Yes I go into detail on virtually every nut and bolt on the car in the book. It is I would say 80% authentic. I found the exact TV, the exact gear shift knob, the exact dash panel, spark plug wire grommets, all REALLY tough parts to find. Most of the ones I have are the only ones I have ever seen. Even found a new/old set of Inglewood Pos-A-Traction recap slicks and vintage Rader wheels. Parts I couldn't replicate exactly are the radio, air cleaners, steering gear,and carb throttle levers. Just couldn't identify them and/or find vintage ones. All can be easily changed out if I do find originals.

I did contact several key players in the history of the car and they graciously helped with the book; Oscar Koveleski, Darryl Starbird, Tom Davison, Moldy Marvin, Bob Larivee, Jim Keeler, Mike Scott (built most of the big parts of Dave Shuten's car), Ed Sexton (Revell guy but really cool - is in the Model Car Builder's Hall of Fame), etc. The book has several insightful guest paragraphs by the legends. There are a couple of big surprises that I think folks will be excited to read about. I did talk with Mark and he helped. I didn't talk with any Roth family nor Dave concerning my car but I did talk with Dave during his build and helped him with finding a reasonable replacement steering gear.

 

Well, I am pretty confident the book will stay in the 'labor of love' category. Would have to sell about a gazillion and a half copies to recoup the investment!! My biggest satisfaction will be if folks enjoy reading about the car and it preserves a bit of the Roth legacy.

 

Great job! I'm looking forward to your book. Never know, you may be surprised by the sales (of the book).
BTW, that '36 is about the most bitchen dailey I've ever seen!

 

Excellent, best of luck with the book. I'll be watching for it.

 

The car is flat amazing Jeff, well done!

 

TOO KOOL!! Any autographed copies? Arnie

 

I sincerely hope that if you decide not to keep it, it doesn't end up in the hands of some reclusive collector never to be seen again. That car needs to be seen and appreciated by as many people as possible. Absolutely beautiful car and a job well done!

 

I shot the photos of Jeff's Mysterion for the book. I am also familiar with the original car, having spent a year with it on the show circuit in '66-67. I can verify that the car is accurate in every way! He wanted to replicate the angle/focal length of some of the more iconic historical shots, to specifically illustrate just how accurate it is. I have read the book manuscript; it is a fascinating, scholarly look in to the whys, wherefores and details of how he solved a thousand problems during his quest.

 

And there you have it...thumbs up from the Master!(Me too.)