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Projects The Thomas Rocket Car Restoration

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by mramc1, Jun 7, 2018.

  1. Wow, a very unique car, amazing work on your part, watching!!
     
    pitman likes this.
  2. Really unusual - great work.
     
    kidcampbell71 likes this.
  3. Whenever l see 'rocket car' l think of one l read about in a '60's or '70's old car mag. These brothers named 'Hungerford' (or seomething close to that) built a couple of very early Hydrogen fueled rocket powered expo cars. The one l remember most was built on a 1923 Chevy chassis. lt was stripped down except for motor & seat. l believe they were in the northeast US area. this took place in late '20's or early '30's. They were said to be very reclusive ala the Arfons. Anyone else ever hear of this??! Thanks!
     
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  4. Atwater Mike
    Joined: May 31, 2002
    Posts: 11,625

    Atwater Mike
    Member

    Sure. It now resides in the New York State Museum, 4th floor lobby!
    It was dubbed "Shirley Lois, Moon Girl", after Daniel Hungerford's daughter, in 1929. First car of its type to be street licensed in N.Y. Yes, it drove on the street.
     
  5. Stogy
    Joined: Feb 10, 2007
    Posts: 26,345

    Stogy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    18hhpkhzi8pe1jpg.jpg
    https://www.google.ca/amp/s/io9.gizmodo.com/the-1929-rocket-car-of-upstate-new-york-453754398/amp

    https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/hungerford-rocket-car-photograph-collection-1929-1934
     
  6. mramc1
    Joined: May 26, 2006
    Posts: 423

    mramc1
    Member

    Cool! I don't know how the Thomas car picked up the rocket name. I have some news clippings from when it was on tour in 1940. They called it the Car of Tomorrow or Future Car on the paper.

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  7. Stogy
    Joined: Feb 10, 2007
    Posts: 26,345

    Stogy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Makes one think...Getting to Your Destination Quicker...sales tactic.
     
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  8. mramc1
    Joined: May 26, 2006
    Posts: 423

    mramc1
    Member

    Firewall repair on the passenger side (sorry for flipped pics)


    rocket-273.jpg

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    rocket-275.jpg

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    rocket-277.jpg

    rocket-278.jpg
     
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  9. mramc1
    Joined: May 26, 2006
    Posts: 423

    mramc1
    Member

    Here is a How To video on how to make patch panels. I used the Thomas Rocket Car as an example. I hope to finish the firewall repair this weekend and hopefully have pics on Monday.

     
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  10. mramc1
    Joined: May 26, 2006
    Posts: 423

    mramc1
    Member

    Working on the driver's side firewall today. 20180616_124830.jpg 20180616_165652.jpg

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  11. mramc1
    Joined: May 26, 2006
    Posts: 423

    mramc1
    Member

    Here are some close up shots of the dual master setup. Both operated with a balance bar in the center. Also notice cable operated arm that applied pressure to rear brakes only for parking brake.



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    Last edited: Jun 16, 2018
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  12. mramc1
    Joined: May 26, 2006
    Posts: 423

    mramc1
    Member

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  13. mramc1
    Joined: May 26, 2006
    Posts: 423

    mramc1
    Member

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  14. mramc1
    Joined: May 26, 2006
    Posts: 423

    mramc1
    Member

    More work on the floor today.

    20180617_114519.jpg 20180617_140848.jpg 20180617_145933.jpg 20180617_150030.jpg

    Here is more front suspension from a different angle. The swing arms mount to the firewall.

    20180617_150325.jpg
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  15. 62rebel
    Joined: Sep 1, 2008
    Posts: 3,232

    62rebel
    Member

    Somebody ought to be able to Cad-cam the suspension so we can see if it had any advantages/drawbacks... just saying
     
  16. mramc1
    Joined: May 26, 2006
    Posts: 423

    mramc1
    Member

    That would be cool. I'm sure there is quite the bending load on the front axle stubs. Reports are that the car road very smooth and was able to cruise at 80 mph and get 15 mpg. Pretty good for 1938.

    Here are more shots of repairing the firewall and toe boards.

    20180617_210604.jpg 20180617_214435.jpg 20180617_221730.jpg 20180617_222943.jpg

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  17. mramc1
    Joined: May 26, 2006
    Posts: 423

    mramc1
    Member

    Here is the rest of the floor being completed.

