Fresh New Look for an old Speedster

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2013: Fresh New Look for an old Speedster
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Frank Harris from Long Beach & Big Bear on Thursday, May 30, 2013 - 06:31 pm:

We used to have a Rootlieb tank on the back of 22 for many years and it finally popped because it didn't like being pressurized, so we went with a modern aluminum welded marine tank and had to hide the ugly thing and all I had to do was steal the nose off of a Chris Craft to get it done. We like it, what do you think ?




22




22 old


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kerry van Ekeren (Australia) on Thursday, May 30, 2013 - 06:43 pm:

Yes, like it too.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Seth - Ohio on Thursday, May 30, 2013 - 06:56 pm:

Beautiful Car Frank


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Walker, NW AR on Thursday, May 30, 2013 - 07:03 pm:

That looks much more classy, Frank.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Frank Harris from Long Beach & Big Bear on Thursday, May 30, 2013 - 07:04 pm:

It is now more refined than just as a drag racing Spyder.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hap Tucker in Sumter SC on Thursday, May 30, 2013 - 07:54 pm:

Frank,

It brings back good memories of one of my childhood favorite movie "Chitty Chitty Bang Band." I like the looks!

Respectfully submitted,

Hap l9l5 cut off


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ricks - Surf City on Thursday, May 30, 2013 - 08:32 pm:

Looks like you have a good start on an amphibian, Frank.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Nathan Bright on Thursday, May 30, 2013 - 09:03 pm:

does it float?? :-) looks AWESOME! I really think speedsters are missing something when they dont have a cowl or at least part of a body on the back. the old gas tank and tool box just doesnt do it for me. (a few exceptions of course!)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Nathan Bright on Thursday, May 30, 2013 - 09:04 pm:

Where did the exhaust go??? also, what kind of wood did you use on your dash and floor? It looks great!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Frank Harris from Long Beach & Big Bear on Thursday, May 30, 2013 - 09:39 pm:

The dash is walnut. The frame of the deck should have been mahogany but I used Douglas fir and painted and wood grained it to look like mahogany. The center of the deck is 1/8 inch oak plywood and then I painted white stripes to make it look like calked planking. I had to keep it light in order to still go racing.

I didn't know how it was going to turn out so I didn't buy expensive wood. The body is Masonite and the stem plate is stainless steel. All fittings are stainless steel. .


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Allan Richard Bennett on Thursday, May 30, 2013 - 09:50 pm:

That's a true boat tail now Frank. I love the rope cleats, a real nautical touch. Some wag hung a polystyrene fish from mine. Next you will need an anchor for better brakes.

You have done a really nice job of the timberwork.I too would be interested in the timbers you used.

Allan from down under.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Terry Horlick in Penn Valley, CA on Thursday, May 30, 2013 - 09:57 pm:

Frank, That really is an improvement. I like the job you did especially the faux finish! Yours is much better looking than this speedster:
This one was made by Ford for the film (C.C.B.B.).

Terry


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Frank Harris from Long Beach & Big Bear on Thursday, May 30, 2013 - 10:07 pm:

Our other love is our 1886 Steamboat shown here. We are going to launch it for the summer this next Saturday. I have been a boater since 1939. Live steam is fun and we run 12 hours on a five gallon bottle of propane with our two horsepower engine.



tink


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Stan Howe Helena, Montana on Thursday, May 30, 2013 - 10:37 pm:

If there was a "Like" button like there is on Facebook, I'd smack it!! Good job, Frank.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Frank Harris from Long Beach & Big Bear on Thursday, May 30, 2013 - 10:47 pm:

Stan, There is a thing called class that they taught us when I went to the Art Center School of Design, now the Pasadena School of Design. The rule is do not confuse the damned thing with a bunch of unrelated intersecting lines. You will note that the seats, the body and the stem - bow of the boat all agree. You can't fool mother nature. The human eye likes good design but keep it simple.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Frank Harris from Long Beach & Big Bear on Saturday, June 01, 2013 - 11:41 am:

Here is a close-up of the rear deck details. Speedboats have a planked deck with white calking between the joints. I used a single sheet of 1/8th inch thick three ply oak veneer plywood and simply painted the white lines to look like calking. I may thicken the lines a bit to make them stand out but subtlety is the word when presenting a piece of art for other's to enjoy.

