Boat Tail from a Car Top

[PA41]

I just cut this off today, and chalked it up. But the idea is there. Its from My 38 Buick--We had a be-utiful day today, so took my battery powered sawsall into the woods and butchered a car.. Life is good. Hackin up an old car is just about the most pleasant thing--

The top has a nice curve to the side, and the turndown in the rear should make an interesting 'tail'.

Heres the leftover 'victum' hulk--more there than it looks. (looks bad-huh)

If the weather holds I'll split the top up and tack it together to see if it works--maybe tomorrow..

PA41

 

[Sam_Fear]

Isn't that going to be long if you use the entire length of the roof? Keep the front curve down to the windshield - you might be able to use that to bend down (or up depending) behind your seats. I think that roof will work out well.

Although that Buick looks like it's still fixable... Well, the rear fenders have some good curves.

 

[PA41]

Yo Sam--Yeah--its 6'6" long, so I cut the front off to maybe use it on something else--its got some unique edges/curves. Might be cool for something else.

I split the top and messed with it till it started raining and bailed. It has some pretty sweet lines --the drip edge shows how it bells out and drops down, and the tip of the tail is molded well. I will need it a little wider I think--it's 4' and I think I'll need 5'--not too sure yet, so I'll not tack it together till I figger the door edge back and the rear fender treatment. All in all I like the look--theres a lot of curves I couldn't create.

I might cut the rear body away at the fender welt line and follow that line across the rear to the other fender to create a shelf to set the boat tail on--thinking it over..

The up side of using this rough of a car is theres not much risk of screwing up a high dollar piece if it doesn't work. I traded a 4 wheeler tilt trailer for the Buick--Had $150 in it.. Make the mistakes here and see if a better donor would be worth looking for..

The rear window piece would make a funkey windshield/cowl for a modified/speedster thang ..

Unfortunately--looks like they are calling for snow again--I guess winter is back, so back in the little cramped shop--maybe watch O-limpics. Work on the VW fenders some more..

Later.

PA

 

[DJ3100]

I want your woods!

 

[Sam_Fear]

That second pic really shows off the compound curves. Yeah - that is going to work great! Wish you were in my area - this kind of stuff really gets me going.

It might be easier if you make it peak down the center. You wouldn't have to worry about getting it perfectly curved that way. But... it would IMO look better without a ridge.

 

[cosmic12]

PA, I found ya! Thanks for turning me on to this site, way better than the other one.

Guys, I want to take a second to tell ya'll what a great guy PA is.
After cutting the Buick up he posted pics on another site and I found that the Buick and my Pontiac are almost the exact same car. I needed the bottom 1/2 of the rear doors for my Ponitac and he went out in the woods cut'em off and sent them to me. Mine were gone, nothing left of them and now I have something to work with thanks to him, saved me hours and hours of work plus the guess work of what they looked like to start with.[
He is what this hobby is all about, helping each other out and saveing what you can of the old tin.[cl

Thanks a million PA.
Now I will try to pay it forward.

 

[CR55]

That's what roddin is supposed to be all about! Good job PA![cl...CR

 

[riverrat44]

Good ideas for your boat tail. Did ya consider using the trunk hump for a cowl and the rear windows for a windshield[? Too bad ya hacked up the rear doors, they'd a made good material for the doors, if ur gonna use doors. I'm waiting patiently for more pics and updates.........[P

 

[PA41]

Good ideas for your boat tail. Did ya consider using the trunk hump for a cowl and the rear windows for a windshield[? Too bad ya hacked up the rear doors, they'd a made good material for the doors, if ur gonna use doors. I'm waiting patiently for more pics and updates.........[P

Yo 44--I like the rear used for a windshield-I saw an example of one, but can't find the pic--will check my work computer and post it if I do.--So may builds to do--so little time

The boattail is in my Build on the speedster--

PA41