Restoring my old race car

[TRMark]

Decided to redo my old sports racer. It had developed several cracks in its aluminum body. The engine, an alfa 1600, is out so I can overhaul it, so it was time. I had it soda blasted so I could see what I really had. I always thought it had doors that were hinged at the bottom, it did, they were welded up. Kind of interesting to see how the car was consructed, I am sure it is typical of it's time in the early 50's. I posted a picture of it some time ago on the forum. The link has additional pictures. You will find the suspension pictures interesting. It is hard for me to figure out how far to take the body work. It was a race car so I have a hard time believing that it was perfect in its day, it wasn't when I got it.

Gemini

 

[JPSmit]

sweet! RE: the bodywork - do it right, you've got it this far and if you don't it will just p*** you off every time you look at it from here to eternity.

 

[tony barnhill]

Man, I love the lines on that car!!

 

[eschneider]

holy crap what a beautiful car!!!!!!

it would be an unbelievable PITA, but my first thought when you said aluminum body was that it would look absolutely stunning if the aluminum was polished, instead of painted.....

There is a Morgan guy who did that with his race car (claims he did it to save weight) and it looks beautiful.....

 

[eschneider]

Ah, here's the pic of the polished morgan.....

 

[14dna]

That is gorgeous. Are you intending on racing it again or just as a runabout? Either way, do it right and have it for a lifetime.
Dave

 

[TRMark]

The polished steel Morgan is a tribute to the metal workers art. I had seen it done on hotrods also. Way way above my humble abilities. Probably could not do something that on the aluminum body of my car. It is very soft, leaning on the fender will dent it; I have taken out some of the dents beating on it with my fist. I will probably autocross it again, even cones will damage the fender, but it is a race car. The diff ratio is around 5 to 1, its a real ride going through the gears. When I first bought it in 69 I used to drive it on the street, it has a Montana title, don't think I will again though. It is less than 29" to the top of the fender to many SUV's and cell phone yakkers. I have thought of removing the body from the chassis and placing it on custom tube frame. Kind of my version of the Westfield 11. If the car has any value as a vintage racer that kind of destroys that. I am pretty sure the chassis is from a Cooper.

 

[78Z]

Lovely styling. Neat car for sure - great project - thanks for posting the pictures.

 

[Sherlock]

That is a neat looking car... And you still have to bring it up to Calgary sometime to show it off up here /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif In July is our Brit/euro Show and in August is our Vintage Racing Weekend... There, now you know /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif Well... At least when you finish it, in the meantime you're welcome up here anyway...

 

[TRMark]

Looking at coming up this year in the TR4 only about 600 miles. The last few years we have been at the ECAIP in Victoria, the same weekend. The date for the Calgary show has been changed this year, got tired of bad weather in Sept. from what I understand. Got the BCF decal on the windshield, that and the Montana plate should be easy to find.

 

[Sherlock]

Bad weather for that show you said... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif

2004 was actually half decent

2005 you ask?

50 cars did at least show up...

So how about 2006? The date of the show was almost as bad, so one week later for a rain date...

early morning frost

it did turn out to be a nice day though, finally... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif

 

[1965_MGB]

Great body on that car. I love the lines of it, dents and all. I hope you show some pics once you have it done.