I finally have some road-trip stowage space.

Thanks to a cast-off and a horse trade with The Man from Bremen, I no longer have to burden a passenger with luggage to go somewhere for an overnight.

Since there's no trunk or other useful storage IN the car, I added some ON the car. Maybe I'll get it paint-matched or something someday, and it's been suggested already that I could chop the legs a bit and still not cook a duffel bag ... but for now, at least I have a rack on the car.

Maybe it'll grow on me.

If you have a radio you just doubled your reception!

Cory, now all you need is a classic 1940's suitcase with tons of stickers from the places you have or will visit. It is a little shocking to see it on the Hoopty, but it certainly makes sense. Good move.
Hoss

Lower that baby before its set you airborne:-)

I think the hoopty needs a metal suitcase fabbed up in the shop :-)

Now all you'll need is a telescopic rear view mirror.


~WB

Well, well, well..... The purist in you finaly lost a round..... I always picture HOOPTY as unadorned and spartan.... But thats my .02...... and in this economy, that buys ????

I don't like it.. Cory i have been thinking about a trailer idea that uses a kit nose and rear section with lots of room for a fold up chars a table Hec you might even be able to hide a cooler in it.

It sure would help on trips. when your grabbing up momento's or spot a nifty antquie that might hide in side it..

I have blue/grey plaid '60s suit case you can have. Got 2 at church charity yard sale for 50 cent each. Gave Dale a silver gray one so might want to swap with him. I found a faux alligator skin one in FL that I now plan to use.

Looks like you used fire truck in picture as inspiration.

"Can you hear me? Come in Mars, over."

Seriously Cory--it's not the same. I'd certainly use it for trips though but for times between trips go sans rack. The Hoopty is just too special for a mundane rack like that. On a trip it will be covered by a suitcase and if you score some luggage belts like Dusty's it will look fine, I believe.

I well know that trips require some way to pack for a time away from home.

Tough call.

Who's Dusty?????
Cory, the rack looks rediculous on that tub....

Dusty is http://www.pvsaddleshop.com/ABOUT%20DUSTY%20JOHNSON.htm


That's not a rack, it's a lightened WhaleTail.

(joining the chorus in saying that the rack doesn't work on the car - like a rack on an indy car - nah.)

Hoopty is thinking to itself...'Oooh the shame'!.

Instead of that rack, what about reconfiguring the shelf space where your magneto/coil are currently located. Move those items to another location (it looks like you have plenty of room) to make enough room for a duffel bag to fit. This way your overnight bag/luggage will be concealed, secured and out of the weather.

...I'm just saying...

He who pays the piper calls the tune. If you like it, keep it! Ambivalence is always present in auto design, isn't it? Form vs. function, etc. I don't know of any hobbyist that has more time and talent devoted to his ride. Whatever you decide, you have my vote!

The Golden Rule?

They that have the Gold make the Rules.


Be very careful you might be sleeping in the car tonight.

Maybe I can design a whale tail that is a cargo carrier in hiding..

Im sharping my pencels and drawing one tonite

I guess I've been at this too long, but I like the look of it.

Slap a low-profile tool box on there with stickers from Watkins Glen, Lime Rock, Daytona/Rolex, Sebring, Mont Tremblant, Pike's Peak, Laguna Seca - - - you get the idea - and that rack and toolbox will look PISSA!!! Grown men will be humbled and sexy paddock groupies will swoon. I mean it.

Just my 2 cents, but I still like it!

Thanks, guys. It really is intended for just overnights with a passenger.
Barry, you can put the pencils down. :)
I like the toolbox idea. Maybe even the suitcase, but that decklid is only paper thin, held down with four Dzus buttons onto metal tabs riveted to the fiberglass. I'm pretty sure a couple backpacks are about all it can handle right now.
I'll monkey with it over the winter and see what I can come up with for reinforcement.
You guys are too cool. Thanks for all the opinions!

As an aside, Ken, us old-timers are acquainted with Dusty's work. He is an excellent craftsman, and regarded well by many of us here. He also was a bit sensitive to how we comported ourselves here, and has elected to withdraw from our company.

I would certainly welcome him back, but every man has his pride, and I don't know that he'll visit us again anytime in the forseeable future. It's unfortunate for everyone, IMHO.

I tried 4 versons of a spoiler for Hooptie I hated all of them. and I still don't like the rack .

I still think a trailer with a speedster nose. No headlamps opening filled in and contoured to perfection. no grills but yes to marker lamps front and rear.

One lid that matches the nose and rear shareing the same engine lid lines..

The nose and rear would be cotoured to share one wheel well

It would look very 356y.

Cory, after you win the Lottery, go out and buy a big-assed Zero-Halliburton case. You know the ones professional shutterbugs use? Aluminum, weatherproof, and REAL industrial looking. It would look all business back there!

Either way, like you say, four nuts and it's off. Remove and stow in the hotel room.....I like it for function.

I posted elsewhere that I'm not fond of the look but understand the need. Now that I think about it, form following function is the Hoopty's philosophy, so it fits.

