Hey Gasserman, thats a nice looking ride. Weren't you on Byrons site before it shut down and had a 4 dr body on the frame before a 2 dr became available? Quick question for you, what front axle width are you using (king pin centers) ? I'm starting to gather parts for my own gasser project and am on the lookout for a straight axle setup. Thanks.
Had no luck finding a axle for mine in the width I needed. Had to make one up in 36" kingpins for my narrow '46 body. The body on mine is 52" wide outside at the fenders, so with Chevy spindles and 3.5" wheels, the tires sit just inside the edge of the wheelwell openings.
Steve, what's going on with that rear fender area? Looks like the body was cut for a lowrider, and he's going back more stock style fender?
Steve: That PU is fantastic. Tell your friend good job. This is a great thread. Will post some pics of some local stuff after I get some Christmas items out of way. Merry Christmas to all you across the pond. Luke
All later commercial A40s pickups/ vans/ countryman (station wagon) had the commercial grill, the very first ones with this grill only had the lower half the grill, the hood was solid, but in tests it led to overheating, the early commercials all had the car grill and also had aluminium bodys, the van and countryman from the cab back and the pickup had a aluminium pickupbed.
Thanks for that info! I've seen the aluminum PU beds, but never an aluminum body! That would be very cool! Never seen any of those grilles on this side of the pond either!
Hey Bob (fiatgasser)... I believe this is a current pic of the Grape Ape car... Anyone have any more info or know if this is the car? It looks to be the same just painted red...
Steve, Ya, that looks like the Grape Ape Car. I noticed they got rid of the wheelie bars on it. When I had seen it run, it launched hard and got on the wheelie bars. It looked like it unsprung the right rear tire lifting it off the track. Then it took a hard right to the wall. The car owner at the time told me that he couldn't figure out why it was leaving the line so out of shape. Only now looking at the pictures I noticed the rear wheel up in the air. Great car. It is a shame they changed the color and name. To me that would be like your Dad painting the Bizio truck red and putting "Pickup Truck" on the door. Just my two cents. That being said, it is still an awesome little Austin.
Yeah i definitely agree, the lettering ins't my cup of tea either, but to each their own... It still sits nice and has the nice wheels on it. Love the look of the spindle mounts up front! I like the look of an unchopped austin Gasser. Seems like most people want to chop them.
the gary morris car pictured in the uk post was raced out of lavista ne. a suburb of omaha back in the 60's, the image is at thunder valley dragway in marion, sd. the track still exists. so does the car. it was last known as the warlock, painted black and resides in mich. somewhere. in the one shot he's racing the concoction willys later known as skyrider, it also still exists in omaha and is restored.
correction; the austin in the willys image is allen zimmerman, the panama zipper from panama, ia. no idea where that austin is.
Jeez..........that was a long time ago, not a hint of a grey hair!Thanks for the pic, I have no idea who I'm talking to either
I've spent a couple of years and a bucket full of money converting a sorry old Devon into a 61 Gasser. Originally exported to Canada in 51 and then re-imported from Washington DC in 2010 back to dear old Blighty. Has a Thompsons Garages straight tube axle kit up front and a Bronco Connections LLC Ford 9" rear. Runs a Probuild American 385 CID stroker SBC. Mainly used on the streets, but hoping for some strip action this year. Read all about it - www.checkereddemon.co.uk
Cool, that was way before I got it, very late 80's I'd guess, I bought it in '94, this is how it looked at that time in the ad in Custom Car Magazine. Thanks for posting those early shots, if you've got any more I'd appreciate them. Ray