Blanco Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 Love the 'Sugga' look, great use of computer downtime!.... wow that 'Bentley Tribute' is one expensive old Rangey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill van snorkle Posted December 15, 2014 Author Share Posted December 15, 2014 It was looking really good until you put a flat spreader strip in the rear guards , it spoils the balance , as there is no compatibility with the rest of the lines of the car , needs some sort of curved infill , JMHO How long were Vauxhall in Australia , before Holden took that market ? it was difficult enough to do the rear guards as it was, because they bolt to the shell on 4 different planes. With body work and compound curves, I definitely know my limitations .Anyway, a Volvo Sugga has flat surfaces on basically a similar style of shell, and that to me is part of their appeal. I would actually like a few more flat surfaces, particularly around the front wings, because there is nowhere to put tools on them when working under the bonnet, as spanners keep sliding off onto the floor. Vauxhall bodies in Australia, like quite a few other British and American/Canadian marques were built by Holden Body Works, although when I look at the complexity of the Velox shell and panels, I think that would be near impossible without installing some very expensive press tooling for what was a relatively tiny market. They were probably CKD, welded up from pressings supplied from the UK. An interesting aside is that Vauxhall built all the engines for Holden cars right up to 1963, as GMHolden didn't have a foundry before then .it was common for early Holdens when built for touring car racing to be fitted with superior Vauxhall forged steel crankshafts, which were interchangeable with the carp Holden spec cast iron cranks.Most of the other internal mechanical componentry appear identical to early Holdens too, although complete assemblies are not interchangeable . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill van snorkle Posted December 15, 2014 Author Share Posted December 15, 2014 There is AFAIK only one Sugga here in Australia, and about 20 years ago i was prepared to put myself in hock for 25 grand to buy it at auction, but it didn't meet the reserve. I secretly lusted for something similar ever since. The good thing about these old vauxhalls, at least for my purpose, is that they are not considered to be a desirable classic car here in Aus, so reasonable examples can be bought for a fraction of the price that people are asking for their contemporary Holden equivelants . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill van snorkle Posted December 15, 2014 Author Share Posted December 15, 2014 For everyone's viewing pleasure: Widening out the front end as opposed to cutting the wings and fitting rubber extensions, was necessary, not just to cover the wheels, but more importantly to provide sufficient space under that sculptured bonnet for a radiator with enough capacity to keep the Rover V8 cool . As it is I could only just squeeze in a Series 2 4 cylinder rad , but with an 8 blade fan and suitable shroud, it should be adequate for the type of uses this vehicle may see . If I do actually complete the project, I may look into fitting a 300 TDi diesel later on, in which case the rad should be more than adequate and there is plenty of room beside the rad for a shorter but wider intercooler. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g&t Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 I don't know what the project has cost you, but from the firewall back the result bears an uncanny resemblance to a '50's Volvo Sugga command car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill van snorkle Posted December 16, 2014 Author Share Posted December 16, 2014 I don't know what the project has cost you, but from the firewall back the result bears an uncanny resemblance to a '50's Volvo Sugga command car. I sold all the Vauxhall mechanicals for almost as much as I paid for the car, and I found the RangeRover abandoned in a forest. Out of pocket expenses to date are mainly consumables,Welding/grinding/ cutting etc, and the engineers fee for first inspection, interview etc . A slightly smaller Sugga type vehicle,using common mechanical components is basically what I am aiming for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 I found the RangeRover abandoned in a forest Happens to me all the time You gotta love Australia for this kind of thing 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 All this talk of Suggas reminds me... a million years ago I came across this thing: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tacr2man Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 I watched a 109 FC for 7 years in W.A. , the owner (an ex farmer) was a Gunner , in the end the new land owner sold it to me , as he had run out of patience waiting for the guy to move it from his land. ended up fitting a chrysler 4 litre hemi in it . better option than the holden 6 . It was just a opinion re the rear wings , I can see your point , lots of potential there , even from the current view . