1949 Bentley Boattail Speedster

[Flipper_1938]

Have you thought about shortening the tail end?

This 1935 talbot Lago looks a lot like the your car minus about 2 feet.

1935 Amilacar Pegase

...something to think about.

 

[jfg455]

WOW! the back of that Amilacar is dead sexy![dr

 

[Shea Laking]

Those old European (AND American) coachbuilts were just beauties...Thanks guys for sharing all these pics. Thanks, PA for having the cajones to go for it and actually BUILD it! I'm also really diggin' on Flipper's Roofus, that's cool as all hell, too![P

Regards,
Shea

 

[PA41]

WOW! the back of that Amilacar is dead sexy![dr

I can't get past the --wow-golly-gee-whizz on these boattail cars--Now here's another!!

Weird to describe a cars rear as 'sexy' but it IS!!

The limiting factor in the Bentley body is that its really wide at the seat area, and a short tail makes for an 'abrupt' transition at the back of the cockpit into the tail. All the sleek bodies of the Auburns and Packards and these Amilacars are pretty narrow at the beam.. My gal is kinda 'wide hipped', comfortable and roomy, but not sleek and and sexy like the real deals..

Cool pix Flipper thanks for the show!! Almost R rated!!

pA41

 

[PA41]

OK heres another shot at it = my PC is screwing up - so here are the pics

Thanks Sam..That door is about what I was thinking on--The door mechanism is up high in the front so it has to stay, and then I can cut basically all the molding off but 1/2" then it will not get too much into the upper hinge pocket at the rear. BTW--The Bentley hinges are cool--3 piece 1"thick, all brass, with a slider mechanism that is real smooth--feels like money when you swing the door... Some kitchen cabnet doors are similar..

I was just out in the shop seeing what I can do to locate the tail to the cockpit, and it looks like I'll be able to have the top of the tail just 1 or 2 inches higher than the trimmed door tops, and avoid the major step up I thought I was going to have. I'll get the tail built and get it out in the yard (mowed it yesterday) for some better pix--late next week..

Thanks for your work and interest--every bit helps..

PA41

 

[PA41]

Those old European (AND American) coachbuilts were just beauties...Thanks guys for sharing all these pics. Thanks, PA for having the cajones to go for it and actually BUILD it! I'm also really diggin' on Flipper's Roofus, that's cool as all hell, too![P

Regards,
Shea

I'm with you Shea--these cars are beauties, and I'm real intertained looking at the wild tin I'm playing with. Its almost a luxury to to even TRY to copy those cars. The Key word in this project is 'TRY'.. I'm pretty much over my head--but I ain't BOARD ... I am keeping a few 'escape' plans in the back of my mind if I can't make this please me.. Like a Bentley RPU


It ain't never done I guess.... Might take years to get it right so I'm targeting a general rough in this round.. Try to get the proportions and driving right, then let it 'season'.

Thanks for the input..

PA

 

[hotrod preacher]

hey PA! was looking for the bentley when i drove by today.....

the pics and photoshop look good...nice to see your progress

the cars def. have an elegant look to them & to make a "rat" version is really neat- maybe instead of "counter-culture" we're dealing with "counter-concours"

did anyone else think 38 ford deluxe/39 ford standard hood when looking at the rear of the amilacar?? --if not, go back and look again....

pip, pip, cheerio......

by Jove i think he's got it!

all the "english" i got...

 

[Flipper_1938]

more random boat tails to muddy the waters

This one seems to have a shorter tail. May just be the angles.

and a plastic model of a duesenberg

 

[Flipper_1938]

more of the model

Boat tails don't have to be big

Kind of a bad pic, but this one has a short, downward sweeping boattail.

