PJ - 88 - Let's help a friend!

[Paul Jaray]

This is something more than just a puzzle.
this car is owned by the same person who now has got the Harris Streamline. No connection between the 2 cars, but one thing is in common: We need to find out all the info about this car.
I'll write shortly all the data He gave me and this one will be open to all.

[faksta]

This one is a road car, not built for competition, isn't it?

[Paul Jaray]

Here you are all that is known about this car:
"What we know is that it has a 33-34 Ford shortened frame, 33-34 Ford  f fenders as wheelhouses, 54-55 Studebaker partial roof, doors, windshield and rear window.
Straight dropped f axle from 33-34 Ford.
The rest is all fabricated and hand rolled/hammered.
Was a V-8, stick, 2 speed rear end, bright fire engine red originally, white and brushed aluminum interior when new.
Was repainted several times, this leads us to believe that it was around for quite awhile, found in Iowa, Pella area.
It is about 12 foot long and is very low slung in design."

John also has a name and a Year, 1955. I'm asking the source for that name, if it's just a nickname they adopted, I won't post it not to confuse you.

[ImpishGrin]

12 feet = 3,66 m

A rather small one, looked bigger on the photos.

[motorcar1]

PJ,
Thank you soooo much for posting the car and the build data.

We found this one off creation quite different from all other one off customs of the period.

Seems that Barris, Big Daddy and other notables in time were practicing customizing a current car into their own creation.
Seems most shaired a basic chassis and body from an original manufactures car line as their starting point and basis.

On the other hand, the greats, noted above in part,  would use a 32 Ford, Model T and an aray of other major manufactured parts to create show stoppers, which they did and are the legends of today.

You will notice, if you research the concept GM 1955 Buick Wildcat II, the front designs of these 2 (one off cars ) highly resembles one another, kind of cooool in a way.

Faksta,
we agree and assume that it was built for street usage, would not doubt  that it seen drag strips and was shown many times, was long lived because of the many colors that adourned its body over the past 54 years or so.

The post info that is above, is all we know about the car.
Do so hope that the origin, its name and the builder can be identified.
JOHN

[pnegyesi]

Doesn't want to be sound like a smartass, but I'd have two suggestions:
- did you show the car to Harold Pace?
- did you look up the 1950s Motor Trend books? Those featured a lot of different specials.

[Paul Jaray]

updates will come shortly...

[Paul Jaray]

It seems that there can't be an obscure fiberglass car for Geoff Hacker!

He know the previous owner of this car and sent me these pics:

[Otto Puzzell]

I suspect it may not be a Studebaker at all. That rear window (and the tiny dimensions) suggest a Nash Metropolitan may have been a source.

[Carnut]

The door/rear window/rear wing area all looks a bit TVR to me.  But not the screen and obviously not the front either.

[Paul Jaray]

Is it all there is to know about?

[Carnut]

Front looks a bit Bangert-ish..

[Paul Jaray]

I found this drawing and this comment on a website of Josef Rocha.

"This drawing is based on a photo of an old race car body. I have no idea what make or model it is. It was either a drag car or a track car. I drew it up as a drag racer from the early 1960s."

I'm pretty sure it's the same car.

[grobmotorix]

Not bad, Sherlock!

[Carnut]

As I said before, it looks like a modified TVR body from about 1964..