Have been tossing around the idea of building a Fenderless Model A sedan. Would like to be able to drive the car year around. Just wondering what issues that I might experience....water spray or ???? I never have driven or been around a fenderless car yet Really do not know what to expect. Have an idea of 3-4" channel and 4-5" chop, cloth roof, 32 grill (hood???). Probably will be SBC/200R4 and a 9". It would have to be painted black Now its time to start to look for parts...........Guess I probably will need a car first.
Listen, having a fender less car on the road is somewhat of a road hazzard for you and the people around since flying debris can damage your paint and the people around you. as for water spray, that is obvious. I ride a fenderless bobber and water is always an issue. if your willing to get around that then its not a problem. ALSO, check to see if in your area, the laws permit open wheel vehicles, you might run into johnny law from time to time regarding safty issues like that but lets face it, this is hotrodding and running a fenderless car is the way to go (at least for me and the majority here, not to bag on the rides with fenders) its also alot of fun to see the suspension move up and down as you drive!!
My only daily car for 6 or so years was a fenderless 30 tudor sedan w/Corvette engine, turbo 400, 3.36 posi rearend. It was QUICK! I often drove mine while wearing a suit. You have to remember to pull in your elbow in the summer if you run through a puddle or the road is wet. You never get tired of the thumbs up from other drivers and pedestrians. Have fun. Cheap, too... the hot rod usually doesn't go down in value.
study the laws, be safe. do it right. you are an amb***ador for the hobby every time you turn the key and pull on to the roadway. be smart
Bigger problem in my mind would be the extreme chop and channel! Not very comfortable running around doubled over all the time! Fenderless as a daily is not that big a deal though...
My '17 Dodge touring car rod is fenderless up front, and any water through which you drive winds up arching over the windshield and coming down on the front seat occupants like a shower. Even sprinkler runoff across the road gives you a wakeup surprise.
No fenders, aside from a big rooster tail in the rain and the car basically being dirty all the time..I say do it. I drove my bucket almost everyday from late April until Mid October. I defiantly saw my share of rain. You can count on some aggravation from Johnny Law with the rooster though. It really distracts other drivers, and draws a lot of unwanted attention from the man. I agree with the previous post, that's a big chop/channel for a daily ride. You'll have to set the seat as far back as you can. The cloth top might leak in heavy rain and won't hold much heat in the cold. Speaking of cold and to answer your question about a hood, you'll need one for the cold weather. My experience with an open motor in the bitter cold is that it just runs like ****. You just can't keep the motor warm without a hood at temps below freezing no matter what thermostat you use.
I've seen removable motorcycle type fenders used - fenders of some sort are required in some locales. Bare minimum would cover 1/4 of tire; can still remove for sunny days. Can build easily from boat trailer fenders. (from iPhone app)
A fenderless daily driver? Why not? That little black coupe to the left was my dad's daily driver for some 30 years or so. He drove the truck when the weather got really hairy or needed to haul something.
Im running a fenderless 29 Pk Up. Was not an original plan, as I put bike style fenders on it. With our POOOOR roads they lasted about 2 months and were shaken off. So now its NO fenders. I try not to run in the rain and so far its been almost a success. LOL Iceman
Well it looks like I need to rethink my chop/channel measurements. Never gave driver comfort a thought. With me being 6' and 225lbs and getting older comfort is something that I really need to consider. Will give the state DMV a call about the legal issues of a fenderless car. Did talk with a local inspector and he said a truck has to have something covering the tires. I did think about the motorcycle fenders but really do not want the h***le of taking them off and on just to satisfy the law. Hood, never gave the cold a thought. With the car being dirty all of the time, might have to rethink about my color combo. Cloth top, really does not matter to me. Thought it would be easier to do than welding up the huge openning.
I have a 29 5 window with a 6" chop and 4" channel and am just over 6'1" and 180 lbs. Comfort isn't to bad, but my seat is built at floor level and way back in the car. I have been thinking about putting a cloth top on mine, but I look through the top at stop lights to see the lights, you can't see them through the windshield very well. I can't say what it is like to drive in the rain with no fenders, haven't done it yet. I don't have any gl*** in the car yet, except for the windshield, so I would guess it would be interesting to do. Regarding cold and engine temp, yes, I could see that being an issue, bout the coldest weather I have driven it in was in the low 60s maybe high 50s and with the electric fan shut off the car would stay about 170 to 180 going down the road, forget and leave the fan running and it would drop down below 150 just running around town. When it is that temp the car seems to stay at 180 sitting at stop lights even without the fan running. I have to say, though, the car is one of the most enjoyable cars I have to run around in. Cheers RustyNCA
First off, that is a nice color! Second....a question, I live in North Ga....there is cold temps (In the winter usually around 20-40 during the day) So if I was to have a fenderless car (in the future), would I have much of a problem? -Cody
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