Austin gasser to respectable street rod

Neat little Austin gasser in my care package.

I like drag cars, but don't usually model them.
To return this racer to respectability for the street, first it went into the brake fluid!

Went looking for a front clip. Almost butchered this pristine truck, but decided to go with the 40 Ford that I toyed with putting a 32 grill into a couple of years ago.

The butchery began in earnest. I had to slide the 40 assy back alongside the cowl to match the fenders with the molded body ones in the doors. Then I had to move the wheel openings back forward.  Cutting about 3/8 in. sections out of another front clip, I spaced the wheel openings back approximately where they  belong.I hope to get it right when I doink with whatever chassis I rig up. I then filled in the wheel openings with some flat polystyrene stock. I used small 1/2 round stock to rebuild the opening edge.

The next hurdle was to match the 40 hood to the Austin cowl. I cut down a section of convertible top for the main piece. The rest was pieced in. I had to doink with rhe 40 hood pretty severely to get it back to matching the fender line, roughly.

Now to butcher the nose! I couldn't use that lower cross piece I built those years ago. I have put a straight piece in there now to set the grill shell on.


This is where I'm at now. I tried 5 different grills , and this is the best of any of them for a fit. I gave up then and am in for my supper and my last beer !  

I have attached the grill shell and the hood piece together as one unit. As I sit here, I'm thinking I may be able to split the grill shell at the bottom and pull the bottoms together a tad. I'll give that a shot tomorrow.

Wow you didn't go half way on this one. I love the concept and it really does seem doable. It's a one of a kind sweet looking street rod.

Thats awesome Clay !!!

Coming along. I'm so-so on grille, but maybe when painted and fitted it will look better. The rest is your stunning work and imagination. Somehow you always make things look as if it is OOB and not sliced 'n' diced!

The hood and grill look great. Will make a great street rod with high class respectability.

Nice mods Clay,it reminds me of a 40s Rover....

Amazing how you go straight into a build with the confidence that it'll all work out perfectly in the end.
Respect!

 Lookin' good Clay!

The front end is pretty close, now.


The rear fenders on this Austin are squashed in and too narrow. So, now we go from Austin to abortion.  I will not build a fendered car with the wheels sticking out !
These are the fenders I removed from the 50 Chev PU.

WoW Clay !! amazing !!

Bob and I are sitting in a Motel in Twin Falls Idaho. I just now showed him this build for the first time. All he can say is WOW!!!!!. He says he is jealous because he can't think of stuff that cool. Clay I love what you are doing.

 

It looks like a full size car now.   

Couldn't figure out how this could possibly work out but I sure love how it is coming together Clay. Super job. The 32 grille really looks right with the lay-back you put in.

That is some amazing body work! Very well done.

Nicely done as per usual.

 

Carving Bondo and looking ahead.
Being a young child in the later depression and early WWII years, I blame that on some of my character flaws. One of which is that when I have/get something nice, I just hate to spend or use it. These cool resin wheels have been horded for more years than I can remember. BUT, this build is becoming cooler than I expected and I'm gonna blow these jobbies on it !!!


Another carryover is my penchant to use whatever  I have to get the job done. 'Swhy I bash and scratch so much. Of all the 40 front fenders I have, there are, for some reason, no headlight rims that I can locate. So I'm resorting to frenching, which may be better after all. I first carved a form from a Popsicle stick, and then formed some soft craft wire over it. They'll be bondo'd in.

The AMT '40 Ford sedan had an option of oval lenses much like that shape. I know because it's part of one I nearly finished as a "phaeton" with a cloth roof.
I'm always amazed by the ingenuity of folks who grew up makin' instead of buyin' ready made things. The result is the skill you share with every model.

 

Nice 5 spokes.
Not surprised you hung onto them for a special build.
The car looks a bit like a 1951 Wolseley 6/80 to me - except they were 4 door cars.

As usual Clay, a very entertaining build.

 

I wonder if the cars over here had different names. What we called a Ford Anglia which you called a Ford Popular.

It is looking fantastic even without paint Clay!    

Dave from Pleasanton wrote:I wonder if the cars over here had different names.  What we called a Ford Anglia which you called a Ford Popular.

Not sure Dave,some did and others didn't.

Those wheels and Tires look like Nagasaki resin pieces. John Nesbitt is sure missed.