Quasi-rat Parts Chaser

I posted this on the Classic Motorsports forum, but it sort of fits in here pretty well too.
I've been racing Spridgets forever and seem to have endless parts stored in my garden shed and garage. Last Summer I bought an MG Midget parts car uber-cheap just for the purpose of yanking the 1275 engine and trans out of it as spares for the race car. I figured I'd just cut up the Midget and scrap it. But as I looked at the car, I realized it wasn't really that bad. Plus it's an RWA model which is a little bit rare. Then I thought back to all those spares I have laying about.

Sooooo....I built myself a little grassroots parts-chaser for almost nothing. I took a crappy 948 engine that I didn't really want (35 HP) and ground the valves, plus threw in some rings and rod bearings I had on hand (for at least 20 years). Used my worst ribcage trans (second gear syncro is weak), some moth-eaten seats, a very unwanted DGV Weber carb, a muffler that I bought for another car (didn't fit), a top I've been storing for 20 years, a steering wheel I found on junk day, an old lawn tractor battery, and so forth.

Plugs, points and fuel pump points are 'filed down", used items. The inside of the gas tank looks pretty murky even after I flushed it. So I just raised the fuel pickup so it's less likely to suck in any crud.

In other words, this car is a collection of all my unneeded crap. It's a 20-footer, but naturally, it runs great.

I applied single-stage "tractor paint" which was applied using several methods.........none of them the correct way.
Today, I dragged a front bumper out from under my deck (it was there at least 10 years), gave it a quick polish and stuck in on. Still have some work needed on wiring, carpets, trunk hinge, etc. It's almost a rat, but not quite.

Looks damn nice for tractor paint.

thanks for the reminder, that basically any car looks good online.

oh, and; cool car.

Looks awesome! I would drive the snot outta it!

Why not have one just to drive around? I like it! Makes we wish I'd kept all the Triumph stuff I'd had over the years.

A very nice job of recycling, I really like that car.

now that's recycling!

Awesome! You built a car from spares for basically nothing. I'd love that! (Mine would have a 401 with a T5 and P71 brakes with a Hornet interior, RX-7 seats, and an AMX dash though.... ewwwww)

Javelin wrote: Awesome! You built a car from spares for basically nothing. I'd *love* that! (Mine would have a 401 with a T5 and P71 brakes with a Hornet interior, RX-7 seats, and an AMX dash though.... ewwwww)

I would like to see that though

In reply to aeronca65t:

Very nice looks like a fun little parts chaser

I love this!

Sweet, almost free car.... almost.

I dig it. A lot. If you're inclined to sell it, would you mind letting me know? I'm actively looking for a reasonably solid, yet scruffy Spridget as a rolling project.

Bryan:

Check Search Tempest.

It takes some patience, but there are still plenty of reasonable ones out there (I've bought three this way). Don't be afraid of the rubber bumper cars. They are often the most solid, easy to lower (and add chrome bumpers) and the 1500 isn't really that bad

Yeah, nicely done.

In reply to aeronca65t:

The last few I've gone to look at were nothing like drivable. I'm trying to stick to a strict policy of "if I can't drive it home, I won't buy it" and that is severely limiting my choices.

Good on you for not cutting that one up though. It's always refreshing to seem them out on the road.

Profit!