The Jalopy Journal

Flipper · 03-01-2009, 05:09 PM

The idea of a boat-tailed speedster has been kicking around in the back of my head for a while now in various stages of design. I have actually been buying pieces and parts for a car without knowing exactly what I was going to build.

The original thought was something along the lines of the Stu Hilborn streamliner. A single seater would be cool but I think it would get pretty old riding solo for long distances.

It needed to be a two seater.

I think 20's and 30's Indy and Grand Prix cars are cool and would be the ultimate two seater. There ain't no way in hell that I could afford a real one of those though. But they can still be a source of inspiration for a car built out of cheap/almost free parts. (part of the challenge of the build)

Something kinda like this is the goal

With a little of this thrown in

Newbomb Turk · 03-01-2009, 05:12 PM

I really wanna see progress pics when/if you do this.

Flipper · 03-01-2009, 05:15 PM

The boat-tail is the dominant feature on one of these cars.

The source of the sheetmetal that will become the boat-tail is where this project gets its name.

A free 50's Cadillac roof! (and misc other parts)

The roof has had the support removed and been split down the middle.

Here is a mock up of one side. If you squint real hard you might see a boat-tail. The windshield ends will be at the rear of the car.

MEMPHIS RAT · 03-01-2009, 05:17 PM

Well its gonna be sumthin soon enough..

Flipper · 03-01-2009, 05:20 PM

The body structure is being built out of light weight 1x1 tubing.

Here is the shape of the passenger side sub-rail. Note: a couple of feet will be trimmed from the long straight section. It was placed there to eyeball the overall shape of the "car"

MEMPHIS RAT · 03-01-2009, 05:22 PM

Kool, is it gonna be a modern inline-4. Or a pre 1931 . Inline-4 ?

Flipper · 03-01-2009, 05:28 PM

OOPS! I forgot to mention the donor car for drivetrain. A 1960 Jaguar MK2 that was purchased out of the HAMB classifieds for $1000

The Jag is donating its engine (3.4 liter inline 6), trans(4 speed w/ overdrive), radiator, driveshaft, rear axle, front spindles, 4 wheel disc brakes, gauges and knock-off wire wheels!

I think it was a killer buy. A Saturday afternoon of tinkering and we had the engine running perfectly.

I don't think I took a pic of the engine. Here is a similar one. This one happens to be a 1953 version that was also bought for a reasonable price. Complete engine and trans for $600.

Newbomb Turk · 03-01-2009, 05:39 PM

DAMN! Now THAT'S a donor car.

Awesome.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flipper

OOPS! I forgot to mention the donor car for drivetrain. A 1960 Jaguar MK2 that was purchased out of the HAMB classifieds!

The Jag is donating its engine (3.4 liter inline 6), trans(4 speed w/ overdrive), driveshaft, rear axle, front spindles, 4 wheel disc brakes, gauges and knock-off wire wheels! I think it was a killer buy.

**chaddilac** · 03-01-2009, 05:55 PM

This... is gonna be good!!!

MEMPHIS RAT · 03-01-2009, 05:58 PM

weber's, straight pipe'd, one seater jag. this is gonna be sccary fast mofo.....

**cactus1** · 03-01-2009, 06:03 PM

Pardon my French but.... Fuck yeah!

Flipper · 03-01-2009, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MEMPHIS RAT

weber's, straight pipe'd, one seater jag. this is gonna be sccary fast mofo.....

No. Twin SU carbs, straight piped, two seater Jag. A yes, it should be stupid fast.

Webbers would make it faster, but the SU's have that 30's look (and they are already paid for

). This is a picture of the Offy that was in the Miller pictured above. Definetely cooler than the jag motor, but way out of my budget. The jag will be cool enough.

**charleyw** · 03-01-2009, 06:31 PM

Really cool! I wondered where that Siloam Springs Jag went.

