1949 Bentley Boattail Speedster

[hotrod preacher]

We also did a small vise on a stand like that. It is pretty darn handy too.

i've got a vise like that-dad made the base from an old b-john deere flywheel, and the "post" bolts to that....just lean and roll it out when needed, lean and roll it back in the corner when done...

hey PA, will ya cruise up to the show in Rusty this year or are you "layin low"

better watch out -i'm gonna make "chigger" cruise it this year (LORD willin')

 

[PA41]

I made a little progress on the rear fender front parts this weekend. Stock-The doors overlapped the fenders and there were 4 panels where the doors and fenders met that I cut out and tacked together for the rear fender fronts. I just had to hammer and english wheel a couple panels to join the front rounded shell to the main fender. I needed to blend the two parts while not having the 'peak' in the front part that the rear parts has. A transition area --worked out OK. I need to put a bottom 4" strip like a gravel gard to finish off the botom leading edge, and then finish the driver side.

Heres a few before pics, and the after pics are in the next post.

Thanks.

PA41

 

[PA41]

The after pics.. Took some from outside through the shop window--(I need a bigger shop). The wife saw me peeking in the shop window on the security tape a while back, and now she's sure I'm crazy-Playing -Peekaboo with my speedster.. It does feel a little weird --peeking in a window at your car--Makes better pics though.

About 10 hours on this side so far - Need to take the fender off and weld the inside parts to the inner shell--the other side has a lot of lead in it--makes for difficult patching--have to melt the lead down to steel to weld to.

After I get this project road worthy, I plan to try and scratch build some fenders- build some dies and try pressing panels with a 20 ton shop press, and weld them together-it may be easier than building to existing rusty-leaded junk.

PA41

 

[Sam_Fear]

Looks good PA.

 

[rainman]

Is it just me or do those fenders resemble 38 or so chevy truck fenders?

 

[PA41]

Is it just me or do those fenders resemble 38 or so chevy truck fenders?

Real close profile. The Bentley just has a pointy tail. It's kinda like today--cars of a period share lots of style points.

The pointy tail is easier to build.

PA41

 

[rainman]

Looks better too for what you're doing. Keep em comming.

 

[PA41]

Looks better too for what you're doing. Keep em comming.

Thanks RM. After pounding a few compound curves in tin, I've got a real appreciation for even the slightest little curve/swoop or bend. That rounded end on the rusty fenders tail in the above pic, would be a bunch of hammering and rolling to get. I Also have learned to appreciate simplicity that looks complex like the bend and 'peak' in these rear fenders' tail section. It looks compound, but is a single plane bend with the peak a seam. Kinda a sneaky way to get a pretty sophisticated look. The piece in the fender is just one bend from a roller. It would look better with just a little curve/crown put in with an english wheel, but it will pass like it is for simplicity.

I hope to make some of my own fenders using that scheme, and a die stamped 8"x12" compound curve, pieced into a complete fender with a seam 'peak' down the center. Its been in my head a while, just needs the hard part--doing it..

PA41

 

[brad]

Look'in good! PA![cl[dr give me a shout at home,later Brad

 

[PA41]

Made a little progress the last few days. Since I raised the front end a little I could move the front fenders in 2" and bolt them to the side panels. Finished off the front of the rear fenders more or less, and I'm trying to create a bottom edge to the car and tie it all together, Think I'll clad it with some checker plate. I also screwed on a plate tieing in the door post and boattail, but the fuzzy pic doesn't show it much. I'll do the drivers side and pull it out for a look in a few days/weeks.

HOT here--100+ the last few and the weather is calling for the same the rest of the week. Dinky little shop is aggervating, but the AC is GREAT!! (Braggin).

Pics are kinda fuzzy --sorry--I musta done something to the camera.. Sloww shutter speed for some reason--maybe the flash?

PA41

 

[hotrod preacher]

good to see the update!! ya got 2 weeks to get it ready for the c.c. watermelon cruise/car show....(not rushing ya or anything)

hope to see ya there even if the salido special doesn't make it.....[P

 

[earthman]

Been wondering what was going on with this thing. Good to see you are still
making progress PA. Thanks for the update.

 

[Flipper_1938]

Have you thought about curved running boards? ...bowed out to follow the body shape?

 

[PA41]

Looking at options for the rear gravel guard/deck thing with some scrap luan.

I'm liking the passenger side example with it all one piece.

Probably won't make it to the mellon fest in Cave City. (thats WATERmellon for youse dirty minded guys).

PA41

 

[41Panel]

Can't believe I just read 34 pages, my mouse finger's sore now, LOL. Seriously PA your doing an awsome job. Later Whit

 

[Flipper_1938]

I'm liking the passenger side example with it all one piece.

PA41

I like it without the step best too.

 

[cosmic12]

Look'n Great!!!!!!!
I like the step one on the driver's side but it would be sooo much easier to do the other. I think it adds more to it. Maybe if you do the drop(step) only to the top of that roll so you don't have to build it around the rest of the body and fender and you could use that roll for support for the center section.

Those fenders look great, very cool look[

 

[clamor]

Look'n Great!!!!!!!
I like the step one on the driver's side but it would be sooo much easier to do the other. I think it adds more to it. Maybe if you do the drop(step) only to the top of that roll so you don't have to build it around the rest of the body and fender and you could use that roll for support for the center section.

Those fenders look great, very cool look[

Yah, I like the stepped one, too.
It seems to have more character. The line through the existing metal adds to the character as well.
-Chaz

 

[PA41]

Thanks for the input guys. I've missed the deadline of getting it street driving this summer, so I'm not in a hurry anymore, and have time to mess around with it a little. Also need to finish up alot of the 'rush jobs'.

I been thinking about getting 'artsy' with the rear deck piece--like spider webs from rods or 1/4" tube or rebar and sheetiron fillers, or layered sheet iron feathers like a birds wing, or a Steampunk approach --Not quite sure what that'd be, but I like the victorian poarch ballister stuff.

Also the idea of pop riviting the tail together in a patchwork keeps 'poping' up --

Anyboddy got any brainstorms to think about?

PA41

 

[Shea Laking]

Thanks for the input guys. I've missed the deadline of getting it street driving this summer, so I'm not in a hurry anymore, and have time to mess around with it a little. Also need to finish up alot of the 'rush jobs'.

I been thinking about getting 'artsy' with the rear deck piece--like spider webs from rods or 1/4" tube or rebar and sheetiron fillers, or layered sheet iron feathers like a birds wing, or a Steampunk approach --Not quite sure what that'd be, but I like the victorian poarch ballister stuff.

Also the idea of pop riviting the tail together in a patchwork keeps 'poping' up --

Anyboddy got any brainstorms to think about?

PA41

1/8" brass sheet. Cut it into feather or long "scale" shapes and overlapped, rivitted together in between the fenders and the tail piece. Would give it a gothic layered "armour" or "chain mail" appearance.

Spider webs are kinda over, IMO.

Regards,
Shea