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While I am awaiting the finances to mould the ALPHA I have started a new build.
Stoneleigh was a good show but there was nothing "different" on offer and I do like to be "different" .
However at Stoneleigh I and many other folks noticed a nice BUGATTI type 35 in the car park (built around a VW beetle) and I just happen to have a BUGATTI body, along with a Triumph Herald based chassis and a Mk1 2lt six pot engine so I placed them all togeather to see what they look like. op2:
First the engine was placed on the chassis as it would have to be mounted well back to fit under the narrow 35 body.
The seat was to measure the leg room needed. .
Then the body was laid over the engine, hard against the front turrets to get the front wheels looking correct.
Then the boat tail rear was lifted into place.
Overall I am pleased with the way it's looking op2:
But it needs a larger set of wire wheels so can anyone help?
That Mercedes is gorgeous Paul ..the Auto Union stuff from same period equally amazing ..I really like those Teal bodies , if that's what it is , open wheeled race cars are real Boys Own stuff ...love them..
About 3 years ago I built this little open wheeled Roadster around a Triumph chassis ...
I like the Bugatti look, I agree the front suspension kinda does spoil it. However if you where to add a nose similar to a Maserati 8 cl, it would be in keeping, and cover all the suspension bit.
And it needs some much bigger diameter wheels.
Spent the last few days working on the car.
Cut the bonnet to get some access to the engine bay.
Fabricated and fitted engine mounts after deciding where to along the chassis to place the engine.
The steering and gearbox are also in place ( note the short prop shaft), I have also added some steel frame work to the cockpit..
The pedals are also in place but I forgot to load the camera.
I'v been after some bigger wheels for it and E-bay turned up some 19" wheels which might be a little big but they where the right price.
I'll be working on the Sportster for the rest of the week trying to get it ready for Beaulieu Spring Autojumble next weekend as I have to met a Dutch guy with a stack of cash who's "very interested"
This BUGATTI 35 project has been coming along well and is actually a lot further forward that it looks but I have not uploaded the latest photos yet !
The 19" wheels with 19x600 cross-plys really suit it, although driving it will be a real struggle !!!.
The classic style hand brake was fairly simple to fit , once I had found one, but getting it to operate smoothly was a completely different story!!
I have now learnt to my cost that a Triumph 2500 gearbox will fit a Vitesse Mk1 engine but the clutch won't operate.
Having built the car's frame work around the engine and gearbox removing the offending gearbox is proving difficult to say the least
So, does any one have a Vitesse Mk1 gearbox for sale??
I have now learnt to my cost that a Triumph 2500 gearbox will fit a Vitesse Mk1 engine but the clutch won't operate.
Do you know why not? I'd have thought it was a question of insufficient throw. I had this problem with my first Phaeton which had a Ford Cortina master cylinder and a Triumph Spitfire slave. Curing it was simply a matter of having a spacer machined to go between the slave's piston and the reaction rod.
That looks very authentic Bugatti, the wheels really hide the origin. Nice work, any plans to offer it as a body kit?
Not really as this body sells for £950 for a 600 lay-up or £1200 for a 900 lay-up.
My next project/racer might be a different story .
Sunbeam 350hp Bluebird tribute.
Aero engines are hard to find now-a-days so to get the "wow" factor when opening the bonnet I'll be going for twin in-line engines
op2:
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