BUILDING A VINTAGE BENTLEY PART SEVEN
THE BODY WORK
IN PART ONE I GAVE A FORETASTE OF HOW TO BUILD A BODY; YET AGAIN IT`S NOT THAT SIMPLE TO DO, JUST CONSIDER THE FEATURES OF A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN, THERE IS ONLY A FRACTION OF AN INCH DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING PLAIN OR BEAUTIFUL IT`S THE SAME WITH CAR BODIES. SLIGHT CHANGES CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE AWFUL AND THE BEAUTIFUL. EVERYBODY HAS A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT PERCEPTION OF WHAT IS BEAUTIFUL HOWEVER IN THE CASE OF THE ORIGINAL VDP BENTLEY BODIES THERE IS ALREADY A BENCHMARK THAT SHOULD BE CLOSELY FOLLOWED.
A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AT THE SEPTEMBER BEAULIEU AUTO JUMBLE ON THE BENTLEY BOYS STAND IN C FIELD THERE WAS A LOVELY MG STYLE VDP 1930`S METAL PANELLED BODY WHICH HAD AT ONE TIME GRACED A 4.5 LITRE BENTLEY, PRICED AT ABOUT SIX GRAND IT WAS SO TEMPTING THAT I ALMOST BOUGHT IT. LUCKILY I WALKED AWAY FROM THE DEAL AS I HAD REALISED THAT BY FITTING THIS LOVELY BUT INCREDIBLY HEAVY BODY I WOULD BE DEVALUING MY BENTLEY`S POTENTIAL WORTH, AS MOST PUNTERS WANT A VDP LE MANS REPLICA! BUT NOW THE TOP SOUGHT AFTER CARS ARE USUALLY FITTED WITH THEIR ORIGINAL BODYWORK.
GOOD BODYWORK IS IMPORTANT AS YOU DON`T WANT YOUR LEG PULLED AT THE BDC CONCOURSE BY THE CHEEKY OWNERS OF ORIGINAL CARS! WE ALL START OUT BY THINKING THAT WE WILL NEVER SELL OUR GREEN PAINTED CREATION AND JUST CHURN OUT SOMETHING BEYOND THE PALE JUST TO GET IT ON THE ROAD. ITS A BIT SAD REALLY, A LITTLE MORE CARE WOULD HAVE CREATED SOMETHING WORTHWHILE. YOUR BENTLEY WILL BE SOLD AT SOMETIME, PERHAPS WHEN YOU HAVE THE FUNDS TO PURCHASE AN ORIGINAL CAR OR, UNLESS YOU INTEND TO BE BURIED IN IT, YOUR LOVING WIFE WILL BE OFFERED A PITTANCE FOR THE BENT AFTER YOUR FUNERAL BECAUSE IT DOESN`T LOOK ORIGINAL
IT`S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR BITSA WILL NEVER BE WORTH AS MUCH AS AN ORIGINAL CAR, LUCKILY THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE FINANCIALLY UNABLE TO BUY ORIGINALITY AND THAT ARE NOT TOO PROUD TO BUY A BITSA AS LONG AS IT LOOKS ORIGINAL AND AT FIRST GLANCE FOOLS THE BENTLEY PUNDITS. THE OTHER TYPE OF BUYER WILL BE ONE THAT OFFERS A SILLY PRICE AS HE ONLY WANTS TO HARVEST THE ORIGINAL PARTS ON YOUR CAR.
THE MOST IMPORTANT COMPONENTS ON YOUR BODY WILL BE THE JEWELLERY, THAT IS THE HEADLAMPS, THE INSTRUMENTS AND SMALL DETAILS THAT GIVE YOUR CAR THAT PERIOD CHARM THAT CAN TRANSCEND THE POORLY RESTORED ORIGINAL CAR.
TIM HOULDINGS CAR
AS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT THE GIFTED BENTLEY BUILDER CAN CREATE I INCLUDE SOME PHOTOS OF ONE OF TIM`S WONDERFUL CARS THAT HE HAS BUILT OVER THE YEARS. YOU CAN SEE THESE PHOTOS WITH EXPLANATIONS IN THE VINTAGE BENTLEY PICTURE GALLERY.