Flipper · 03-01-2009, 06:38 PM

The Miller is also inspiration for the front suspension. I hope to be able to build similar air-foil shaped control arms. Mine are gonna be fabbed out of steel instead of cast aluminum like on the Miller. I plan on using the Jag spindles, hubs, and brakes.

bikersteve · 03-01-2009, 06:45 PM

Cool!
Looking forward to seeing this one come together

seret · 03-01-2009, 06:53 PM

I like your Ideas! the "59" car is bad ass

MEMPHIS RAT · 03-01-2009, 06:55 PM

wooden frame???, to keep it authentic???

**fab32** · 03-01-2009, 07:12 PM

Very cool. I'll be watching this one. I've been collecting parts for a couple of years to build something similar. I started with an idea for a modified but it's slowly morphing into something like your vision.

Frank

Flipper · 03-01-2009, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MEMPHIS RAT

wooden frame???, to keep it authentic???

No. Steel.

The miller is steel also.

Curved c-channel frame rails with cool crossmembers. It had FWD, IFS and IRS in 1936 or whenever it was built. Quarter eliptic springs were hidden between the A-arms.

Slonaker · 03-01-2009, 07:14 PM

Have you seen this one? It belongs to my wife's cousin...

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/?p=2069

Slonaker

View Poll Results: Should this car be built with Miller style Independent Front Suspension?
Yes, build control arms like on the 1930's Miller Indy cars	87	67.44%
No, go with a Ford style straight axle	42	32.56%
Voters: 129. You may not vote on this poll

03-01-2009, 05:09 PM	#1
Flipper Old School HAMBer Join Date: May 2003 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,131	Introducing the Roofus Special The idea of a boat-tailed speedster has been kicking around in the back of my head for a while now in various stages of design. I have actually been buying pieces and parts for a car without knowing exactly what I was going to build. The original thought was something along the lines of the Stu Hilborn streamliner. A single seater would be cool but I think it would get pretty old riding solo for long distances. It needed to be a two seater. I think 20's and 30's Indy and Grand Prix cars are cool and would be the ultimate two seater. There ain't no way in hell that I could afford a real one of those though. But they can still be a source of inspiration for a car built out of cheap/almost free parts. (part of the challenge of the build) Something kinda like this is the goal With a little of this thrown in __________________ My boat-tail speedster build (Roofus) http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...d.php?t=339315 Last edited by Flipper; 03-02-2009 at 09:26 AM.

03-01-2009, 05:12 PM	#2
Newbomb Turk Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Bloomington, Minnesota Posts: 612	Re: Introducing the Roofus Special I really wanna see progress pics when/if you do this. __________________ Oh Lawrence? Lawrence of Araaaabia?

03-01-2009, 05:15 PM	#3
Flipper Old School HAMBer Join Date: May 2003 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,131	Re: Introducing the Roofus Special The boat-tail is the dominant feature on one of these cars. The source of the sheetmetal that will become the boat-tail is where this project gets its name. A free 50's Cadillac roof! (and misc other parts) The roof has had the support removed and been split down the middle. Here is a mock up of one side. If you squint real hard you might see a boat-tail. The windshield ends will be at the rear of the car. __________________ My boat-tail speedster build (Roofus) http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...d.php?t=339315 Last edited by Flipper; 03-02-2009 at 10:08 AM.

03-01-2009, 05:17 PM	#4
MEMPHIS RAT BANNED Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Riverside, ca Posts: 290	Re: Introducing the Roofus Special Well its gonna be sumthin soon enough..

03-01-2009, 05:20 PM	#5
Flipper Old School HAMBer Join Date: May 2003 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,131	Re: Introducing the Roofus Special The body structure is being built out of light weight 1x1 tubing. Here is the shape of the passenger side sub-rail. Note: a couple of feet will be trimmed from the long straight section. It was placed there to eyeball the overall shape of the "car" __________________ My boat-tail speedster build (Roofus) http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...d.php?t=339315 Last edited by Flipper; 03-02-2009 at 10:11 AM.

