remmoc
Part of things
Posts: 919
|
|
Jun 15, 2013 15:21:04 GMT
|
[ By the way, I like your Commer. The lower half reminds me of the rear engine GM Corvair a bit. Even better that its street legal , i cant think of many people who would be able to build a car this stunning from scratch . You are a legend in my book. Thanks for liking the Commer , theres only a hand full left although this ones a tad wrinkly and bashed , in fact your probably the only ones fully qualified to straighten the thing out !!! Rootes did blatantly copy the Chevy Corvair for front end styling so its no surprise they look simular , especially as they are both rear engined .
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jun 17, 2013 12:18:15 GMT
|
Your kinds words are much appreciated. Thanks again Remmoc!
|
|
|
|
stonio
Part of things
Posts: 626
|
|
Jun 17, 2013 15:00:29 GMT
|
Thats an epic build and you can see influences from many different cars, the quality looks superb l would hesitate in ordering a hand built car from yourselves if l could afford haha....
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jun 17, 2013 17:40:31 GMT
|
Thanks stonio! Continuing on with the build... For that cockpit inspired interior, a brushed stainless dash panel was created. After creating several templates from cardboard and aluminum sheeting used for soffits/eve troughs to get the gauge spacing and component locations just right, the final piece was laid out and cut from a sheet of stainless. Once all the holes were created it was taking shape...except for one thing. The grain in the brushed stainless sheet didn't flow correctly with the curvature of the dash...so had to recreate a new grain using some 80 grit sand paper. Since the panel wasn't a true circle, running my fingers along the edge worked pretty well as a guide. This was during one of those sleep deprived moments were creating an actual fixture to hold the sanding block and have a guide that ran along the edge seemed like too much work at the time. Trimming edges and cutting the holes out in the stainless. You can see the aluminum template in the background. VDO Gauges installed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jun 24, 2013 13:23:06 GMT
|
We wanted to do something really trick with the taillights and create a 'turbo' effect on each side of the vehicle. One night on my way home from work I saw a '57 Fairlane for sale. On a whim I stopped in to ask the owner if he had any left over parts - specifically the taillights. As it turned out, he updated the ones his car and gave me the originals. It was a pretty sweet pinch...even though the bulb reflector shield was missing since I would be modifying anyway. With the help of a friend who is an electronics guru, we designed and he built the sequential circuitry for the lights. The LEDs are set up in two rings. The outer ring indicates running and turn signals while the centre indicates the brakes. Initially white LEDs were used behind the lenses(pictured below) however, we discovered that they were kinda dim. After some thought, we decided to try red LEDs....BINGO! It's all about the length of the lightwave...and how the red lens filters out white light, so - red lens with red LEDs. I went though and changed the LEDs(94 per light) to the red type resulting in a huge difference. This is what they look like installed(only running lights on) and was taken before the white LEDs were changed to red...so they're not as bright during daylight hours as they are now. At night it's a totally different experience. When I get a moment I'll take a new picture/video of the new LEDs in action. The lights mounted on the sides of the centre section were actually marker lights and converted over to 6 LEDs bulbs each. The lights sequentially flash when the signal lights are operated - so for instance when the left signal comes on...the Fairlane light starts, then the lights on the deck individually come on moving from the right of the picture to the left. The light on the far right is the centre brake light.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Some closeup pictures... Cockpit inspired brushed stainless steel dash and interior trim. Brushed Stainless Steel door sil panels were fabricated and topped of with a molded and hand painted emblem. To follow through with the Blackbird/fighter jet theme...these cross hairs were created from Stainless Steel. Power mirrors are mounted on the door extension...with no visible fasteners or wires. Now you guys have seen how to fill up the car... '57 Ford Fairlane taillights are retrofitted with LEDs...the centre bullet is the brake light...the outer ring is the running/signal light. ... and if you're wondering of both sides are symmetric...they are
|
|
|
|
Bluto
Part of things
Posts: 38
|
|
|
Fair play, that is one nuts vehicle! Unbelievable workmanship. Congrats, looks mental!
