History The Markley Bros BELLY TANK: A Pictorial History

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This photo shows there is no doubt the car ran a swing axle rear end. Remarkable engineering for the time.

 

Check out the scatter shield in post 178, 179, 180. THAT is an incredible car. 280 mph in a damn gerbil ball 3 inches above the salt. WTF ! ?

 

This is defenet profe of I'm born at least thirty years too late!

Love everything about it! Wish I was there, the car guys around my neigherborhood dont know there @@s from a hole in the ground!

But this is determent men, with the means too make it happen, and other people around to back them up. It's not only charley, no tv show and no drama!

 

It is my favorite Bonneville tank, still have the issue of Hot Rod were it was the cover car. Wonder id any of that rear swing axle design has anything in common with the Allard setup from the early 1950's. Bob

 

The swing axle was home built from Ford pieces. The Brisette Brothers tank ran the same set up. You can see some of the details in this photo.

 

My understand is that the swing axle was a design used by Bob Herda in his 'liner. And Keniz and Lesily in there's My roadster also uses that basic design. V8 quick change (I seem to remember Charlie telling me they used a Model A QC) Lincoln Bells and U joints. Mine has '56 Olds outers.

 

Thanks for the info Rich. I knew the design went back quite a ways. Didn't some of the rear engine modified roadsters run swing axles back in the day?

 

@RichFox & @Dean Lowe -

Not to get too far off topic from the focus of this thread (the Markley's belly tank) ... but for reference ... Here's a (circa 1955) pic of the Herda #999 "Attempt 1" streamliner's rear-end:

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... and a couple (circa 1961) pics of the Herda #999 streamliner's swing-axle rear-end:

click thumbnails to enlarge​

 

I believe that style of swing axle rear was some what popular at that time. I don't know, but I may be the only one still running with one. I think it was popular because it allowed the solid coupling of the rear with the trans in as well as being a sort of IRS. Mine uses cross torsion bars similar to the Herda car.

 

Thanks for the additional photos. It's great to see more pics of my dad and all his friends.

 

Charlie was gracious enough to send me several B&W prints (& 2 color postcards) from the Markley family photo album ...

A snapshot of the #360C belly tank at the Wendover airport in October of 1965:

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Several (circa 1966) B&W snapshots of the #360C lakester:

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