| Author | Message | ||
| TWO DOGS (66.90.211.93) Rating: |
has anybody ever done any research to see if they could get some tiny car,M.G. ..T.D. or midget, in a bay under the bus...some have removable or fold down windshields..I think I have 47"hx93"Lx48"w... | ||
| ChuckMC9 (Chucks) (69.3.74.65)
Rating: N/A |
1965 Eagle - I've seen this one - the bay floor actually drops down for entry. http://tejascoach.com/consignbus.html --c | ||
| TWO DOGS (66.90.211.93) Rating: N/A |
BEAUTIFUL !!!...just what I need...not too far either...I'd like to go see it..why does my p.c. go to 'outlook express'...yuk...takes FOREVER to send a message.. | ||
| Dale MC8 (66.81.131.89)
Rating: N/A |
Two Dogs, I think the FMCA has a chapter whose main emphasis is bay cars. Check it out. HTH, Dale | ||
| H3Jim (68.107.62.73) Rating: N/A |
Two Dogs What kind of bus do you have with that kind of bay size? | ||
| TWO DOGS (66.90.217.73) Rating: N/A |
05 Eagle....est. bay size in first post...how do ya' get to fmca....I'm new to computers.. | ||
| H3Jim (68.107.62.73) Rating: N/A |
Try http://fmca.com | ||
| jim mci-9 (209.240.205.60) Rating: N/A |
the little honda 600 is popular as a bay car... i dont think that they're made anymore... have to find 1 in a junkyard somewhere... but ive seen them cut to fit... | ||
| ChuckMC9 (Chucks) (69.3.74.65)
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Also, Scott W. started a web page with a few pics... http://www.dustyfoot.com/index2.html | ||
| BrianMCI96A3 (65.40.145.6) Rating: N/A |
Saw a Mini Cooper that was made into a convertable, it had installed on it a fold down windshield. Probably the Midget would be a good candidate, as well as a Triumph Sprite, virtually the same dimensions. Brian | ||
| Gary McFarland (Gearheadgary) (209.128.86.118)
Rating: N/A |
TRIUMPH SPRITE...DID YOU REALLY SAY TRIUMPH SPRITE? The sprite is an Austin Healy my good man, and should never be confused with the "Dark Side" of British automobiles, the foul Triumph! Sprites and Midgets are the same cars, only the badges are different. We call them Spridgets. Gary | ||
| Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy) (24.196.191.70)
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I believe it was a Triumph Spitfire. Richard | ||
| BillGlenn (151.197.189.72) Rating: N/A |
The midget wont fit without major chop job [about 2 feet length] Couldn't bring myself to cutting up my baby [Midget ive had since 79]. I saw a 32 ford micro repro body I think might fit though. | ||
| BrianMCI96A3 (65.40.145.6) Rating: N/A |
Y'know, I always get those funky British marques confused! Should have remembered though, didn't Healy have a MGA clone with stoopid bug eyes like the Sprite? Triumph, is the dark side? Dear chap... Clearly, a black rubber nosed... legal hieght bumpered... MGB WITH steel stamped wheels... is the dark side incarnate, THE ULTIMATE EVIL of British sports cars and is no match for the same vintage TR-6... in any category. The Spitfire might be low enough, I don't know length-wise though Brian | ||
| TWO DOGS (66.90.216.122) Rating: N/A |
I GOT TO HAVE ONE !....only found something on tejas...anybody else got info ? | ||
| Peter Broadribb (Madbrit) (216.67.217.83)
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Gary, HEALY, HEALY, did you really spell it like that? It's spelt HEALEY. LOL. Brian, The black bumpered MGB was purely a product of the American market requirements for those "safety bumpers". The Sprite Mk I was known as the Frog-eyed Sprite in England, not the Bug-eyed Sprite as it was known over here. It was nothing like an MGA. Peter. | ||
| BrianMCI96A3 (65.40.145.6) Rating: N/A |
Peter, actually HealEy ALSO made an MGA clone as well, true story. And I believe it too had frog eyes or bug eyes or ET eyes... The black rubber baby bumpered MG's were indeed due to the requirements of the American market, MG was not required to make THAT car! I'd say it was like putting high heels and a groucho nose on the statue of David and calling it good. Brian | ||
| Larry (208.18.102.4) Rating: N/A |
I'm going to past a link in the ebay section here. For these Mini cars costly. | ||
| Larry (208.18.102.4) Rating: N/A |
It's titled Mini Bay cars (costly) | ||
| TWO DOGS (66.90.210.72) Rating: N/A |
