Rat Rod Speedster

Looks good, Ernie. And let me be the first one to say, "Welcome to the madness!" Al

If you're in NoVa outside of DC you have a lot of Speedster compatriots nearby to cruise with.  I expect several of them to greet you shortly.  Welcome to the Madness!

Hey VE,

Looks great! Wecome... I'm in Oakton.  Where are you at?

Pete

 Mini "Clubman" in the garage? Nice fun driver!

I think that's a 'Countryman' - not a Clubman. The Clubman rear end is a slight bit different, I think. The rear end is more 'square' vertically than the Countryman. Plus the rear doors are a 'barn door' style, not a hatch. 

Not sure why I felt the need to correct your observation. I will go to my room.

Still a nice car. 

Ted

WTTM! I like both of them.

Very cool looking outlaw Speedster, Eddie! A 'Moon Eyes' or 'Red Head Woodpecker' decal would be cool! Welcome to the Madness (otherwise known as Speedster replica ownership). Hope you join one of the upcoming SOC events, particularly Carlisle 2014! 

Thanks guys!!!

Not to get totally off track, but the Mini in the garage is at my friends house in Georgia- he picked up the car for me. I have a Lotus Elise as my daily driver (lol) so Im used to non practical, uncomfortable cars that look cool!!

Pete, Im in Clifton Va. just down the road from you. Will probably do cars and coffee in Great Falls at some point when it gets warmer.

 Ernie- What size wheels and tires are on it? What do you know about the engine?

not sure that qualifys for a ratrod.

Ernie - Your location makes it a no-brainer for you to join us in Carlisle in mid-May.  Check out the thread in the Events for for info.

Aww come on Mark, what do you mean?

It is missing one blinker lens! That's pretty ratty. 

T

VE,

Cool my right seater and I go to Clifton alot for creps, etc., we were just at Trummers.  We've not been to the new resturaunt yet.

I drove mine yesterday top down about town.  Had a great time at Great Falls last Saturday at C&C.  Also there's a good C&C at Fairlakes every Sunday when weathers good. Yesterday 32-40 degrees, sunny and dry what more could you ask for this time of year.

My friends Sly & Maggie from Falls Church, fellow SOC'ers have a very cool Outlaw Speedster.

PS I had a Lotus Europa SII in the 80's one of my favorite driving cars to go climbing in WVA and NC

Syl and Maggie are regulars at Carlisle.  You should caravan with them.

I agree 100% on the red pecker head. Wheel and tire combo is killer!

p.s.  When I said pecker head I wasn't talkin about you Alan.  Sorry

Welcome to the madness....love the satin paint.   A well positioned decal would look pretty cool.  Maybe teeth like on a "Flying Tiger"  WWII fighter plane.

Or paint it black...

VERY NICE

Al, I like the decal idea....I am torn about maybe painting it silver and bringing it back to "center" or taking it the other way and making it more outlaw radical by adding big fog lights and making it more aggressive looking. It is pretty menacing right now but it looks as if something is missing on the exterior........ I know they do some pretty amazing things with vinyl wrap now, wondering if that might be an option.

-Engine... is a 1600 dual port but has a single weber carb, it pulls fairly well and is kind of loud. I may dynamat the engine area to quiet it down during highway cruising. 

-Wheels/Tires... I purchased it from a great guy who works for Year One in Atlanta,  They are Year One wheels. They are the reproduction of a GM Gymkhana from the mid 70,s Z/28. 17 inch with 245's on the rear and 215's up front. He change the hubs to 5 lug chevy pattern and it has 4 wheels discs all around.

Keep it a Rat Rod 

DO add a black top, boot and side curtains, little old school accents on the interior and you have a unique speedster ride .

I Like It !   " Drclock"

Me too....I wouldn't change the paint, but would research what would look cool as old school touches.  Maybe do a stop light prism, vintage Blauplunkt radio (updated with modern internals), a wicker under-dash shelf, that sort of thing.

DO NOT change those killer wheels!!

Oh!  And I'll look in my stash for a replacement for your missing directional lens - I may have one, just have to find the damn thing.......

Ernie,

I like your ride - wheels look great - looking forward to meeting you at local something in the Spring

I like the wheels too, car looks different, but GOOD different!

I thought the wheels stood out as well; I like 'em!

That's IT! I couldn't place the wheel pattern until you mentioned it. But now that you said it, it's obvious. Totally the 70's Z28 wheel pattern.

As for the rest of the car: I dunno. I hate to be the odd man out here, but I think it looks spot on the way it is. maybe go clear lenses on the front (with some nice orange bulbs, or those chrome bulbs that light up orange - I had 'em on my bmw for years... they look 'chrome' when not lit up but turn orange when they are on) - other than that - the car is flat out fantastic.

Nice ride,

Ted

edit:

http://www.solarisbulbs.com/ <--- found 'em!

Use those bulbs with clear front lenses.

