Making a Beautiful Roadster (progress pics)

Some of you have probably seen my earlier thread:http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=444589 Which gives the basis of this project. This build is for my senior design project. The design intent is based off the question, "What makes a roadster beautiful?" Through research I have found many ways in which roadsters acquire the title "beautiful". My goal is to create a roadster that has never existed, but very well could of, in 1960. I'm using a wide range a parts and pieces to create this. Here are a few progress pics.

Here was the cover to my proposal, obviously based on a 1960 issue of Hot Rod Magazine, There is no money to be made in this so I hope I'm not infringing on legalities. Inside was my research, history, interviews, pictures, and a breakdown of what made a roadster beautiful. I'll try to get all the pages up on here.

initial sketch


What I started with. 1937 LaSalle grill, hood, and side panels, 1941 Ford commercial cowl


I still needed to find some metal to build the bucket of the roadster, perfect candidate


a bit sad, but it was actually the best piece of metal on the thing, and its going to a worth cause.


Now I got alot o' metal


This was the start of the chassis. Started out as straight 2x4 .125-wall tubing. My father and I than pinched and pied, than we started to create the rear kick


Built the corners out of four different pieces of plate to create that compound curve








We scabbed together the front and rear axle, so we could get it out of the garage and stand back from it to take a look at the proportions




Starting the rear kick

 

Rear Leaf Mounts




Brackets to drop the split rear wishbone


Rear suspension coming together




Rolled it out one more time to make sure everything is looking good


Don't mind the cardboard door

 

Very cool, I really like the Blue print!

Kevin
LFD Inc.

 

neat! please continue

 

Now that is going to be one neat, clean and low slung Modified. I really like the side profile and also the different body pieces you used. Looking forward to the next progress update.

 

Thanks guys. I'm heading into the garage to get some more work done on the rear suspension. I'll post some more pictures later today

 

cool..... I like it. Keep us updated....

 

Some peoples work on here amazes me. Yours fits into that category.

Very nice.

 

This will be cool to follow along.

 

I don't think that was a 41 ford! Looks more like mid 50s International.

 

I kinda like this thing! Good imagination and creativity! Please keep us posted. Thank you.

 

Looking good already. Keep us posted.

 

ill watch.....cool start....

 

Pretty cool looking car you've started. Good luck with the build.

 

eagerly subscribed!

 

thats a cool build so far , id like to be able to build something like that and put my buick straight 8 in it

 

I like how you did the rear kick up.

 

Man, that is some free thinking. And that panel for a source of material. Re-cycling at it's best.

 

Second thread I've subscribed to in four years. Very cool, good luck.

 

great looking start

 

Thats what I'm talking bout! Nice way to step outside the box!

 

Not trying to bust yer walnuts but what size o' Mig are you using? Some of your tacks look cold..... and after all you are doing major chassis work here. I like your vision though.

 

anymore progress pics? i like the work you do.

 

This thing's gonna be killer. I love the hood. Keep us posted.

 

I love builds like this that start with a pile of shit on the floor..I love it....this is really looking nice..some great fab work here

 

Thanks for all the great comments guys. Gotta give all the credit on the fab work to my dad, I'm the one learning. I've got the vision and he's teaching me how to make it happen. I'm pretty impressed with what we are getting accomplished with the simple and lack of tools.

Tinmann- we're running a 110 mig, its definitely borderline, but its all in the prep. Everything is getting v-notched for 100% weld. And the tacks that you see (not sure which tacks your talking about) are purely temporary.

Didn't get too much done today, a bunch of running around for some parts, i'll get some more pics up tomorrow.

 

very cool, and that your buiding it with your dad makes it even more cool. you both have some skills there! keep us posted

 

I see that the dash was removed when you were cuttn up the panel, you going to run that. Loving this thread.

 

Great project! I really like builds like this using bits from different vehicles that have the right shape for what you plan to build. Check out barn door vans for doors that might fit this build.

 

Nice Work...
The LaSalle Front looks so good - especially that Low to the ground

Spence.