Pictures of my projects ('67 Sunbeam, ecomodified '65 Mustang, hot rods) - Page 2 - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

Ecky · 10-16-2020, 08:13 AM

Subscribed.

To my eye, the 60's produced some of the best looking vehicles ever to grace the roads. Cleaned up, this should be really special.

Charlie Cheap · 10-16-2020, 12:23 PM

I agree, the 1960's cars were design exercises that competed against each other. The 1960's Sunbeam was designed by the same guy who designed the 1955 Thunderbird, and a close look shows the similarities.

cRiPpLe_rOoStEr · 10-19-2020, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie Cheap

The 1960's Sunbeam was designed by the same guy who designed the 1955 Thunderbird, and a close look shows the similarities.

Even in the pictures it already reminded me of a pink T-Bird that I used to see in my hometown once in a while.

Charlie Cheap · 10-21-2020, 11:16 AM

I'll try to find some finished shots of other Sunbeams. Mine has both a soft-top and hardtop but I will probably run the hardtop most of the time. Understand, this is a 1 to 2 year project...maybe longer. My goal is FINISHED AND DRIVING BEFORE I HIT 80.

cRiPpLe_rOoStEr · 10-22-2020, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie Cheap

Mine has both a soft-top and hardtop but I will probably run the hardtop most of the time.

Even though a soft top may look cool, and riding with it down in a sunny day is tempting, I'm sure I would also prefer to use the hardtop. I used to see a beach buggy with a hardtop (and gullwing doors) regularly, and that buggy has led me to consider a buggy to eventually be a reasonable option for a daily-driver

freebeard · 10-22-2020, 01:02 AM

Quote:

that buggy has led me to consider a buggy to eventually be a reasonable option for a daily-driver

My thinking in the 1970s:

cRiPpLe_rOoStEr · 10-23-2020, 12:22 AM

That resembles an fighter jet canopy, split in half. Interesting, but I'm not sure if that would be 100% practical for a daily-driver.

Charlie Cheap · 10-23-2020, 11:49 AM

I love way too many types of cars! Dune Buggies, sportscars, Hot Rods, classics, race only cars, Roundy-Round racers, NASCAR, Bonneville, Pickups, and Motorcycles. I like the rendering of the buggy but rear vision could be a problem. A friend who happened to be an engineer built a DIGGER (dragster) for the street as a 2-seeter. A 454 blown big block, full body with lift-up canopy, cycle front wires, AND...this is NOT a lie...a trailer hitch. Imagine a row of Street Rods crossing the Red River into Oklahoma, with this thing bringing up the rear...pulling a small U-HAUL. Mike Minette was the guy with a beautiful model riding shotgun. He got pulled over as soon as we entered Oklahoma. We all pulled over to wait for him. When he caught up we had to ask what happened. Mike said the cop stood back looking at the "car" and finally said, "I am not sure what is wrong with a dragster pulling a U-Haul on a highway, but you have got to be doing something illegal!" Mike was totally legal...at least on paper. Any doubters go on-line for CAR CRAFT magazine August 1974 Cover shot and on page 90. I have the mag in front of me but no way to post it. We Car Guys are crazy.

Charlie Cheap · 10-23-2020, 12:07 PM

I just went on-line to August 1974 Car Craft Magazine and Mikes car came up.

skyking · 10-26-2020, 11:21 PM

Cool Mustang, Charlie

I had a 66 with the 200 and 3 speed. I then went to a toploader 4 speed, and then a 2.80 automatic rear end out of a 67 auto.
It would push 30 MPG on a road trip till it wore out from those high gears. Thank you for bringing back fond memories.