Lagonda Rapier Special 1500 supercharged
Discussion
I love reading a good build thread so I thought I'd out something back in with my own. Sadly this isn't my car, I'm building this for a customer.
This is how it came in. In one owner ship since the 1950's and not actually driven on the road in that time
DSC_0108_2 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr
DSC_0109_2 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr
The home built body was built from soft wood, chicken wire, fibre glass, plaster....!
DSC_0181 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr
DSC_0180 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr
The car was stripped down to a bare chassis to check for damage. Although the whole car largely in rust free condition it had been hit in the front corner at some point-not surprising for a car approaching 90 years old.
DSC_0207 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr
The chassis is bolted together and came apart relatively easily. The two main rails taper when bolted together but can be bolted back to back to check alignment.
DSC_0218 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr
This is the second Rapier chassis I've repaired so I was able to use the jig mounts I'd fabricated for the first. The car would then sit on the jig for the main part of the body build as it provides an excellent datum. A friend of mine has raced (and crashed) these cars for years in the Vintage Sports car club for years and I was able to use his front crossmember jig to replace the poorly repaired part of the chassis.
DSC_0006_BURST20181121114251662 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr
DSC_1359 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr
This is how it came in. In one owner ship since the 1950's and not actually driven on the road in that time
DSC_0108_2 by Dan Clazey, on FlickrDSC_0109_2 by Dan Clazey, on FlickrThe home built body was built from soft wood, chicken wire, fibre glass, plaster....!
DSC_0181 by Dan Clazey, on FlickrDSC_0180 by Dan Clazey, on FlickrThe car was stripped down to a bare chassis to check for damage. Although the whole car largely in rust free condition it had been hit in the front corner at some point-not surprising for a car approaching 90 years old.
DSC_0207 by Dan Clazey, on FlickrThe chassis is bolted together and came apart relatively easily. The two main rails taper when bolted together but can be bolted back to back to check alignment.
DSC_0218 by Dan Clazey, on FlickrThis is the second Rapier chassis I've repaired so I was able to use the jig mounts I'd fabricated for the first. The car would then sit on the jig for the main part of the body build as it provides an excellent datum. A friend of mine has raced (and crashed) these cars for years in the Vintage Sports car club for years and I was able to use his front crossmember jig to replace the poorly repaired part of the chassis.
DSC_0006_BURST20181121114251662 by Dan Clazey, on FlickrDSC_1359 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr
Following discussions with the owner this was the design we settled on
x1 (2) by Dan Clazey, on Flickr
These were hand drawn to scale using a copy of the original coach builders drawings I have
x1 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr
The wing shape was transferred to full size on a sheet of ply and the body frame formed in steel. Steel was chosen here as part of the influence for the car was Italian and steel is more in keeping with Italian cars of the period. It also has the additional benefit of taking up less room than a wooden frame- useful on such a small car.
DSC_0042 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr
One of the customers requests was to have the spare wheel exposed in the tail. This large 19" wheel lead the design of the rear of the car.
DSC_0040 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr
6mm wire was added as a temporary 'buck' to help form the panels over and also give an idea of the lines/finish shape
DSC_0041 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr
Paper templates are then transferred into aluminium
DSC_0046 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr
DSC_0043(1) by Dan Clazey, on Flickr
DSC_0059 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr
DSC_0060 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr
DSC_0071 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr
A small wheel mount was cast in aluminium in the original style
DSC_0048 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr
x1 (2) by Dan Clazey, on FlickrThese were hand drawn to scale using a copy of the original coach builders drawings I have
x1 by Dan Clazey, on FlickrThe wing shape was transferred to full size on a sheet of ply and the body frame formed in steel. Steel was chosen here as part of the influence for the car was Italian and steel is more in keeping with Italian cars of the period. It also has the additional benefit of taking up less room than a wooden frame- useful on such a small car.
DSC_0042 by Dan Clazey, on FlickrOne of the customers requests was to have the spare wheel exposed in the tail. This large 19" wheel lead the design of the rear of the car.
DSC_0040 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr6mm wire was added as a temporary 'buck' to help form the panels over and also give an idea of the lines/finish shape
DSC_0041 by Dan Clazey, on FlickrPaper templates are then transferred into aluminium
DSC_0046 by Dan Clazey, on FlickrDSC_0043(1) by Dan Clazey, on FlickrDSC_0059 by Dan Clazey, on FlickrDSC_0060 by Dan Clazey, on FlickrDSC_0071 by Dan Clazey, on FlickrA small wheel mount was cast in aluminium in the original style
DSC_0048 by Dan Clazey, on Flickrlukeharding said:
That is amazing! Its definitely going to be a much prettier car than it was previously. What will happen to the old body?
The old body went to a guy who was going to mount it on a Suzuki vitara chassis! I think he was going to do some sort or trials in itMore pictures to follow
Thanks for the kind words, its doesn't feel so long ago that a had a similar reaction to colleagues work. I think I take it for granted now.
Breadvan- The engine is being built around a newly cast block, steel crank and rods. The fact these blocks exist is largely down the the Rapier Register which has been around since the late 1950's. The club bought up a lot of new old stock and have set about reproducing many other parts. One of the members of the club had several batches of these blocks cast.
The increase in capacity along with uprated cams would of doubled the power, with the addition of the supercharger it should see around 130bhp.
Breadvan- The engine is being built around a newly cast block, steel crank and rods. The fact these blocks exist is largely down the the Rapier Register which has been around since the late 1950's. The club bought up a lot of new old stock and have set about reproducing many other parts. One of the members of the club had several batches of these blocks cast.
The increase in capacity along with uprated cams would of doubled the power, with the addition of the supercharger it should see around 130bhp.
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