War bird Race Car?

[joeldriskill]

Hello all,

I am trying to restore/recreate a vintage sports car special. If you care, you can read about it on my blog http://manningspecialreplica.blogspot.com/ . I am trying to make it as accurate as possible. He stated in a couple of articles that he used aircraft surplus parts. I guess in the 50's they had tons of surplus parts just sitting in stores because he got this stuff for next to nothing. From what I understand the rear view mirrors are from a P-38 Lockheed lightning. Is this correct? Does anyone out there know where I can find a pair? Or at least get me some good pictures and measurements so that I can make a set.
Also attached is a picture of the fuel tank he used. He said he made it out of a propeller tank de-icer. Does anyone know what aircraft this may have come out of?

Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Joel

[robertnobody]

Joel,
Very cool project you have going.
Do you have any progress pictures to post?
Bob

[joeldriskill]

Joel,
Very cool project you have going.
Do you have any progress pictures to post?
Bob

Thanks Bob. I do not have progress pictures yet as I haven't been working on the car since I found out that I was going to move. No point in trying to move a bunch of half welded up tubes and tons of boxes filled with parts. I have been in research mode instead, and since I have dug into the research I have found that I have a lot of the wrong parts. Just more stuff to buy. As soon as the move is completed I will start up on the build of the frames. I will continue to post as I go on my blog.
I did find out that the mirrors are from a P-38. I guess not all models had them because it took me awhile to find a picture with this on it. These were attached to the top of the canopy. Now I need to find out where the de-icer tank came from.
Joel

[Mike Switzer]

Joel - I have seen pics of a car very similar in a book that used to be in our local library when I was in high school (in fact I think I may have bought it at an old book sale, but if I did i don't know what box it is in).

If I remember correctly the book's title was something like "Hot rod it & run for fun" (or something like that) published in the late 50s or early 60s

[joeldriskill]

Joel - I have seen pics of a car very similar in a book that used to be in our local library when I was in high school (in fact I think I may have bought it at an old book sale, but if I did i don't know what box it is in).

If I remember correctly the book's title was something like "Hot rod it & run for fun" (or something like that) published in the late 50s or early 60s

Great! I have a large collection of books and magazines that covered this car. I had not heard of this one. Is this the book? I will be on the look out for one that isn't $700 on amazon.

Thanks
Joel

[Mike Switzer]

That is the cover of the book I was remembering, and if it is $700 on amazon I may have to go thru some boxes.

The pics of the car I am remembering may or may not be in that particular book, as it has been a while, and I read every book the public library had on hot rods when I was a teenager in the early 80s, but I remember the P38 mirrors & other surplus airplane parts being used.