Thread: Lethal Weapon, Project A-Bucket

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A new build. I probably should finish my other 2 projects, but I get stalled on one and can switch to another. I was originally gonna build a roadster, 26 or 27, when I ended up with the International cab and built the closed truck. I have seen several roadster pu's that I really like so I thought I'd like to go that route. One super nice one is Itoldyouso's son's elsewhere on the board. Some months back R&C had an uphoulstry article that featured a 26 Dodge RPU and that one in particular lit the fire.

Here it is, most of you have probably seen it.
1011rc_30_o+1926_dodge_brothers_roadster_pickup+front-600.jpg

I liked the lines. The bead down the side. And the smooth sides, no door openings. Also since I have, at best, minimal sheet metal skills. I figured I could build a similar body, using an existing cowl. Well lo and behold a customer gave me a 28, 29 model a cowl. It's in pretty decent condition. Small rustout on both cowl sides at bottom, but easy, even for me, to cut out and repair. The cowl is from a closed car, or truck, but that even works better as there is no char. line at the top of cowl as in the roadster cowl.

So here's what I started with.
my cowl-600.jpg

I got the cowl about 6 months ago and have been puzzling and doing research to come up with a build plan. Right before the holidays, a guy my son works with, told me he had a Cad 500 sitting in his garage that needed a home. I told him I had a corner in the garage with it's name on the space. I hope he comes thru with it. We were talking on the phone and I told him what I was going to put it in. The roadster should weigh 1600#'s top. 500+ foot pounds torque at 3000 rpm's, it would be a Lethal Weapon. So that's what I'll call her. If the cad doesn't happen, I guess I'll just make a Mouse Trap out of it.

And with no opening doors it's like a t-bucket, but an A so it's an A-Bucket. I am drawing more inspiration from a couple of other rpu's. So let's have a look.

I like the way this one sits on top of the frame. And it's do able for me to make a chasis like that