Thanks Larry...boy they are costly (!)...anybody know where a decent honda 600 is..1972 etc. | ||
| Scott Whitney (66.82.9.43) Rating: N/A |
There was a time when I was fascinated by the Honda 600s. I watched them on eBay sell for $600-$1500. Never did buy one thousgh. I bought a Honda CRX, which is pretty small and about the closest thing Honda made to a 600 in moderately recent times. Would be cool if Honda re-released the 600 like Couper did with the mini. One thing to know about the old 600s is that they are a two-banger, air cooled, front wheel drive jobby. Basically, it is a Honda motorcycle in a small car body. But they are cool. I've seen one retro fitted with a Mazda water-cooled rotary engine. Must have been a freaken rocket. Here is a direct link to a page I started about Bay Cars. http://www.dustyfoot.com/baggagebaycars.html Also, Chuck Stevenson was nice enough to send me another link to an Eagle and its bay car, but I have not had time to update my page yet. Thanks Chuck! Scott | ||
| Richard Bell (Richardkan) (152.163.252.163)
Rating: N/A |
For What its Worth I tried the 600 Honda bit about 5 years ago. Yep, I took a 72 Honda 600 and cut it shorter by 30" and cut the top off at the bottom of the windshield line. The back seat became the drivers seat. One thing I would like to mention here is, DONT DO IT. When you cut them down, you shorten the wheelbase by the same amount. Therefore, steering radius goes from a normal small car turn to one that is way to tight. Way to tight for driving in traffic. Managed to get mine up to 55 real fast, but scared the hell out of me if I so much as I even looked away from the road for any amount of time. There was a guy in Maryville, Missouri that used to advertise in the BC Mag years ago that tried to cut them down and sell them to unsuspecting Eagle owners. As I recall, $10,000 a copy was his Base and only price. I would imagine that someone put him out of business by now. My car was still neat to drive in parades though. | ||
| Gary McFarland (Gearheadgary) (209.128.99.4)
Rating: N/A |
"Triumph, is the dark side? Dear chap... Clearly, a black rubber nosed... legal hieght bumpered... MGB WITH steel stamped wheels..." Late 74-on were dark days indeed. Mine is a early 74, last of the correct height, chrome bumpered cars. I believe Spits had to do this too. " is the dark side incarnate, THE ULTIMATE EVIL of British sports cars and is no match for the same vintage TR-6... in any category. " Gimme a MGBGTV8 any day. Brian--Have you ever driven a Sprite/Midget? You should before you make fun of one. Peter, Yes, I did Misspell Healey as Healy. No bangers and mash for me this week! But...did you really say Spelt? Like in Prehistoric Grain? Spelt? You already beat me to the Frogeye/Bugeye thing--Except I'd like to add that they were so Excited when they make the bonnet, they forgot to include a boot! Ok, that's my British car post for today Gary | ||
| T Gojenola (24.237.70.61)
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Just for everyone's curiosity, there is a 600 coupe currently listed on e-bay, item 2443802666 tg | ||
| TWO DOGS (66.90.214.43) Rating: N/A |
this post is for people without a.d.d. you kids go argue somewhere else... | ||
| ralph7 (208.155.122.36) Rating: N/A |
Loyd??English built auto or a Fiat 600 with roof removed or US built King Midget will do very well? King Midgets 2 cyl Wisc air cooled early ones may not have 4 wheel brakes or reverse? | ||
| BrianMCI96A3 (198.81.26.38)
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Gary I did really like the V8 GT's, though I always thought they could have done a wee bit better design of the hood bulge. For that matter, I'll take a V12 early addition XKE over the GT... and, if you were honest, you would too... even if it was only to sell. The comparison was between a jacked up rubber nosed MGB with steel wheels and the same year TR6, and I insist, any category. Dog, thats a.d.H.d. Brian | ||
| Gary McFarland (Gearheadgary) (209.128.99.4)
Rating: N/A |
Hi Brian, GTV8s didn't have a bulge, MGCs did--C stands for "Can't get it around a Corner. the rover v8 (Actually a Buick V8) is lower than even the 4cyl. Yeah I'll take an XKEV12 over an MGB the same way I'd take $20K over $5K. Any TR6 is faster than any year MGB, plain and simple. I actually liked TR6's quite a bit, but I need to keep the MG/Triumph Rivalry going. ;-) gary (Proving that adults have ADD/ADHD too) | ||
