DONE TO A 'T'

This is totrod number four we have made. I say we, as the guys at work here put in a lot of effort as well. I'd seen these in American publications before over the years in various build qualities. The better ones caught my eye particularly as they would often have a picture with an adult sitting in it (somewhat cramped, but still, sitting in it). well, I couldn't drive the other 3 we made!! Obvious really, had to try making one of these..... Only as good as we could get it on a limited budget.

Ok, the budget was a bit high for a tot rod, but some of you would spend more on a fancy set of billet wheels for a car!! The real expense is time. Time spent grinding and filling welds, spent prepping the metal work for chroming, time spent prepping for paint, time spent machining parts and drilling the wheels to make them look like Centerlines. A lot of this stuff just cannot be bought over the counter like it can for full size cars. Make no mistake here; to do it like this takes some time.

Why spend all that time on a tot-rod I've been asked. The answer is simple really. I can see this job through to the end. It’s a manageable size. I get to see it running and get a great sense of satisfaction out of 'making' something that can draw a crowd (and that car will, every time. Often more so than a full size rod!!) I can control the budget and I don’t have the DVLA to worry about. But you don’t get to drive it on the road, I hear you ask. So what, I wouldn't mind betting that half the rods started out there never see the road either and a great many more only see it for a few weekends of the year. Ok, I know there are exceptions that get used a lot and applaud the builders and owners of these cars, I really do. But realistically most rods are the owners 'toys', and this is what a tot rod is to. Only the kids get the fun of driving it, except this time when 'I' get to drive it to. And, it takes up a great deal less room in the garage!! and, fewer arguments with the other half about 'are you married to me or that **** car!!'

Tech stuff? Nothing out the ordinary. Honda GX200 6.5HP Motor with chromed side covers and fuel tank. One off straight through exhaust, chromed of course. Chromed aircleaner. Torque converter instead of the more usual centrifugal clutch. (Tip if you’re going to build a totrod. This well worth the extra expense and trouble to fit.) Scratch built ladder chassis from 50x25 steel. Chain drive to rear, with tensioners. Hydraulic disc brakes from off road karts. 10" junior dragster front wheels and hubs. 10" x 8" alloy rears, modified to resemble Centerlines. Billet hubs. Slick rear tyres with flame pattern cut in by local rally cross guy. GRP body from the USA wooded, strengthened and trimmed. Roof made from cut down full size GRP roof (don’t try that one on the living room carpet!!) Jaguar roof lining. Biscuit tuck'n'roll with piping. Grant deep dish 10" steering wheel. Steve Baines dials on solid wood dash. Axminster carpet (off cut from the carpet shop, just asked, got it for free!!) Paint is Yamaha pearl blue with candy green to white flames, by Pageant Paintwork (they do all the Crazy Horse Choppers. Great work and local. Ty's a great guy and now does cars as well.) Chrome drop tube front. All tie bars and steering rods chromed, as is the working front leaf spring system. Grill is one off item made by me personally and that’s chromed as well. Ok, chroming was a pretty hefty part of the budget, but it’s necessary to give the right look and feel to the car.

That’s about it. Its really great fun to drive with enough poke to put a smile on your face, so long as you don’t try cornering at speed!! It'll do about 40mph, which is fast enough. And finally, I wish I had a pound for every picture that’s been taken of it over the times we've taken it out. I said this was number 4. Two have already got new homes, so who knows, number 5 might be coming of the drawing board soon.

I hope this might have inspired one or two of you to have a go and build a little car.

All the best.

Andy Taylor.