Hot Rods ***A Good Example of how to Build a "T" Roadster***

Just my opinion.....

 

That is a nice looking T

 

I like it. But I think a good floor, firewall and tunnel should be required, at least for safety's sake. After all, it's not called a firewall because it keeps warm air out of the cabin. Gary

 

I prefer mine with a few less cylinders but it is a nice one. The wheel base is just right. Too many have the w base way too long.
I also like the pre '26 bodies


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I see a firewall, I see a floor. The torque tube looks like what I see in a lot of midgets and sprint cars. It only has one windshield wiper.....ya missed that!

 

It almost looks like the trans adapter is bolted to the firewall on the inside. Could they possibly have the firewall sandwiched between the block and trans?! Or am I just not seeing it right?

 

very nice looks like a fun ride

 

In short, put a HEMI in it and hold on to something.

 

On the cars I build with an exposed bell housing & trans, a floating firewall is sandwiched between the bell housing and the block. A foam rubber seal is attached to the forward firewall as a gasket, this allows the engine to rock, and have a proper sealed firewall. That little "T" has great eyeball !

 

That is a nice looking little T-roadster....the stance and setup is pretty sweet in my opinion....always liked turtle decks done tastefully, and this one is right on...skinny tires and wire wheels....man, I'd drive that every chance I got!!!....My eye immediately went right to the radiator cap....love that winged design as a nice touch!

 

This is how it ended up. I preferred it in primer without the hood and fenders, buts that's just me. Sits just right.
Cheers,
Stewart.

 

Man it looked great in the before shot. The after not so much but its not my car. Is there a build thread or any info on this car? Anyone have a guess on the wheelbase?

 

A Dutch Eshelman classic! I remember first seeing this car at the Midwest Nationals in Cedar Rapids over 20 years ago, and I don't remember a single other car from that summer. I probably spent the whole day drooling on this car. But I also drooled all over the other cars he built too.

He did some sort of trade with this car later, and then "finished" it to the new owner's taste. I think it was ruined with shiney paint and small fenders, but the basics are still there.

There's a few guys from eastern Iowa who still build in this same style. I've seen a T roadster at the Des Moines Goodguys recently that has similar DNA. Probably an old friend of Eshelman's.

 

Dang, 2 points off for missing the second wiper! Perhaps I should have said "smoothed floor, firewall and tunnel?" - you can get your feet all tangled up when all that stuff is exposed and a flat floor under the pedals or on the pax side does a LOT for control and comfort. Gary

 

Hell no Gary! It was perfect as per the original photos. The driver should have his feet on the pedals either accelerating or braking while banging gears and the passenger is just along for the ride anyway.
Roo

ps I got your package yesterday, thanks!

 

Roo, come on man! Take a look at that gas pedal again. Where the hell will your right heel rest? Unless you have NFL or NBA sized grips, youz gonna get sore heels, dented ankles or banged tendons. At the very minimum, a smooth panel under the pedals is pretty much required, IMHO.

PS glad you got the box ok.

 

I guess I took those pics at that event.....for sure it was in Cedar Rapids. Is Dutch still around? Last time I saw him was at the "Pavilions" in Phoenix, but that was several years ago.

 

This is another one of his gems from a few years ago. Saw it at LARS.

 

Man...I woulda left it just like it was....way cool T

 

I like it although if it were mine there would be a floor,it's cool to look at the minimalist open look but I prefer a solid foundation under foot. HRP

 

So what are you saying? Guess he built it the way he wanted, and........

 

Nice build I especially like the lawn carving tires!


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Last I knew he lived in Arizona. Anybody from that area know him?

 

Here's a link to more Eshelman cars: http://public.fotki.com/DWDarby/dutch_eshelman/

 

Not a roadster, but I think this is a Eshelman car, eh? Gary

 

I began to follow Dutch and his builds after seeing this modified. It's V8 60 powered. Then he moved from Iowa to Mesa Az., and helped out at Squeege's hot rod shop. Back then he was working on a 40 Mercury lead sled of his own. He was driving the unfinished Merc when I saw him at the Pavilions. Thanks for the link alchemy. He sure built some slick cars!

 

Man, that's the "look". I love it!

 

This. Red speedster is in point!! Nailed the Stance


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Early hemi engine to Cad - Lasalle transmission to Ford torque tube makes me smile.

 

To me this is perfection.