HOW TO GET THAT BODY MADE
THE OLD SCHOOL BODY BUILDERS THAT I KNEW TWENTY YEARS AGO ALL CHARGED ABOUT THE SAME FOR A VINTAGE BENTLEY BODY BUT ONE HAD TO BE CAREFUL TO ASK IF THEIR QUOTE WAS FOR A COMPLETE BODY WITH ALL THE BITS AND PIECES INCLUDED. AS THE PRICE QUOTED WAS USUALLY JUST FOR THE BASIC FRAME AND DOORS AND ONCE THE BODY WAS STARTED, ONE WAS ASKED IF THE STEEL BRACKET FOR STRENGTHENING THE DOOR PILLAR, THE ALUMINIUM PLATING OF THE SCUTTLE, THE FLOORBOARDS, THE RUNNING BOARDS, THE DOOR FURNITURE, THE TEMPLATE FOR THE WINDSCREEN BASE, THE TEMPLATE FOR THE REAR OF THE BODY TO ENABLE THE LE MANS TANK MANUFACTURER TO MAKE IT FIT THE BODY, THE BATTERY BOX, THE DASHBOARD.etc.etc. WERE REQUIRED. THESE EXTRAS WOULD ADD A VERY LARGE AMOUNT TO THE FINAL PRICE.
IT WAS THE SAME THING FOR A REPRODUCTION CHASSIS.
A TYPICAL EXAMPLE OF A BENTLEY FACTORY, WAS THAT PLACE NEAR READING, SOUTH STOKE WHERE ALL THE CRAFTSMEN FOR ALL THE DISCIPLINES WORKED IN OLD DILAPIDATED COW SHEDS AND THE BENTLEYS WERE SHUNTED FROM SHED TO SHED. SO MANY LE MANS REPS WERE BEING BUILT THEN, THAT THERE WAS AN AGREED PRICE OR RATE FOR ALL JOBS. A BASIC BODY WAS THREE AND A HALF GRAND, THE WINGS ANOTHER GRAND, THE WING AND SPARE WHEEL BRACKETS A GRAND, THE BONNET A GRAND, THE UPHOLSTERY FIVE GRAND, A LE MANS TANK A GRAND.
ONE HAD TO TO LEARN TO SPEAK IN THEIR LANGUAGE, FOR EXAMPLE IF THEY REPLIED SAY "FIVE" TO A QUESTION ABOUT THE PRICE OF UPHOLSTERY, THIS MEANT FIVE THOUSAND POUNDS. IF ONE HAD TO ASK IF IT WAS FIVE HUNDRED POUNDS THEY IMMEDIATELY KNEW THAT YOU WERE A NEWCOMER AND PERHAPS NOT SERIOUS.
THERE ARE QUITE A FEW BODY BUILDERS OUT THERE NOW AND THE LAST ONE THAT I ASKED FOR A PRICE FOR THE BODY FOR MY NEW CAR MENTIONED A PRICE OF TWELVE. RECENTLY THE DEMAND FOR BODIES WAS SO HIGH THAT H&H HAD TO CONTRACT OUT SOME TO A LOCAL BOAT BUILDER THAT WAS SHORT OF WORK!
I HAD BEEN LOOKING AROUND FOR A BUILDER FOR MY FIRST BODY AND AFTER GOING THROUGH ALL THAT HOOP JUMPING AS EXPLAINED ABOVE, I DECIDED TO BUILD A REPLICA OF THE EXPERIMENTAL No 2 BODY, SIMPLE NO DOORS, A PIECE OF CAKE.