03-01-2009, 05:22 PM	#6
MEMPHIS RAT BANNED Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Riverside, ca Posts: 290	Re: Introducing the Roofus Special Kool, is it gonna be a modern inline-4. Or a pre 1931 . Inline-4 ?

03-01-2009, 05:28 PM	#7
Flipper Old School HAMBer Join Date: May 2003 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,131	Re: Introducing the Roofus Special OOPS! I forgot to mention the donor car for drivetrain. A 1960 Jaguar MK2 that was purchased out of the HAMB classifieds for $1000 The Jag is donating its engine (3.4 liter inline 6), trans(4 speed w/ overdrive), radiator, driveshaft, rear axle, front spindles, 4 wheel disc brakes, gauges and knock-off wire wheels! I think it was a killer buy. A Saturday afternoon of tinkering and we had the engine running perfectly. I don't think I took a pic of the engine. Here is a similar one. This one happens to be a 1953 version that was also bought for a reasonable price. Complete engine and trans for $600. __________________ My boat-tail speedster build (Roofus) http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...d.php?t=339315 Last edited by Flipper; 03-01-2009 at 05:51 PM.

03-01-2009, 05:55 PM	#9
chaddilac Alliance Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Muskogee,OK Posts: 13,759	Re: Introducing the Roofus Special This... is gonna be good!!! __________________ Pinstriped iPhone 4 covers!! Whitewalls & Pinstriped iPhone Covers ON SALE!!

03-01-2009, 05:58 PM	#10
MEMPHIS RAT BANNED Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Riverside, ca Posts: 290	Re: Introducing the Roofus Special weber's, straight pipe'd, one seater jag. this is gonna be sccary fast mofo.....

03-01-2009, 06:03 PM	#11
cactus1 Alliance Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Beautiful Kansas City! (And beyond!!) Posts: 5,854	Re: Introducing the Roofus Special Pardon my French but.... Fuck yeah!

03-01-2009, 06:31 PM	#13
charleyw Alliance Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Broken Arrow, Ok. Posts: 1,347	Re: Introducing the Roofus Special Really cool! I wondered where that Siloam Springs Jag went.

03-01-2009, 06:38 PM	#14
Flipper Old School HAMBer Join Date: May 2003 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,131	Re: Introducing the Roofus Special The Miller is also inspiration for the front suspension. I hope to be able to build similar air-foil shaped control arms. Mine are gonna be fabbed out of steel instead of cast aluminum like on the Miller. I plan on using the Jag spindles, hubs, and brakes. __________________ My boat-tail speedster build (Roofus) http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...d.php?t=339315

03-01-2009, 06:45 PM	#15
bikersteve Grenade Inspector Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: chicagoland Posts: 159	Re: Introducing the Roofus Special Cool! Looking forward to seeing this one come together __________________ http://sicktwist.blogspot.com/

03-01-2009, 06:53 PM	#16
seret Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: VALLEJO CA. Posts: 541	Re: Introducing the Roofus Special I like your Ideas! the "59" car is bad ass __________________ http://seretspeed.blogspot.com http://seretcustoms.com

03-01-2009, 06:55 PM	#17
MEMPHIS RAT BANNED Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Riverside, ca Posts: 290	Re: Introducing the Roofus Special wooden frame???, to keep it authentic???

03-01-2009, 07:12 PM	#18
fab32 Alliance Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Bay City, Mi. USA Posts: 13,372	Re: Introducing the Roofus Special Very cool. I'll be watching this one. I've been collecting parts for a couple of years to build something similar. I started with an idea for a modified but it's slowly morphing into something like your vision. Frank __________________ "What we got here is failure to communicate"

03-01-2009, 07:14 PM	#20
Slonaker Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Marion, TX (San Antonio) Posts: 522	Re: Introducing the Roofus Special Have you seen this one? It belongs to my wife's cousin... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/?p=2069 Slonaker __________________ '37 Chevy Coupe

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