    20180624_163535.jpg

    Next I patched the lower passenger fender.

    20180624_182745.jpg

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    20180624_201544.jpg



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  18. Hnstray
    Joined: Aug 23, 2009
    Posts: 12,355

    Hnstray
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Quincy, IL

    MRAMC1.......you most certainly deserve high praise for both your workmanship, and equally, for your dedication to very properly restoring this one of one artifact of Automotive History.. Keep up the great work...I am looking forward to more updates and, eventually, the finished product!

    Ray
     
  19. Hop2it
    Joined: Jan 6, 2013
    Posts: 98

    Hop2it
    Member

    Josh,
    I met you Saturday at the great race as they went through my hometown of Fairport NY Saturday, I loved your model a,but I am blown away when I see the before and after on this car.I am so glad you are saving this piece of history keep up the great work.
    Doug
     
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  20. loudbang
    Joined: Jul 23, 2013
    Posts: 40,276

    loudbang
    Member

    Just found this thread and you are doing some real fine work on getting it back to how it was. And kudos on doing this civic project for your area.
     
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  21. mramc1
    Joined: May 26, 2006
    Posts: 423

    mramc1
    Member

    Thanks Doug. It has been quite the project. I have never done anything requiring this much custom sheet metal work.

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  22. mramc1
    Joined: May 26, 2006
    Posts: 423

    mramc1
    Member

    Thanks. I saw the team needed some help and got involved. I didn't think it was as rusty as it was, but once I got going I realized that it was going to take way more work than I thought.

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  23. mramc1
    Joined: May 26, 2006
    Posts: 423

    mramc1
    Member

    A little finish grinding on the floor and the metal work on the body is complete.

    20180627_222948.jpg

    20180627_223005.jpg

    Throw some primer at it and the floor looks good.

    20180627_225445.jpg

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    Next is repairing and installing the passenger door then it's back to the body shop!

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  24. mramc1
    Joined: May 26, 2006
    Posts: 423

    mramc1
    Member

    Door patching today.

    20180630_174703.jpg 20180630_195630.jpg
    20180630_230229.jpg
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    Harbor Freight break can't do much so I had to make inner bottom in three pieces. Hoping to get skin done in one piece.

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  25. mramc1
    Joined: May 26, 2006
    Posts: 423

    mramc1
    Member

    First time the Thomas Rocket Car has been outside in 6 months. I had another project going for the day so rolled the TRC out and got some shots.

    20180701_092831.jpg

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  26. Doc Wright
    Joined: Mar 8, 2009
    Posts: 37

    Doc Wright
    Member

    Kool piece of history! I’m glad you’re bringing her back right!


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  27. 62rebel
    Joined: Sep 1, 2008
    Posts: 3,232

    62rebel
    Member

    I dun said it before and I'll say it agin, that's some work. Regarding museum cars, my Dad was pretty critical of them because he'd been nosey and had crawled under a "professionally restored" Model A Ford to verify some measurement he couldn't find in his Clymer's book and was appalled at the sheer shoddy work done on that poor old A. He said the rear quarters were chicken wire and bondo. This was in the mid-sixties, and there was a definite following for A's at the time. He really was pissed off that the museum was passing off a rusty hulk as "restored", when he was scrounging up good sheet metal for his own A's and passed up holed stuff regularly
     
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  28. mgtstumpy
    Joined: Jul 20, 2006
    Posts: 9,214

    mgtstumpy
    Member

    By coincidence I stumbled onto this Hemmings article only yesterday, very fortuitous. Cudos to you for preserving a very unique car.
     
    loudbang likes this.
  29. mramc1
    Joined: May 26, 2006
    Posts: 423

    mramc1
    Member

    Thanks. It's been a ton of work. I'm by no means an expert or professional, but I think I did as best as I could with the tools I had to work with. I tried to replicate all the original lines and beads even though most of it gets covered with carpet. This car was so far gone I am just happy that we were able to save it for future generations.

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  30. 62rebel
    Joined: Sep 1, 2008
    Posts: 3,232

    62rebel
    Member

    Professionals built the Titanic, a complete amateur built the Ark
     
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