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British Specials... from the 1950's

After knowing ya short-term thru this forum, I would have only *minor* reservations about givin' your "homebrew" a lap or two, Dave... and I'd be disappointed if'n it *weren't* scarey. When do we start?
 
...then one of these...
spaceframe.jpg
 
Cossie!!!Yeah!!! but I think the tub will need to be a bit more esoteric... a pile of tubing and some engine measurments would be the proper start.

To h3ll with "Fantasy Baseball"!!! This "Fantasy Sportscar" would make a MUCH better waste of time /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
I was thinking more along the lines of 2 parallel pipes with a motor mount on each up front & someplace to weld some wheels on in the back. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
John! You'd said you thought they were ugly, Tony thought the Sicilian was good lookin'... no other intent than that. Certainly nothing insulting or demeaning was intended (well, mebbe a poke about livin' above the tree line /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gif )....

[/ QUOTE ]

I didn't intend to appear offended. My comment re the La Dawri was regarding the roadster shell they sold (with the add-on hardtop, sometimes) rather than the Sicilian & the other fastback. I was commenting on a post prior to yours, I think.

[ Gotta go - darned polar bears are into the rubbish again... ]
 
Ok, how's about this chassis then...
wk3.jpg
 
I seem to have a passing familiarity with that one Kenny.

May I have it now, pleeeze?
 
Way too complicated.........

Just take a couple of large dia. tubes & lay em down along side the YB and find something to hold the wheels on with.

Like this ladder frame.

ElvaCourierChassis.jpg
 
Polar Bears, huh? I'd forego the trenches then... go directly to the 60-Cal... Verify your target. I understand they charge if only wounded.
 
I ~need~ that Spyder frame, Dave. Mine has lateral cracks at the diff steady-rods. I just don't have the $6K to acquire the "Final Solution." /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cryin.gif

I'll keep it seperate from the "WhatsThatNoise Special" I promise.
 
There is a race organization for almost everything except DIY specials.

How about a "soap box derby group" for adults?

You make your own frame & body, to include suspension.

And NO, you can't copycat Colin
 
ACK! But... but... an efficaceous design would likely be "Chapmanesque" no matter if it were "coycat" engineer'd or NOT!

...I just don't play well with the rest of the children, I s'pose...
 
I have a page with links to various specials (mostly British kits) that are available presently.
Go HERE

I recognize that rear-axle in the red ladder-frame. Verrrry familiar! (also, a nice example of what a panhard rod looks like).

I am personally building a "replica" Austin Seven "Ulster/Brooklands Special" right now. These are the types of cars my Dad would have seen at the Ards TT in Ireland (in the 30s). Spridget-powered with simple frame and skinny 135-15 tires. I have the engine/trans and steering set up so far. Lots left to do...but it's fun.

We have one black bear in our summer-house neighborhood (rural part of NJ) that goes well over 400 pounds. Most are only about 250. You can smell 'em before you can see 'em. They can give you a fright, but they are basically pretty docile.

Austin Seven quasi-replica project
quasi--a7.jpg
 
CC tried everything....

Mass of itty bitty tubes (7 & 11)
GRP monocoque (Elite)
Backbone (Elan, Europa & Esprit)
Epoxy bonded aluminum extrusions (Elise)
Carbon fiber monocoque (new one?)
Drive-train as a "stressed member" (Formula junior 21?)
Steel monocoque (Cortina) [ sort of his in spirit]

So it would be impossible to construct a car w/o reinventing Colin's wheel.

Did he ever use a ladder frame?
 
The Austin 7 was sorta-kinda a ladder, wasn't it? Rails and a board, morelike /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Nial! Those tyres are "Sooooo kewt!!!"
 
[ QUOTE ]
CC tried everything....
.....So it would be impossible to construct a car w/o reinventing Colin's wheel.

Did he ever use a ladder frame?

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As DrEntropy implied, yes. Chapman's first car and the Lotus 2 and 4 had Austin Seven frames. He welded in some tubular members and boxed them but they were ladder type frames. The Lotus 3 frame was partly Austin, also. I think the Mk 6 was the first to get away from using the Seven as a base.

I'm not sure he used Seven frames because he wanted to, the 750 Club rules required it.

Some of these cars had his "Jelly-joint" front suspension. I've always loved the term.
 
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