Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hot-Rod-Bonne ... 4abbeef3d2

"Tyres not included. But you are welcome to the invisible drive train..."

Be quick!

Cheers - Richard

here is a drop tank that races at Mosport and was at the revival there and was big hit , based on Fiat 500 front end and trans axle with a 998 motor . Looking at it the aero dynamics are already done .go to VARAC our cars this a big hit at Goodwood .ed

This was one of the most successful belly tank cars built.

https://www.google.com/search?q=so+cal+speed+shop+belly+tank&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=mLl&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=MktbUKGKL-TI0AHdgoHAAg&ved=0CE8QsAQ&biw=1920&bih=951

http://www.bellytanks.com/?p=245

The belly tank cars were part of the hot rod culture in Southern California in the 40's through the 50's.

As a kid growing up in the 50's and 60's I remember seeing the old hot rods (including a belly tank car on the back of a flat bed) driving home on the local roads, covered in dust.

My favorite, the Goldenrod. I saw it in the flesh in the back of the Summers Brothers Machine shop Pomona, CA when I rode along with my friend to pick up a set of high strength axles for his 390 Mercury Cougar.
http://www.racingcampbells.com/content/campbell.archives/goldenrod.html

Most of the guys who built these cars were ex aviation mechanics and fabricators from the aircraft factories in the Los Angeles area. They had the skills and availability of war surplus equipment to satisfy their need for speed. There is a great book, "Dry Lakes and Dragstrips" by Dean Batchelor that chronicles the efforts of people like Mickey Thompson and Dan Gurney. There is a really good photo of Dan on his way to Bonneville.

Regards,
Dan

Thanks Guys,

Seen 'em before but didn't know the background to them. Another gap in my knowledge filled. (One down...a gazillion to go! )

Cheers - Richard

(Edit: ebay "drop-tank"...2 bidders...made it to ?476.00 but not to its reserve)

I knew there was a pic somewhere

Colin Crapman would have scoffed at those heavy (and expensive) drop tanks; many of the tanks used on lighter aircraft heading to Germany (Mustang, Mosquito, etc: less flight-time than the heavies) were made of papier-mache. By the time they started to disintegrate they (the tanks) were on their way down anyway.

http://theselvedgeyard.wordpress.com/20 ... -rod-meet/

Looks like a good use of something that was disposable to me!

1954

elansprint71 wrote:Colin Crapman would have scoffed at those heavy (and expensive) drop tanks;

Most likely.

Early Crapman strut?

http://imageevent.com/okbueno/mopic?p=3 ... =0&w=4&z=2

S-B