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Learning how to build Lotus Seven replicas...together!
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PostPosted: November 11, 2013, 5:17 am 
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I have the molds and rights to this car.
My agreement with Chuck Tatum says I have to rename it if I ever start selling them.
This was Chuck's version of a road legal (Barely!) Formula Vee.

Only one or two original VW powered versions were built by Chuck.
I had one nearly completed a few years ago with VW power and suspension as used for the originals.
I know of one other body being made but I doubt the car was ever completed.

Not sure this forum is the ideal place to talk about this project, but it's the one that keeps coming up every time I do any sort of search for tech.
The original VW version went very well but I want more, in Nevada we have some pretty good venues for super performance cars.
Virginia city Hill-Climb, Silver State Challenge, and the Bonneville Salt Flats for a few. :wink:

My thought is bike power instead of VW Beetle.
I might even be able to squeeze it forward of the rear axle line.
Still in the planning stage at this point, everything but the body is open to suggestion.

For a while I sold and built some pretty advanced kit cars for a living.
I also spent some time working with a company making carbon fiber sailboat mast which may come in handy.

I keep thinking of a monocoque chassis but expect that semi-monocoque and aluminum panels may be simpler.
I'm open to ideas for suspension and brakes.
I must admit a strong bias against using oriental components for the chassis or suspension, U.S. or English are preferred, perhaps Italian.
The bike engine pretty well has to be Japanese as they are about the only affordable choice available.

I will post more if this project is accepted by the Locost fraternity.

Here's the original, pic restored.
Sorry about the very large pic but at least I do host it off site.
ImageCrusader002

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Last edited by RichardSIA on April 18, 2020, 12:39 am, edited 1 time in total.

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PostPosted: November 11, 2013, 2:02 pm 
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well it's unusual, very 60's U.S. style dune buggy,

like a dune buggy for racing at Le Mans

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PostPosted: November 11, 2013, 3:11 pm 
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Some history on the cars roots and the original builder.
This design dates to 1973 as I recall, the "Arab oil embargo" of 1974 and instant doubling of the price of fiberglass killed it as kit car venture.
So now you can see why I refer to it as Vintage.

http://www.sportscardigest.com/chuck-tatum-interview-and-profile/
http://www.2belangers.net/vvr/picpages/crus1f.html
http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z17826/Crusader-VSR.aspx

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PostPosted: July 13, 2014, 3:35 pm 
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I'm the button pusher on a CNC lathe today, four minute cycle time.
So not enough time to do anything serious between interruptions.
So it's web surfing day.

The Tatum is a back-burner project of mine.
Have pretty well decided on a bike engine, transverse or rear mounted due to the body design.

Want it to be LIGHT, for use as a hill-climb car.
Seems that pretty well mandates a monocoque chassis.

I have a Triumph Spitfire frame for front suspension (worked fine for Lotus formula cars) and TITLE.
Using the Spit title saves a lot of hassle for registration.
Spit suspension also gives about the right front track.

I've tried several searches without luck, need some help with the monocoque chassis design.
Currently doing a TR GT-6 rear suspension redesign as practice for the Tatum.
Tatum to be an occasionally street driven play-car/race-car.
Any links or advice for chassis design will be much appreciated.

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PostPosted: July 23, 2014, 10:31 pm 
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Further consideration leads me to want to build two Tatum's.

One a killer BEC race rocket and another milder version for street use.
Gas now $4.00 a gallon and still climbing, a Tatum with a one liter or less engine should get fantastic mileage.
Street car would be cool to use a Sunbeam Imp/Coventry Climax type engine.
Fiat 850 might also work but the Imp is SOHC and I think a bit lighter.

Keeping my eye out for suitable parts.

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PostPosted: July 23, 2014, 10:49 pm 
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RichardSIA wrote:
Gas now $4.00 a gallon and still climbing,



What you talking bout Willis? It's just barely over $3 for regular.

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PostPosted: July 24, 2014, 1:28 am 
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You must be picking it up at the refinery!

If you want to be picky regular is $3.78 today and "Supreme" 91 octane is $3.98.
REAL Supreme 100 octane is $7.00 to $8.00 depending on where you buy it.
Super-duper 112 octane with lead can be had, at $12.00 a gallon!

