The Oakes Family

September??! Already??!Thanks to the holiday weekend, the first few days of September saw the car drive for the first time.

I backed down the driveway and drove it back up, through two gears - a little wheelspin and slide on the gravel.

Fitted tunnel sides, body sides.

Fitted the hood - cutting the hole for the carb and distributor.

Changed the water outlet for a more horizontal version - and the top pipe.

Drilled holes for harnesses and seat fixing.

Cut slots in the seat core for the harnesses.

Drilled out the headlight mount and trial-fitted a headlight.

Springs and Shocks arrived - fitted - now the car bounces… a little

Welded cycle wing support for front wheel.

Fitted rear wing.

Cut and fitted rear right hand corner.

Installed turn and stop/tail lights.

Welded up a bracket to support rear wheel, hold license plate and light.

Finished wiring all rear lights, including trailer connectors.

Fitted tunnel top cover.

Welded on two bolts to fix rear tire.

Bolted scuttle down to chassis.

Trimmed hood and fitted with hinges and over-center catches.

Fitted second headlight.

Fitted second rear wing.

Cut, welded and ground the windshield supports from 1/8 x 1.25″ strip steel.

Started trimming windshield surround to size.

Fitted windshield support brackets.

Fitted windshield washer.

Made right front wing support

Fitted front wings with bondo and fiberglass.

Fitted and wired front turn signals

Finished exhaust support straps.

Took in windshield pattern to get glass cut.

Screwed firewall to scuttle.

Fitted air filter to carb top.

Fitted hood scoop over carb and filter - all screwed down tight.

Picked up the windshield and two longer mirrors.

The screen fitted easily and with one mirror in place I completed a manual wiper system.

At 10.30pm on Tuesday 17th, I decided to call the county sheriff for inspection.

By 11.15pm, the inspection sheet was signed and each box ticked.

Wednesday 18th saw the registration of the vehicle and new VIN number!

Insurance is arranged on Friday, followed by temporary plates that afternoon.

On Friday 20th September, we took our first road trip!

By the 24th we have covered about 100 miles and having a great time.

Even the parked car attracts people crawling about on the ground looking under, in, all over…

Apart from the need to quieten the exhaust a little, some paint, and to tune the carb, we are done!

 

Carb hole cut

 

The carb appears!

 

Hold on tight…

 

LED 3rd brake light

 

Cosmetic touches needed

 

Ready to go!

 

Don’t stand there!