Hi I've been on here for a fews years reading and getting some ideas for past and future projects. I've had a few cars and 4x4 trucks that were not really H.A.M.B. friendly. I am currently working on a 1948 Austin A40 Dorset . I have had the Austin for 30 years, the body was really bad. I picked up a ok Devon . I just retired so I started doing the 4 door to 2 door conversion. But I not here to ask about the Austin. I also have a Thames that was a ex drag car. The previous owner chopped it... badly. It was brazed together and warped every panel. Only thing good is it came with a chrome front end, a shortend (i belive Olds or Pontiac) rear end and a good set of aluminum rear doors. The frame was cut and welded to much to save Like most of you when I'm working on a project I'm thinking of the next one. With the Thames I was thinking of going one of two ways I have two back side windows from the Austin conversion, sections of roof etc. to do the Ute but I could also go to a roadster pickup. I have yet to see a Thames / Anglia roadster pickup with slab sides. Either way it's a complete build from frame up. I have put up some pictures of a Very nice Thames and a very nice Popular Ute and a bad cut up picture of my Frankenstein idea. My question is what do you think. Don't tell me I'm nuts I know I'm certified but I like to challenge myself.
Thames vans get me excited. If the body is at all salvageable I would stick with the van and squeeze a small block into it. If the body is cactus, the Ute looks better.
Part of the charm of the older stuff is the full body look, but rodders have been hacking and messing with the lines since day 2. If the car was up and running tomorrow, what would you do with it and how long would the driving season be? I ask because I see Canada and open roadster tub and think, 1 or 2 months, tops unless you are freezing or burning up. Challenge? Since this is the OT section, how about grabbing one of the hardtop convertible sections from something like an SSR and making it a ute convertible? https://www.motorsportauctiongroup.com/article/11625/2005-Chevrolet-SSR-Hard-top-Convertable
I would have liked to retain Thames as a panel unfortunately I just don't think it's doable. I'll try to add some pictures. I do know what you mean about a short season. We have a untouched 1928 Model A Roadster pickup which becomes a fair weather car much like a T bucket. The idea of a Poplar Roadster pickup would replace the model A. The retractable roof idea sounds neat, I would think a little over my budget but you never know. It's very early in the game and it looks like Ute is winning two to 0 LOL. Either one I think would be a neat car.
I'm with Zuffen. I like panel vans. I just finished a 4 door to 2 door Austin conversion. If you are able to do that, fixing the Thames could be an option.
These pictures should show how bad the body is I'm questioning whether it's worthwhile even doing it.
I could point you to some amazing work on here, but each person needs to assess what they are capable of and the time and money involved.
Quite a mess. Start from scratch with a buckboard/well side ute/roadster pickup as end result with some sort of economical engine.. Those aluminium rear doors you mentioned are wall hangers until you can sell them. Cut down model A Ford rear fenders will help you along.
The picture below is the car that messed with my head and made me think about mybe doing something alittle different with it. We didn't get any of that neet stuff here unfortunately. I have always liked the old UK cars the Anglia's, Austin's, probably from seeing them at the drags. I need help I even have a David Brown tractor that still works on our farm. I'm getting some ideas and I do have a bit of time before I bring it up to the shop.
Find an old van , 70,80, 90s , cut what you need off the van , top to side curve , back panel , shorten to fit and replace all the rot and dents in one shot . Easy to suggest and time consuming but not real difficult.
There are alot of people that do amazing work here, that's one of the things that keeps me coming back here. Oh and the story's. I do have a shrinking disc, again just learning but they do work good. In time I will learn.
If you don't give it a go, you won't know if you can save it. If you scrap it you won't have the chance to find out what you can do. If you fail, you will have given it your best shot.
I agree with Zuffen but don't know your skill level. I bought these from Ohio based on photos and had them shipped. I had never skinned a door or done a body off frame build in sixty years but wanted to give it a go. I pieced these together with my existing doors and ended up with a fairly unusual ride. Good Luck. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/1950-devon.1316356/
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