Projects Barn Find Model A Speedster -Build Thread

I'm jealous. That would be a fantastic long term project. I hope your going to share the build with us here on the HAMB.

Frank

 

Subscribed.
Makes me want to go rip the body of my A, and soup the ol pile up.

 

Great Find!

 

Man! Thats incredible! what a cool car...

 

great find!

You never said if you heard or knew about the car before...has the story of the car been passed around in family history?

J.

--the 58 ols looks like it's in decnet shape also...

 

What an awesome find! It looks like an early Indy racer, not what I would call a "speedster". But you know more about this than I do!

 

NICE find. I hope you bring it back to original specs.

Dumb question... when is a car like this a "speedster" and not just a "race car" of some type - as in midget or sprinter or whatever they were called back then? Is it a "speedster" just because it is T based? Gary

 

Kinda struggled with that question too.. T speedsters , even in racing form, had two seats, one for the driver and one for the mechanic.

Sprint car seem to come later than this car, but sprinter might fit.

 

OH YA I'm going to share the build here on the hamb.. Hope to have it done in less than a year...
depending a parts and cash........

 

i have no words to use that would do my thoughts about this car justice...

i'm going to watch your posts close... i really want to see it done. dont hurry it tho, take your time and use the right parts...

PS. thanks for sharin' your find!

 

Very cool find...

 

On the single port Rajo heads (model T), it was a trick to cut 2 ports in the opposite side of the head.

 

This is a neat find. The head alone has peaked my interest.

Can you post a picture of the combustion chamber and a close up shot of the head on the drivers side were the "extra" ports were added?

Thanks, I'll be following this one for sure !!!!!!!!!

.

 

Very cool car plus family history? Doesn't get any better!

 

agreed. the head was the first thing i saw in the "inside the barn" photos that got my attention!

 

Just think for a monent what is needed to "Add" ports to the other side of a Riley 2port head.

 

eggzsakeree

 

I'll get some shots as soon as it comes back from the machine shop

 

Took a break from welding and managed to get about half the buck (pattern) done for the new body. Just need to do the tail..

Won't be to long now before I can start shaping some metal

 

wow, good to see that you have gotten stuck into this thing, spose you know about the monthly banger meets, will be watching this thing grow!

 

Heard about the bangers,, Was going to pick their brains for info and help

 

it doesn't look like the rails are Ford, GM maybe? or have they been cut and Z'd over the rear axel?

 

We're watching and waiting.


.

 

The rear hasn't been Z'd... Only the front has been 'rounded'.. stock looking frame anyhow??

 

Somebody mentioned an Essex frame, but I haven't found a good pic of one to tell..

 

My close friend who is long time midget racer and builder has one of these in his shop that he picked up a year ago up in northern NY at a meet. I should take some pics and post it for you so you can see the similarities. He is a walking dictionary on these old midget and sprint cars. I think he has 8 currenty in his museum. I will ask him about the history of these frames and bodies. The story of his purchase is another thing in itself but I will cover that on another thread sometime so as not to steal your thread here. I am subscribing to this so I can show him the updates.

 

That's just plain cool Ron!!! The frame looks like it was built to race. It reminds me of the Millers frame with the kick in the rear.

What does it have for steering?

 

Way, way, cool!

 

I can't wait to see the finished product! Going to be so cool...

 

Back in the day they would cut the top rear corners out of a sedan body to get the basic shape for the grille shell. The bodies were attached to the frame with a section of angle that was riveted to the cowl and tail. Have you picked up any literature form back in the day along with period photos? Lots of info out there, just ask. Bob