Does anyone have any pictures or tech of sports car inspired customs from "Back in the Day"? I know alot of WWII vets returned home after seeing these european cars and wished to recreate it with what they had. I picked this "custom" up 5 years ago for $35. It at one point ran and drove, is comprised of late 40's Lincoln front clip, 58 ford ch***is, Mercury Flathead V8, and extended '53 Mercury quarters. The back gl*** was ran as a windsheild and it was a two seater roadster. It was built locally by a bodyman in the early 60's. He had died recently, and his widow was selling off his collection of cars. I knew he had to have been into Sports Cars and that was probably what he was trying to recreate in this car as a young man, as he had a 60's Jaguar XB and Aston Martin looking Volvo, as well as a '56 Thunderbird that he had purchased later in life. I'm wanting to put it back together a little more refined, but early 60's period correct. Its rough, but I feel like I owe it to him after selling off most of his cars. I just can't imagine it as a taildragger or hot rod of any sort. So far, I've got the body, complete '53 mercury front clip, cowl and fire wall, windsheild, a set of low back bucket seats from a work van, gas tank, a '58 Chevy Six Cylinder from a 1-ton, and a powerglide on hand.
Done a quick photoshop to show the direction I'm going. An improvised Personal Luxury car for the mechanic.
I got the body off the frame today. Shes pretty rough, but I believe with a good cheater section she'll look alright. The local junk man will let me trade him encrusted 50's frames for S-10 frames, so thats probably what I'm going to run. I'm going for about a 90 or 100 inch wheel base. Will post pics.
Took some pictures of the old frame before it gets exported to China as rebar. I'm not sure what make it really was. Anyone else care to guess? Check out the old chopped up leaf spring bits stacked up to make lowering blocks. This thing was street driven, and I imagine it bottomed out alot.
The Jalopy Journal
