Sometimes you meet people who have the gumption to live out their ideas.
About a week ago my wife heard from a cousin she hadn't seen in several years that he and his wife were driving from Modesto, Ca. to Key West for fun, and could we get together as they drove back. Absolutely!
Well, here are pictures of what Keith and Sue Talcott traverse America in, routinely.
Build "highlights":
Pierce Arrow motor home frame and some of the suspension. Shortened by four feet. Not a "slammed" rat rod.
1930 Model A body. It was a custom, bright yellow hot rod that had burned to the ground.
Chrysler 440 with an automatic trans. I believe 3.88 rear end. Eight to eleven MPG.
Full set of gauges, he can monitor everything.
Cruises comfortably in excess of 80! No rattles.
Buick hood from the fifties. It got bent in front when he struck a deer. The letter "I" fell off the hood in the collision, leaving letters that spell "BUCK", appropriate to the accident.
The roof is a single piece of plywood on a hinged frame that can be tilted up for air once you take the four "C" clamps off that hold it down.
Custom made door handles, shifter (a 13/16" box wrench soldered to a piece of angle iron) window cranks.
A single windshield wiper operating off an electric motor the size of Cleveland.
The back storage area is steel and plywood with hinges that lock down with long screwdrivers. Shelved and perfect for big plastic storage bins with everything you need for a long trip. Everything you need to set camp and stay awhile!
Two horns because.........why not?
Seats two on really comfortable captains chairs.
Excellent heater, really works well!
The two glasspacks are pretty much blown out, so it makes a little noise.
Rearview mirrors are adjusted with bailing wire and bungee straps.
Rear fenders are a split 50 gallon oil drum.
Milk bucket radiator overflow on a custom shelf with bailing wire tie downs. A few holes, so it has a plastic liner.
Running man hood ornament welded together from old, big honkin' nails.
The two rat rod murals on either side were painted on by a biker chick "artist" in New Orleans about a week ago. A guy rat on one side, a girl rat on the other. Keith thinks they look more like possums than rats, so they may be redone once he gets home to Modesto.
He is going to change the exhaust and run it straight up to the height of the roof when he gets home. That is about as high as he can go and still get through most garage doors.
A phone charger!
Three years to build, still changing things, and over 7,000 miles, much of it criss-crossing the country, with no breakdowns or issues! One of those SB100 special construction California registrations.
I bow to Keith's skills, abilities and ingenuity!
!
