Projects Well, I got a new project....kinda wierd!

I sold my '56 Plymouth a while back, and went out and bought a bike. This morning I picked up my new project. I've always liked the oddball stuff, so it's no surprise that I bought a '60 Rambler American. It's in really nice shape, and the flathead 6 runs. I'll be changing the drivetrain, and am not sure what "look" I'll go for. A mild custom would be different, for me......or maybe a serious hot rod, with a cage, big meats, and serious hp. Does anyone know what one of these weighs? I couldn't find a tag with the weight on it. I'll be posting updates as soon as I get started.

 

Looks solid!

 

The sedan weighs in around 2500-2600 lbs. if I'm not mistaken...

 

It really does look like a nice solid and complete car. I think it has gasser written all over it.

 

that car would make a great custom but i'd go all or nothing if you go that route and it could be an expensive and time consuming endeavor to say the least.... now, how about goin gasser on that bitch? radiused wheel wells and giant slicks on mag wheels out back, skinnies on a tube straight axle up front with a transverse OR parallel leaves and no brakes. ofcourse then you need a big ole honkin motor with a blower and/or fuel injection for the "right" look. i guess your not gonna get off cheap either way but i still think the gasser would be less time consuming and easier to do.
one thing is for certain. there is potential there if you have the drive and the nerve to go through with it.

i picture the stance something like this with similar size rear tires and closely cut quarters...

 

Very COOL

 

If memory serves, these are unibody cars. That might limit you some, unless you want to go for the extra $ and time involved to subframe it depending on what you want to do. I like the gasser idea. An alternative would be to replace the driveline and front and rear suspensions. Lower the car a little, but move the wheels out (the track on these cars is really skinny, and looks kinda weird) and radius the wheelwells to match. Then, steel wheels and dog dish hubcaps. Or torque thrusts. Or......

 

yeah. the more i look at it the more i think "GASSER". lose the front bumper and grill. stick a MOON tank in the grill opening. toss the hood and make the nose tilt forward. stick the motor back as far as you dare (i picture the "bug catcher" sticking up through a Lexan windshield) and mount the seats all the way back to the rear wheel tubs... go heavy flake on the paint job and spray the windows with candy paint in a color that will compliment your "bass boat" flake job, then letter that bitch up. maybe some gold or silver leaf.

 

They are unibody cars. Von Zacho has a mild custom that is fun to cruise around. They are definately cool cars.

 

I definitely dig the gasser look, as evidenced by my Plymouth. Whatever I do will not lead to huge motors, lexan windows, etc., as I plan to use it as a daily driven car. I've been checking out engine swap/subframe options, and hope to make a dependable, good-handling vehicle that runs damned good and can be driven anywhere, any time.

 

Gasser....
12 spokes, Halibrands Pie crust slicks, injected small block.

 

That's kinda what I was thinkin>>>>.

 

cut out the floors (and uni-body) and build a simple 2x3 chassis. build it flat on the floor. the "kick ups" would be simple. then build an old style roll cage. do your research and build it as true to the era of your choice for extra points. pay attention to roll cage and suspension design from that era. that should realy impress the detail minded history snobs.

by the way, the Bug Eyed Sprite above is a clone of one raced by Bill Bierman Sr. in the 60s. it was a unibody that they mounted a 348 Chevy into. roll cage and support structure was black pipe! i believe Bill Jr. built a 2x3 tube chassis when he built the clone for his dad as a fathers day gift.

 

and...

 

I couldn't agree more! Besides that, the weirder the better!

 

so you want to build a "Street Rod" then. .....

 

I agree with all the GASS'r stuff only I'd drop the whole schpeel down on the ground with a huge rake. Congrats! I love these tubs! Salt flats looking deal like Tardel's salt n' pepper car would be cool too, hold the graphics!

 

One of the magazines did a little concept drawing on one of these. It was lowered and had a hemi packed into it. I rember it cause one sat in a driveway near a friends place. - i thnk it was hot rod mag.

 

I got a rebuilt big block chebby sitting here looking for a home... whatchya think?
(Hmmm... Rambler + 454 = crazyfun!)

I will put on my greasy shirt, and be right over!

 

Cool little car, had a 61 convertible in NM while in the AF, fun car, always wanted another, lots of luck with your 60.

 

Someone had a rambler like this in the classified not too long ago (IL or IN?), and someone posted renderings of the gasser look that would be spot on. I checked but could not find the add...Perhaps someone recalls and can post.

 

It's not weird...and it's not gasser material. They were not built into gassers back in the day, ans shouldn't be now.
Mild street custom, sure
Super Gas like the photo, sure
Tube axle, nose high, gasser wanabe...never

 

Hey Animal, Now that'll make a really neat ride. Have you got any style or color ideas?

Cooter

 

Not even close...if you'd seen my Belvedere, you'd know it won't be a "street rod", just a dependable driver that's fun and fast.

 

If I decide to go with the Big Block deal, I'll give you a call! I like that blue flamed American! (except for the scoop)

 

Make it a Gasser!

 

Interesting use of a VW front beam.

 

The more I think about it, the more I think I'll go the mild custom route with some grunt under the hood, but not huge hp. I'd like to be able to drive it to Austin, Joplin, etc. without selling everything I own to pay for fuel. As for color(s), it's definitely nice enough to finish and paint (and I've already done the patina thing). If it gets painted, it'll probably be semi-mild, without all the flake, etc. that I was into for so long. I'd rather park it and walk away than sit and watch it so nobody will touch/scratch it. Life's too short! I'm thinking something dark, to make it look even smaller, with some subtle touches around body mods, etc.

 

Jeeze, some of you would make a phony gasser out of anything. Even an Amish wagon. Won't be long before someone posts a pic of that stupid looking '65 Galaxie with the mudbogger stance. Fake gassers are the new rat rods...

 

Yeah, "gassers" are everywhere.....that's the main reason I want to do something different. It's hard telling what will happen, but it will surely be "different".