We are moving along and really trying to get the details right. Fortunate to be getting some great advice from Lee Raskin who is the world's foremost authority on the Dean Speedster #80126.
Replies sorted oldest to newest
I may be wrong (it's happened before) but that sure looks like a shine-up license plate light mounted in a shine-down location, but still pointing up.
Lane,
This is what was used which is the proper spec for an early shine down car.
Patric
Attachments
True, but it looks like the lights are pointed up, which when coupled to the angle indicates the they used a shine-up in the wrong spot. The picture in your other thread also appears to show two lights pointing up, which is incorrect. As I said, I could be wrong.
There are no lights pointing up. See pic attached. This is the light on the car. The light are pointing down.
Also, before anyone mentions it, this is supposed to be a 1500 Super badge and will be swapped out as soon as we get the 1500 one in. That was what was on the actual Dean car.
Attachments
The license light sure looks like it's pointing up and if so, the guy with his head in the engine bay can do his make up with it.
Maybe I am missing something, but how is this light shining up?
Attachments
From the close up I can see that it is shining down as it should, but it is shaped differently that any other I've seen. Notice on this one (https://sierramadrecollection....6A-50-57-p18761.html) the flat side is on the bottom with the lights. That's what threw me.
I will put them side by side so you can see it better. There are no lenses on the top of this light fixture.
Attachments
I will double check part numbers, but I am pretty sure we have the correct light installed and the lenses are pointed down.
Flipping the gasket round would make it a little more horizontal..
May I ask, because I'm interested, but what was so different about JD's Speedster? Wasn't it just a standard configuration in white with black interior, bumperettes, and a 1500 Super? Or is it just the fact that he owned it and you're making your reproduction in the same configuration? How will you recreate the dent on the driver's side behind the door? Just kidding of course on the dent.
You may have some difficulties driving the car without mirrors since those are legally required now, but you would probably get away with it for a while. And it's just a fix-it ticket anyway.
Robert,
There was nothing particularly special about James Dean's Speedster. As you mentioned, it was a pretty standard car with the exception of being one of the first to have the Super motor.
The main interest is that everyone associates Dean with the 550 as that is the car that he dies in. The fact is that he spent much more time in this Speedster that he custom ordered and raced it also. He never got a chance to race the 550.
My interest was in making a car that tries to stay true to the spirit of that Dean Speedster although we cannot get every detail correct. Then, we will be dong a cross country drive on Rt 66 when possible and stopping at the Dean family farm in Indiana. You can learn a lot more about the overall project and the initial idea at the website below.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Patric
Maybe I missed this in a thread, but what motor is going in it? As you want to get all details right, at the end of the day it is still a VS. Hope you opt for a nice stroker motor. Nothing like having good power.
BADSPD...A nicely tunes 1915cc with Webers. Nothing over the top, but it will be a really nicely done fully balanced motor. We do plan on some cosmetic things to make it appear more like a Porsche motor that a standard VW 1915cc.
Robert, nicely done. Looks great.
Remember the last guy who posted about his trip from the west coast to the east coast, partly on Rte 66? The artist guy who was going to come to Carisle and beat the daylights out of all of us.
I hope there isn't a curse.