| Scott Whitney (66.82.9.46) Rating: N/A |
Now here is a thought. . . Take your favourite mini car and whack it in half at the doors. Remove the extra bit. Remove the top and make it a convertible. Fabricate four heavy duty slides with locking pins so that after you pulled the car out of the bay, you extend the car to its original wheel base, put the locking pins in, and off you go. You could make vinyl doors like a Jeep to fill in the space and give it a clean look. Although you'd have to jump over the top slides to get in like Dukes of Hazzard. But that should not be hard as the thing is only a half meter high. So if anyone has a few thousand hours to spare and a fully equipped shoppe, have at it! Sure would be fun. : ^ ) Scott | ||
| Peter Broadribb (Madbrit) (216.67.217.83)
Rating: N/A |
Gary, Spelt is "Olde English", just thought I would add that in to our prehistoric conversation...... LOL. Yep, no boot on the Frogeye, same as some Corvettes. Geesh, did I mention Corvettes and Sprites in the same sentence....... No Bangers and Mash for me neither. Ah, that wonder of all sports cars, the MGC with that good old British 6 cylinder which Datsun copied into their Z cars and made work pretty well. I was never a Triumph guy, had BSA bikes too, no real reason, just happened that way. Best bike was an Ariel Square Four, nice old machine. Peter. | ||
| BrianMCI96A3 (198.81.26.38)
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I like my R75/6 Beemer best Peter, but I also have a 441 Victor... Returning to the bay car subject.., does anyone remember the jeep like machines they used in the 60's tv show the Prisoner and on Fantasy Island? Those would be a snap to go in a bay. Brian | ||
| Gary McFarland (Gearheadgary) (209.128.99.4)
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Scott--If you could just apply your "Telescoping" idea to this one:  Peter, Olde English, nice save 8^) Same here, I did have one Triumph Daytona goosenecked chopper, but from that I had a couple of BSA's before I finally got my hands on harleys. I've never seen a square four in person, but have drooled over the exploded view of the engine. Gary | ||
| R Johnstone (Chilebrew) (67.203.199.21)
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My Ariel: never could keep the primary chain on. | ||
| Gary McFarland (Gearheadgary) (209.128.99.4)
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Really? They threw primary cnains? | ||
| Peter Broadribb (Madbrit) (216.67.217.83)
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Brian, I would be interested in seeing a Healey clone of an MGA, never heard of it unless it was only a concept type car and never made it into production. Because of the small sales of the MGB, especially in the USA, it was not financially viable to totally remake a car for just the American market, hence the Federal add-ons of black rubber bumpers. The same regulations also killed off the export of the Mini to the USA as well. Peter. | ||
| FAST FRED (65.154.176.44) Rating: N/A |
A BMW Isetta would fit with a top chop. There OK for almost 60 on the highway , only strangeness is they stick shift like a motorcycle, push shift 1 hit foward to go down , pull back shifter full & release to shift up. Not bad as they have a seperate neutral finder, so at a toll both you dont have to run to neutral ( between 1&2) from 4th. Had one & it was fun , but it was long before I had a bus camper. A small ( 1972 250cc Honda XL) bike on front bumper now handles short trip chores. FAST FRED | ||
| DonTX/KS (66.82.9.45)
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Isetta is one fun little car alright, but at the current market value for one, I suppose the $10k price tag would make it not too practical for some of us to chop up. | ||
| DonTX/KS (66.82.9.45)
Rating: N/A |
Go Electric! A Sebring Citicar will go into the bay of a GMC 4905 with no change in width or length. Make a convertible out of it, and you are in like flynn. (easy to do too, they have a plastic body, not fiberglass, PLASTIC! You can then use the betteries of the car for house batteries. | ||
