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OK John... Here is the tough part... which shade of gray primer?
 
Even before "getting it running" etc, take a good look at the structure of the car. This is a quarter elliptic (short rear springs) car and there are often problems with the rear suspension. The rear springs dead-end into the spring boxes and are notorious for rust. First thing I'd do is get it up on a lift and have a good look at the spring boxes, springs, and radius arms. Even if those are good you should still plan on new bushings and damper (shock) rebuild.

I'm doing a resto-mod '62 Sprite. You'll find a lot of photos of what to look for at my web site ( https://www.raysmg.com )under the "Spridget Project" link; here's a direct link:

https://www.raysmg.com/rays_mg_midget_62_sprite.htm

Pay particular attention initially to the "Disassembly" and "Bodywork" pages.

Ray
 
Geeesh, I never realized I was driving a rat-rod all these years!! I have been driving my BE in red oxide primer for quite some time just "getting it ready" for paint!

For a radical departure, have you thought about some "Cal Custom" type touches such as different head and taillight treatments (such as "Frenching" the lights) and a custom grill?
 
Ratrod with Lambo doors? No
Ratrod with suicide doors? Yes
Solinoids for door openers.
For ground clearance run a thru-tunnel exhaust.
RHD conversion is pretty simple and quick.
A modified 1275 with a rear pumpkin of 4.2 should do good.
Cut down windscreen.

Paint flat black for Ratrod look or shiny black for hotrod look. Maybe add some flames or graphics of some kind.

Just a few thoughts.
 
you could run airbags without moving the exhaust...just run it out the side(rat rod style straight pipe)

i like the suicide doors(and it already has shaved door handles...lol)

but i might leave the paint the same(flat-black is a little over done)

C'MON...I WANT MORE IDEAS!!!
 
Trevor Jessie said:
OK John... Here is the tough part... which shade of gray primer?
Click to expand...

Hmmm, I'm not sure if I'm going to go with gray or grey. lolol
 
Get yourself a copy of any of the "Rat Rod" magazines like Ol Skool Rodz or Hot Rod Deluxe or RebelRodz, plenty of ideas in them.

THANKSGIVING011.jpg
 
Keep in mind we paid $400 for this car with the paint looking like it is, it looks better in pictures. The wheels are the most money on the car. Blaze your own trail, have fun and learn.
 
That really is the fun thing, taking these little cars and making them your own.

What I did with Frank, a 78 RB car, didn't cost me very much and brings such a lot of pleasure whenever looking at or driving him around.

Before:
before.jpg


After:
after-frnt.jpg

and
after-back.jpg
 
Hey Rick did you ever get that front end to squat? I know you were talking about it some time ago. Jes dont remember seeing it near the ground?
 
Morris said:
JP! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Click to expand...

O yes - Rat Rod Car - Rat Rod Paint /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/banana.gif
 
do you guys think nigel is a good name for the sprite in question or is that too proper for a rat rod?
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]Hey Rick did you ever get that front end to squat? [/QUOTE]

Yes, I put in a pair of '62 Sprite front coils and the lowering bolt / nut gear and then I had it so low that when I got in the tires rubbed. I had to bring it up to where both the wife & I could sit in it and not rub the tires (very much) when going around a tight corner.

The back is still standard height, which kind of makes it look "jacked up" a bit. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

To call it a balancing act wouldn't be far off. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif
 
I cant believe I never mentioned this before. But you sparked a memory. Theres a gentleman in my town whom has converted an old rust bucket Midg into electric. Huge batteries in the trunk with electric mail jeep accesories and an electric forklift motor resting on a two by four. I think I rember him bolting a brace from the dash to the rear cockpit surround just to keep it from folding. A little scary with all that hydrogen gas in the back seat I suppose, But he had it all attached to the stock trans and drove it on the highway. Strange but nothing I ever seen before. I still see it now and than so it must be still going and going and going....
 
I'm sure we discussed one on ebay a couple of years ago - I've also seen one on ebay with a Harley engine - amazing the imagination of people
 
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