Build Thread- Jack's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Build
Discussion
The photo above is my previous build finished last year, now my daily driver, a Pembleton Supersport.
This photo is the objective (Picture is the floating/flying version from the film of the same name, currently on display at National Motor Museum, Beaulieu).
I am building a 3/4 scale version on a 109" wheelbase leaf sprung Land Rover Chassis. 3/4 scale gives correct propotions on the land rover chassis and a cockpit width the same as my Pembleton, so I know I will fit in finished car!.
Jack
Written off (driven off a cliff) V8 engined Series 11a land rover mechanical donor , this will provide engine and gearbox, pedal box, and front of chassis.
Trying out seating position for chitty on donor 109 chassis
Checking steering colum and pedal box assembly in position required for chitty (back 21" and inboard of chassis) for clearance against gearbox on 3rd donor (Series 11 diesel), this donor will provide bulkhead, radiator, springs, wiring loom.
All three donors (plus spares) were bought as an abandoned project for £400, running but very rusty Series 111 LWB land rovers (with the wrong engine) start at £1,500.
Copied from previous thread:-
I am building a Chitty replica on a Land Rover 109" chassis and have calculated cost will be around £5,000, depending on how much work is required on donor parts (plus 1,500 hours /2 years work).
To buy origional period brasswork could add £2,000 to this cost (I am planning to make these items).
A 109 chassis with rear overhang reduced by removing the rear crossmember is the correct proportions for a 3/4 scale replica.
Compoments gathered/spec so far,
109 1 ton chassis,
Rover SD1 V8 engine and LR Series 11A gearbox connected with a Milner adaptor plate,
Salisbury rear axle,
SWB LR leaf springs,
widened 1930's Morris 20 front axle (with 12" drum brakes) and Sankey wheels.
Rear wheels 19" Sankey artillery wheels with LR stud pattern.
Costs so far:-
Land Rover donors (heavily crashed SWB Series 11a V8 trials car, partially stripped Series 111 diesel swb and 109 chassis, abandoned project) £400 eBay.
1930's Morris 20 beam front axle brakes and wheels £140 (Car breakers),
Sankey artillary rear wheels and hubcaps £80 ebay, steering box £40 ebay, new engine and gearbox rubber mounts £15.
So modified rolling chassis with V8 engine and gearbox in place for total cost so far of £675.
Jack
I am building a Chitty replica on a Land Rover 109" chassis and have calculated cost will be around £5,000, depending on how much work is required on donor parts (plus 1,500 hours /2 years work).
To buy origional period brasswork could add £2,000 to this cost (I am planning to make these items).
A 109 chassis with rear overhang reduced by removing the rear crossmember is the correct proportions for a 3/4 scale replica.
Compoments gathered/spec so far,
109 1 ton chassis,
Rover SD1 V8 engine and LR Series 11A gearbox connected with a Milner adaptor plate,
Salisbury rear axle,
SWB LR leaf springs,
widened 1930's Morris 20 front axle (with 12" drum brakes) and Sankey wheels.
Rear wheels 19" Sankey artillery wheels with LR stud pattern.
Costs so far:-
Land Rover donors (heavily crashed SWB Series 11a V8 trials car, partially stripped Series 111 diesel swb and 109 chassis, abandoned project) £400 eBay.
1930's Morris 20 beam front axle brakes and wheels £140 (Car breakers),
Sankey artillary rear wheels and hubcaps £80 ebay, steering box £40 ebay, new engine and gearbox rubber mounts £15.
So modified rolling chassis with V8 engine and gearbox in place for total cost so far of £675.
Jack
You seem to have done a cracking job of sourcing a lot of the key components very inexpensively.
Will you need to adjust the suspension to make the chassis lower with respect to the axles? Good luck with this, I think the proportions are crucial to making it look good. Keep us updated!
Best of luck with it, should be interesting to see progress! Allegedly my great uncle was involved in building some of the boat style body for the rear of the original car, he used to work as a coachbuilder in the 60s for Berkeley Cars here in Biggleswade and made some beautiful furniture etc for the family over the years. Unfortunately gone now!