FIRSTLY I DID THE BODY DRAWINGS (THAT WAS FREE) AND THEN CONTACTED THE CHIPPIE THAT HAD DONE THE WOOD FRAMING ON MY AUSTIN SWALLOW, HE WANTED ONE AND A HALF. THEN I FOLLOWED A TIP TO AN ALLY BASHER IN STOKE ON TRENT WHO AGREED TO CLOTHE THE FRAME IN ALUMINIUM SHEET FOR A HALF. THERE YOU ARE, A BODY FOR JUST TWO THOUSAND POUNDS.
THE WINGS WERE MADE FOR ME BY A COMPANY THAT MADE WINGS FOR RILEY ENTHUSIASTS. I SENT THEM WORKING DRAWINGS AND RECEIVED A QUOTE FOR £250, WONDERFUL! I MADE MY OWN WING STAYS, FLOORBOARDS AND RUNNING BOARDS, WHICH WERE RIVETTED TOGETHER FROM ALUMINIUM ANGLE AND 1/8 th ALLY SHEET GLEANED FROM AN OLD ADVERTISING BOARD. THE SUPPORTS WERE ORIGINAL FORGED ONES EXACTLY AS EXP 2, ANOTHER BEAULIEU FIND.
THE BONNET WOULD HAVE COST ME ONE BUT I MANAGED TO FIND AN ENGLISH WHEELING MACHINE IN SCOTLAND FOR £150 AND DID A STRAIGHT SWAP, THE WHEEL FOR THE BONNET.
THE PETROL TANK THAT I USED WAS A STANDARD 4.5 LITRE ONE THAT I BOUGHT AT THE BEAULIEU AUTO JUMBLE. IT COST ME £125 AND WAS THE SECOND BENTLEY ITEM THAT I HAD BOUGHT. I CARRIED IT OVER HALF A MILE TO MY CAR AND RUINED A GOOD JACKET ON THE WAY. THE FILLER PIPE ON THE SIDE WAS REMOVED AND THE FLANGE AND THE FILLER CAP PART CUT OFF, MACHINED AND SWEATED TOGETHER AND BOLTED TO THE TOP OF THE TANK TO PROVIDE THE NEW FILLER ASSEMBLY.
ONCE THE CHASSIS HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND IS SUPPORTED BY STANDS. THE BUILDERS TYPE THAT CAN BE RAISED AND LOWERED, NOT INDIVIDUAL AXLE STANDS. YOU WILL NEED TO FIT THE BULKHEAD AND RADIATOR,
YOU ARE NOW READY TO START THE BODY AND CAN CHOOSE WHETHER TO SEND IT AWAY TO YOUR BODY BUILDER OF CHOICE OR DO IT YOURSELF.
THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS TO BUILD A BODY YOURSELF, IF YOU ARE GOOD AT WOODWORK THEN AN ASH FRAMED BODY WOULD BE THE BEST FOR YOU, IF YOU ARE PROFICIENT AT WELDING THEN A TUBULAR FRAME WOULD BE THE BEST SOLUTION.
WHATEVER WAY YOU GO, THE DOORS WILL BE THE WORST PROBLEM ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE DOUBLE CURVATURE ONES. STEEL TUBE BODIES ARE INHERENTLY STRONGER THAN WOOD ONES BECAUSE THE DOOR OPENINGS WEAKEN THE STRUCTURE AND WOOD, WEIGHT FOR WEIGHT, IS WEAKER THAN STEEL.
A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO I FOUND A PAIR OF VDP DOORS AT BEAULIEU AND WILL HAVE TO EVALUATE IF THESE CAN BE USED ON MY NEW BODY, INTERESTINGLY THEY ARE SHEETED IN STEEL.
WHETHER YOU GO FOR WOOD OR STEEL THE WAY TO GET YOUR BODY SHAPE CORRECT IS TO MAKE UP A "BUCK" ON THE CHASSIS. YOU CAN CONSTRUCT THIS FROM THE CHEAPEST PLYWOOD AROUND 3/8" THICK.
