Les véhicules de collection, ou comment l'imperfection rend amoureux

1957 Nash Metropolitan - $4000 (Anthem, Az.)

1957 Nash Metropolitan hardtop
Many new parts and work done. New wiring, brake lines, water pump. etc
Starts and runs well. Does need interior work.
Asking 4k
call Charlie at 623-551-8072 for more info.

1950 Chrysler Windsor Newport, 2 door Hard top, Flat head 6 cylinder, Fluid Drive Transmission, all original Except recent Paint job, no rust or cancer anywhere, very solid AZ car. Mileage: 82,581. For Sale or Trade. Please contact Art via email or call 928-830-2461. 5000 or trade.

In post WWII Germany there were a handful of speed enthusiasts taking scrap aircraft parts and using some ingenuity they combined them with VW chassis to make "Homebuilt" or "Special" racers. The cars then, unlike today, were not the smooth as glass beauties shown at Concours d'Elegance events. The cars had true hand built character of their makers in the form of hammer marks, hand planished rivets and yes, even fenders that were not symmetrical to eachother! All of which add greatly to the character of hand built racers.

Walter Glockler, a VW dealer from Frankfurt, Germany was a speed enthusiast in his own right. His early cars were Hanomog powered and soon he went to a mid-engine VW powerplant and running gear. Porsche took notice of his VW powered racer and the story goes that he may have been in breach of contract with them. Porsche approached Glockler and they came to an agreement that he could keep racing the tight skinned, C.H. Weidenhausen shaped, alloy car so long as he used Porsche power and put their name on the car. Eventually, the little Glockler Porsche evolved into what we now know as the "Giant Killer", The Porsche 550 Spyder.

I developed an obsession with Porsche and specifically these handbuilt streamline racing cars as a young child. Then in 2009 I stumbled onto a Porsche 912 for sale along with decades of VW and Porsche speed goodies by a widow at a rural South Dakota farm. In the barns at the old farm I found all of the tools one would use to build their own alloy bodied cars. I made a promise to the widow that if she let me purchase the tools I would build and finish my own car just as her past husband had been doing since the 60's. She agreed and a deal was made. With no formal training, in December of 2011 I began penciling shapes onto 3/4" sheets of plywood, cutting and forming the wooden buck you see in the here:





My choice for a chassis was to use the Formula Vee, Mid engine, Volkswagen 4 Cylinder powered running gear. The spec's I found on the Formula Vee were nearly identical to the original VW Powered Glockler. The F-Vee race cars are fun, durable and inexpensive to purchase and maintain. My idea being that other people on a limited budget could do the same thing or I could build an affordable, limited number of alloy racers for other enthusiasts. Although fiberglass kit cars certainly serve their place in the world of auto enthusiasm, my desire was to use the techniques and skills that the craftsman would have in building an Alloy car during the late 1940's and early 1950's when possible on my body. This is no kit car. Everything from fabrication to paint was done in house in my shop in Minnesota. If you research alloy bodied cars of this nature you'll find prices typically range from $70,000USD into Hundreds of thousands of dollars. As for an original.... If you happen to find the one or two that were built you'll spend well into the $1,000,000.00's to own it.

The original Glockler VW/Porsche





Earlier this summer I completed my little Glockler inspired racer. My goal wasn't to replicate the original car but build one that without a doubt is inspired by the original. Building, driving and just looking at the car is a dream come true. It's incredible to drive. Even with the modest 1200CC Formula Vee spec engine, the car screams. Greatly due to the lightweight alloy body coming in at around #950lbs! The feeling of being center cockpit tucked into this little machine and screaming all alone down a country road is something I wish every auto enthusiast could experience! Whether you want to track it or just look at it in your garage, be assured noone will have the same car at your venue!

Shown here the alloy body is ready for a few final details, a final smoothing with the slap hammer, dressing welds and a few louvers to cut and form.















The auction you're viewing is to commission the build of your car. The price quoted is to build the car in the same manner and specifications as I built mine shown in these pictures.

Specifications:
Alloy Body built of .050" 3003 Alloy
Paint Prep and PPG 2 Stage Paint/Clear
"Freshened" Formula Vee Chassis and mechanical systems (Mid Engine, Center Cockpit single seat)
Turn Key FVee Spec Motor (Upgrades to Porsche 4 Cylinder are possible) Note: Cooling fan and Generator optional on FV motor
Vredestein Tires
Front Driving Lights
Rear Brake and Night Running Lights
Safety Cage and Removable Roll Hoop
Fuel Cell
Extinguishing System

I will build 2 more (3 total) of these cars before retiring the buck and going onto my next design. I am open to realistic offers and working beyond the spec's of my car with a buyer to build a really special car for them. I am also interested in working with buyers on projects outside of this car. Please give me a call for best response Chris: 320-491-5316


This vehicle is sold as a used vehicle and offered without warranty being sold "as is". It is my goal to accurately describe and provide the best possible service and product to my buyer and my feedback shows that. I am not a dealer. You are welcome to have the car inspected or come view the car in person. Please see my payment requirements before buying or making an offer.

Thanks and Happy Motoring~

Chris

Here is an important Q/A I received recently regarding the frame and completion specs on the car:

Hi John,

Thank you for your question. I may not have clarified this in my listing. The chassis is NOT a VW "pan". It's a ladder constructed 4x2 Steel Formula Vee Spec Racing Chassis with Safety cage. I modified the Roll Hoop on my car to the way I wanted it (hidden/removed for appearance)... The alloy shell is mounted in place using Aluminum Bulkhead and Firewall Supports fore and aft of the Cockpit. All panels are riveted together and then to the frame to make the overall structure extremely rigid and sturdy. From the Photo's I've studied this is similar building technique to the Petermax Mueller and Rometsch race cars.

Yes, I would build the car up without an engine but I would need to sell it with the transaxle in place for shipping and getting the proper fit for the body... I have located 2 Chassis in the past week for other "prospective" buyers. One of those chassis is a 2 seater mid-engine set up that would be optimal to build on. The other is a fully prepped F Vee car (just like my current car) that would be fun as well for someone wanting to track the car. I have also located the last 912 Engine Dwayne Spencer built... This engine is owned by a close friend here in MN and still crated from Dwaynes shop, Shasta Design. It is for sale...

This is first come - first serve type of offer to build the cars. I will only build 2 more of the "Frankfurt Flyer" body type and move on to my next design which is heavily influenced by the Auto Union Type B Closed Cockpit car.

Thanks again for the overwhelming response and kind emails I am receiving. I am sorry if I have not responded to everyone!

Keep The Faith and Happy Motoring

Chris