Hi guys, I'd like to introduce you to my ongoing project. But first, I've got to tell you that I'm a French guy, living in France and I'm building my rod on a French car. It might not be a traditional hot rod in the sense that it's based on an old Peugeot, but if you look at it from a distance, it might pass for a weirdly small 34 Ford... The guidelines for this build are : -trying to keep it as "traditional" as possible -trying to keep it as cheap as possible -built it all by myself here's the car when I saw it the first time : It's a 1934 peugeot 201. It started its life as small 2 doors car and got hacked into a pickup probably after WWII. here's a better view of the car once I brought it back to my shop :
I like it. How do you plan to deal with limitations on engine size and modifications? A newer Peugeot drivetrain? Are you keeping it as a truck or rebuilding as a car? How much latitude is there for a restoration versus hot rodding? Sent from my SM-G965U using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
here's what used to propel the car : a 1.2L 23hp flathead 4, with a 3 speed manual sending power to the rear end via a torque tube. the engine is dead seized and won't be used. Gearbox, torque tube and rear axle have been sold to get some money for the build. nothing more than a big paperweight now, so I yanked it out
Cool truck. I'd be stuffing a Simca V8-60 in that thing tout suite! I have a 60 in my Bantam in place of the tiny 4 banger. Tight fit but doable.
there is absolutely no aftermarket parts for these cars, so upgrading the existing engine is not an option. rebuilding it to stock body would imply buying another donor car, so I'll keep it as a truck : after all, it's part of the car's history. But I'll make a new stepside bed.
here's the engine I will be using : it's a Ford V4. these were used in many Ford cars for the european Ford division. mine's from an old mk1 Transit van (exchanged it for and old moped). transmission is a 4 speed manual from a Granada and rear axle is from a Simca Aronde I started that build a few years ago so I'll be posting pictures and comments until I get to what it is now
let's talk wheels. the stock bolt patern is 4x130 (metric, sorry). I wanted some wire wheels for this car, but theses are very, very... very rare. so I got a set of english MG-A wheels I'll bolt on with a Rudge adapter
here's a view of the front axle : from start to 1933 it sported a solid straight beamvthen in 1934 they changed the design and went with independent wheels I'm working on the rebuilding of the front end. I was able to find some NOS spindle rebuilt kits (pretty expensive parts) . the wishbones were badly bent as the car had been moved with a forklift. Some adjustements under a press solved this. I also plan to lower the car as it sits pretty high. I'll reverse the two split beams and the longer leaf springs, this should do for a nice drop.
yeah it looks like it belongs in there, except for the alternator that sticks out too much. I could have gone for a v6 but it would've been a really tight fit!
I presume thats the gas tank on the firewall. That’s a hazard i would think . What are your plans for shifting that? Cool build , and use what’s available.
Looking forward to your build. I have a small European car too where there isn't a lot of aftermarket support.
Merci! Tu es Suisse? toutes les pièces d'origine que j'ai revendues pour l'instant, ce sont des Suisses qui sont venus les chercher chez moi dans le nord est de la France car elles sont semble t'il difficile à trouver chez vous. you're right, that's the gas tank. As there's no history of it being particularly a danger in case of an accident or some "spontaneous" fires, I will keep it. Plus it's in mint condition, absolutely no corrosion on or in it. But I'll be very cautious with all the fittings and such, I don't want any leaks near the engine. The real downside is its capacity. This would eventually push me to put a tank under the bed with a neck on the side. Please tell me more, what car do you have? That's the tranny I had with the engine, it's from a MK1 Ford Transit van. That handle is a mounting point (missing a ruber bushing). I can't use it as the shifting commands are located on the left side and stick right into the pedals. I'll use a Ford Granada tranny which has mounts under the case and shifting commands on top
Absolutely love it, more updates please. That van is a candidate for some TLC, blown Hemi maybe? I remember the V4 Ford Transits as we had them down here as well. Your grill is reminiscent of the Ford Brewsters of that era. Here's a HAMB thread by a Polish member building a Peugeot 301 RPU and a Peugeot 401 I posted
Fantastic, The French automobiles of the thirties were some of the nicest built. I often wonder why I don’t more done as Rods. I really dig the layout of this pickup, especially the independent I Beam Front End.
some people actually already made a gasser with one of those simca/fiat: https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=647182175711824 I knew about the brown 401 truck, it's a french car too. that 301 seems to be a nice project. 301 and 401 are almost the same cars as my 201, just bigger. yeah, they really improved the drivetrain on this MK2 and the chassis comes boxed from factory. Mk1 had a straight I beam and a more flexible chassis as the rails were just U shaped
they're not that rare. Peugeot, Citroen and Renault of that era were common cars. These days you can find bodies, chassis... sometimes a nice barn find. they're not expensive either, I got mine for 1500 euros (would be 1700-1800$). the real problem is about spare parts : there are almost none. some hoarders have loads of parted cars on shelves but will only sell to people restauring the cars to stock. hot rodding is very frowned upon (but still many people do it)
[QUOTE the real problem is about spare parts : there are almost none. some hoarders have loads of parted cars on shelves but will only sell to people restauring the cars to stock. hot rodding is very frowned upon (but still many people do it)[/QUOTE] Looks like this happens everywhere.....you just tell them you are restoring one...until you saw the light & changed your mind! Good luck with this cool project!
Neat car. I kinda like it fenderless. But the independent front suspension might be a little too cumbersome looking to be hanging out there.