THE METHOD IS TO CREATE A VERTICAL "SPINE" AT THE CENTRE LINE OF THE BODY FROM THE BULKHEAD TO THE BACK OF THE BODY AND ATTACH VERTICAL PLY CROSS MEMBERS SHAPED TO THE CHOSEN CURVATURE OF THE SIDES OF THE BODY. YOU CAN THEN BEND THE STEEL TUBE OR SHAPE THE ASH TO SUIT THE PROFILE OF THE BUCK.
ANOTHER WAY THAT HAS BEEN USED TO BUILD A BODY IS TO USE THIN EXTERIOR PLYWOOD BENT TO FOLLOW THE LINES OF THE WOOD FRAME AND GLUED IN POSITION. THIS METHOD CAN CREATE A VERY STRONG AND LIGHT BODY.
ALL THESE METHODS SOUND EASY BUT IT WILL TAKE LONGER TO BUILD THAT BODY THAN YOU WOULD EVER IMAGINE. PERHAPS BUYING A BODY THAT HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM AN ORIGINAL BENTLEY WILL SHORTEN THE BUILD TIME BUT YOU SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THESE BODIES ARE PROBABLY NOT ORIGINAL AND ARE NASTY HOME BUILT ONES FROM THE FIFTIES. A NO NO IS TO TRY TO CUT UP A BODY TO FIT IT TO A DIFFERENT WHEEL BASE, A LOT OF WORK FOR A POOR RESULT!
THE ESSENCE OF MY BODY BLOG IS, THAT WHATEVER METHOD YOU USE TO BUILD A BODY, THE FINISHED RESULT MUST LOOK AS GOOD OR BETTER THAN AN ORIGINAL BODY. IF NOT, THEN YOU ARE JUST WASTING YOUR PRECIOUS TIME THAT COULD HAVE BEEN SPENT LOUNGING AROUND ON A TROPICAL ISLAND SPENDING THE CASH THAT YOU WOULD HAVE SAVED BY NOT BUILDING THAT BODY.
IN PART ONE I GAVE A FORETASTE OF HOW TO BUILD A BODY; YET AGAIN IT`S NOT THAT SIMPLE TO DO, JUST CONSIDER THE FEATURES OF A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN, THERE IS ONLY A FRACTION OF AN INCH DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING PLAIN OR BEAUTIFUL IT`S THE SAME WITH CAR BODIES. SLIGHT CHANGES CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE AWFUL AND THE BEAUTIFUL. EVERYBODY HAS A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT PERCEPTION OF WHAT IS BEAUTIFUL HOWEVER IN THE CASE OF THE ORIGINAL VDP BENTLEY BODIES THERE IS ALREADY A BENCHMARK THAT SHOULD BE CLOSELY FOLLOWED.
A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AT THE SEPTEMBER BEAULIEU AUTO JUMBLE ON THE BENTLEY BOYS STAND IN C FIELD THERE WAS A LOVELY MG STYLE VDP 1930`S METAL PANELLED BODY WHICH HAD AT ONE TIME GRACED A 4.5 LITRE BENTLEY, PRICED AT ABOUT SIX GRAND IT WAS SO TEMPTING THAT I ALMOST BOUGHT IT. LUCKILY I WALKED AWAY FROM THE DEAL AS I HAD REALISED THAT BY FITTING THIS LOVELY BUT INCREDIBLY HEAVY BODY I WOULD BE DEVALUING MY BENTLEY`S POTENTIAL WORTH, AS MOST PUNTERS WANT A VDP LE MANS REPLICA! BUT NOW THE TOP SOUGHT AFTER CARS ARE USUALLY FITTED WITH THEIR ORIGINAL BODYWORK.
