Doane Spenser Roadster restore Coverage?

[Kilroy]

Did any mags cover the "restoration" of the Spenser Roadster?

Can you tell me which one had the best coverage?

Or does anybody have any pics of the the build up? I have some questions that I can seem to formulate. Pictures would help. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[Kilroy]

I vaguely remember a shot of the frame, with grill and cowl installed but don't remember which mag.

Anyone?

What about original build photos?

[NealinCA]

[ QUOTE ]

What about original build photos?

[/ QUOTE ]

I would like to see info on this car as well.

I just saw in the new "50 Years of R&C" book, that Doane did some tech articles for R&C around 1960. It showed a pic of him mounting the nerf/headlight bar on the car.

Someone like lowlife or Lurker Mick may know what issues had articles on the car, but I would start checking 1960 R&C's.

Neal

[klazurfer]

Here are a "build-up" pic from the fifties , Taken from the Don Montgomery book " Hot Rod Memories" http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif( Sorry about the sad quality )

[Kilroy]

Thanks Klaz...

Are there any more pics of it in that book? I've been meaning to pick one up for ever now and have it on my christmass list but maybe it can't wait. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[klazurfer]

Kilroy .. Nope , That is the only pic. With that said , Please keep the Don Montgomery Books on your Xmas-wish-list !! They are priceless ..!! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
BTW , I know abit about the spencer-car , so please feel free to ask ..

[Kilroy]

Ok then here goes...

Does it have a kick-up in the rear at all or is it stock 32 frame?

Also what's going on in the front? Is that a commercial axle or is it dropped? Also what kind of front cross-member did he use to incorporate the spring-behind stup?

Thanks in advance for the help Klaz!

[klazurfer]

Kilroy .. Yup , The frame has a nice kick-up in the rear .
In the front , the frame has a "Z" to clear the draglink.
Stock `32 axle , Spring behind axle , And I belive a stock `A-Ford traverse was moved backwards to pick up the spring .

[klazurfer]

Prolly something like this :

[klazurfer]

I forgot : The frame was not only given a "Z" , but it was also narrowed to fit the Grille-shell OD .. , The"Nerf-bar"was a neat piece who also carried the head-lamps.

[klazurfer]

Stupid pic , but I hope you can make some sense out of it http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

[klazurfer]

BTW .. Glad you asked Kilroy ! I don`t know nutn` much But this kinda shit... Or should I say Worthless shit .. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[Kilroy]

Thanks Klaz for the pics. It helps me visualize. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Sure wish I had a shot of the rear Kick-up they used...

It doesn't look to me like it's a full frame-width kick? I guess I could be wrong.

[Lowlife]

Kilroy,I enlarged these a little.

[Lowlife]

This article is in R&C,Dec.'96.I'm sure St.Rodder did an article about that time.

[Lowlife]

If you and Neal don't have that issue,I'll be glad to scan it for ya.

[NealinCA]

[ QUOTE ]
If you and Neal don't have that issue,I'll be glad to scan it for ya.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes please http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif I can always rely on you for digging up magazine articles. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

What trans is that, 48 Lincoln OD?

Thanks,

Neal

[Lowlife]

I'll get right to it, Neal...I'm good for something,eh?Correct on the tranny.

[296 V8]

If this turned into a full on what does everyone know? About the DS roadster post, I would be very grateful. That is my all-time favorite car. I plan on doing a very similar 32 chassis for my 27 roadster.

[scruff]

There was a good article in a mid 70's Rod Action about Dave Gale's clone of the Spencer car.It had some good construction shots and details.

[roadstar]

The Doane Spencer roadster is my all time favroit roadster.
Here is a rare pic of the car with FENDERS!

[296 V8]

Not hijacking, just BTTing
http://pic14.picturetrail.com/VOL538/2603122/5256094/68811443.jpg
http://pic14.picturetrail.com/VOL538/2603122/5256094/68811495.jpg

Here are two of three shots that I spotted in “THE BIRTH OF HOT RODDING”. I guess the author (Robert Genat) didn’t recognize the car.

[Kilroy]

Thanks Guys!

I have that Dec 96 Rod and Custom. The pictures are a little poor but I see what I was looking for. Thanks Low.

I also have the Dec 96 Street Rodder but nothing was in that one.

Can someone check their stash of winter 96 type Street Rodders to see if there's anything in them?

It's weird. I've always liked the car a lot but I never really thought about how it was built untill Grim mentioned the front suspension on the 5K rod post. That triggered a distant memory and here we are. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

It truely is quite an example of thinking outside the box on a car that could otherwise be a bellybutton car today. Like all art, the more I see the more I like. And if more people looked at it, I bet we'd have more interesting traditional rods out there.

[Tom Branch]

The roadster is usually on display in the Petersen Museum in L.A. Your in socal, you could go study it in person, might be a useful trip, could help answer your unanswered questions.

Neal East, the former owner of the car used to live a couple blocks away from me in Alhambra. When I was in my teens I'd stop by every once in a while and check it out. At that time he had the car torn apart as he was in the process of restoring it himself and was making a few Doane Spencer approved "updates". I was sad to see him sell the car after owning it for so long, but at the same time happy to see it properly restored.

Tom

[296 V8]

Tom
Do you have any idea how much he sold it for?

[Kevin Lee]

What an amazing car. And the chassis is so perfect, balanced... just SMART. What is the deal with that transmission? Neal said '48 Lincoln OD - Are/were they rare/expensive? Looks like a good answer for someone who wants overdrive and a torque tube...but it might be just as expensive as a Columbia or other OD units. Anyone know?

[Kilroy]

Hey Tom it's good to see you on the board. This is Phil... From Whittier.

I've seen it at the Peterson. I think I even took a bunch of pictures of it there. I just never really thought about what made it so perfect before. I just stared at it and said wow.

Doane might have been the first person to use remote controls for a car stereo too for those car audiophiles. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Grim- I gotta agree with you about the chassis too. It's like the muscles of a cat rippling under the surface. It's ballanced, muscular, and simple all at the same time. I do wonder about that X member though... Did he form that himself? Is it overkill you think?

[Kilroy]

Does anybody know if he used a hydrolic clutch mechanism, with the second Brake resavour for the clutch?

I can't see any link between the hanging clutch pedal and the clutch.