Zebra Butt Racing's Devin 295 Special

Woody (Forum Supportum) said:

In reply to Stampie :

Surely this Devin body has been removed from the "trailer" and more photos have been taken by now...

Nope it and the trailer are a little over an hour away right now.

This thread is going to be awesome. Unfortunately, the stories didn't line up and the condition was less than you hoped for. BUT MAN! You have a Devin! I can't wait to see what happens with this. I have always loved those cars and loved their story. I remember my dad trying to buy a complete one back in early 2000 over in Leesburg. We went to look at it, and the guy just wanted too much for it so he passed. Im sure you will do it the justice it deserves. Such a cool piece of automotive history.  

In reply to Stampie :

^forgiven. 

You know, in theory (my theory only, based upon zero actual research), a Daimler SP250 might be the perfect base donor for this car:

Period correct LBC, with a 2.5 liter hemi V8, and a fiberglass body that's so ugly, no one would ever blame you for throwing it away. 

There are tons of Devin photos on Google ,  so you can get some ideas , 

I do not think they came with any kind of instruction manual ,  ofter the basic body was shipped in a flimsy wooden crate , 

You could order them with  rear seat and firewall , front firewall and  wheelwells etc  , but all that was extra $$$$ and most people seemed to have bought the basic shell , 

Here is one in SoCal  that has been for sale for months ,

Devin ss body with C1 corvette structure - auto parts - by owner -... (craigslist.org)

Woody (Forum Supportum) said:

You know, in theory (my theory only, based upon zero actual research), a Daimler SP250 might be the perfect base donor for this car:

Period correct LBC, with a 2.5 liter hemi V8, and a fiberglass body that's so ugly, no one would ever blame you for throwing it away. 

 

I like that car way more than i think I should. 

In reply to californiamilleghia :

The seller said it was an "S" body and I swear at one point I found a chart with S dimensions but now all I can find are the ones you posted above.

In reply to Dusterbd13-michael :

You need to see it from all angles, they really are pretty ugly. The lines down the fenders, fins and the bottom feeder mouth are all out of sync. Mechanically it is really cool with the hemi 2.5 V8, but not a looker! Now back to the Devin!

Stampie said:

In reply to californiamilleghia :

The seller said it was an "S" body and I swear at one point I found a chart with S dimensions but now all I can find are the ones you posted above.

The cool thing about this is you can basically make it into what ever you want since it is fiberglass and already cut apart. So the sky is the limit. Wider to fit your donor chassis, no problem, longer wheelbase, not a issue, car is already cut in half. My vote is to put this on something cool, period correct but cooler than just an MGA or TR chassis.  This one below works for me!

Stampie said:

In reply to californiamilleghia :

The seller said it was an "S" body and I swear at one point I found a chart with S dimensions but now all I can find are the ones you posted above.

Well Google does not seem to show any Devin S models built, but there was definitely a Devin SS model, so if that is the body you got, you know what you have to do!

Stampie said:

In reply to californiamilleghia :

The seller said it was an "S" body and I swear at one point I found a chart with S dimensions but now all I can find are the ones you posted above.

Having talked to the seller ,  I got the idea that he was only repeating what he was told when he bought it  ,  and every Devin guy wants an SS !

But I think you can figure out the model  once you  put the pieces in order and measure the width , wheelbase and distance from dash to edge of front hood opening.

I would be interested in how long the front hood is when you get to that .....

Well since it's already started let's continue the discussion on donor vehicle.  I emailed Woody about his old TR3 and he said that it basically sucked suspension wise.  Not to say that they can't be unsucked but that took me away from the Triumphs.  Also they're expensive even in basketcase condition.    I then looked at the body on frame MGs and hard to find plus expensive.  While helping Mr_Asa, hobiercr and I started discussing the Datsun roadsters.  Seems they are about the right wheelbase at 89 inches with a nice strong frame.  Plus the stock 4 cylinder made 90ish to 130ish hp.  They're cheap and surprisingly available.  I have a line on one in Gainesville that I'm pretty sure I can snag for $1000 just a muddy title situation.  If it helps I think the dimensions are close to the T size above.  What says the hive?

In reply to Stampie :

Suzuki Sidekicks are body on frame, solid axle rear/strut front designs.  Struts can be made better-er or converted to an SLA like Consulier used to do.  And wasn't there a Swift GTi engine for sale here?

Alternatively, since it is always the answer, Miata skateboard with some 2" tube connecting the front and rear together?  (Nah)

Volvo P1800 ? 

In reply to californiamilleghia :

Took me a min but those are unibody.  I'm looking for something where I won't have to redesign everything to get it to work.

It looks like the rear suspension of the Daimler is similar to the TR3, although maybe slightly less terrible. 
 

Dat hemi tho...

If you're interested, I've got a spitfire frame that's already had a floor added and some other minor stuff done to strengthen it (might want to re-do the floor as it's currently marine plywood) that, other than being a few inches short should be just about right.

I'd even throw in the already widened and stretched Berkley body that I got with it...IT's in about the same condition (needs work and ) as the devin, then you could swap bodies as desired.

Better suspension than a TR3 for sure... Even has front disc brakes...

Heck, It's on the trailer now, I can probably even deliver it sometime next week to your new property...

Let me know if you can be enabled into this...

Stampie said:

In reply to californiamilleghia :

Took me a min but those are unibody.  I'm looking for something where I won't have to redesign everything to get it to work.

But if you leave on the rockers , front firewall , rear firewall with trunk and suspension , so you have a rolling chassis.....

Cut off the roof , pull off the fenders , nose panel and tail panel and adapt the Devin fiberglass ,  the Craigslist link above did something like that......

That beautiful chassis needs to remain with that Berkley and then powered by a Yamaha FZ1

Yamaha FZ1 powered Spitfire

Stampie needs a V8 in his car!

My instinct is to go with an MGA frame or shorten a '32-'48 Ford frame and add a Mustang II front suspension. 
 

MGA is the easy-ish button, but the Spitfire doesn't sound like a bad idea, though it's kind of a stretch to call it period correct (of course, my Mustang II suspension idea certainly violates that rule too). 

Or... Crosley, for total Period Correctyness. 

The spitfire frame is a '63. Devin was still in business then... Just sayin... So it's not that non-period correct. Clean open FL title and vin BTW... Did I mention I can deliver it?

In reply to ToManyProjects :

That sounds like a winner right there then.

In reply to Woody (Forum Supportum) :

There is nothing less terrible on a Daimler SP250 than on a TR3. All those parts, including the awful steering box interchange.