In January this year I took a huge leap of faith. I left the shop I was working at to start my own thing, Mann Automotive. It has been a dream of mine that I didn't think would happen until somewhere around my the middle of my life(I just turned 20), and while my feet still haven't hit solid ground, I couldn't be happier. While waiting for steady paying work, I decided to put my hands and head to work. I have been wanting to build a modified for a really long time, and had amassed just enough parts to figure out that I really needed more parts.... My main inspiration is hands down the Atlas Chrome Special. This will be built out of mostly free, traded, or very inexpensive parts. The front axle is an early mopar, rear is early '32, and a cut up A frame. I'll be using an A engine and trans I already have unless something better pops up. This will be more of a photo journal than build thread, and who knows where it'll all go! Thanks for following along! Joe Mann Heres a pic of the Atlas Chrome special. I think it crashed and was rebuilt, and I can't remember if this is the first or second version. (These start about two weeks back)
Nice work. Keep at it. I know from experience how stressful opening your own shop is, but the highs will outweigh the lows. Good luck!
good luck with the shop and the build. I have a brother in Rough & Ready, near you? Tim (He's an Alfa guy and has a firetruck).
For the moment it's grass roots, and not listed anywhere as a business. I will get there, need to produce some revenue first.. Not enough of them around if you ask me! Build one! Thank you! Yes thats about 35+ minutes away. I'm up Hwy 49 past the Yuba river, about 25 minutes out of Nevada City.
Set up a website first. Do it cheap - not much more info than a business card to start. Put phone # and link to email (use gmail for spam protection). Done (for now) and about $20-40 total.
I just checked - mannautomotive.com is taken but jmannautomotive.com and mann-automotive.com (with hyphen) are available. Grab one now. Edit: jmanautomotive is also available. If you get jmannautomotive get jmanautomotive too so you don't have to spell it each time. Redirect it to the same website.
Man life is crazy sometimes, gotta laugh it off though! I spent the whole morning on the phone and online, ordering a bunch of tools from @BAILEIGH INC.... Super excited about that! As my own boss I've been learning how much work is really behind every hour of paying work.. Its all just part of the process.
That modified if going to be killer. Frame turned out nice. Are going to use the '23 (?) T cowl up on on your wall? Great shop space. Geev 'em!
Just looked up the "Atals Chrome Special". Good inspiration. The cowl on that thing looks reeeeally tricky.
Yeah the whole body will be a challenge, still have a lotta work on the body buck. A friend's coming over to check out the shop today, might end up doing some work on a deuce tudor he has, wants to get the metalwork done then maybe get it driving!
Ok, I'm in on this one just to see where it goes and what you end up with. And maybe to borrow an idea or two along the
The Atlas Chrome Special has to be one of the most beautiful.... I think it's mostly in that special grill shell. Fascinating how your'e shaping it up. Keep posting those pics! And mostly from cast off, on hand parts... I'm following you on this one......................
Good luck on your business venture. And as said please post pics on the metal progress. That nose will be challenging to say the least.
Good luck with the new business. What a great car to pick as an inspiration for a three springer. Sad the original grille was lost in a wreck. Bob
So I decided to start tackling the front axle and suspension.. Here are some photos! Joe ...U-bolts will be recessed into the axle to make the tops flush.
The Jalopy Journal