Nostalgia!...I like it

Reminds me of growing up in SoCal when practically everyone's pre-war flathead coupe was in matte black primer, and sporting spun aluminum hubcaps...except Ruttman's ('52 Indianapolis 500 winner) '41 coupe was a dusty pink primer! Ugh!

Very cool car. Very cool wheels. 

Hope to see you at the Carlisle and maybe even elsewhere.

Now, a question: are the top stays fully extended in that pic? I ask because a lot of guys new to Speedsters run with flabby tops for a while (years even) before they discover there is a little lever in there that makes it drum tight. 

Someone else here can pipe up with the exact location of said thingie. 

Ernie - here are a couple of pics of another SOCer's outlaw Speedster in matte black. This car belongs to Ken Vela in SoCal...

Thanks for all the comments, I think I will keep it the way it is and just add some  fog lights, and interior bits that stick with the rat rod theme. I like the black top idea and the orange lights, keep the suggestions coming!! Here are some close up shots of the wheels. 

OK, folks.......I looked all over my garage for a replacement CMC front directional for Ernie but I think I donated mine to the Carlisle raffle a while back 'cuz I couldn't find them.

Anyone have a spare CMC (Signal Stat) front directional lens?

The other alternative is for him to get a 356 A or B lens (the "B" lens is taller) from Stoddard or Klasse 356 or some place like that for bigger bucks So can anyone save him some money?

gn

Ernie,

I like the outlaw look, paint and wheels. It looks like you have side curtains under the plastic so that's one thing you may not need to make.  My sugestion would be to find the more-original white directional signals and lose the orange ones.   

I agree with Lane - come to Carlisle in May and you'll meet a great bunch of follks, learn alot about the cars and have a great time.      

I have two of the orange directionals off of Vince's old "El Diablo". They cost me a year's subscription to Hustler magazine but they can be yours for free.

Ernie, if you want them email me: tpnuckels @ aol.com.

Ernie,

Let me be the last to welcome you to the madness.  Sounds to me as if you are now totally submerged.  Tough luck.  Upon inspection of your nice photo at top, I was going recommend getting new flasher lens there and to lose the Saran wrap for side curtains.  But I see this has been dealt w/ by the others.  Car looks pretty fab to me and I agree that the wheels are spot-on very good looking.  How about a pic or two of the interior, so we can collectively bash you about that too??  If you wanna make it more rod than rat, start thinking about more twist from a bigger engine.

And I am one of the sorta-DC folks around here.  I live in the MD suburbs, not far from Columbia.  Arlington/McLaean/Grt Falls were my stomping grounds for HS and college, w/ family still living on that side of the river.  I get that way from time to time.  Keep a look out here (Events) for any drives that might get organized later in the warmer parts of the year.  And attending the Carlisle show in May is going to be a must.  It is pointless to resist.  Make your reservations now.

Yes, I am totally fixated on this speedster. Sometimes I just go out in the garage (car barn) and stare at it. If it wasnt so cold I probably would have disassembled half of it by now and spent 1k on parts. So perhaps this cold weather isnt such a bad thing?

frazerk1- The interior is pretty dreadful, the car was originally gel coated in red and the dash is still red, with the rest being tan interior with black vdo gauges abd back steering wheel. Here are some interior photos so bash away!!lol

I was thinking of painting or plasti coating the dash black or even white to make it more appealing...........in the short term.

I am working on a velocity stack air cleaner that will protrude out of the top half of the engine deck lid grill. The previous owner cut the deck lid grill to fit the single carb air cleaner so the damage was already done. I had six small velocity stacks lying around my car barn and thought it looked way cool when I mocked it up, have a photo of the mockup here too but they are just sitting in there not attached. 

Ernie,

You might want to seriously reconsider affixing those velocity stacks to the grille.

You also might consider a entire drive train & suspension tear down for wear and tear inspection...since it apparently has over 40 million miles on the speedometer!!!!

Ernie, 

You might want to consider getting another grille for the engine lid - they appear for sale on here once in a while (anybody?) ...or go with the velocity stacks if you like them.  My suggestion would be to not worry too much about modifying the drivetrain or how it looks.  The red dash is not so bad with the primer paint and the carpet looks well done. Get it tagged and drive it for a while, you'll learn what you like and don't like and modifiy it as you go.   Get it on the road, bring it to Carlisle, meet the guys and you'll get a flavor for what's out there.  Drive it and enjoy it - that's what it's all about.   

Thanks Bruce,

Good advice I will follow, bought the car with no title so Va. DMV is sorting the title/tag thing out right now (fingers crossed). I dont really want to mess with the drivetrain unless there is a problem. Not looking for a race car, just a fun cruiser that is dependable. I am looking for a new deck lid, I like the velocity stacks so may just work them into the cut grill until a find a new one. I never do anything that I cant change back. Looking forward to Carlisle, hope to have the speedster ready to roll by then and meeting some of the guys!!!

Cheers

Ernie

Ernie, 

Dialog your email address to me and I'll add you to the Carlisle email ditribution list.