Customs Mystery Car

I got this car from a friend who rescued it from behind an abandoned hot rod shop in Denver 35+ years ago it had a tree growing through it ..He claims it is an Austin but I have my doubts ..It is a hand made body and I am not sure what year the grill is ..It also has drum brakes up front and disks in the rear (weird!!) any help on this would be great !!!

 

That's a cut down 37 Ford p***enger car grill. It looks totally hand made using parts from many cars. Sorry I cant be more helpful than that.

Doc.

 

looks like a customized Crosley Hotshot

 

its not a Hotshot the ch***is is longer then that

 

Austin Bantam...or what's left of it...!!!

R-

 

Looks too big for a hot shot, but I think that's the look they were going for.

 

If it was an American Austin it would most likely have a small red nameplate oval incorporated into the top of the front grill. But, it does have the size and looks of an Austin.

 

I thought it was a Bantam too but its longer and the suspention is different

 

I was told it could also be a Triumph TR2

 

Not a Triumph

 

well a Triumph ch***is anyway ..the body is completely hand made

 

Ch***is looks like a Fiat Topolino.

 

A 38 or 39 standard Ford grille. Maybe a 36-ish Ford windshield frame.

 

It's home made what ever it was. It could be an Austin when it was factory ***embled. Lots of cars got chopped and altered until none of the original parts remain. If it has a ***le that matches any numbers on the frame, then I'd go by the ***le.

 

I think you hit it on the head with a '38 ford grille !

 

I am thinking you may be right on this.... a lot of Topolino's where made into drag cars in the late '50's and early '60's (hell even into the '70's and now!) so a Fiat Topolino ch***is just laying around would be a perfect ch***is to built a custom car on

 

Here's some Topo pics. http://www.dieselpunks.org/profiles/blogs/lord-ks-garage-62-fiat-500 The early ones had the funky shocks on the A arms and Quarter elliptics in the rear though I have seen one online with early shocks and parallel leafs out back. Head lights on the car even look like originals and a Crosley drivetrain swap could explain the rear discs.

 

The ch***is looks to be a Fiat topolino. They had a hydraulic setup connected to the lower a arm which looks like on the front of your car. Compare the front of mine when it was on the stock ch***is. The frame would also have large holes the length of the main rails. The hubcap also looks to be Fiat.

 

Whatever it is turn it into a hot rod! HRP

 

interesting

 

looks like it could have started life as this.

 

Its longer then a Topolino though ..I post some more pics later today when I get it to the house

 

That's a Popular Mechanics Magazine cut down sports car build from the 1950s.

It's just more involved and on a smaller ch***is than most of them were, I've seen stuff as big as a '49 Buick Roadmaster cut down into 2-place open top "sports" cars along those lines. The theory that it's a leftover ch***is from a race build makes the most sense to me.

Once you ID the ch***is, that's what you'd ***le it as.

Beyond that, plunk a small V6 of some sort in there or a V8-60, or whatever fits most easily, and go.

 

This is what an American Austin look like.

 

I wonder if the wheels will tell us anything?

 

The tail lights look to be 1952 MG.

 

Henway

 

about 6 pounds if its a good one!

 

so I got it back to the house last night here are some more pics ..It IS a Fiat Topolino ch***is though modified quite a bit ..And I am unsure of what the rear end is..and the hood latches are kinda fun too..

 

Rear end looks like a Crosley [mid 49' thru about 50'], that would explain disc brakes..Not much strength and 5.17 [or close, I have had ones with 5.12 and 5.14 according to tag]...gear...