| Clifford Neal (65.174.115.73) Rating: N/A |
Back in the 60's there was a car on the market everywhere in the US called Alexander/Lloyd or close to that. They would be small enough to fit with little modification except for lowering the top to convertible status. I saw a couple on the road this summer in New Mexico.I think they were Italian cars. A new one in 1960 was $900 or less. | ||
| ED Hackenbruch (Shadowman) (162.42.168.83)
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Ok been gone for a couple of days and just got back and been catching up on posts. 1st sports car, 1959 bugeye that i bought for my wife. Not much power (948cc) until i upgraded to a 1278cc. Sold it when we moved to Maui then bought her a 1980 MGB. Sold it and bought her a 1979 Alfa Romeo Spider, sold that and bought a 1971 Truimph TR-6, nice car but gutless up hills. Sold that after i looked at and then bought a 1962 TR-4 that somebody had put a 67 mustang 289 and c-4 auto tranny into.....Can you say FAST!!! we call it the Little Red Rocket i also call it the poor man's cobra. Brought it back from Maui with us and still have it. My wife scared herself in it an won't drive it anymore so i had to buy her a 66 mustang convertible. Brought it back too and a couple of years later she traded it for a 1 ton chevy van and some cash....i cried...i am not a chevy fan, But it was her car so........ Pssst, anybody wanna buy a van???? | ||
| BrianMCI96A3 (65.40.145.6) Rating: N/A |
Ed, I can only imagine how much the van has depreciated and the Mustang a convertible no less has appreciated in the last few years. No thanks on the van, already have a G20 Chevy conversion van that I just rebuilt the engine in...I HATE VANS! Brian | ||
| Adame (129.82.52.219) Rating: N/A |
This bay car discussion is liable to spin me off on another tangent. Suzuki made an experimental sports car a couple of years ago that used a rear mounted 4 cylinder motorcycle engine. It was an open wheel 2 seat thing that might have been 36" at the top of the roll bar. Now there's a bay car! A couple of years ago I built and raced a "Dwarf Car". It's a 70% scale '29 Ford coupe with 4 wheel independant suspension, a GSXR 1100 engine and big brakes. I've had this thing wound out in fifth gear on a road course here north of Denver so I know that high speed stability is not a problem at all. The point is that I'm sure a safe, fun bay car can be built but it should be designed from the ground up. Cutting down an existing car can be done but is difficult to do it well. In the case of the Honda 600, the engine sits high and out in front of the front tires. Add to this a less than square wheel base and this car becomes a carnival ride. I'd better go think about something else now. Bob | ||
| TWO DOGS (66.90.216.138) Rating: N/A |
Those dwarf cars are soooo cute...saw Brooks & Dunn had some they raced...yeah a 70%'34 ford BUT they aren't street legal....the honda 600 is so outdated & parts would be imposible...need some tiny thing to run to the gro. in and maybe over to old mexico with...any 'late model "ideas"..it could even be a rolled car,top is comeing off anyway... | ||
| RichardKan (152.163.252.163) Rating: N/A |
Hmmmmm, Maybe a slammed Suzuki Samauri? | ||
| BrianMCI96A3 (65.173.87.143) Rating: N/A |
Richard might be on to something there, you can usually find Samauri's realy cheap. They aren't that long and are fairly narrow and I know they can be slammed (lowered). Plus with low profile tires they would be very short(without the top), and they have a flat windshield easier to make one to fold. The main trouble with samauri's is the transmission and transfer case, more often than not if you find a samauri in good shape in the junk yard one or the other of those is bad. They can still be found running around though, and like I said, for sale cheap, but if you buy one, instantly change the fluids in those powertrain components, and treat them like they were fine china. Other than that, they seem to fit the bill perfectly. Brian | ||
| TWO DOGS (66.90.211.248) Rating: N/A |
WOW...went to that "other place"...and typed in suzuki......looks like the samori is too big...but look at that X-90.....looks about the right size..dented door ..fine....way up there...too far away.....if Richard was going south.... |
