Chuck Most Posted February 17, 2019 Share Posted February 17, 2019 After the success of his Gratiot County Historical Tours venture, Jerry sold part of the business to a partner. For the first time in a while, he had income AND spare time. It had been a while since he'd messed around with a car just for fun, so he decided to build a rat rod. Not a traditional rod, unfinished rod, or what have you.... a rat rod. Surveying the farm for bits and pieces, he located a 1940's electric motor and decided then and there his rat would be an electric car. The motor also dictated the front wheel covers- Jerry went with '65 Ford Galaxie wheel covers as they somewhat resembled the front of the motor. A 1919 Olds touring body was dug out of a hay loft, and the chassis was made from a small trailer used to transport a cement mixer. Jerry hit the junkyard and nabbed some I beams from a '93 Ranger and made his own radius arms for the front suspension. The Woodlite headlights are something Jerry had kicking around in a box in his attic for ages, so he finally used them here. He used some teardrop cab lights up front as turn signals to mimic their shape. The bed and floor were all made from various bits of scrap metal. Jerry found an old knife switch and rigged it with a cable to use as a parking brake. An on board generator, driven by the driveshaft, was an idea Jerry had to charge the car in motion. Fact is the generator created quite a bit of drag and wasn't of much use below 70 MPH or so. Maybe in the future he'll replace it with a gas-powered generator... a hybrid rat, then. The car quickly earned the nicknames "Power Wheels" and "Jetson's Rat" for the sound it made in motion. Jerry had fun throwing it together and puttering around in it, and all for about the cost of some new wide whites and junk he had laying around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Minarick Posted February 17, 2019 Share Posted February 17, 2019 Very cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1930fordpickup Posted February 17, 2019 Share Posted February 17, 2019 (edited) I like this Chuck. I am surprised we have not seen a bunch of these in the real world. Edited February 17, 2019 by 1930fordpickup Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spex84 Posted February 17, 2019 Share Posted February 17, 2019 Way cool. Love all the little details, from the generator to the perforated floor plates. I assume the powerplant was scratchbuilt...it really looks the part, perfect industrial colors too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hi-Po Posted February 17, 2019 Share Posted February 17, 2019 Totally amazing!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kit Basher Posted February 18, 2019 Share Posted February 18, 2019 Looks cool! I'm becoming a fan of Scary Jerry. Can't wait to see what he does next. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yahshu Posted February 18, 2019 Share Posted February 18, 2019 Different & very cool Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deathgoblin Posted February 18, 2019 Share Posted February 18, 2019 Neat! I like it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxer Posted February 18, 2019 Share Posted February 18, 2019 I like this and wondering where the motor came from. I've designed many foundations for motors looking just live this, looks about 300hp. Did you scratchbuild this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vintagercr Posted February 18, 2019 Share Posted February 18, 2019 Cool build! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Most Posted February 19, 2019 Author Share Posted February 19, 2019 11 hours ago, Foxer said: I like this and wondering where the motor came from. I've designed many foundations for motors looking just live this, looks about 300hp. Did you scratchbuild this? I started with a piece of plastic tube and just kind of went from there. It's approximately a 9" motor- the idea was that it was rebuilt using the guts from a much newer Warp9 motor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spencer1984 Posted February 19, 2019 Share Posted February 19, 2019 Very cool project, that motor especially looks great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisR Posted February 19, 2019 Share Posted February 19, 2019 COOL!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Ambrose Posted February 19, 2019 Share Posted February 19, 2019 Very cool. You rarely see those headlights. Where did they come from? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PappyD340 Posted February 19, 2019 Share Posted February 19, 2019 Awesome build Chuck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chromecop Posted February 19, 2019 Share Posted February 19, 2019 3 hours ago, Dave Ambrose said: Very cool. You rarely see those headlights. Where did they come from? They're most likely from the Barris Bed Buggy. There were also something like that in the MPC Mail Truck hot rod. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landman Posted February 19, 2019 Share Posted February 19, 2019 5 hours ago, Dave Ambrose said: Very cool. You rarely see those headlights. Where did they come from? 1 hour ago, Chromecop said: They're most likely from the Barris Bed Buggy. There were also something like that in the MPC Mail Truck hot rod. Or Shapeways. https://www.shapeways.com/product/HPXEELYX4/1-24-1-25-hot-rod-woodlite-headlights?optionId=60915247&li=ostatus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Most Posted March 4, 2019 Author Share Posted March 4, 2019 On 2/19/2019 at 1:51 AM, Dave Ambrose said: Very cool. You rarely see those headlights. Where did they come from? Shapeways! I'll have to check which store I know of two stores selling two different kinds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted March 5, 2019 Share Posted March 5, 2019 Outstanding and unique!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewetwo Posted March 5, 2019 Share Posted March 5, 2019 Pretty cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOBLNG Posted March 5, 2019 Share Posted March 5, 2019 Very nice! I love the story as much as the model! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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