Now before you get in a huff that I'm writing about a Bimmer rather than a Buick, let me tell you why this car is important in my opinion, and a significant influence on what we build and race in HAMB world. First you have to ask what is the pure ess... <BR><BR>To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.
That frame is art! What method did they use to weld the frame together? I'm going to Germany later this year, looks like a good side trip!
I disagree. Hotrodding before WWII was rampant on both sides of the Atlantic. I see this as a German take on the Golden Submarine. I kinda dig that the Yanks got there 30 years earlier.
It's really no different than factory supported and built stock or drag cars here in the states. that makes it a race car.
Clearly Mr. Wa... uh, "Jivebomber", you've been infected. I saw this coming when you were sneaking around Monterey last August. There's little hope for a cure. Just give in. Come on over to the other side.
"Chassis photos?" That looks more like the "lattice skeleton" over which they stretched the body's outer skin. I'm thinking there would have needed to be a chassis under that upon which the running gear and body would mount. I mean, yeah, it's still totally cool looking and a really neat way to build a lightweight auto body structure, and you're right about the car having a bunch of cool details. Those streamlined, teardrop-shaped door hinges are stunningly beautiful and the tasteful louvering of the hood and front fenders is nice. And those wheels are just a delight! There appears to have been several different designs for the body, too, which is not so surprising considering they would have all been hand made. Check out the differences between the headlight mounting location in the third image and the other images, for example. And how in some images there are rear fender skirts for extra streamlining (I suppose) and in some there aren't. And there's also the cool fact that BMW's designs for the production versions of the car were the basis for a post-war British automobile built by Bristol Cars. The "family resemblance" is obvious, too.
inspiration must come from all places as you see my handle is sic 944 T its a relic from when i loved porsches even though now i own 3 fords a dodge a auburn and some hondas my love for everything mechanical is strong i know that this is THE HAMB but i love these stories keep up the good work if model A's were all we talked about this would be a extremely boring web site .... like other forums ive been on or been too im drawn too this cause its a very open format soo keep up the mighty fine work
Its beautifully hand crafted, good looking and fast. Whats not to like? A couple of pics here of a naked Mercedes chassis. The workmanship in these was incredible.
If someone can't see the hot rodding connection with these cars I'd start checking for a pulse in the doubter. Frank
Amen, brother! Stunningly beautiful car. Great post, thanks. That Cam Coupe is equally stunning, NoSurf, thanks.
Great little story Jive-Bomber! Thanks to you and Ryan for the vintage sports car stuff that's been running lately. It may not be "hot rod" enough for some people and that's fine I guess, but I think it's part of the DNA of the early hot rodders who were inspired by it and used their go-fast know-how to influence sports cars as well. Has there ever been a story on the Sterling Edwards Special sports car on Jalopy Journal? It was built in 1949 by Phil Remington, Lujie Lesovsky, Emil Deidt and powered by a V-8 60 flathead? I've read a little bit about it in Dean Batchelor's American Hot Rod book and it sounds like a total "Hot Rod" sports car.
Funny you just mentioned Dean Batchelor- the first thing I thought of reading this post was how he was so inspired by the '30s Auto Union cars from Germany when he designed the So Cal Streamliner. Hot rodding is hot rodding no matter what country it's going on in. Great post- great car.
Very cool car. Thanks for the post Jive Bomber. I would have to say the early sports car guy mixed it up with the early hot rodders big time. Lots of the early "sports car" racers were guys with hot rod back grounds. Check out the last photo in this article, an MG sitting between two nice roadsters in front of Bell Auto Parts. http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2009/11/23/lost-speed-shops-bell-chapel-orr/
They have a good number of boutique shops building one off cars in Germany and Holland. You can spend a week visiting them all.
Definitely a cool post. It is also reminiscent of the later Aston Martons and Alfa Superleggera chassis, not to mention the Birdcage Maserattis that were out too. I agree with Crosleykook and Ric, there are hotrods everywhere, just not all exactly like ours. And even the venerable Doane Spencer hotrodded Sunbeams and the like. There is a great picture in the current RJ of a Ferrari 166 (I think) being prepped for paint outside of the Barris's shop.
That is some cool schit there , thanks for the post & the video was killer I dig BMW even if they are German
Thanks for the link NoSurf, I'm no BMW expert, but I do know that the replica isn't a replica of the BMW that won the Mille Miglia.
Well take what you see from BMW with a grain of salt. Its all BS they knew were the original car was all the time. It was found in Wallingford CT. A very smart man from calif bought it and restored and it has been at MM several time. BMW even had it in there shop for some time as they copied it and cheated up the VIN which is totally illegal in Germany. The car owner fought them and in the end BMW did purchase the original car.(hell the glass doors on the museum were already etched the the cars likeness.) The copy is not a very good copy. Do a search on the car and read the real story on that car .(i deleted the car owners name after some thinking he may not want it here) Like i said BMW got in some real hot water for what they pulled with that fake they built. I think they may have copied the guys VIN and andded and r at the end...Big No No in germany
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