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YorkshireBoy

Original Poster:

17 posts

174 months

Thursday 24th February 2011
quotequote all
Hi guys, first time poster, long time lurker.

For a while now I've wanted to make a pick-up from an estate car.

For most fun I thought a RWD platform would be amusing. Something like an Omega. Cheap, V6 engine etc..

I am competent at welding and fabricating but not a structural engineer so dont really know where any required reinforcement would need to go?

Does anyone know where I can find more info on converting cars into pick-ups? Or has anyone on here done similar?

Are there any cars that you can think of that use a chassis (unlike most modern "monocoque" cars which loose their strength when you chop the roof off)

Cheers guys!

Speedracer329

1,507 posts

193 months

Thursday 24th February 2011
quotequote all
Sorry I can't help, but as a fellow "Gods Countryman" just thought I would welcome you to pistonheads biggrin

Twincam16

27,647 posts

274 months

Thursday 24th February 2011
quotequote all
I guess the Omega has already been made into a pick-up Down Under.

What about an E36 3-series? Could even make a four-door 'crew-cab' based on a Touring - shift the top of the tailgate to the position of the saloon's rear window and make a fold-down section based on what's left of the tailgate.

Highway Star

3,608 posts

247 months

Thursday 24th February 2011
quotequote all
I've seen this done with a couple of E39 BMW 5 series in the past.

YorkshireBoy

Original Poster:

17 posts

174 months

Thursday 24th February 2011
quotequote all
Thanks for the welcome and replys guys!

Yes have seen a few BM's. Also there is a Vectra pickup on You tube. Some extended googling also turned up a bit of info on an omega pickup but alas no pics.

More of a Ford or Vauxhall man than BMW.

SteveS Cup

1,996 posts

176 months

Thursday 24th February 2011
quotequote all

pilchardthecat

7,483 posts

195 months

Thursday 24th February 2011
quotequote all
Get an old RWD Volvo (Amazon, 240, 740/760, etc). The engine bay is vast and you can put a Chevy V8 in it.

For reference I give you, the legendary Volvette (it now has an 800hp twin turbo LS1)

http://forums.turbobricks.com/showthread.php?t=158...

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

206 months

Thursday 24th February 2011
quotequote all
YorkshireBoy said:
Hi guys, first time poster, long time lurker.

For a while now I've wanted to make a pick-up from an estate car.

For most fun I thought a RWD platform would be amusing. Something like an Omega. Cheap, V6 engine etc..

I am competent at welding and fabricating but not a structural engineer so dont really know where any required reinforcement would need to go?

Does anyone know where I can find more info on converting cars into pick-ups? Or has anyone on here done similar?

Are there any cars that you can think of that use a chassis (unlike most modern "monocoque" cars which loose their strength when you chop the roof off)

Cheers guys!
Custom car or some other customising place might be worth a look. Quite popular, but very niche.

Just a heads up, technically if you cut the chassis, which on any unibody/monocoque car you will in order to turn it into a pick-up will legally require you to have the vehicle IVA'd and likely a Q plate issued.

If you use something with a ladder chassis and seperate body tub, then you can hack the body about without need for an IVA.

YorkshireBoy

Original Poster:

17 posts

174 months

Thursday 24th February 2011
quotequote all
That black BM (3 series?) is gorgeous.

What can you think of off the top of your heads that has a seperate (ladder) chassis?

Cheers guys. Much appreciated.

Killer2005

20,246 posts

244 months

Thursday 24th February 2011
quotequote all
Welcome fellow Yorkshireman :wavey.

May I point you towards the Yorkshire sub-forum as well

LuS1fer

42,692 posts

261 months

Thursday 24th February 2011
quotequote all
Corvette?


The 4th gen Camaro has a lot of plastic panels at the rear (save the steel rear wings)

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

206 months

Thursday 24th February 2011
quotequote all
YorkshireBoy said:
That black BM (3 series?) is gorgeous.

What can you think of off the top of your heads that has a seperate (ladder) chassis?

Cheers guys. Much appreciated.
Very few cars these days. There are still a number of 4x4's, Jeep Wrangler, Defender, Jimny (maybe even G-Wagen too I think).

Car wise, the only one I really know of is a Ford Crown Victoria. Chevy Caprices (and Impala variants of the same era) where too, but not been made since the 90's.

YorkshireBoy

Original Poster:

17 posts

174 months

Thursday 24th February 2011
quotequote all
OK so I'm definately looking at some strengthening. The 'Vette looks sweet.

It needs to be functional too. Carrying my KTM and generally making my mates caddy seem limp and a bit sad..lol

attym3

7,259 posts

184 months

Thursday 24th February 2011
quotequote all
Welcome...... Heres one I passed last week.



Mark

SlimRick

2,267 posts

181 months

Thursday 24th February 2011
quotequote all
attym3 said:
Welcome...... Heres one I passed last week.
That must've been quite painful!

attym3

7,259 posts

184 months

Thursday 24th February 2011
quotequote all
SlimRick said:
That must've been quite painful!
Its the colour I was worried about.
hehe

Mark

YorkshireBoy

Original Poster:

17 posts

174 months

Thursday 24th February 2011
quotequote all
attym3 said:
Welcome...... Heres one I passed last week.



Mark
Aha, yes..This one from ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/bmw-e30-pickup-drift-showcar...