Strange car found, What is it?

A friend spotted this and sent it to me since I am the " old strange car " guy. It seems familiar but I can't place it. Any ideas? No more pics or details other than it has a drop axle, he says he will be going back that way and try to find out more. heck I might have a ride out, it is a couple of hours away but what the heck

 

Looks like a mechanics illustrated special.

 

It is probably a hand fabbed body. The grill and headlights look like Diamond T truck.My dad had one when I was a kid.

 

yep, looks like another homebuilt sportscar.

 

Back yard build , but looks to be a pretty good job.

 

Well we used to call those an abortion.
Its no doubt a home built job from the '50s or early '60s.

 

It's a VW Beetle, the newer revamped style, next to that home made body/car.

Al in TN

 

I think I saw this in hemmings awhile ago it was a home built car I think from the 50's. prup47

 

Ugly or not, it must have a hell of a mill in it.
Look at the windshield, it's got a 10.90 dial-in!

 

FUGLY! HRP

 

Judging from the front shock mount, it's a VW or at least a VW front suspension.

 

Sweet!

 

I'd offer to buy the Guides. Thats about it.

 

A collaborative effort to build a rat rod by Liberace and Stevie Wonder?

 

all i can say what was it ....

looks like it has a MG styling in the rear of it with some dated headlights from the late 30s to 40s ....??

 

Yep. Guide headlights like used on Diamond T and other trucks of the 40's and hotrods. The grill is home made. Ford wheels and an engine presumably in the front lead me to believe it is not VW based.

 

Front shock mount looks more like '46-'48 Ford acc'y tube shock mount.
In the leading post, it was mentioned that it has a DROPPED AXLE. V8 wire wheels (6 of 'em, side mounts yet!) further the likelihood that it's early Ford V-8 based.

Look underneath, maybe a Deuce frame lives under there...Grancor flathead...Zephyr box...Maybe a Columbia overdrive?

 

If that is a true Mechanix Illustrated special built to the original plans it would have a '32 chassis.

 

At first glance that crossed my mind too, but dismissed that idea.

I agree with Atwater Mike's assessment.......late '40's Ford mounts. Identical to my '47 Coupe tube shocks.

Also agree it's a "Special"..........homebuilt from at least 60 years ago. Kinda cool.


Ray

 

I found this:

* BeatnikPirate over on the H.A.M.B. found a Mechanix Illustrated Special out in Pennsylvania. Why is it that just about every one of these we’ve seen wears flat red paint?

http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/tag/mitsubishi/

It's about 3/4 down the page.

 

--------
DITTO on that!! LOL!! Fortunately
it seems to be missing it's original
"Albino mink, with with Ermine
accents" fur interior and the original
pearlescent, hot pink metalflake.
cotton candy paint job has mercifully,
now faded away enough that it merely
resembles a bad red primer paint job!!

Mart3406
================

 

Prototype for the 1939 Edsel.

 

seriously bufugly...

 

Or the '61!!

Mart3406
===================

 

Thats it, no doubt. I'll have to get out there and see what is has for a motor.

Cheers!

 

Just needs a tractor grille and a shifter taller than the windshield.

 

There is no doubt in my mind - that front shock mount that is visible is part of an early style link and pin VW front suspension - '65 and earlier. The drums woulda had the wide 5 pattern on them, very easy to adapt down to just about any bp you want.

 

I don't know. I zoomed in on it and it looks like a home made shock mount made from plate with a piece of tube welded on at the top. A link pin beam would be thicker as it is made from two stamped halves with that weld flange around it.

But I wouldn't bet on it as it gets a bit fuzzy when I zoom in.

 

so the body looks crude as hell... strip it down to what the builder started with! that thing is no more permanent than a pair of shorts. take the "ugly" off and start over.

i'm with you on the flat red paint... but i'll bet NONE of them were flat when they were new! red enamel chalks worse than any other..

 

I'd be willing to betcha a green dollar it's a VW. The whole thing is probably sitting on an early VW pan.

I'm a recovered VW guy from way back. I wish I had back all the time, money and effort I put into VWs all those years ago. lol