The only vehicle I have that might be happy with "Regular" (actually sub-grade by my reckoning) is my Series II Land-Rover.

Everything I am building will want supreme PLUS.

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PostPosted: July 24, 2014, 10:20 am 
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Today regular is $3.29 and premium is $3.59 where I am. Prices are dropping and if it follows the trend for the past 3 price drops it will hit $3.25 and then overnight have a .17 - .18 cent jump and then float back down again.

Of course being in Texas where everything is bigger I'd bet our gallons hold more than your puny ones in Nevada. I have a suggestion, why don't you go to a station that doesn't have the 3 cherries on the pump. They call them one armed bandits for a reason.

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PostPosted: July 24, 2014, 9:44 pm 
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$4.39.9 at chevron on az 93 just south of las vegas two days ago.

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PostPosted: July 24, 2014, 10:07 pm 
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carguy123 wrote:
Today regular is $3.29 and premium is $3.59 where I am. Prices are dropping and if it follows the trend for the past 3 price drops it will hit $3.25 and then overnight have a .17 - .18 cent jump and then float back down again.

Of course being in Texas where everything is bigger I'd bet our gallons hold more than your puny ones in Nevada. I have a suggestion, why don't you go to a station that doesn't have the 3 cherries on the pump. They call them one armed bandits for a reason.


Fort Worth, TX.

So you ARE picking it up at the refinery!

And probably 93 RON instead of 91 too.
BTW one armed bandits are now retired to museums, they are all electronic now, just push the button.
In the truly rural area's even regular is over $4.00 a gallon.

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PostPosted: January 12, 2015, 10:44 pm 
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Getting the itch to do something with these molds.

Thinking of creating a new rear section to make a three-wheeler version.
Pretty simple to bolt a front end wrecked bike onto a simple space frame and VW beam axle.
Should be very stable as it all sits very low and would be mid-engine.
Could even make it as an electric :puke:for the greenie crowd. :mrgreen:

Question becomes how much curve to put in the body, and how long it needs to be.
Fuel tank will have to be remounted too, should be able to adapt the bike gauges.

Keeping my eye out for some donors, FJR1300 for my own 4-wheel hill-climb version and almost anything over about 700cc for the 3-wheel variant.
3-Wheel does not need to be that fast since it's intended as a fuel sipper commute MC.
MC gets away from a LOT of BS regulation that makes the car version more difficult, or would if I did not have a titled TR Spitfire chassis to incorporate.

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PostPosted: January 14, 2015, 5:42 pm 
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Good luck with your build Richard. I like the Crusader. If it were me I'ld keep it 4 wheel and leave the side skirts/fenders off. Cycle fenders would be cool. A front and rear wing and the bike engine screaming through the sequential shifts would be fun too.

The VW and the Stinger body that I am doing have virtually the same track. I chassis, 2 bodies?

When I saw the pics of your Crusader It reminded me of the 1968 Indy Turbine race car. Tonight I was watching Barrett Jackson and they are selling the Turbine car this weekend.

Have fun


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PostPosted: January 15, 2015, 8:26 pm 
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My thought is to do both, three and four wheel.

Three is cheaper, easier, and less restricted.
No windshield needed, rear suspension from the bike, etc.

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PostPosted: January 15, 2015, 10:16 pm 
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less restricted.
?

Maybe for now. 3 wheeled vehicles have been traditionally considered motorcycles. Which had very easy registration requirements. But some states are now creating a 3rd category in between a car and a motorcycle with more restrictions than a motorcycle. I think that more states will be following. Unfortunately, registering one will be a moving target for some time to come. the longer the build time, the more risk one takes. It would make a business plan fairly risky. But for a hobby business, it might be worth the effort. Just my opinion.

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PostPosted: January 16, 2015, 3:45 am 
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Here in Nevada it's still possible to build and register a single seat car if it is kept light enough.
The DMV told me I cannot build a motorcycle powered car. :BH:
Nothing about a MC engine swap into an existing car. :wink:
I'm going to try to work on that silliness with my legislators.

If I use the old TR Spitfire frame and title I have I should be able to skirt the whole issue as no smog check or safety inspection will be required. :D

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