Projects 1950's Tube Frame Sports Car

dang would you look at that! what else could the original plan for this car have been? probably find a How To article in Popular Mechanics

 

Look at the guy with the torch and the cherry 32 sedan!

 

Here is John Streets' Manning in the 1950s, restored circa 1990.

 

Metalshapes should post!

 

It was less than 20 years old when the picture was taken.... about like a 97 Taurus today.

 

Baldwin Special is one of the prettiest race cars I've ever seen. I might shorten the tail a little but I suppose they did that for mounting the required spare tire.

 

I would have to dig though my junk to be sure but it looks like a Hudson unit from the early '50s to me.

 

wouldn't an 18 -**** number make it a '32 trans with a '37-'39 double detent shift tower? I always thought '37-'39 transmissions were #78 case, not #18

 

According to this chart, it appears to be a 34 trans.

http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/flathead_serialnumbers.htm

 

It has the 81A double detent top so the top is 38 up. I suspect 39 gears and a 78 case. The turtle is a 19 so probably 3.78 gears. The steering wheel is 37 Lincoln. Looks like a 40 rear end.

 

The sn stamped in the tranny, is for the year of the car...not to be confused with the casting numbers

 

Good eye there. had to go back and look at it a few times

 

I thought 34 too when I first read the chart. Then I realized my number was in the five millions not the five hundred thousands so it does fall in 1939. Look at 39, it starts in the *18-4millions* and ends in the *18-high 5 millions*.

 

Update time:
I figured I'd post up some more pictures. Earlier this week I picked up some more '35 wires. The car looks drastically better without the weird front wheels. The tires are junk ones I had laying around, but they work for rolling the car around.
Does anyone know what the fuel tank is? I'm assuming late 1930's Ford. Here are some pictures of the front brakes when I had the wheels off. Who needs a wrecker...

The engine had 6 stuck valves but I got them all loose. Put 10W oil down all the cylinders. Still need to get plugs and an oil filter. I think it'll run though.

 

Very interesting,,,,,,,but please dump the headlights,,,,,

 

Definitely! They look terrible. I don't even know if its the headlights themselves, but the forward placement looks ridiculous.

 

It would be neat to restore it to just the way it was built originally...ugly headlights and all....take some time to figure out what the paint job looked like (probably brushed?) new wood for the seat, rebuild the brakes, get it running good (whatever that takes), and use it as it was intended to be used.

It would be a shame to cover up all that old time ingenuity with a body!

 

Here's some more inspiration: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/specials.720448/

 

I partualy agree with you. But a little body wouldn't hurt. Especially for road and track.
But the headlights looks ugly, but a little tinkering and that car would look good even partly naked/visual.

And a little rubber rake wouldent hurt either.

 

What a great opportunity to resurrect and possibly complete an interesting piece of history. Looking forward to future posts.

 

It doesn't look like it was ever finished. It appears the builder got the chassis done and ran it up and down the road a few times then never got around to making the body. I don't know why he stuck the headlights on, but I have seen pictures of prototype and test chassis from major manufacturers, hodge podged together with whatever seats, windshield and lights they could find.

 

Cool find!
The steering box looks like a 37-40 Ford turned on it's side.

 

I really like this body made in England. This is probably more appropriate. Looks like Chevy pickup rear fenders

 

Interesting find, cool!

 

love it

 

This is a great find & project. Agree with porknbeaner - go Caballo de Heiro style or one of my favorites no one has mentioned ( surprised me ) - the Eliminator: Brock Yates wrote a book about his ownership & rebuild to early '50s race style built & raced by GoKart founder "Duffy" Livingstone. Tons of info on net about both these cars and contemporaries.

 

This rules!

 

Looks like the original builder had a good eye for proportion. It'll make a good start for a cool hot rod racer.

 

This home built car (built in the 50's) was at the back to the 50's show in Minnesota this year. I think it might be matching the era and style of your chassis? It looked better proportioned sitting on the ground than the pictures portray.

 

Nothing wrong with the proportions that I can see. A true hot rod sports car.