History The Missing Chassis Research Car

Was asked some questions about old Chassis Research stuff,,and while answering noticed something I guess I had overlooked until now. This advert for the TE-440 not only shows the biscuit type mounted axle ( this being the early and perhaps original style ) but ,,the only TE-440 with no top tubes,as well as gusset plates

The Albertson Olds removed them ( even though Scotty Fenn said don't ) though that was on a later style frame

Has anyone ever seen one of these TE-440 's

 

Never remember seeing one without the top tube, but do remember shots of early cars with the rollbar gussets. Maybe it was before he had a proper tight radius die for the bends?

 

Could be,,this may actually be the "original" car

Front axle is also very interesting

and front part of cage seems it may be welded in the middle

also the back of the cage

 

Looks like a Willys axle...

 

That might be a 'live' rear axle with bearings on the frame. Hard to tell. As far as the welding goes, more than one of these chasis were built with the 90's buttwelded where they needed them, on a similar chassis that same firewall bar was made from 5 straight and 2 90deg bends a total of 7 individual pieces.
A beautiful design.