Cory, sorry to hear that about Dusty, or anyone. I bought his strap set recently but didn't interact with him or with anyone in his enterprise to do it. Are you saying that his preferences include that a link to his site not be posted here? That'd be kind of silly since his product is probably the best made and best priced set of luggage straps available anywhere and for those his best customers would be found right here.

Dig it a little, its growing on my Man.... Now, more importantly, my wife and I are going to drive our car on some road trips soon.... to Florida, etc. I'm scouting a rack to throw on our CMC. What did you do to reinforce the grill? Thanks!

Ken, that's a good question for him.

Keith, not a thing. Which means it's probably a good idea for you to reinforce your a little, especially if you intend to put bulky, wind-grabbing stuff on it while driving long distances.

The only thing holding the grille in place on my car are four tiny little screws. I'll be changing that soon. Maybe you'd be interested in a slightly larger grille (which means modifications to your fiberglass decklid) in exchange for that CMC grille you have now? I would happily do that, since that Leitz you're looking at was meant for a vaned grille closer to the original. The legs might be too wide apart for the CMC one.

Yeah, I have already scored a CMC decklid locally. I have a really good fiberglass/Boat repair guy near me... you kind of already see where I am going with this ehh? :)

Call me, Dude. I might have some stuff for that guy. I effin' hate fiberglass work.

I'll straight-up trade you the fancy grille I just got (that's too big for the hole in my decklid) for the CMC grille you've got.
I'll even clean it up.

Ken---you were kind to post the link to Dusty's website. Dusty has many, many friends here and I think he would thank you for posting his site here. I bought a set of his luggage belts myself and they are spectacular, so you're doing Ken and anyone else who needs belts a favor too.

Cory---what a varied group of opinions on your luggage rack! It's always a wonder to me how a simple innocuous question here can garner so many posts and opinions. Everyone loves the Hoopty and feels strongly about it! What a ride!

Surely NO one is actually considering mounting a luggage rack TO a grille. Hopefully, I just misinterpreted the posts.

http://i873.photobucket.com/albums/ab294/hooptypilot/8cf443b4.jpg

Actually, to keep it German, check out Rimowa luggage (pronounced Ree mow va). They make lightweight, waterproof, metal luggage. Here's a link http://www.luggageonline.com/brand.cfm?brand_ID=112. They're pricey, but maybe the best for this application. Might be able to find a used one on eBay or Craigslist. In fact, here you go http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewitem?itemId=140618679309

Cory, I'm going to see how this guys "correct" deck lid grill transplant goes before I will anything ! LOL

John: The originals (cars and racks) mounted through the grill. The steel Speedsters/Cabriolets had tabs under the grill as part of the engine lid to mount them to, thereby gaining some much needed strength. I have a friend who regularly did loooooong trips with his 356 Cabby back in the 70's and 80's and I swear he carried 100 pounds on his rack and it (and the car) survived.

Unfortunately, Fiberglass engine covers were not made to carry as much weight, so, as most people have found, they have to scale back their "luggage" to something closer to 30-40 pounds and keep a low profile.

I probably had 30 or 40 lbs. on mine in this picture. It is mounted through the grill to the lid. No problems at all and I think it could have easily held at least 10 more.

Troy, Looks like the wife threw your ass out for fondling one too many wide bodies :~) ( Nice windurs' !)

Well, I guess I am lucky, she is pretty understanding that way.

So do those shorty "windurs" get the coveted "Merklin Motor Craft seal of approval?" That would certainly be a big selling point in my eBay ad.

Yes! I like the windurs' and the seal has been affixed. Very well thought out and the craftsmanship is second to none. When I do the upgrades to the custom IM this winter, I'll fit them to the speedster. With the custom interior, it has different door top rails.

You VS owners need to get a set of Troy's custom crusiing windows !

I wish we could see them better.

Gordon, I totally agree with your reply to my comment on luggage rack mounting. Cory's reply was a photo of his rack with the legs partially extending through the grille. I have that same rack on my CMC and see Cory is faced with the same dilemma I was wherein the legs on the rack will have to be carefully ground down in order to fully extend through the CMC grille enough to attach to the deck lid. I also agree with that arrangement. Actually, mine (and I assume everyone's) is mounted in that same fashion. What concerned me was Keith's comment: ".... I'm scouting a rack to throw on our CMC. What did you do to reinforce the grill?". To which Cory replied: "Keith, not a thing. Which means it's probably a good idea for you to reinforce your a little, especially if you intend to put bulky, wind-grabbing stuff on it while driving long distances. The only thing holding the grille in place on my car are four tiny little screws.". Cory's reference to the four tiny grille attachment screws led me to think Keith might be considering attaching one to his grille. One could make that mistake if they picked up a Lietz rack without mounting hardware rather than one such as Cory,s (and mine) with integral legs. My mistake apparently. Sorry all.

One last highjack Cory and then back to the rack, I promise. I've made 9 sets of these shorty "cruzin" windurs and will be posting about them along with photos very soon. They will be for sale on eBay, but SOC'ers will get a special discount.

Blue Widebody to Troy, Does this vintage luggage and sleeping bag make my butt look big?