Ive been thinking about building an old '20s open-wheel racer (like the early Bentleys or Peugots). Ive been looking at a lot of early pictures, and the bodies were extreamly simple (mostly flat surfaces, over wooden sub-structures) and the frames were similar to the ones used on practically all other cars of the day (large wheel base, parallel leaf springs in front etc..). Anyone ever heard of someone doing something like this? If I did, how could I register it? It would literally be built from scratch. Any thoughts or input would be great. Thanks, -Dean
Here's a pretty cool book from Lindsay on automobile sheetmetal construction from back then... http://www.lindsaybks.com/bks5/autosheet/index.html Also, I have a scan of How to Build a Racing Car (1950) by Domark and could email a few pages if you'd like. .
Cool idea. Check with your state DMV; most (some?) will register it as a "homebuilt" & ***ign you a serial number. ~ Paul aka "Tha Driver" Giggle Cream - it makes dessert *funny*!
I have often thought of the same thing. Like a Barney Olfield indycar. I used to know where a perfect late 20s Lincoln ch***is was with those huge buffalo wires, and maybe a liberty engine or something really big.
Have you lost your mind? Absolutely not! I think that open wheel is where its at! Do it! You might think about looking for a donor car like a Buick, Marmon, Packard, Hudson etc...there are lots of things you can do with those big six or straight eight engines! Coupla carbs, change the rear end, overdrive. I would certainly think about something with wire wheels. You can usually find something like that relatively inexpensive. Am working on a 1910 vintage Indy style hot rod right now. 50 hp Rutenber with 25 inch Houk wires, will put brakes on all four, and probably use later model rear end. I plan on it doing 100 mph...but gotta stop too! Some of the best guys at building these types of cars hang around the Great Race. Good luck to ya!
I think I'll do it. I have a lead on a frame that could work, and I have a straight six I could use for now (straight eight down the road though). Heres a pic of what I was thinking: http://www.svvs.org/genpics3/1913_French_Grand_Prix.jpg -Dean
Right on! I saw a 50s Bentley done that way once. The owner said it was called a "Special." According to him, lots of Bentleys had sub-par sheetmetal made in the war-torn steel mills. He said several years were really, really prone to rust. And there was a good business in converting the remains into fenderless specials. Sweet car. Big hot rod. Way cool. Not quite as big or shiny as the Blast-o-line special. .
This is my project. Curt6 gave me a '49 Ford roof to built the tail section with. The rest is flat sheet. Someone posted a Pdf file with directions a year or so ago, but I can't remember who? I wish I had taken a closer look at the cars of Frank Kurtis Before I started. They were a little wider so the body covered the frame rails and it made for a Very clean looking car. Charlie
How about building along the lines of something closer to home, like Frank Lockhart's Miller 91 (shown here in 1931 when it was several years old, with Louis Meyer in the ****pit, when the car was powered by a "big" 230-cid Miller I-8)? Adapt a few existing stampings to build the tail, cowl, and nose, fit some flat panels for a very handsome American racecar.
Check out the Spring/Summer Coker Catalog on page 8 ....... I LOVE that 1937 Buick Shafer 8 Indy racer. The grill, the headlights, body etc. C'mon Corky post some pics of that mad beast! John
Here's a cool thread from last year that has some pretty detailed plans for a vintage single seater dirt track racer ... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=16409&
Here is a link or two to check out my Shafer 8. Probably some other pictures on the Great Race site, but haven't looked lately. http://www.greatrace.com Here is some: http://www.coker.com/store/gallery/index.php?gallery=./The%20Great%20Race%202004&image=GreatRace2004+-+2.jpg and one more http://www.coker.com/store/gallery/index.php?gallery=./Featured%20Montly%20Photos&image=DSC00001.jpg You might also enjoy seeing the 1909 Lozier we drove in 2003: http://www.coker.com/store/gallery/index.php?gallery=./Featured%20Montly%20Photos&image=DSC00009.jpg I actually drove that car around the track at Indy at 74 mph! It was a trip! Best, Corky
Simon, Thank you! Those are the plans I am using. I must say, for having no skill, and not much in the way of tools, my car is coming together great.
I was thinking about doing one for my next project, I like this style the most, A nice rounded boattail design, but without the fancy cowl ect...
Glad to see somebody doin' something with those plans, I've not gotten anywhere on mine, cept collected some parts. ****O
I have a rather large book showing how to accomplish this using different drivetrains, plus giving dimensions and techniques for making the curved body panels. It walks you through the building process of metalshaping and joining metals without welding...., just about bolting everything together....!!! This is by far the most comprehensive book I've seen on this subject and I'll get the Authors name and the book ***le later Mark
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