New 53 Roadster Project

[woodysrods]

Just got her in the driveway!
Always nice to bring home a new project before you finish the old projects.
This will be my dream roadster!
Off to pick up the 61 Lark Convertible frame next.
It will be the foundation for the "Roadster"
Good Roads
Brian

[studegary]

Why not go all the way and make a convertible instead of a "roadster". You do live in Canada, not Arizona or Nevada <G>.
Are you going to stretch the frame or shrink the body?

[paintim613]

Why not go all the way and make a convertible instead of a "roadster". You do live in Canada, not Arizona or Nevada <G>.
Are you going to stretch the frame or shrink the body?

Or maybe neither as was done to our car by my wife's father and uncle 60 years ago. Pics in signature link.

[sweetolbob]

If by Roadster you mean shorter wheelbase and body modified with your imagination, All I can say is "Run with it young fellow" and keep posting.

Bob

[53commander]

Always good to see another one saved, in one form or another.

[sals54]

Brian, I dig the project you are proposing. I like the roadsters as a whole. Be sure to check out the other roadsters that have been done. Some of them have been cut to a very short wheelbase. I look forward to seeing the progress.

[swvalcon]

I would like to build this for my wife to drive but the projects that I have now will last me the rest of my life.

[woodysrods]

Why not go all the way and make a convertible instead of a "roadster". You do live in Canada, not Arizona or Nevada <G>.
Are you going to stretch the frame or shrink the body?

Hi Gary
To answer your questions. Yes, I am going to shorten the K body to fit the Lark Convertible frame, as for the top? I have never been a big convertible top fan.
So if I don't like to them up, why have one.
I have a 26 T Roadster that I have driven over 60,000 miles without a top, hood, or fenders.
The weather here in the Okanagan Valley allows me to use my cars from May to November.
So we will see how the build goes when I get tom it.
I have a picture I have used as my screen saver the past year that is so close to what I want to build?????
Good Roads
Brian
PS insurance just ran out on my 46 M PU at midnight 11/13/13. (one our ago)
Now it has been put to bed for the winter.

[Jerry Forrester]

Brian, you are about to build the car I have always dreamed of building.
But, I would want a working soft top.
How much difference is there between the 'K' and Lark frames, 12 1/2"?
If you take that out of the front of the rear quarter panel, you'll need to take 4-6 inches out of the rear of the quarter panel to get just the right look. That way you can slide the trunk lid and the filler panel (of what used to be the back glass) closer to the seats to help fill up that empty spot behind the seat/seats.
Just my opinion.
Post pix of the plans and of the progress.

[rockinhawk]

Scotty, the Snap-On man,in Daytona did that a few years back. He had rolled his 53 coupe. I sold him the roof from a 57 silver hawk to repair it. He decided instead to make a Roadster,but used the roof as a mold to make a removable fiberglass top.

Scotty also installed a 454 GM big block in it.

[shifter4]

Here's Scotties car .
Strangely , I don't have a pic with the top .

[Green 53]

Scottie's car is neat. My 53 was parked next to him in South Bend 1997.

Denny L

[PackardV8]

We all know the why of roll bars, but to me it absolutely spoils the roadster look.

Back in the young and immortal days, I rode a Triumph Bonneville motorcycle and drove a Sunbeam Tiger at insane speeds. With age comes a certain caution. I gave up bikes and the Tiger feels almost as vulnerable as a bike in today's traffic. However, if I were building a Stude roadster, it wouldn't have roll bar. No contradiction, because there's nothing logical about a Stude roadster anyway.

jack vines

[woodysrods]

Here is my favorite picture.

[Dick Steinkamp]

Here's a couple the Loewy Studios came up with...



I like the 2 seater in the background. Looks like no top, no roll up windows. The frameless windshield works well. The grill actually fits the car better than the 53 would have (IMHO). The front bumper could be more delicate.