Heres a 'wood' project for you!

[John Hill]

I made this little car about 30 years ago and it is now in a museum.

Basic Triumph Herald underneath though I did move the engine back and lower the rear suspension a little plus I lowered the floor to be level with the bottom of the chassis rails.  I also had to lower the oil filler cap as there is almost no clearance between the rocker cover and the bonnet (hood) skin.


The body frame is hollow rectangular steel skinned in plywood and wicker work for the finished effect.


Steering wheel and a few of the instruments came from a 1936 Morris 8, the radio control head is from the same era but it had a modern transistor set behind the dash.







The big lights are some cheap Taiwanese 'driving lights' and the smaller lights are headlights from a Fordson Major tractor, they used really good paint on those which was difficult to remove  for the chrome plating.  The radiator surround is sheet steel, chromed as you can see.

[sbwhart]

Hi John

Great looking car,  love the wicker work, my first car was a Triumph Herald they had nice wooden dash boards, is the dash board in you motor an origonal ?.

Heralds had a real small turning circle and independant suspension if I remember right.

Cheers
 
Stew

[SPiN Racing]

VERY COOL


That is a neat car!

[John Hill]

Thanks guys, you are too kind!

Yes, the Herald, also Spitfire and the GT^ coupes had all independant suspension with swing axles on the rear which was much maligned.  The steering lock was extreme and many times I would reverse into a parallel park using the full lock which was very satisfying but the camber of the road made it impossible to drive out of the same park!

The wooden dash is my own, just a bit of varnished ply with as many instruments buttons and switches I could find a use for.

[bogstandard]

John,

Was it ever road legal, and did you do the wickerwork yourself?

I remember when wickerwork was taught a lot to visually impaired people, as it was a very tactile skill.
Sadly, not much of it about now, it seems plastic blow moulding and vacforming has taken over from it.

John

[Divided he ad]

Ok John.... Credit where it's due      I'd never have the patience let alone the skil to do that !!

I like the look of the older motors.... Much more classy



Very cool 



Ralph.

[rleete]

Looks like a real "basket case"!

Can you make one for me?

[Bernd]

For a minute there I thought the picture was posted backwards. The steering wheel is on the wrong side. Then I saw were your from John and I figured it out.

Very nice work through out the whole car.

Bernd

[John Hill]

Oh yes John it was legal though I did break one of the rules.  Under the regs as they were at that time one could 'rebody' a car and just meet some basic rules like safety glass (na), wipers (na), door locks (na), lights (no problem, this one had more candlepower than horse power).   The rule I broke related to no alterations to the chassis which I did by moving the engine back 4 1/2", it I had not it would have been dangerously front heavy and as it was it only really balanced when the battery was moved to the back.


There was (still is) a 6 montly check on brakes, steering etc etc and at one of these a bystander commented on the 'safety' of the wicker body and his tone really pissed me off so I took a deep breath, careful aim and gave it an almighty kick in the withers which of course made not an impression on the wicker. Then I offered to do the same test on his car.

[Darren]

Then I offered to do the same test on his car.

He was obliging of course,

wasn't he?

No....oh...

[Brass_Machine]

hey John! very nice car. I like how the wicker sets it off! Very cool classic style.

Eric

[Divided he ad]

There was (still is) a 6 montly check on brakes, steering etc etc and at one of these a bystander commented on the 'safety' of the wicker body and his tone really pissed me off so I took a deep breath, careful aim and gave it an almighty kick in the withers which of course made not an impression on the wicker. Then I offered to do the same test on his car.

 
 
 

    Had the guy never seen a hot air balloon land??   Man they can come down with an almighty thud...... Not to mention being dragged through hedges and fences!!!


I love the idea of a kick test..... Brilliant 







Ralph.

[John Hill]

Unfortunatley the poor little car has been almost 20 years in the dry atmosphere of a car museum and I expect the wicker will have severely dried not be so resilient now.

[sbwhart]

                                                                                               
 I took a deep breath, careful aim and gave it an almighty kick in the withers.

A good kick in the withers would bring a tear to anyones eyes.

 

Cheers

Stew