Projects Indy Racer Style Roadster 1st Time out

Rolled the roadster out of the shop in the sunlight for the first time.

Homemade Rigling/Henning style frame - welded from 5 mm Steel.
'35 Dodge axles converted to side steer '36 Chevy steering box custommade steering arm.
Firewall welded from 5 mm aluminum plate sanded and wirebrushed for cast look.
Chrysler six - 3speed manual stock now - will have 2 Zenith NDIX 32 carbs on homemade manifold.
Started body out of 2 mm Aluminum.

Try to find the time to make a proper build thread......

Mario

 

more pics...

 

Mmmmm... .
Marcus...

 

Beautiful work! Keep the updates coming.

 

That car is just so cool. Way to go. Gary

 

Looks to be an outstanding build, keep posting upgrades!
Malcolm

 

I like how you've started. Keep up the posting so we can follow along.

 

Slick. An Indy roadster. those were the days when they still ran roadsters.
I was at the race the year that the last roadster ran. Not that it makes me special.
My Ol' Man had a friend that had movies from Indy when they still ran roasters.

they are just cool glad to see you building one.

 

That is a nice car! And I like it a lot.

This might be the new inspiration for my build, along with @2NDCHANCE and @Chris Cagny roadster/boattail, dry lake style, race car.

 

Lovely!

 

Off to a great start.Keep the updates coming.
Good luck.Have fun.Be safe.
Leo

 

Ok looks like there is some interest.
Not sure if i took enough pics over the past 3 years - yes i took that long as i am only working saturdays on my project. The rest of the week i do coachbuilding and fabricating for customers on their prewar cars.


I try to achieve a 1930's period perfect look for the roadster.

I built the frame similar to the Rigling/Henning frames standard for Indyracers at the time.
Frame is 5mm Steel ( ST52 ) no ordinary mild steel. It has a higher tensile strength.
Using '35 Dodge axles - built a custom steering arm so i had sidesteering - draglink Dodge -
steeringbox and pitmanarm '36 Chevy had a Balljoint made to fit the draglink to the pitmanarm.

 

Got some more pics of the fabbing of the 'cast ally firewall'.

 

Delco Lovejoy shocks.....

Ally part is steeringcolumn support - under dash

 

Looks like a fun project being built by a talented craftsman! I hope you keep posting updates as you progress.

 

WOW!

 

Love this thread. On tip: when you post your photos, click on "full size". Then we don't have to click on each on to enlarge it.

 

Awesome work. Too bad you don't live a little closer. I would like to see the car in person. Keep up the great work. Gary

 

Ausgezeichnet Mensch!!

 

Some pics of the grillshell.

It is based on the mid thirties Millesr shells. Built from 1.5mm Aluminum riveted with 3mm Aircraft rivets.
Frame around the opening is halfround brass - cut 4mm threads and bolt with 4mm brass studs to shell.
Silversoldered in the middle. Unsure about grill by now but tend to many small round or flat brass rods.
Side brackets are some leftovers of british origin can't remember exactly what car it was.

 

I love the project!!! What wheels are those?

 

These are under goodrich patent produced wheels ,thats
What it says on the wheels itself . Actually they were on a customers car when he bought it.
He wanted bigger ones so i traded them for work. These a are 16 inch
Wheels.

 

Had some time today to work on the car.
Started 2nd side of the cowl to be welded to the other half and riveted to the lower portion of the body.
Made angles that are screwed to the frame and will be riveted to the bodysides.
Cut piece of fiberboard to mock up rear section at least one part of it - wanted to find out the height and radiuses -
not sure about the radiuses they may have to be a bit sharper?!
I cut the upper hoodhinge to length.
Fabricated hoodtray on driverside in front of the steeringbox needs sandblasting now to get the cast look.

have a look yourself:

 

Really Great Work. Thanks for the updates.

 

Love this! The grille shell is amazing and those pictures will be very helpful when I start mine so thank you very much!

 

Absolutletyfreakingincredable: verb, meaning Extremely Nice

 

Wow Kool Shit!!!!!!

 

Anything new to report since your last post almost a year ago?

 

Outstanding craftsmanship, beautiful,I am amassed at your skill level. Frank

 

Just found this, very nice. LOVE the grill shell, nice work! Subscribed!