Popular Science Monthly
��285
��Rebuilding a Wrecked Automobile To Make a Racing Car
THE owner of a wrecked car concluded it was only fit for the junkman and left it in the corner of his lot where it was hauled after the accident. The nephew of the owner decided that it could be made of some use, as the engine needed only a few new parts to make it like new. The cost of the materials he bought did not exceed $15.
The damaged body and mud guards were stripped from the chassis frame, and
���floor with metal angles securely fastened. The old tool box was tightly fas- tened in the rear of the gas tank, back of the seat, and used for an extra seat by placing cushions on it. The hood was first cut out from cardboard and then from tin and hammered into shape on a wooden block. This covered up brake pedal, clutch pedals, reverse pedals and protected the switch box. The result, after the car had been painted, can be seen in the upper illustration.
Carefully look over a supposedly wrecked car before selling it for junk, for the engine may still be in per- fect order, or unharmed to such an extent that with slight repairs it can be put in shape for further use in an automo- bile, or for a stationary power plant. Some other parts may be used in rebuilding another car. Another transformed car is
��A built-over and refinished car that was once supposed to be wrecked beyond repair
the bent and damaged radia- tor was straightened and re- paired. The gasoline tank was moved back 3 ft. from under the front seat, which left a space in which to lower the seat to the position desired. An extra piece of gasoline pipe bridged the gap made by moving the tank back.
���A semi-roadster and racer was desired, so the car was specially built on a new chassis
��A floor
was laid on with tongue and groove mast and bolted to the chassis. The length of the boards was kept the width of the chassis instead of extending to the wheels as in the old car. The steering wheel was then lowered. This was one of the most diffi- cult parts of the work. A new hole was cut in the dash board 3 ^ in. lower, gi\'ing the wheel the correct angle from the low racing seat. The old seats were used, being cut out of the center to fit the seat to the narrowed car. The cut pieces were brought together and braced on the inside with four metal strips. To give a firm back support, the seat was braced to the
��shown in a second photograph. The owner of this car was not trying to save money. He merely desired a car made according to his own ideas. In this case, a new chassis was purchased, including mud guards, tool box, gas tank and headlights. He floored the chassis, put in two separate seats made according to his own design, and fitted the car with a top of light awning construction, with iron piping screwed to sockets in the floor, removable at will. For the top, brown canvas was used. The wind shield was reduced to half size to conform to the shape of the car. This car is half roadster and half racer.
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