Some progress on 1932 Indy car project - and Exner's futuristic Studebaker

[garyash]

I went off to Wray Schelin's Pro Shaper shop in Charlton, MA for a 4-day workshop in aluminum body building, brought a buck for the cockpit made from 1/4-inch steel rod, as endorsed by Wary. During the 4 days of 9:00 am to 10:00 pm work, I learned a lot more about forming and welding aluminum (and steel). With Wray's assistance and hours of his excellent work, we got most of the cockpit section for my 1932 Studebaker Indy car replica formed and welded. More work lies ahead as the tail section will be very complicated.

Wray has been fascinated by a drawing made by Virgil Exner Sr. in 1947 of a proposed futuristic Studebaker, so much so that he is fabricating a body to build one. There was only one view of the car ever drawn up, as far as Wray knows, and nothing was ever built. But, someday soon, there may be a real one. He wants to have it be electric powered.

[Commander Eddie]

Super cool Gary. What a neat project. And the Exner prototype (can we call it that?) is amazing. It looks like you are really enjoying yourself. Bravo!

[2R5]

Gary , that looks fantastic!
Good luck with the rest for sure

[DEEPNHOCK]

Clarence "Kelly' Johnson would be proud!

He did wind tunnel aerodynamic work on the Studebaker Indy racers during his senior year at the University of Michigan.
Then he started playing with airplanes.

https://www.airspacemag.com/history-of-flight/head-skunk-5960121/

[TWChamp]

That is too cool! That's going to be the best looking futuristic car I've seen. I wish I was having that kind of fun.

[JRoberts]

Just when I was wondering how the Indy car project was coming along. That cockpit looks great. Keep the reports coming.

[Noxnabaker]

One word: AMAZING ! ! !

[HAWK64]

Gary,
Thanks for sharing both projects with us all on the Forum.

[rockne10]

I just caught the 1974 flick "Flash Gordon" on late night TV. Timely!

[packard352]

For all the neigh-sayers about Facebook, you're missing out on great photos and content that is available related to this project. If there wasn't 3K miles of Atlantic Ocean to get across, I'd be up for learning on something like this, but great to follow from afar

[8E45E]

Excellent update! Thanks!! Yes, I've been looking at the additional photos on Facebook as well.

Craig

[52-fan]

I went off to Wrap Schelin's Pro Shaper shop in Charlton, MA for a 4-day workshop in aluminum body building, brought a buck for the cockpit made from 1/4-inch steel rod, as endorsed by Wary. During the 4 days of 9:00 am to 10:00 pm work, I learned a lot more about forming and welding aluminum (and steel). With Wray's assistance and hours of his excellent work, we got most of the cockpit section for my 1932 Studebaker Indy car replica formed and welded.

That is some beautiful work. Is Wrap in your first post a misspelling or is there a Wrap and Wray?

[studegary]

That is some beautiful work. Is Wrap in your first post a misspelling or is there a Wrap and Wray?

I will assume the former since it has Wray on the shop wall. From a different Gary.

[garyash]

It's "Wray". I just can't type. Looks like I'll have to give in and get on Facebook since there seem to be many subjects that I can't get to any other way, including my children and grandchildren. And I'm not on LinkedIn, either!

[DEEPNHOCK]

Sure would be nice if you posted a link to make it easy for people to find it on Facebook.
There are several billion people on there and so many pages that a simple search is almost impossible...

Help us all out here!!!!

For all the neigh-sayers about Facebook, you're missing out on great photos and content that is available related to this project. If there wasn't 3K miles of Atlantic Ocean to get across, I'd be up for learning on something like this, but great to follow from afar