GOOD BODYWORK IS IMPORTANT AS YOU DON`T WANT YOUR LEG PULLED AT THE BDC CONCOURSE BY THE CHEEKY OWNERS OF ORIGINAL CARS! WE ALL START OUT BY THINKING THAT WE WILL NEVER SELL OUR GREEN PAINTED CREATION AND JUST CHURN OUT SOMETHING BEYOND THE PALE JUST TO GET IT ON THE ROAD. ITS A BIT SAD REALLY, A LITTLE MORE CARE WOULD HAVE CREATED SOMETHING WORTHWHILE. YOUR BENTLEY WILL BE SOLD AT SOMETIME, PERHAPS WHEN YOU HAVE THE FUNDS TO PURCHASE AN ORIGINAL CAR OR, UNLESS YOU INTEND TO BE BURIED IN IT, YOUR LOVING WIFE WILL BE OFFERED A PITTANCE FOR THE BENT AFTER YOUR FUNERAL BECAUSE IT DOESN`T LOOK ORIGINAL
IT`S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR BITSA WILL NEVER BE WORTH AS MUCH AS AN ORIGINAL CAR, LUCKILY THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE FINANCIALLY UNABLE TO BUY ORIGINALITY AND THAT ARE NOT TOO PROUD TO BUY A BITSA AS LONG AS IT LOOKS ORIGINAL AND AT FIRST GLANCE FOOLS THE BENTLEY PUNDITS. THE OTHER TYPE OF BUYER WILL BE ONE THAT OFFERS A SILLY PRICE AS HE ONLY WANTS TO HARVEST THE ORIGINAL PARTS ON YOUR CAR.
THE MOST IMPORTANT COMPONENTS ON YOUR BODY WILL BE THE JEWELLERY, THAT IS THE HEADLAMPS, THE INSTRUMENTS AND SMALL DETAILS THAT GIVE YOUR CAR THAT PERIOD CHARM THAT CAN TRANSCEND THE POORLY RESTORED ORIGINAL CAR.
TIM HOULDINGS CAR
AS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT THE GIFTED BENTLEY BUILDER CAN CREATE I INCLUDE SOME PHOTOS OF ONE OF TIM`S WONDERFUL CARS THAT HE HAS BUILT OVER THE YEARS. YOU CAN SEE THESE PHOTOS WITH EXPLANATIONS IN THE VINTAGE BENTLEY PICTURE GALLERY.
HOW TO GET THAT BODY MADE
THE OLD SCHOOL BODY BUILDERS THAT I KNEW TWENTY YEARS AGO ALL CHARGED ABOUT THE SAME FOR A VINTAGE BENTLEY BODY BUT ONE HAD TO BE CAREFUL TO ASK IF THEIR QUOTE WAS FOR A COMPLETE BODY WITH ALL THE BITS AND PIECES INCLUDED. AS THE PRICE QUOTED WAS USUALLY JUST FOR THE BASIC FRAME AND DOORS AND ONCE THE BODY WAS STARTED, ONE WAS ASKED IF THE STEEL BRACKET FOR STRENGTHENING THE DOOR PILLAR, THE ALUMINIUM PLATING OF THE SCUTTLE, THE FLOORBOARDS, THE RUNNING BOARDS, THE DOOR FURNITURE, THE TEMPLATE FOR THE WINDSCREEN BASE, THE TEMPLATE FOR THE REAR OF THE BODY TO ENABLE THE LE MANS TANK MANUFACTURER TO MAKE IT FIT THE BODY, THE BATTERY BOX, THE DASHBOARD.etc.etc. WERE REQUIRED. THESE EXTRAS WOULD ADD A VERY LARGE AMOUNT TO THE FINAL PRICE.
IT WAS THE SAME THING FOR A REPRODUCTION CHASSIS.
A TYPICAL EXAMPLE OF A BENTLEY FACTORY, WAS THAT PLACE NEAR READING, SOUTH STOKE WHERE ALL THE CRAFTSMEN FOR ALL THE DISCIPLINES WORKED IN OLD DILAPIDATED COW SHEDS AND THE BENTLEYS WERE SHUNTED FROM SHED TO SHED. SO MANY LE MANS REPS WERE BEING BUILT THEN, THAT THERE WAS AN AGREED PRICE OR RATE FOR ALL JOBS. A BASIC BODY WAS THREE AND A HALF GRAND, THE WINGS ANOTHER GRAND, THE WING AND SPARE WHEEL BRACKETS A GRAND, THE BONNET A GRAND, THE UPHOLSTERY FIVE GRAND, A LE MANS TANK A GRAND.