Note for Terry Horlick: The CCBB and the special cars built for the Great Race are usually made out of Pick Up Trucks because you can strip them down to the frame and get a good clean empty page to start from. They had to build CCBB big in order to have a back seat for the children to ride in. I could have made a child's seat in the back and it would have been cute but It would have had to have been a foot longer if we were going to take kids up to 12 years old along for the ride.




s deck


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carl Sorenson-Lake Arrowhead,CA on Saturday, June 01, 2013 - 12:01 pm:

Frank,,,That is "Sweet"...I love the new"LOOK"........You and your launch would sure be welcome at Lake Arrowhead next week for the Wooden Boat n Car Show....Lots a boats n Lots a Fun ! Even if you just come to look.....I'll be in the Woodie Car part with my 48 Ford (ofcouse)Station Wagon.....


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Norman T. Kling on Saturday, June 01, 2013 - 12:06 pm:

All you need to do now is to rotate the seat and use the fan for your propeller and you will have a true amphibian!

It looks good.
Norm


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Frank Harris from Long Beach & Big Bear on Saturday, June 01, 2013 - 12:17 pm:

Carl, we are going to Big Bear Lake just 20 miles from you at 6800 feet in about an hour to Launch our 1886 Steamboat "Tinkerbelle" for the 2013 boating season. Our plate is full but you be sure to have a good time ! We will too.




tink


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Les VonNordheim on Saturday, June 01, 2013 - 03:26 pm:

Frank,
I like it all! Not sure about your sense of humor....have you thought about hanging a small polished brass prop on the back of your speedster.
You could have some fun with folks on having an amphibian model T.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Paul O'Neil on Saturday, June 01, 2013 - 03:39 pm:

That is certainly one of the most attractive speedsters I have seen and a big improvement over what you had before. Great job!

Vintage Paul


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By George Clipner-Los Angeles on Saturday, June 01, 2013 - 03:47 pm:

Looks good enough to give 10 more mile per hour to your top end.
George n L.A.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Frank Harris from Long Beach & Big Bear on Saturday, June 01, 2013 - 05:40 pm:

George, I got ten more miles an hour top speed out of this car when I put the new Layne Warford in it and lost 30 pounds around my middle. Weight means as much as form and function. We put 48.6 horsepower to the rear wheels at 3100 revs with a T crank and an aluminum flat head.


The picture down below is what it looked like in 1998 when we bought it and just after I painted it and added the fat man wheel. The 26 27 wire wheels are 20 pounds lighter than the Buffalo wheels are and the Buffalo wheels actually slow me down, but I like the looks of the Buffalo wheels and skinny tires.

at speed


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Dare - Just a little South West . on Saturday, June 01, 2013 - 06:06 pm:

Sorry Frank...l liked it the other way,l guess to long looking at your work, bUT the new version looks good too.
Has anyone asked you what you think??


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Frank Harris from Long Beach & Big Bear on Sunday, June 02, 2013 - 12:05 am:

David Dare, it was a Spyder and real short. We only had a cigar box under each seat and we had to wear cargo pants to carry anything. Now it is Mary friendly with room for two gallons of water a sleeping bag, jackets and overcoats, candy bars potato chips, and a sterno stove for making hot coffee and cooking hamburgers or making soup. Don't knock lady friendly cars because the ladies are more friendly when they are comfortable.

It is no longer a stripped down race car it is now a fast gentlemen's Roadster with a happy and comfortable Mary by my side. Let me tell you after fifty seven years of marriage it is better to have a happy lady than an angry one.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Warwick Landy on Sunday, June 02, 2013 - 05:33 am:

Frank, You are way lucky to have a good lady that is happy to ride in the open speedster. I spoiled mine with a Sedan. Now she wont go back. Now I only get to go top down in the touring with the kids or my Dad! Great looking car. I will add a speedster to my collection one day. Several collections of speedster goodies have been sold to do other things but I will get there eventually. I will be in LA next month after the MTFCI tour in Utah. Would love to call in and meet Bill and yourself. Bill and I both own similar Tourings now!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Dare - Just a little South West . on Sunday, June 02, 2013 - 05:54 am:

Good Call Frank, nicely worded too, looks good.


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