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill van snorkle Posted December 16, 2014 Author Share Posted December 16, 2014 I watched a 109 FC for 7 years in W.A. , the owner (an ex farmer) was a Gunner , in the end the new land owner sold it to me , as he had run out of patience waiting for the guy to move it from his land. ended up fitting a chrysler 4 litre hemi in it . better option than the holden 6 . It was just a opinion re the rear wings , I can see your point , lots of potential there , even from the current view . The Sugga over here, not far from me, is much better looking in the flesh ! Something seems wrong about the proportions on the one Fridge has put up. The flattened front guard tops are practical, but I wouldn't cut that deeply into the Vauxhalls guards as I want to leave room for unrestricted wheel articulation. I am presently playing with the ARB Rangey bullbar. it doesn't really match the lines of the Vaux, and protrudes too far forward for a good approach angle. I can re drill the mounting holes to bring it about 4.5 " closer to the wheels. I have posted a couple of pics on my FBook page . A mate of mine used to make the Chrysler Hemi adaptors. They were brutal on Series gearboxes though, but a New Process 435 truck gearbox could be relatively easily adapted to the transfer case, and a Dodge truck bell housing enabled it to bolt straight up to the Hemi . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted December 17, 2014 Share Posted December 17, 2014 Something seems wrong about the proportions on the one Fridge has put up. I guess not being in the UK you wouldn't notice the 58 reg plate which puts it as a 2008 vehicle, it was in fact a Sugga or similar body on a 2008 Defender chassis / drivetrain (with a DJ booth & sound system that folded out of the roof, for Red Bull PR purposes). I probably have more/bigger pictures somewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted December 17, 2014 Share Posted December 17, 2014 The vehicle details for the above registration number are as follows Green Defender 110 Box Van, 2402cc Heavy Oil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigelw Posted December 17, 2014 Share Posted December 17, 2014 I like it Good to see you are still recycling old scrap bill One of my mates from way back took an old Escort van and mated it to a 110 chassis and drive train after he rolled it and flattened the 110 body, no pics of it as back then it was only 35mm film but will ask if he has any. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soren Frimodt Posted December 17, 2014 Share Posted December 17, 2014 Nice to see your creative hands at work Bill! Reminds me of a Danish Morris Minor which has been put on a RRC looks quite cool Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill van snorkle Posted December 17, 2014 Author Share Posted December 17, 2014 I assume both the Escort /110 and the Morris Minor /RRC were on shortened chassis, Nigel, Frimodt ? In other photos of the Red Bull Sugga I found, It still doesn't look quite properly proportioned Fridge. Maybe it's the wheels ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigelw Posted December 17, 2014 Share Posted December 17, 2014 Yeah the 110 was shertened front, rear, and a bit of fettling of the rear arches on the escort made it all fit. I always fancied a space framed shell clad in Freelander panels ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soren Frimodt Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 Nah on the minor rover he altered the body instead. You can't get it mot'ed in Denmark if you shorten the chassis. Will see if I can dig out some pics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 I always fancied a space framed shell clad in Freelander panels ;-) You mean like Richard's D-Lander? It's a good combo (especially now he's got a V8 in it) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seriebil.dk Posted December 19, 2014 Share Posted December 19, 2014 Hi nice build i can help you, soren, with that Minor Rover. here in live action and pics http://www.bilgalleri.dk/galleri/174252-land_rover_minor_rover_v8_4x4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soren Frimodt Posted December 19, 2014 Share Posted December 19, 2014 thanks Anders of course the rear overhang is altered, but not in between the axles. Just to make myself clearer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigelw Posted December 19, 2014 Share Posted December 19, 2014 You mean like Richard's D-Lander? It's a good combo (especially now he's got a V8 in it)Exactly my inspiration!I did start thinking about a T5 chassis an running gear ala RRS or D3 but then it becomes serious money to get it on the road legally Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigelw Posted December 19, 2014 Share Posted December 19, 2014 Not to mention having to farm out some of the more complex jobs making it even more expensive, think it could be fun to have a boggo looker that eats Imprezza's for lunch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill van snorkle Posted December 19, 2014 Author Share Posted December 19, 2014 I see the 'Like This' feature still doesn't work properly. I've been absent from this forum for going on 3 months, tried to 'like' a couple of posts in recent days but a notification pops up to tell me I have exceeded my allotted allowance of likes for the remainder of my life or some such thing ! WTF ? Anyway everyone who has posted on this thread in recent days, consider yourself 'liked' Lol. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elbekko Posted December 19, 2014 Share Posted December 19, 2014 It's because you're not a supporting member, only those are allowed to like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill van snorkle Posted December 19, 2014 Author Share Posted December 19, 2014 It's because you're not a supporting member, only those are allowed to like. In that case, consider yourselves unliked Lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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