Art & Inspiration Small car fantasy

If they are anything like PV444 or PV544 a V8 will be quite the project.

For the original poster, how about a '65 Ford Cortina with a V8 stuffed in it? (edit: yes, I know you're looking pre-64 but it's close.)

http://bringatrailer.com/2011/07/06/alan-mann-sleeper-1965-ford-cortina-v8/

 

I'd still do an AC Cobra, even if it was kit car. Those things are just rad!

 

My first 'Hotrod' was mini 1000 with a 1275 from a larger Austin dropped in it. I left the gearing in it from the larger car and ran it on 10" rims with Cooper S discs. Soooo fast to sixty but after that you could hear the valves bouncing, unbeatable round the country roads where i grew up though. I guess that was the British equivalent of a true hot rod.....my dad was doing this in 63/64....

F

 

This gets my vote......one of these days I will build one of these....OH YES!!!!

 

Or a 122S
My ol man has one with a SB chevy, but his is a pro-street car.
I have this piccture I found on the web a while back that fits this thread better.

 

Back in the mid 70's I did a SBC conversion on a MkII. It made a decent road car once the cooling problems were worked out, but I wouldn't ever have considered it point and squirt kind of car, just too heavy.

 

Here's a couple of ideas, but they'll take some work. Both are shortened behind the doors and under the C-pillars and the shoebox is also sectioned. The Corvair could have a Buick/Rover alloy v8 either reverse rotation or with a diiferent transaxle (and ditch the swing axles) or just a warmed up Corvair. A Y-block or straight six would be cool in the shoebox. Drop the nose on the Corvair a little and it won't look so tail heavy:

 

Holy CRAP! Other than the color, the gimpy headlight "eyebrows", and 18's instead of 15's, thats EXACTLY what I had in mind! Starting to think this needs doing...

 

Since we're talking Jags... the Mk2 may be more collectible but a 3.8 S-Type has that lovely IRS...

 

If you'd dare to go the "Pro-touring" route with your chassis (and only the chassis), I'd do up one of the smaller, early 50s cars. A 51 Ford Victoria would undoubtedly be my first choice... or a 53-53 Ford coupe or similar style cars by other mfgs. Didn't SR do an article on an early 50's Chevy coupe awhile back that was a mild custom on the outside but with a Vette-ish frame and driveline? Quite an autocrosser, as I recall. In a way, it would be a nicer version of a 1950s Mexican road racing sedan but without all the garish stickers and an even more modern suspension. After all, it has big fenders and don't the custom guys allow a few modern tricks if it can be seen? There was another recent custom build that might also fit the bill, a black custom Merc with all the power and chassis tricks you could think of. Anyone remember that one? Gary

 

Looks like a MUNTZ JET to me.

 

Same thing, only different....It's a 1949 Kurtis Sport. Virtually identical to a Jet, but with a shorter wheelbase giving Tony that elusive handling he desires.

 

X2, they make a very slick car with some power

 

I have an original MGB-GT in the garage and every so often, I get the calling to make it interesting.....BUT recently I have been leaning towards the volvo 122's. I think they will be fun when modified.

 

Here it is. I saw this car run at a hillclimb once, and I would agree that it was a well engineered and effective little weapon. Its appearance is too cute for my taste, though (not because it's a Simca/Topolino, but because of the wing, wheels, numbers -- too many trinkets):

 

thats what I'm talkin about.X2 on this bad boy.....

 

It's not me, Ed, but it's a solid suggestion. As I recall, the Kurtis chassis were similar to his comp cars, while the Muntzes were built on Ford chassis or something -- true? I would imagine that a real Kurtis would be a pretty lively car for its day.

V8 Larks appeal to me, but more in the vein of "Sure, I'd buy that driver for a coupla grand" rather than a major project. I could like a '53 Stude a lot, too, but my wife hates 'em.

 

check this out! Little short on creature comforts though...

From the link on this thread.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=605933

 

very nice.

 

If I'm not mistaken, this is the P1800 that was featured in Hot Rod some years ago. There can't be too many Volvos that colour, with a red interior, those wheels and a '57 T bird hood scoop. The car was built by Bill Snow in Aurora, Ontario, Canada. I saw the car numerous times while under construction, it was powered by a Chev small block crate motor. Beautiful car, Bill was a pro builder, built quite a few nice cars. Sadly, he's no longer with us.

 

Thanks for your suggestions, guys. Now I have a new list of possible candidates for a future folly. Among the most promising 2-seaters, all presumably V8-powered:




Felix's Aceca-Cobra proposal, even though it's rare and unlikely


The real Sunbeam Tiger Le Mans coupe, even more unlikely but bitchin'


Nobody mentioned the original Sunbeam Alpine, and it's not a coupe, but it's just so damn pretty. Interestingly, all 4 of the cars above are already V8 engined.


Another one that nobody mentioned is the Simca 8 Sport from 1950. Again, very rare, but it's damned pretty and just the right size.


...and Larry's sensible suggestion, (together with the MGB GT) probably the most affordable one of this bunch.

Then again, a slightly larger 4-seater format could include any one of these:









I'm sure that there are many overlooked candidates -- certainly many of the O/T pony cars could fit very well into these criteria -- but this'll keep me pondering for a while.

Oh -- and thanks to the mods for leaving alone this mostly Euro-centric conversation for a while. I hope it was interesting.

 

Have you looked around on the Dogfight Forum?

http://www.dogfightmag.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?2-The-DOGFIGHT-Forum

There are V8 Datsun, V8 Mk1 Capri, V8 P1800, Bike engined Fiat 126, and spaceframe early Ford projects there...

 

Does anyone happen to know what issue this was in?

 

i dont like to admit it to often, but there are quite a few old volvos that look damn good.

 

No, I hadn't, and it looks very interesting. Thanks for the tip!

 

How bout a 59 Acea with 289 and a T-5?

 

I think the p1800 sportwagons are a good looking car too.

 

This was my attempt to create an early 20's looking racer from a MG Midget, with Brooklands screens, bonnet strap, flip top gas filler, etc.. Turned out that a Bugatti radiator was too hard to build, so I stuck on the sprint nose...

View attachment 1369141 View attachment 1369142 View attachment 1369143

 

Those things were some of the most successful rally cars to come out of the 60's.