 

[sammy]

deffinitly likng the progress.. andthose amilacars rears DOO have that 37-, 40 ford truck hood look to thm as was stated erlier. hang in there with it .. your doing great . Sammy

 

[kzoldman]

Oh Boy!

http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/01/metallicas-lead-singer-james-hetfields.html

 

[PA41]

hey PA! was looking for the bentley when i drove by today.....

the pics and photoshop look good...nice to see your progress

the cars def. have an elegant look to them & to make a "rat" version is really neat- maybe instead of "counter-culture" we're dealing with "counter-concours"

did anyone else think 38 ford deluxe/39 ford standard hood when looking at the rear of the amilacar?? --if not, go back and look again....

pip, pip, cheerio......

by Jove i think he's got it!

all the "english" i got...

Thanks HRP-- Yeah--"counter Concours"' Gentlemans Rat.

I've been so covered up trying to figger out how to fill the sheetmetal gaps, I've forgot the 'rat' ID. I'm not trying to build a custom.. I guess I need the red wheels, injin blanket, skulls N spider web thing or some rat slant ... Any ideas?? Trying to match the tail to the fenders is hanging me up. I was thinking just a fin with the fender profile welded on to the roundish rear of the roof/tail thing?? Maybe need to do some wire stitching and frankenstein X welds??

I often get home early on Fridays--Make up the weeks OT by taking off early--usually 3:30-4:00 --If you're rolling through near that time stop in and Hang out. Get Linda to let you in the shop and --maybe pick up some tools and clean up some while your checking the project out.

PA41

 

[PA41]

Oh Boy!

http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/01/metallicas-lead-singer-james-hetfields.html

Well Said!!

Got any kinda 'plain' looking boattail pix? I'm getting overwhelmed with the beauties--need an 'I can do THAT' pic..

Thanks for the shots--BE-u-tious..

PA41

 

[PA41]

deffinitly likng the progress.. andthose amilacars rears DOO have that 37-, 40 ford truck hood look to thm as was stated erlier. hang in there with it .. your doing great . Sammy

Yo Sammy--Thanks for the input.. Yeah the tails do look like hoods on lots of these. When I was a kid we called the 'cartoon whichaway' cars--Spaceship Studies especially.. Ya never knew which way they were going ..

PA41

 

[Unkl Ian]

Might get some ideas here: http://blastolene.com/Blastolene_Cars.htm

 

[Unkl Ian]

http://www.nwvs.org/Technical/MTFCA/Construction.shtml

 

[Unkl Ian]

Trying to match the tail to the fenders is hanging me up.

The tail needs to be similar, but maybe not a 100% exact match.

 

[PA41]

Thanks UI--Good read. Those folks aren't 'outta the box' They never even seen the 'box'.

A pic of Big Bertha I snagged.

PA41

 

[PA41]

The tail needs to be similar, but maybe not a 100% exact match.

Well-Yeah--thats true--hadn't really thought about that--Stressin on how to 'duplicate', when all I reall need is something to 'compliment'.. It could be bigger/shorter/wider/thinner--just 'complimentary'..Basically--pointy insted of roundy..

Didn't get hardly anything done all weekend over thinking it...

Thanks UI.

PA41

 

[DJ3100]

Thanks HRP-- Yeah--"counter Concours"' Gentlemans Rat.

I've been so covered up trying to figger out how to fill the sheetmetal gaps, I've forgot the 'rat' ID. I'm not trying to build a custom.. I guess I need the red wheels, injin blanket, skulls N spider web thing or some rat slant ... Any ideas?? Trying to match the tail to the fenders is hanging me up. I was thinking just a fin with the fender profile welded on to the roundish rear of the roof/tail thing??

PA41

PA, My ideas to get the sheetmetal gaps filled: Make a pattern from newspaper or butcher paper. Cut and tape where there is too much paper; cut and add paper where it is needed. The pattern will get you started on making it from metal, but won't be exact. Use 18 or 20 ga sheet ( I think 18 ga is easier to weld and stretch). Cut and weld where you cut the paper, add metal where you added paper. Remember, you don't have to do it out of one huge piece of metal you can weld pieces together. If you need to shrink in some places, use a torch and heat the area to red. If you need to shrink a lot, hammer on dolly on red hot metal, but quit when you hear the hammer contacting the dolly (just push the metal down, don't stretch it). You'll be surprised how a lot of persistance will get what you want. I think a weekend per side would get it done.