'60s Fiat Competition Coupe w/ blown early Hemi

[Ace-Garageguy]

While I was working on researching a short wheelbase blown dragster typical of the late '50s, (it's over on the dragster section) I came across this photo of a '60s Comp Coupe with a Fiat Topolino body shell and fell immediately in love. This was really my favorite class of drag cars back in the dim recesses of history, and I'd wanted to build one for a long time. Building the earlier little digger had me in the groove of doing tube frames and steerable axles, so it seemed a good time to take another diversionary tack, but kinda on the same ultimate path.

I had a ratty old Topo body on the bench that I'd pirated the bellypan from (for another ongoing lakes-car build), and it needed a better purpose for its existence.

After the chop...

It was getting a little fragile and floppy, so it got some temporary reinforcement to hold it all together during rough handling while stripping.

After the strip. The windshield pillars got leaned back to match the inspiration shot.

There wasn't much meat left after the chop, obviously, so I reinforced the insides of the pillars with epoxy and fiberglass.

Beginning to fit it to the chassis, which will be a pretty much box-stock build of the Tony Nancy Plymouth-powered car...but refitted with an early blown Chrysler Hemi.

 

 

 

 

Edited July 14, 2016 by Ace-Garageguy

[falcon wagon]

Nice start

[Greg Myers]

Handy tool for cutting those wheel openings. 

[GMCMAN52]

looks like it's off to a great start.  looks to be a kool project

[Greg Myers]

Work in progress.  

[DrKerry]

This is gonna be kool 

[cobraman]

Ok bill, I gotta ask. Which one of your on going projects will you be finishing first ? : )

[Ace-Garageguy]

Ok bill, I gotta ask. Which one of your on going projects will you be finishing first ? : )

These three are in rotation to complete. The '32 is very very close. I lost the PE grille along the way and decided to change the hood sides. The dragster is next. It needs the steering cross-shaft, and a brake cylinder mount plate. Then I can paint the frame and body. The Bonneville '29 is still needing some parts fabbed for the mag drive and a few other fiddly things.  

        

 

Edited July 14, 2016 by Ace-Garageguy

[Snake45]

Nice! I like it.

For those into multi-motors, try this one on for size:

[mod3l Lover]

    I like where this is rolling!!

 

       David S.

[Lizard Racing]

I've always liked the '60s Altereds.  They're probably the most bizarre dragsters.

I noticed you changed chassis from the Tony Nancy to the twin-engined AMT Double Dragster.  I built a number of those in the day.

[Ace-Garageguy]

I've always liked the '60s Altereds.  They're probably the most bizarre dragsters.

I noticed you changed chassis from the Tony Nancy to the twin-engined AMT Double Dragster.  I built a number of those in the day.

1) It's not an altered. It's a "competition coupe". Though related and sometimes even overlapped, they're different classes. The comp coupe in this time frame was often a hollowed out small car body on a rail dragster chassis. Altereds tended to be shorter wheelbase cars.

2) The model on the "double dragster" chassis belongs to Greg Myers. This is the problem with putting one's models in somebody else's thread. If the thread isn't actually read, the assumption, as here, is that all the models are by the OP.  

 

This would be a typical Fiat altered of the period    which is represented by the Fiat in the "double dragster" kit.

 

Edited July 14, 2016 by Ace-Garageguy

[Greg Myers]

The model on the "double dragster" chassis belongs to Greg Myers. This is the problem with putting one's models in somebody else's thread. If the thread isn't actually read, the assumption, as here, is that all the models are by the OP.  

Ooops, Sorry about that. Reading is fundamental.  

[Ace-Garageguy]

Ooops, Sorry about that. Reading is fundamental.  

No problem here. I like your twin-engined car.   

[Lizard Racing]

No matter what class it is, it looks tough.  I remember Hot Rod doing a feature on a two-engined Fiat.

[Ace-Garageguy]

No matter what class it is, it looks tough.  I remember Hot Rod doing a feature on a two-engined Fiat.

I agree. I loved seeing the altereds run almost as much as the old comp coupes. This one's about halfway between the two classes.  

[10thumbs]

A real nice theme Bill, I like the look, although not knowing much about the details for the class.

Fits for me the category "outrageous" and I like it.  I love the drag Fiats, completely ridiculous and so cool.  Good that you're doing one.

[plastic-mechanic]

you might consider an adapter plate for the headers

[Ace-Garageguy]

you might consider an adapter plate for the headers

And YOU might consider not loading up my thread with quoted posts of other build photos.

The one from Greg is fine, but if you want to discuss or criticize another build...other than the one this thread was started about...please kindly do it elsewhere. 

Edited July 14, 2016 by Ace-Garageguy

[afx]

Keep bring your ideas Bill. 

[Foxer]

I love Competition Coupes  just for the way they sit with the slicks cut into the middle of their bodies. Your prototype is just right and your chop captured it perfectly.

That tail panel closing the old wheel wells looks really cool on the prototype and never seen that done before.

You may have got me back on a Competition Coupe I 'almost' finished for the Lions Drag Strip build a couple years ago ... only a few little things to do . eheh

Edited July 15, 2016 by Foxer

[Greg Myers]

you might consider an adapter plate for the headers

Just laying close to position for demonstration purposes. 

[stavanzer]

Ace. How is this coming? I'm watching for ideas on my build of the double dragster. Your Coupe looks far better than anything I've seen so far.