ONE HAD TO TO LEARN TO SPEAK IN THEIR LANGUAGE, FOR EXAMPLE IF THEY REPLIED SAY "FIVE" TO A QUESTION ABOUT THE PRICE OF UPHOLSTERY, THIS MEANT FIVE THOUSAND POUNDS. IF ONE HAD TO ASK IF IT WAS FIVE HUNDRED POUNDS THEY IMMEDIATELY KNEW THAT YOU WERE A NEWCOMER AND PERHAPS NOT SERIOUS.
THERE ARE QUITE A FEW BODY BUILDERS OUT THERE NOW AND THE LAST ONE THAT I ASKED FOR A PRICE FOR THE BODY FOR MY NEW CAR MENTIONED A PRICE OF TWELVE. RECENTLY THE DEMAND FOR BODIES WAS SO HIGH THAT H&H HAD TO CONTRACT OUT SOME TO A LOCAL BOAT BUILDER THAT WAS SHORT OF WORK!
I HAD BEEN LOOKING AROUND FOR A BUILDER FOR MY FIRST BODY AND AFTER GOING THROUGH ALL THAT HOOP JUMPING AS EXPLAINED ABOVE, I DECIDED TO BUILD A REPLICA OF THE EXPERIMENTAL No 2 BODY, SIMPLE NO DOORS, A PIECE OF CAKE.
FIRSTLY I DID THE BODY DRAWINGS (THAT WAS FREE) AND THEN CONTACTED THE CHIPPIE THAT HAD DONE THE WOOD FRAMING ON MY AUSTIN SWALLOW, HE WANTED ONE AND A HALF. THEN I FOLLOWED A TIP TO AN ALLY BASHER IN STOKE ON TRENT WHO AGREED TO CLOTHE THE FRAME IN ALUMINIUM SHEET FOR A HALF. THERE YOU ARE, A BODY FOR JUST TWO THOUSAND POUNDS.
THE WINGS WERE MADE FOR ME BY A COMPANY THAT MADE WINGS FOR RILEY ENTHUSIASTS. I SENT THEM WORKING DRAWINGS AND RECEIVED A QUOTE FOR £250, WONDERFUL! I MADE MY OWN WING STAYS, FLOORBOARDS AND RUNNING BOARDS, WHICH WERE RIVETTED TOGETHER FROM ALUMINIUM ANGLE AND 1/8 th ALLY SHEET GLEANED FROM AN OLD ADVERTISING BOARD. THE SUPPORTS WERE ORIGINAL FORGED ONES EXACTLY AS EXP 2, ANOTHER BEAULIEU FIND.
THE BONNET WOULD HAVE COST ME ONE BUT I MANAGED TO FIND AN ENGLISH WHEELING MACHINE IN SCOTLAND FOR £150 AND DID A STRAIGHT SWAP, THE WHEEL FOR THE BONNET.
THE PETROL TANK THAT I USED WAS A STANDARD 4.5 LITRE ONE THAT I BOUGHT AT THE BEAULIEU AUTO JUMBLE. IT COST ME £125 AND WAS THE SECOND BENTLEY ITEM THAT I HAD BOUGHT. I CARRIED IT OVER HALF A MILE TO MY CAR AND RUINED A GOOD JACKET ON THE WAY. THE FILLER PIPE ON THE SIDE WAS REMOVED AND THE FLANGE AND THE FILLER CAP PART CUT OFF, MACHINED AND SWEATED TOGETHER AND BOLTED TO THE TOP OF THE TANK TO PROVIDE THE NEW FILLER ASSEMBLY.
ONCE THE CHASSIS HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND IS SUPPORTED BY STANDS. THE BUILDERS TYPE THAT CAN BE RAISED AND LOWERED, NOT INDIVIDUAL AXLE STANDS. YOU WILL NEED TO FIT THE BULKHEAD AND RADIATOR,
YOU ARE NOW READY TO START THE BODY AND CAN CHOOSE WHETHER TO SEND IT AWAY TO YOUR BODY BUILDER OF CHOICE OR DO IT YOURSELF.
THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS TO BUILD A BODY YOURSELF, IF YOU ARE GOOD AT WOODWORK THEN AN ASH FRAMED BODY WOULD BE THE BEST FOR YOU, IF YOU ARE PROFICIENT AT WELDING THEN A TUBULAR FRAME WOULD BE THE BEST SOLUTION.
WHATEVER WAY YOU GO, THE DOORS WILL BE THE WORST PROBLEM ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE DOUBLE CURVATURE ONES. STEEL TUBE BODIES ARE INHERENTLY STRONGER THAN WOOD ONES BECAUSE THE DOOR OPENINGS WEAKEN THE STRUCTURE AND WOOD, WEIGHT FOR WEIGHT, IS WEAKER THAN STEEL.
A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO I FOUND A PAIR OF VDP DOORS AT BEAULIEU AND WILL HAVE TO EVALUATE IF THESE CAN BE USED ON MY NEW BODY, INTERESTINGLY THEY ARE SHEETED IN STEEL.
WHETHER YOU GO FOR WOOD OR STEEL THE WAY TO GET YOUR BODY SHAPE CORRECT IS TO MAKE UP A "BUCK" ON THE CHASSIS. YOU CAN CONSTRUCT THIS FROM THE CHEAPEST PLYWOOD AROUND 3/8" THICK.
THE METHOD IS TO CREATE A VERTICAL "SPINE" AT THE CENTRE LINE OF THE BODY FROM THE BULKHEAD TO THE BACK OF THE BODY AND ATTACH VERTICAL PLY CROSS MEMBERS SHAPED TO THE CHOSEN CURVATURE OF THE SIDES OF THE BODY. YOU CAN THEN BEND THE STEEL TUBE OR SHAPE THE ASH TO SUIT THE PROFILE OF THE BUCK.
ANOTHER WAY THAT HAS BEEN USED TO BUILD A BODY IS TO USE THIN EXTERIOR PLYWOOD BENT TO FOLLOW THE LINES OF THE WOOD FRAME AND GLUED IN POSITION. THIS METHOD CAN CREATE A VERY STRONG AND LIGHT BODY.
ALL THESE METHODS SOUND EASY BUT IT WILL TAKE LONGER TO BUILD THAT BODY THAN YOU WOULD EVER IMAGINE. PERHAPS BUYING A BODY THAT HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM AN ORIGINAL BENTLEY WILL SHORTEN THE BUILD TIME BUT YOU SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THESE BODIES ARE PROBABLY NOT ORIGINAL AND ARE NASTY HOME BUILT ONES FROM THE FIFTIES. A NO NO IS TO TRY TO CUT UP A BODY TO FIT IT TO A DIFFERENT WHEEL BASE, A LOT OF WORK FOR A POOR RESULT!
THE ESSENCE OF MY BODY BLOG IS, THAT WHATEVER METHOD YOU USE TO BUILD A BODY, THE FINISHED RESULT MUST LOOK AS GOOD OR BETTER THAN AN ORIGINAL BODY. IF NOT, THEN YOU ARE JUST WASTING YOUR PRECIOUS TIME THAT COULD HAVE BEEN SPENT LOUNGING AROUND ON A TROPICAL ISLAND SPENDING THE CASH THAT YOU WOULD HAVE SAVED BY NOT BUILDING THAT BODY.
PETER CLARIDGE CREATING THE FAIRING AROUND THE COCKPIT ON MY CAR
ABOVE ARE PHOTOS SHOWING PETER CLARIDGE CREATING THE FAIRING AROUND THE COCKPIT OF MY FIRST BITSA. PETER AS WELL AS BEING A NICE GUY IS A VERY TALENTED ALLY BASHER. I BELIEVE THAT HE HAS MOVED TO BATH BUT DON`T KNOW IF HE IS STILL IN BUSINESS. HE MAKES THE MOST WONDERFUL CYCLE TYPE WINGS AND HOPEFULLY WILL MAKE A SET FOR ME IN DUE COURSE.
