 Nearly 15 years ago, members of the Austin 750 Motor Club set out to build a complete pre-war Austin Seven from parts found at Britain's Beaulieu International Autojumble. The goal was to have a running, driving car by the end of the three-day September 2001 event. Due to the proliferation of Austin Sevens in their day and their enduring presence in the old car hobby the feat proved quite easily accomplished. This year, Hagerty, the Michigan-based classic vehicle insurance company, laid down a similar challenge, focusing instead on a postwar Ford with the eponymous flathead V8 engine. The goal was to beat the clock during the four-day October AACA Hershey meet by completing a skeleton pickup discovered in a Michigan field, getting it running and driving it back to Hagerty headquarters in Traverse City. Brakes and suspension were rebuilt with new parts before the challenge began, in the interest of safety, but the builders still needed to find and fit an engine, transmission, pickup box, wiring and all manner of ancillaries in order to make the heap roadworthy. When these pix were taken the crew was focusing on fitting the proper oil sump, because despite the long history of the flathead and its many common parts, trucks required a different pan, which altered the oil pickup tube. By the end of Saturday, the truck was back together and running. On Sunday, it was en route back to Michigan, suffering only a failed ignition coil. Click here to read more about the Hagerty Swap to Street Challenge. |
     |
↧
Can you build a truck during Hershey week?
↧