Francis Blake
Active Member
I think I am in lovetfeverfred said:I want something like this, but no fenders.
Not quite as high. Maybe instead of wire wheels, steel wheels with Moon disc.
Speedsters. The "half bucket"?
- Thread starter tfeverfred
- Start date
Here we go guys. This is just my opinion. There are certain features that a car has that say "I'm a speedster". A T radiator shell, the "bomber" seats , a round or oval gas tank, an abreviated cowl, a tool box and wire wheels. The only one of these that might have an option is the wire wheels. Some of them used the Chevy artilery solid wheels. if you look ae the pictures Fred posted, or at the nwvs web site, you'll see they all have these features in some fashion.
Now to get to the car a rodder might build. We're talking up grades here, right? The shell, tank, cowl, and tool box will let everyone know this is a speedster. The chassis is where you can let your imagination run wild. Late model engines and trans missions will make the car many times more servicable. To this we can add dropped axles, later wheels, and a few creature comforts such as 12 volt sparks, better brakes, better lights, etc. As with T buckets, we want to build a safe and relieable car.
I was involved in a build a couple of years ago where the theme was to build a low, low buck speedster or hill climber out of a Model A. A chassis was found with a barely runinng engine for $750. To this we added a '29 cowl, radiator shell, the top hood pieces, a pair of VW seats, A lights and a gas tank. With all of that and the repairs that were made, the total build was around $1500. That was it! I'm here to tell you, we had more fun with that car than a sailor in the Phillapines with a pocket full of money.
Ron
Now to get to the car a rodder might build. We're talking up grades here, right? The shell, tank, cowl, and tool box will let everyone know this is a speedster. The chassis is where you can let your imagination run wild. Late model engines and trans missions will make the car many times more servicable. To this we can add dropped axles, later wheels, and a few creature comforts such as 12 volt sparks, better brakes, better lights, etc. As with T buckets, we want to build a safe and relieable car.
I was involved in a build a couple of years ago where the theme was to build a low, low buck speedster or hill climber out of a Model A. A chassis was found with a barely runinng engine for $750. To this we added a '29 cowl, radiator shell, the top hood pieces, a pair of VW seats, A lights and a gas tank. With all of that and the repairs that were made, the total build was around $1500. That was it! I'm here to tell you, we had more fun with that car than a sailor in the Phillapines with a pocket full of money.
Ron
tfeverfred
Well-Known Member
I don't know. I was in the Navy and was in the Phillipines. We had mucho fun!
Probably got some girls still lookin' for me over there!
Youngsters right on track. The more I look around and check stuff out, this is going to be a fun ride to do. Just about everything you need can be fabbed on the cheap or gotten at swapmeets or Ebay. As he also mentioned, there are some things you have to have to carry the look, but after that, it's all up to the individual. Just like a T Bucket, but maybe a thrid or fourth of the cost? I'm in!
For instance, I see that trunk in the back for a tool box? I have two of those in my den! They are your basic trunk that you can get at Kmart. I've seen them. Now what I plan to do is take off all the brackets, corner pieces and even the locks and hinges and make a nice, Oak box. That's just one idea for things that will look cool and be on the cheap.
If this works out like I'm thinking it could, I can see building a sweet one for a good deal less than $5,000. The Webmaster may have to start a new section for Speedsters this time next year! :clap:
Probably got some girls still lookin' for me over there!Youngsters right on track. The more I look around and check stuff out, this is going to be a fun ride to do. Just about everything you need can be fabbed on the cheap or gotten at swapmeets or Ebay. As he also mentioned, there are some things you have to have to carry the look, but after that, it's all up to the individual. Just like a T Bucket, but maybe a thrid or fourth of the cost? I'm in!
For instance, I see that trunk in the back for a tool box? I have two of those in my den! They are your basic trunk that you can get at Kmart. I've seen them. Now what I plan to do is take off all the brackets, corner pieces and even the locks and hinges and make a nice, Oak box. That's just one idea for things that will look cool and be on the cheap.
If this works out like I'm thinking it could, I can see building a sweet one for a good deal less than $5,000. The Webmaster may have to start a new section for Speedsters this time next year! :clap:
The tool box you se on the back of a lot of speedsters is the running board tool box that was found on Model T's. I actually saw 2 of them last year at swap meets. If you are thinking about placing a spare tire on the back ( another trait of speedsters ) you don't want too big of a box back there. Something else to keep in mind, these cars were stripped of extra weight. The less weight, the faster the car would go.
Ron
Ron
tfeverfred
Well-Known Member
THAT. IS. IT. That is what I want to build.
Miss Fortune. Coming to a forum site near you this winter!
Miss Fortune. Coming to a forum site near you this winter!
oldtman
New Member
speedsters are what you do with the left over T parts. I am restoring mine right now. I have built 4 bodies over the years and 2 chassis's and traded off parts to the guys to finish one. cost depends on what ypu find.. parts I am collecting for the next one ...Frame was free. engine and trans. turns over . haven't tried to start it...$ 200/ axles and misc parts were part of 3 dump truck loads of parts we bought for $ 300 early chevy flat dish steel wheels.. part of and old hay wagon ..cost One afternoon with the truck to clean up lumber and trash from a neighbor.s horse pasture...body material sign laminated plywood $ 50 . sheet metal for cowl and bomber seats $ 100
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