Plating under...

[Skybolt]

Nox,

It's a fine idea and if you happen to come across any drawings I would like to see them also. I have been contemplating doing similar additions to the underside of my Lark, although not for speed trials but for road use. I have seen many cars with covers on the underside and also having most of the mechanical covers, even spring packs with a canvas sleeves. These were all old luxury cars. Using Dutz fasteners, or similar, on the edges and screws on the front side, for safety, would be similar to more modern cars I have. They do a great job keeping things clean and easier to work on once removed.

Good luck,

Len.

[SN-60]

[QUOTE=PlainBrownR2;

Oh, and the boxes on the C/K hardtops were torque boxes. They had a different function, which was to keep the body from flexing, lol.[/QUOTE]

Actually, the reinforcement boxes were only used on the hardtop models (K bodies),...Not the coupe (C bodies)

[8E45E]

[IMG]I'm guessing that when you were thinking of Studebaker plating, this is probably what came to mind. This is a belly pan for a Camaro ZL1.

A lot of modern cars now have it for aerodynamics, although the Citroen DS was far ahead of its time and probably the first production car to have a finished underbody for that. I cited the Due Cento as it was a true factory-backed effort to use it to attempt to attain the 'magic' 200 mph.

Craig

[PlainBrownR2]

Actually, the reinforcement boxes were only used on the hardtop models (K bodies),...Not the coupe (C bodies)

Woo, oh, well, that's a relief. I've been around the cars since 5th grade, and had to replace these mystery boxes under my own '55 hardtop, but thanks, that's good to know!

[SN-60]

Woo, oh, well, that's a relief. I've been around the cars since 5th grade, and had to replace these mystery boxes under my own '55 hardtop, but thanks, that's good to know!

Always glad to help & enlighten!

[Commander Eddie]

Lemme see here...Post #7 refers to 1930's Studebakers, and when ever I see Bonneville and Granatelli used at the same time, 1963/4 comes to mind. Who says we can't add ANY Studebaker that came with underbody plates, including TRUCKS??

Craig

My post mentioning Andy Granatelli (#6)was regarding a conversation my dad had with him in about 1965. Andy was evidently well aware of the limited number of '57 Golden Hawks that had been built with the racing pans. The true verification came from Frost & French whose service department used the car's serial number to determine how it had come equipped from the factory. I wish we still had that car. We could have ordered the build sheet.

[bezhawk]

I wonder if these 'Bonneville Racing Pans' are one in the same as the 'sub floor reinforcement boxes', found on '53-'58 Studebaker (K) hardtops...which 'closeout' the normally open areas between the rocker panel lower edge and the frame rails of similar year Studebaker (C) coupes?

I think you are exactly right. they may look different from the normal cars of the era, even the non hard top coupes, so I would guess it would be confusing to the un-enlightend.

[Commander Eddie]

The racing pans enclosed the the bottom from the back of the front fender to the gas tank and from the hog trough to the drive shaft on both sides. It was much more extensive than the "sub-floor reinforement boxes". That is why they worked so well.

[8E45E]

My post mentioning Andy Granatelli (#6)was regarding a conversation my dad had with him in about 1965. Andy was evidently well aware of the limited number of '57 Golden Hawks that had been built with the racing pans. The true verification came from Frost & French whose service department used the car's serial number to determine how it had come equipped from the factory. I wish we still had that car. We could have ordered the build sheet.

Too bad you don't remember the serial number. It would be interesting to see the build sheet.

Craig

[Noxnabaker]

WOW ! ! !
I sure got you guys going!
Nice to make a difference for a change... but as Commander Eddie easily guessed I'm speaking about a full-underside-plating, not just a "scrape-plate" as we call the engine-protection plate that we swedes usually put on rallycars that jumps around on forest paths...
& just as Skybolt/Len says: it's gonna be for the open road, daily driving even in winter.
So far - so interesting!
& PLEASE KEEP ON ! ! !
Soon enough some ol' racer's gonna show us pictures I reckon... or drawings... or...

I've collected some stuff for this already years ago & I'm gonna go alu even thou the weight doesn't matter much down there as Citroen proved even before the D-models with the 2cv = all weight down low!
& the berliner 7 - 15...
The VW beetle also had a quite slippery underside.

[SN-60]

I think you are exactly right. they may look different from the normal cars of the era, even the non hard top coupes, so I would guess it would be confusing to the un-enlightend.

And I agree with YOU on this one Brad. One hundred '57 Golden Hawks with factory belly pans?...I just can't believe it. Those underfloor boxes are as close as Studebaker ever came to anything like that! (IMHO)