|
|
Maximum signature image height: 80 pixels
|
|
|
|
Jul 11, 2013 16:03:59 GMT
|
Thanks Bluto! It's great to see such enthusiasm for this one off. Granted, there are some elements of the design that could have been changed...possibly simplified...but I wanted to maintain that SR71 Blackbird/late 60's theme. I'm my own worst critic...and early on realized that if I kept going back to change things, Rhythm would never have been completed. It's experience that you put in your back pocket and move onto the next one. Anyhow, here are a few photos heading out to one of the local cruise nights just after the engine transplant. Rhythm was built as a driver and that's where the car is the happiest... cruising down the highways...though shows are fun to attend as well. Thanks again for following the build journal for this vehicle. It's been fun sharing it with you all. Shortly, a new thread will be created for the 'the next one'.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sept 26, 2013 13:32:28 GMT
|
I was planning on starting a new thread for R2 - my next 'from scratch built' sports car. Basically, it'll cover everything from project layout, metal work, interior, chassis/powertrain, painting and finishing.. the whole deal.
Is this something you guys would be interested in seeing.
|
|
|
|
tenman
Part of things
m00000000000
Posts: 899
|
|
Sept 26, 2013 13:53:46 GMT
|
is the pope a Catholic? does a CA18DET have chocolate big end bearings?
damn right...
|
|
RWD Fanatic...
2003 BMW 320d Wagon (getting old and boring) 1996 Mini Kensington (SWMBO's)
|
|
|
|
|
Sept 26, 2013 22:55:03 GMT
|
Stunning! 8000 hours? You know how many projects are abandoned after a couple of hundred hours? It takes incredible fortitude to finish something like this, congratulations. Looking forward to the next one.
|
|
1987 Alfa Milano/75 1979 Alfetta Mille Miglia 1976 Alfetta GT race car 1970 Lancia Fulvia 1.3 Rallye S 1968 Fiat 850 spider
|
|
actionslaxx
Part of things
a message to you rudy
Posts: 74
|
|
Sept 27, 2013 13:59:05 GMT
|
From some angles I can see my old xjs in the shape, like the front screen and long nose. Real sriking shape.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sept 30, 2013 12:43:17 GMT
|
Thanks for the great comments gents!
A new thread has been started for R2, our next from scratch built ride.
Have a great day!
|
|
|
|
brocky
Part of things
Posts: 100
|
|
|
I think your skills are absolutely phenomenal, and the craftsmanship is evidentially second to non...... But I think it looks hideous, in a cartooney kind of way, which I guess some people like. I'm just awaiting the flak I'll get for that statement now!
|
|
Last Edit: Oct 1, 2013 10:40:55 GMT by brocky
Current Projects-
1971 Vauxhall Firenza
|
|
|
|
|
I think your skills are absolutely phenomenal, and the craftsmanship is evidentially second to non...... But I think it looks hideous, in a cartooney kind of way, which I guess some people like. I'm just awaiting the flak I'll get for that statement now! Hey brocky, no need to worry bout getting flak...at least from me. I appreciate your support and honesty. I had mentioned earlier that there were certain design elements that I would have liked to change as the end of the build was approaching ... but also wanted to see this project through to the end. We set a 60's sports car/SR71 Blackbrid theme for the vehicle and worked towards that goal. Some styling changes were made along the way from the initial concept, but even someone with an exceptional technical skillset such as yourself can appreciate the fact that if one keeps making too many changes...a project will never get finished. Rhythm's results speak for themselves at car shows as well as when cruising down the street. To be honest, and I guess this is the designer in me speaking, if I was completely satisfied with the first one, it may have never led to building the second version and actually, as we speak, a third(in the design stages). Retro rides has a plethora of extremely talented guys creating and building rides and I'm quite honored to share my projects here as well. Thanks for looking.
|
|
|
|