Hot Rods Bringing the Scotty’s T roadster back from the dead

Well, I’ve been pondering and researching this deal for several years, life got in the way as it often does. I’m finally ready to start the build to bring this iconic Hot Rod back from the past with a complete build from nearly scratch. It’s a great car that was originally built as a club project and with really fine craftsmanship and nearly everything was chromed. I’m going to build the injected only version for now because I just think it looks great, but I have the chain driven blower set up if I want to add it later..

. I’m going to need A LOT of help Identifying the parts in the pictures if possible then, finding these vintage parts. I’m gonna need a lot of advice, building tips and support to pull this off. I’m hoping to maybe work out a partnership agreement maybe with someone that can help out with the build someway in return to put it on display in a museum or shows or something. I dont know if that is anything people normally do But I’d like to try that.
My first issue is to lay out and build the chassis. I need to source some elliptical tubing for the main rails so far I haven’t been able to find a good source for that yet. Doing the research I’ve heard they frame rails came from PBY-5/6 wing struts. Other research just says it was tubing designed for wing struts on planes.. I need to determine the approximate wheel base which I can’t find any mention of so far in my research but I’m guessing it’s approximately 110” give or take. So right now I’m on the hunt for this tubing to just get the ball rolling. I have many many vintage parts to still locate but I’ll get into that as I go.

I’ll post several of the pictures I have of it and hopefully I can get some input as to wheelbase estimates and any other details that need to be. sorted out.
oddly another thing I’ve learned doing research is that even though this car was only on the scene out in California for what I believe to be 2-3 years, I’ve discovered it had 2 different paint schemes and was ran mostly with the 12” Magnesium midget wheels on front, but it also had some other taller spindle mount spoke wheels briefly.

here are the pictures, first priority it to source elliptical tubing that’s approximately 2x4 inch and .085 or so although the thickness isn’t as critical.

Wish me Luck I’m gonna need it……

 

Those Pipes! Good Luck on your Treasure hunt.

 

I got to help with the Carrillo roadster restoration some years ago. It had elliptical frame rails which, according to Carrillo were wing struts from a WWII PBY. Only a reference, here is a shot of those frame rails during restoration.

 

That would be an awesome build Mike and look forward seeing it built
I have 3 of the 12 inch magnesium Halibrand wheels . They are 6 pins yet and not sure what your Dad ran 5 lug or 6 pin.

 

Here are some photos that you might already have some of . . .

 

. . . sorry, I can't eliminate the duplicates in my electric machine. Well, she's okay to look at a few times.

The best of the features, in my opinion, are the 12" wheels and the out-the-back exhausts which I was told were modified Ford torque tubes -- which I doubt is true.

 

Thanks! That’s the same tubing alright, as well as the aircraft seat I will need to one up with as well

 

Hi John good to hear from you! They were 6 pin on the fronts. I don’t have the hubs or any of that yet. I believe the spindles it used are 32-34 ford spindles. Mel and I were talking the other day. I was hoping maybe you’d have some stuff and maybe we could work out a deal I still have that 34 pickup cab, grille, doors and tailgate.

 

Thanks for posting those! Yeah , I have all those and just a few more and I believe that’s about all that are known to exist . The one on the trailer is taken here in Springfield Illinois when the car was sold to Bob Baugh who was a buddy of my Dad. The car worked its way around here for a few years, then was sold off in pieces and now most of its whereabouts are unknown.

 

What a wild car! Looking forward to seeing this coming to life. If you can swing an injected Ardun I’m sure you’ll be able to find some old plane parts this is gonna be good!

 

Its always been one of my favorite cars, so I have saved a bunch of pictures of it. Here's what I found so far.
You may have already seen these but they are cool anyhoo.
Mick

 

Some more

Mick

 

Even more.

Mick

 

Lakester at Colton on opening day . . .

 

Scotty's Tank . . .

 

Very cool there’s a few of those pictures I’ve never seen before. Every picture I can get helps mail down little details I need to try to duplicate the correct build. I really appreciate any and all pictures or details.

 

The oval tubing may be a problem. I would contact aircraft supply companies that handle restoration structural supplies.

 

Louisiana Steel | Welded and Seamless Elliptical Steel Tubing

Elliptical tube - Core Metal L.L.C

Also try Aircraft Spruce

 

I talked to a steel manufacturer in Louisiana yesterday that said they can make it but it’s 3000. Minimum to tool up for a run and then they are 8 weeks out.I have a guys number in Oregon that says he has a couple old damaged PBY struts that may be viable still. I’m still tracking down suppliers for the tubing.

 

I talked to him yesterday he was pretty helpful and can do it but it’s costly and 8 weeks out. He gave me a few leads though to check out

 

A lofty undertaking to do this build, you have my deepest respect to take this on. This is now in my opinion about the greatest builds on the HAMB. Keep us posted.

 

Ouch on the cost .

 

Awesome will be following along.

Ken Crawford photos


@hudsonjoe49 Got any PBY Struts?

 

The more pics I see, the more I love this car! Is thread on it's known history anywhere? I don't think I have ever seen the blower pics before, Thanks all for sharing.

 

For the tubing, there are airplane junkyards in SE AZ that might be a source.
I don't know your skill level, but it might make more sense if you haven't scaled the pictures for measurements to build a wood frame and hang the components first, then once stuff is positioned in place, fab up the real frame.
You might want to try to set up the pics in one folder showing it by time, too since it went through variations.

 

Bob Baugh musta liked white Model T drag roadsters built in San Bernardino -- he also purchased two (I think) from the famous Heidelberg Speed Shop.

 

Yeah he must have, I was just a kid but remember that car well, Bob was buddies and ran in the same group of guys with my Dad. That’s how my Dad ended up with the Ardun from the Scotty’s car, which I’ve inherited, otherwise I’d never attempt this deal. I have this pic of Bob with another of their buddies Don Hughes “Hughsie” they called him, that drove the Heidelberg car. He ended up loosing a big chunk of his foot in a clutch explosion in that car. That car was wildly popular around here for many years and went through 2 or 3 transformations getting longer each time. Bob is on the left Don is on the right.

 

Why do I think Green Hornet?

 

November 1957 Hot Rod Magazine:

 

Yes I have all types of struts