MTFCA Forum

Today I met with some friends at McDonalds. My friend Paul who was there said he would like to build a speedster that would resemble a Bugatti in the 1920's. He doesn't care about authenticity but would like it to outwardly look like the Bugatti roadster style. He doesn't want to wait to find all the special original parts it might take, he is wanting to have a car he can enjoy driving around. He wants to use parts he can mostly order from a catalog from the vendors. I assume that this would be built around Model T items.
Do you have any ideas or suggestions to help him. Perhaps he would be better finding something similar to what he wants and make it to suit him.
I would like to hear what you have to say.

Herb

How good is he at fabbing/welding and sheetmetal work ?

Herb, does he want an antique vehicle that looks like a Bugatti, or just a car that looks like a 20's Bugatti? A few years back someone made a Bugatti kit that fit on a Volkswagon chassis. I just googled "Volkswagon Bugatti kit" and found several for sale. Might be an option.....

Model Ts are something a person needs to be drawn to. With their idiosyncrasies, and considerable safety issues, a model T is something that needs to be understood, and cared about. In return, they connect their caretakers with a connection to history, their own and the world's in general. Model Ts usually endow their people with an understanding of the world and people around them, beyond what most people will ever know. (If I am not careful, someone may lock me up for being a loony?)

If what someone wants is an unauthentic toy that resembles a Bugatti from the '20s? He would probably be better off with one of the Bugatti kit cars. They are for sale already done on eBad nearly all the time. Kits used to be available designed to be installed on modified Volkswagen chassis. With the climbing value (?) of '60s/'70s Volkswagen cars and parts, I do not know if such kits are still readily available or not. There used to be kits for use with other chassis also. Personally, I never cared much for the wanna-be-Bugatti cars myself. I have seen a lot of them over the years. And many people do enjoy them. I would guess, a person may be able to buy a completed car for less than the cost to build one.

I have seen a couple model T speedsters that somewhat resembled the Bugatti. One is owned by a fellow that lives not far from me. But he has other model Ts as well, and is a good model T person to begin with.
It really boils down to what an individual really wants. And what he wants in return from the car.

Here is a picture of an authentic Bugatti that ran in the Santa Clara Valley Endurance Run. It has a lot of features. It was running an in-line 8 cylinder with over-head cams.

I saw one of those Bugatti replicas outside a junk shop in South East Kansas a year or so back. It's probably still there.

The wheels look vaguely familiar...

John E,
That body is fitted on a C 1960 V W chassis.
Merry Christmas....N

That kit car there would be a blast to drive!

Here is a speedster that Shane Latch is building that looks similar to the Bugatti.

Another set Not a Bugatti

Frank

I'm not a speedster guy, but do recognize and appreciate style and design. That is one lovely speedster. Is it yours?

Before committing to a T chassis, I would recommend checking the Northwest Vintage Speedster website, nwvs.org. There are dozens of speedsters pictured, if there isn't one he like, he might not be able to use a T. I don't think you can get the passengers as low as the bugatti with a T chassis. He might see something that appeals to him.

Andy

Thanks so much guys. I will let my friend see this and perhaps he will get on here and comment. I thought if I started a discussion the members here would come forth and be of assistance, and I was right.

Scott, its not my Speedster - sold for $38,500 at a Barret Jackson Auction in 2015 with No reserve
https://www.barrett-jackson.com/Events/ ... TER-178652
These are pictures from the link - "1926 Indy Speedster"

Frank

thank you for taking the time to post more photos. Simply, "Wow".

Herb, if your friend Paul is willing to adapt his ways to the 'T tapdance' building on a T basis would be fun, parts and even speedster bodies are readily available, but if he has a hard time adapting he might be better off with something based on a A, plenty complete A speedsters on *bay.

Maybe I am showing my A$$, but...,as my Father told me, "The only limitations a man puts on himself, Is his ability to imagine, his ability to learn, and his ability to discipline time". I have followed the ole mans advice.




All the Best to ALL!

Humble Hank

This is one that I really like......

Wait and see Dave Carnahan’s Baby if you like that one!

Shane, Any progress? Hank ? Anyone doing anything with speedsters, race cars?

Just chilling out getting ready for Old Man Winter here on the mountain. The boys are back in school, little things going on, but time to service the equipment, etc.

Hank

If you go to NWVS site and look at car # 32 Tom Butterworth I built that car . just what your looking for on A T chassis with a Rajo BBR head .

Tom's #32 https://www.nwvs.org/CarPhotos/032/032.shtml They made a Bugatti kit for a VW some for sale https://classiccars.com/listings/find/all-years/bugatti

If your friend has the $$$$ and wants something old but new and really cool. https://www.morgancars-usa.com/morgan-3 ... price-list
They have/had a multitude of colors and options

There's a Bugatti replica fiberglass body on an "A" chassis for sale in the Facebook group "Speedsters & Pre-War Racing Cars Only"
It's a private group, so I can't share it here unfortunately. Is he still looking for a body?

Nice cars. Drool factor applies.

Derek Kiefer wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 29, 2020 2:01 pm

There's a Bugatti replica fiberglass body on an "A" chassis for sale in the Facebook group "Speedsters & Pre-War Racing Cars Only"
It's a private group, so I can't share it here unfortunately. Is he still looking for a body?

There are several for sale 2 with hours of St. Louis one in O'Fallon IL https://www.carsforsale.com/bugatti-for ... 64-L108633 The one in Facebook is in Excelsior MO (Kansas City)

The #32 I built

The #32 that Frank posted was built by Robin Pharis. It has a fabric boattail and was built on a modified TT frame. Since Robin is about 12 feet tall it has a very generous cockpit. He sold it a couple years ago and I believe it is in Oregon.

Andy

This is a 1913 Bugatti owned by a member of our club in Phoenix.
The Bugatti oval radiator would be the hard part to copy

Model T Tom wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 30, 2020 5:05 am

The #32 I built

If that is the one you have a plan for? I'll take one !! If not to have a picture of the one you have a plan for?

Bryce wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 30, 2020 9:03 am

This is a 1913 Bugatti owned by a member of our club in Phoenix.
The Bugatti oval radiator would be the hard part to copy

No need to make a copy of the radiator, just order one from Brass Works, and while your waiting you'll likely need to make a copy of several dozen $100 dollar bills

Some pics of a few bodies I put together.

I'm comming before end of the month with a stock Model T ford speedster 1914 as well...

If your budget is high enough, you can't get much closer to the real deal than this. It would be hard to make a T sound like this.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mIxlql0Ebnc

Model T Tom wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 29, 2020 12:29 pm

If you go to NWVS site and look at car # 32 Tom Butterworth I built that car . just what your looking for on A T chassis with a Rajo BBR head .

The #32 pictured above is my dad’s car... Fronty powered and stick and cloth body on TT truck frame. He since pulled the motor and sold the rest to someone in the pacific north west somewhere...? It’s not the #32 Tom built...