Jack, I see the pembleton build didn't scratch the itch for too long then!
You should've strung the build out a bit like I have! So far one year on from ordering my chassis and it's still not rolling! Hopefully will be on it's wheels before the week is out! Mine is 413, is yours 412?
A lot of the older chrome items at autojumbles are over brass, which can be stripped at home (see my EPAG article from sept18) if you're careful.
Will be interested to see how this develops!
I'd advise against setting a fixed budget or timeline at this stage, as it could harm the finished product and turn it from a "really nice little replica" into a "it kind of resembles it if you stand a hundred yards back and squint".
You should've strung the build out a bit like I have! So far one year on from ordering my chassis and it's still not rolling! Hopefully will be on it's wheels before the week is out! Mine is 413, is yours 412?
A lot of the older chrome items at autojumbles are over brass, which can be stripped at home (see my EPAG article from sept18) if you're careful.
Will be interested to see how this develops!
I'd advise against setting a fixed budget or timeline at this stage, as it could harm the finished product and turn it from a "really nice little replica" into a "it kind of resembles it if you stand a hundred yards back and squint".
“Most motorcars are conglomerations (this is a long word for bundles) of steel and wire and rubber and plastic, and electricity and oil and gasoline and water, and the toffee papers you pushed down the crack in the back seat last Sunday.”
Fabulous opening paragraph of a book!
Looking forward to seeing this unfold.
Fabulous opening paragraph of a book!
Looking forward to seeing this unfold.
Ambleton,
My Pembleton is number 410, and now has 1,500 miles under it's wheels, this morning's job was fitting a locable documents compartment to Pembleton ready for continental tour this summer, so the Pembleton hasn't been cast assunder!
I find having a plan is a great help in ensuring materials and compoments are to hand when needed, a big part of the fun in building things for me is achieving outcome at lowest possible cost, without compromising quality.
You might recall from the Pembleton Forum that I made the polished aluminium bodywork from a scrap caravan and the leather for the seat can from a £5 rear seat of a BMW being stripped for racing.
My Pembleton exceeded my £3,000 target on by £500 as I fitted new carb, fuel pump, coil and steering column (!) rather than use questionable donor items and just missed 12 month on the road target due to long wait for MVSA test.
Jack
My Pembleton is number 410, and now has 1,500 miles under it's wheels, this morning's job was fitting a locable documents compartment to Pembleton ready for continental tour this summer, so the Pembleton hasn't been cast assunder!
I find having a plan is a great help in ensuring materials and compoments are to hand when needed, a big part of the fun in building things for me is achieving outcome at lowest possible cost, without compromising quality.
You might recall from the Pembleton Forum that I made the polished aluminium bodywork from a scrap caravan and the leather for the seat can from a £5 rear seat of a BMW being stripped for racing.
My Pembleton exceeded my £3,000 target on by £500 as I fitted new carb, fuel pump, coil and steering column (!) rather than use questionable donor items and just missed 12 month on the road target due to long wait for MVSA test.
Jack
Chassis is now shortened, in primer (except where welding required) and position of new bodywork and controls marked out with a Sharpie marker, and yes, it all seems to fit!
Having photographed and measured 2 quite different "film" cars I have decided to use the proportions of the Corgi model (I have kept mine since 1968) which is between the two and always to hand for reference!
Having photographed and measured 2 quite different "film" cars I have decided to use the proportions of the Corgi model (I have kept mine since 1968) which is between the two and always to hand for reference!
Samoht,
Yes, I agree proportions are critical, some previous Land Rover based Chittys have appeared too high and wide in places.
Re suspension height, yes, 109 1 ton suspension would be too high, I will be welding the front spring hangers from the 88" chassis in place of the origionals together with 88" springs and shackles, final adustment (number of leaves, shackle length) once complete.
Jack
Yes, I agree proportions are critical, some previous Land Rover based Chittys have appeared too high and wide in places.
Re suspension height, yes, 109 1 ton suspension would be too high, I will be welding the front spring hangers from the 88" chassis in place of the origionals together with 88" springs and shackles, final adustment (number of leaves, shackle length) once complete.
Jack
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