I could not even afford the bucket it would require to wash a car like these! posted by Astro Zombie at 9:42 AM on June 26, 2007
GET A HORSE! posted by DU at 10:25 AM on June 26, 2007
You know, I'm not much into modified old cars, but that Model A is a beautifully done modernization of an old machine without losing the appeal of the original. These guys do very nice work.
And one true luxury when restoring a car is being able to spread out all of the pieces of an assembly...the funnest part of any restoration is having a large pile of perfectly restored pieces that have yet to go together. Shot #76 in the Model A resto made me very jealous.
Drum brakes will work fine in normal driving, especially if they have modern-material linings. posted by maxwelton at 10:31 AM on June 26, 2007
posted by Big_BTake a 1929 Model A, do a frame off resto, add significant chassis strength, and a 250+ hp rally car motor, but leave on the drum brakes???? *boggles*
In this case, I bet the restorers were aiming for subtlety and authenticity over safety/hotroddishness. Note the wheels--they're machined alloy but painted to look like the original wood. The same is true with the engine--the air cleaner is painted with the original logo. When you start adding chromed valve covers and drilled disc brakes and VDO gauges and Centerlines, the car looks less like an authentic restoration and more like ZZTop.
Not that there's anything wrong with that... posted by fandango_matt at 10:31 AM on June 26, 2007
the restoration work on those group a/b rally cars is awfully impressive. i like how they basically give up on restoring most of the chassis of the '83 audi quattro a2 and just start carving off huge chunks from a donor car. and those completed lancias look awesome! posted by the painkiller at 10:43 AM on June 26, 2007
Yeah, those rally car restorations are jaw-dropping. What I wouldn't give for 10 minutes behind the wheel of that Delta S4. Great find, thanks Wolfdog. posted by saladin at 11:48 AM on June 26, 2007
Things like this make me happy. Classic and beautiful vehicles, high quality craftsmen, combined with modern materials make for such a perfect mix. I'd love to see something similar with vintage aircraft as well, but the price barrier to playing is probably too steep. posted by quin at 4:22 PM on June 26, 2007
"What's that? You can't find the part because there are only five existing models left in the world and they're all in museums or the garage of some Dubai prince? Oh, that's OK. We'll just fab our own."
Must be nice to have that kind of money. posted by Civil_Disobedient at 5:07 PM on June 26, 2007
Two car restoration threads today. Yay.
You all should go to a classic car show sometime. They are everywhere. Jersey is big on cars and there are multiple shows within a 20 minute ride from me every week of the summer. I want a Model A, but if I get one it will not look like this one, cool as it is. Oh no, it will weigh what, 1500 lbs or less, and sport 500 hp and 500 ft-lbs of torque and cover the standing quarter mile in under 11 seconds. posted by caddis at 7:08 PM on June 26, 2007
awesome stuff, thanks wolfdog. posted by jba at 11:14 PM on June 26, 2007
They left out the cup holders in the old Ford. Door pockets, sure. They are gathered fabric, but they are there. Can any American exist in a car without at least a dozen cup holders? posted by Cranberry at 12:39 AM on June 27, 2007
Damn you, now I am going to have Red Barchetta stuck in my head all day. Doesn't help I'm seeing them live tonight! posted by Eideteker at 4:31 AM on June 27, 2007
"Can any American exist in a car without at least a dozen cup holders?"
judging by the harley i saw pulling away from the dunkin donuts nearest me yesterday, we can't live without cupholders on our motorcycles either. posted by the painkiller at 4:36 AM on June 27, 2007
I do not think, DU, that you will so successfully restore a 1949 horse. posted by Wolfdog at 7:01 AM on June 27, 2007
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posted by Mayor Curley at 8:42 AM on June 26, 2007