Projects Bugnotti build

Hey guys I've been a long time lurker around here, never posted cause i didn't have anything to post up.
A couple months ago I started a project car. The idea is to build a Bugatti-esque type cigar car.

I started building the chassis after reading a thread on making your own
frame rails, thanks Paul.

I've linked it from Bangshift.com (formerly Frieburgersjunkyard(also formerly Carjunkietv.com)) Davids now defunct website.

http://www.bangshift.com/forum/index.php?topic=9734.0

Let me know what you think, I've been needing a reason to post here.



Thanks,
Chris

 

Nice choice of car style. I've been working on one similar myself:



I like your choice of an inline six. Are you going to make a grille for it like this?



For more pics search "1930s era champ car project".

 

I dig your build. Is that a mopar axle?

 

Great start, keep us posted!
-Saint

 

What part of KY ya from?

Rich

 

Thanks guys,

The skinny is this. The old Apache in the frist pic got ripped apart by my friend,don't worry she's riding low and smooth now 76 gmc front clip,sbc,12 bolt rear.

Anyway i got all the goodies out from under her as well as the 235, for next to nothing.
So it's All 58.
235
6 bolt frt. axle
" " Rr. axle
117 1/2" wheel base (same as apache, didn't want to mess with the steering arms)
62" track width.
Aprox 30" tall.

 

Shelby just east of Louisville.

 

That's awsome, No nothing that complicated. More like The T59 mid 20's. I like the the trackster look but didn't want to mimic any existing body.
For my first scratch build it would show my learning curve. So a basic cigar car,nothing fancy. Though the BoatTail is still on my mind. I'm not the best metal shaper. I may have to find someone around here to build it.
Chris

 

You will like the 117" wb, smoother ride, slower handeling. Looks great so far.
I've always looked for one of those Bugatti kit car bodies at the swap meets.
I think that one could build a killer "cigar" car with the running gear from an early p/u. and one of those bodies.
Then again, it wouldn't be impossible to make up that style of body with conduit and flat aluminum. Keep us posted.

 

Must be something in the Kentucky air or water. I'm working on a boat-tail that is influenced by european racers too.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=339315&highlight=roofus

 

Chris, that will be very cool! You might enjoy reading about my art deco roadster build. It's a bit more complex that what you are talking about but it might give you some ideas. I started out wanting something a lot simpler but things evolved like they usually do....

http://imperialwheelingmachines.com/roadster/Index.htm

I'm not all that far south of you...near Huntsville, Al.

 

Thanks that's a lot of info. I will dig through it. I dig build threads, esspecially ones that ae detailed.

This is what i posted for, don't get me wrong the guys at BS are great a few are Hamber's as well, but most are muscle car and racers. They don't get as excited about this kind of thing.
Chris

 

Do you have a target date of when it will be a car?

 

Man, I was really shoot'n for aug.I'm tryin to have it at least complete just short of it's last tear down. If for no other reason than to put a price on it and take her to the Nat's in louisville. I don't really want to get rid of it, but if someone wants it, i can build another.

What about you? I dig your running gear, I'm still trying to figure out my boattail.
Good luck man, By the way what part of ky are you in?

 

I am hoping for late summer as being somewhat functional. That is just a wild guess. I missed my guess on the rusty 48 by a year. In reality, it will probably be next year.

If GM or Chrysler do any worse (and I get laid off. I work for a supplier) I will use the downtime to work on mine.

I live in Franklin, KY .....but my toys are at my Dad's house out side of Memphis, TN (I don't have a garage at my house).

 

Off subject but that wall is crazy. I'm guessing some kind of link to a door business?

good luck with the project

 

So the past few days, I've been trying to sort out the bulkhead and pedal mounting.
The pedals are out of a 53 GMC. I love them, but they are too wide.
I'd been thinking of changing the m up a little. Here's what i came up with during lunch..
So stock they are wide, as you can see the brake is hanging over the tranny, This is
to get the clutch pedal inside the body.

Before we get into it, here's the linkage, I'm going to have to cut and relocate the arm that disengages the clutch.
And by flipping the pivot rod I can pull the fork in stead of pushing (stock arrangement).
This should work out well, i can also use the stock frame bracket on the frame rail.

So i cut into the clutch pedal (no torch) and tweaked her inboard. Obviously this makes things crooked.

Instead of heating and winging it up i came up with this.


So with that i should be able to make some more room. It'll never have much but using it
efficiently is whats important. Plus i think this looks a little more correct than having the pedals
horizontal.
So, what do ya think?

 

what overall look are you going for ??

here's a shot of an early bug in our local museum

 

Great project! I worked in a Bugatti restoration shop for 14 years so I'll be following this build. That radiator shell came out real nice. Looks like you are basing this built on a Type 59 correct? One of my dream projects is a Type 57SC inspired coupe based on a 35-36 Ford 3Window.

 

awesome keep sending in updates

 

Here is a rear view of a Type 59.

 

Here's a build where the guy is usin' the roof from a '54 Cadillac to make the body.....
http://www.clubhotrod.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=41185

 

The Roofus Special is here on the HAMB as well.

 

Thanks guys,

Yeah going for the T59, I've been floating around here looking through the forums for a few years now. I also frequent the bugatti registry, lots of galleries and pics.

I don't have access to alot of fancy tools, and it's being built on a super tight budget. So it won't be exactly like anything. Just taking cues from the period.

Kid37
I'm jealous of you'r old job. If I was a better metal shaper I'd like to build an 57 Atlantic based car. MAybe in a few years.


The guy who's building the roofus is on the first page. Flipper posted a link earlier, but thanks though. He's also a fellow Ky boy as well.

 

cm325

how about something like this

 

That 4 into 1 header-muffler is kinda cute.

 

Thats kinda something i was thinking about. Or something like the 1924 bentley 8 litre. With that leather Weiman (sp?) body. super light and a little more forgiving than metal.
Or something like the Decorides boatail.



obviously not that elegant but using the wood to make the top bow.

There's a guy on here with a set of 32 chevy 6 lug wires, I'd love to get, but they're in Jersey about 700+ miles, I guess if they're not too heavy I could have them ground shipped. I really need a set of wires for this rather than the 50's steel wheels that are on it.

 

I'd have to argue against wood being more forgiving. With finished wood, there is no way to hide your mistakes. With metal, bondo and paint can hide a lot of mistakes and do-overs.

 

Yeah I'll give you that, I was meaning for the Weiman body, it's covered in a
leather-ette kinda material. I figured once you make the skeleton and and have the furlongs then just plain it out and smooth the edges, then cover it all with the material.
But i do get what you're saying to have an exposed wooden boat tail would be a little more of an undertaking.

I'm just trying to figure it out on the cheap, the yard around here doesn't really have a roof i could steal so, I'm stuck with using an old hood thats narrowed to hell, or coming up with something on my own.

 

I've seen some that used a narrowed '40 Ford hood with great success.