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Projects 1950's Tube Frame Sports Car

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by jebbesen, Oct 5, 2015.

  1. Rusty O'Toole
    Joined: Sep 17, 2006
    Posts: 9,657

    Rusty O'Toole
    Member

    You could build a body like this...

    [​IMG]

    How to turn your old 32 Ford into a snazzy sports car lol.
     
    Last edited: Oct 6, 2015
    Jet96, Peanut 1959 and volvobrynk like this.
  2. jebbesen
    Joined: Aug 18, 2015
    Posts: 703

    jebbesen
    Member
    from Winona, MN

    I believe the master cylinder is 1938 Chevy.
     
  3. 49ratfink
    Joined: Feb 8, 2004
    Posts: 18,828

    49ratfink
    Member
    from California

    dang would you look at that! what else could the original plan for this car have been? probably find a How To article in Popular Mechanics sports car3.JPG
     
    BradinNC, Stogy, brEad and 1 other person like this.
  4. 49ratfink
    Joined: Feb 8, 2004
    Posts: 18,828

    49ratfink
    Member
    from California

    :eek: Look at the guy with the torch and the cherry 32 sedan!
     
    Stogy likes this.
  5. Terry Buffum
    Joined: Mar 20, 2008
    Posts: 304

    Terry Buffum
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Oregon

    Here is John Streets' Manning in the 1950s, restored circa 1990.

    [​IMG]
     
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  6. Andy
    Joined: Nov 17, 2002
    Posts: 5,116

    Andy
    Member

    Metalshapes should post!
     
  7. Rusty O'Toole
    Joined: Sep 17, 2006
    Posts: 9,657

    Rusty O'Toole
    Member

    It was less than 20 years old when the picture was taken.... about like a 97 Taurus today.
     
    Stogy likes this.
  8. jebbesen
    Joined: Aug 18, 2015
    Posts: 703

    jebbesen
    Member
    from Winona, MN

    Baldwin Special is one of the prettiest race cars I've ever seen. I might shorten the tail a little but I suppose they did that for mounting the required spare tire.
     
    Last edited: Sep 3, 2020
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  9. I would have to dig though my junk to be sure but it looks like a Hudson unit from the early '50s to me.
     
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  10. 3wLarry
    Joined: Mar 11, 2005
    Posts: 12,804

    3wLarry
    Member Emeritus
    from Owasso, Ok

    wouldn't an 18 -**** number make it a '32 trans with a '37-'39 double detent shift tower? I always thought '37-'39 transmissions were #78 case, not #18
     
    kidcampbell71 likes this.
  11. Dick Stevens
    Joined: Aug 7, 2012
    Posts: 3,710

    Dick Stevens
    Member

  12. Andy
    Joined: Nov 17, 2002
    Posts: 5,116

    Andy
    Member

    It has the 81A double detent top so the top is 38 up. I suspect 39 gears and a 78 case. The turtle is a 19 so probably 3.78 gears. The steering wheel is 37 Lincoln. Looks like a 40 rear end.
     
  13. Budget36
    Joined: Nov 29, 2014
    Posts: 13,173

    Budget36
    Member

    The sn stamped in the tranny, is for the year of the car...not to be confused with the casting numbers
     
  14. Budget36
    Joined: Nov 29, 2014
    Posts: 13,173

    Budget36
    Member


    Good eye there. had to go back and look at it a few times:)
     
  15. jebbesen
    Joined: Aug 18, 2015
    Posts: 703

    jebbesen
    Member
    from Winona, MN

    I thought 34 too when I first read the chart. Then I realized my number was in the five millions not the five hundred thousands so it does fall in 1939. Look at 39, it starts in the *18-4millions* and ends in the *18-high 5 millions*.
     
  16. jebbesen
    Joined: Aug 18, 2015
    Posts: 703

    jebbesen
    Member
    from Winona, MN

    Update time:
    I figured I'd post up some more pictures. Earlier this week I picked up some more '35 wires. The car looks drastically better without the weird front wheels. The tires are junk ones I had laying around, but they work for rolling the car around. 20151014_144936.jpg 20151014_144924.jpg 20151014_144916.jpg 20151014_144909.jpg
    Does anyone know what the fuel tank is? I'm assuming late 1930's Ford. 20151014_144951.jpg Here are some pictures of the front brakes when I had the wheels off. 20151014_132711.jpg 20151014_132706.jpg 20151014_132654.jpg 20151014_132642.jpg Who needs a wrecker...
    20151014_150649.jpg
    The engine had 6 stuck valves but I got them all loose. Put 10W oil down all the cylinders. Still need to get plugs and an oil filter. I think it'll run though.
     
    Last edited: Sep 18, 2019
  17. Very interesting,,,:),,,,but please dump the headlights,,,,,:eek:
     
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  18. jebbesen
    Joined: Aug 18, 2015
    Posts: 703

    jebbesen
    Member
    from Winona, MN

    Definitely! They look terrible. I don't even know if its the headlights themselves, but the forward placement looks ridiculous.
     
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  19. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 55,933

    squirrel
    Member

    It would be neat to restore it to just the way it was built originally...ugly headlights and all....take some time to figure out what the paint job looked like (probably brushed?) new wood for the seat, rebuild the brakes, get it running good (whatever that takes), and use it as it was intended to be used.

    It would be a shame to cover up all that old time ingenuity with a body!
     
    AHotRod likes this.
  20. Ned Ludd
    Joined: May 15, 2009
    Posts: 5,025

    Ned Ludd
    Member

  21. volvobrynk
    Joined: Jan 30, 2011
    Posts: 3,587

    volvobrynk
    Member
    from Denmark

    I partualy agree with you. But a little body wouldn't hurt. Especially for road and track.
    But the headlights looks ugly, but a little tinkering and that car would look good even partly naked/visual.

    And a little rubber rake wouldent hurt either.
     
  22. What a great opportunity to resurrect and possibly complete an interesting piece of history. Looking forward to future posts.
     
    volvobrynk likes this.
  23. Rusty O'Toole
    Joined: Sep 17, 2006
    Posts: 9,657

    Rusty O'Toole
    Member

    It doesn't look like it was ever finished. It appears the builder got the chassis done and ran it up and down the road a few times then never got around to making the body. I don't know why he stuck the headlights on, but I have seen pictures of prototype and test chassis from major manufacturers, hodge podged together with whatever seats, windshield and lights they could find.
     
  24. SimonSez
    Joined: Jul 1, 2001
    Posts: 1,637

    SimonSez
    Member

    Cool find!
    The steering box looks like a 37-40 Ford turned on it's side.
     
  25. Andy
    Joined: Nov 17, 2002
    Posts: 5,116

    Andy
    Member

    I really like this body made in England. EaglesonKurtisStockton.JPG mistral_7s.jpg mistral_2.jpg scan_017.jpg This is probably more appropriate. Looks like Chevy pickup rear fenders dury.jpg
     
  26. Interesting find, cool!
     
  27. AmishMike
    Joined: Mar 27, 2014
    Posts: 968

    AmishMike
    Member

    This is a great find & project. Agree with porknbeaner - go Caballo de Heiro style or one of my favorites no one has mentioned ( surprised me ) - the Eliminator: Brock Yates wrote a book about his ownership & rebuild to early '50s race style built & raced by GoKart founder "Duffy" Livingstone. Tons of info on net about both these cars and contemporaries.
     
  28. This rules!

    image.jpeg
     
    Stogy, BradinNC, Tman and 4 others like this.
  29. Looks like the original builder had a good eye for proportion. It'll make a good start for a cool hot rod racer.
     
    volvobrynk likes this.

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