I`VE DISCOVERED A PHOTO OF THE WHEELING MACHINE THAT I SWAPPED WITH PETER FOR MAKING THE BONNET. I BELIEVE THAT HE SOLD THIS ON TO ANOTHER BODY BUILDER AT A GOOD PROFIT!
UPDATE MAY 2014
I ARRANGED WITH PETER CLARIDGE TO HAVE A SET OF FRONT AND REAR CYCLE WINGS MADE FOR MY 4 LITRE BITSA, PETER IS NOW SEMI RETIRED AND WORKS PART TIME WITH A COMPANY IN TAUNTON.
I PICKED UP THE WINGS DURING THE BEAULIEU WEEK END AND THEY ARE A PROPER JOB, I ALSO LEFT INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF A TEMPORARY BONNET FOR MY EXP 2 BITSA WHICH HAS THE LONGER 4 LITRE ENGINE INSTALLED, AS I WANT TO GET IT BACK ON THE ROAD. MORE INFORMATION AND PHOTOS SOON.
I`VE DISCOVERED A PHOTO OF THE WHEELING MACHINE THAT I SWAPPED WITH PETER FOR MAKING THE BONNET. I BELIEVE THAT HE SOLD THIS ON TO ANOTHER BODY BUILDER AT A GOOD PROFIT!
UPDATE MAY 2014
I ARRANGED WITH PETER CLARIDGE TO HAVE A SET OF FRONT AND REAR CYCLE WINGS MADE FOR MY 4 LITRE BITSA, PETER IS NOW SEMI RETIRED AND WORKS PART TIME WITH A COMPANY IN TAUNTON.
I PICKED UP THE WINGS DURING THE BEAULIEU WEEK END AND THEY ARE A PROPER JOB, I ALSO LEFT INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF A TEMPORARY BONNET FOR MY EXP 2 BITSA WHICH HAS THE LONGER 4 LITRE ENGINE INSTALLED, AS I WANT TO GET IT BACK ON THE ROAD. MORE INFORMATION AND PHOTOS SOON.
ABOVE IS A NEWSPAPER CLIPPING FROM PAGE 9 OF "LA PRESSE DE LA MANCHE" DATED JUNE 3rd 2000 THAT I REDISCOVERED THE OTHER DAY WHILST LOOKING FOR SOME DRAWINGS THAT I HAD MISLAID.
TRANSLATING THE CAPTION UNDER THE PHOTO OF MY CAR, IT SAYS "AS BEAUTIFUL AS AN AIRCRAFT... WITHOUT WINGS".
THIS WAS THE FIRST RALLY THAT I HAD PARTICIPATED IN AFTER ALMOST COMPLETING THE CAR. I WAS PART OF A CONTINGENT OF BDC MEMBERS AND THEIR CARS THAT HAD DRIVEN TO THE THREE DAY RALLY IN NORMANDY.
ALTHOUGH I WAS FAR TOO SELF CRITICAL TO BE SATISFIED WITH THE ALMOST FINISHED CAR, IT WAS GOOD TO SEE THAT ALL MY EFFORTS WERE APPRECIATED.
TRANSLATING THE CAPTION UNDER THE PHOTO OF MY CAR, IT SAYS "AS BEAUTIFUL AS AN AIRCRAFT... WITHOUT WINGS".
THIS WAS THE FIRST RALLY THAT I HAD PARTICIPATED IN AFTER ALMOST COMPLETING THE CAR. I WAS PART OF A CONTINGENT OF BDC MEMBERS AND THEIR CARS THAT HAD DRIVEN TO THE THREE DAY RALLY IN NORMANDY.
ALTHOUGH I WAS FAR TOO SELF CRITICAL TO BE SATISFIED WITH THE ALMOST FINISHED CAR, IT WAS GOOD TO SEE THAT ALL MY EFFORTS WERE APPRECIATED.