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Been watching a show on Discovery Turbo recently made by the brains behind Cafe Racer Magazine. Basically it documents projects, profiles builders and gives you a little bit of the history behind the whole Cafe Racer phenomenon from it's beginnings to the present day. An interesting show. But anyway, this got me thinking, how would you go about creating a four wheeled equivalent with similar design cues and was there ever anything like this back in the Cafe Racer heyday? I'm imagining something like an early Triumph TR, stripped down, looking a little bare bones, no bumpers etc, little bucket seats, lowish stance and period wheels. Whether this was ever done, I'm not sure, but what a great idea it would be and what image it conjures up. Stripped out Triumph's, MG's or even something like a TVR Griffith pelting around the North Circular, trying to get back to the greasy spoon before their favourite record finishes.      |
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Last Edit: Feb 17, 2013 17:42:14 GMT by WillCarter
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Last Edit: Jul 9, 2011 18:02:38 GMT by scouser
1981 VW T25
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markbognor
South East
 
Posts: 9,970
Club RR Member Number: 56
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Cafe Racersmarkbognor
@markbognor
Club Retro Rides Member 56
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Oh my, that 3a abover is rather good.
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Jul 10, 2011 22:05:45 GMT
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That TR3a works an absolute treat. Here's a little Sprite that kind of fits the bill.    Edit: Some kind of thread Ninja has edited my title. |
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Last Edit: Jul 10, 2011 22:11:56 GMT by WillCarter
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Loxlee
Part of things
Ford Capri with 1600cc's of pure power!........
Posts: 887
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That red TR is absolutely gorgeous! If you ever get the chance to go in one as well, take it, so much fun!
Wouldn't the car equivalent of a cafe racer just be a hot rod? stripped down to bare essentials for the purpose of going faster...
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Or a little more original with steelies  Want!!!   ;D |
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Jul 11, 2011 15:34:47 GMT
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I like the idea, pretty decent programme too (bar the streetracer guy who nearly killed the test pilot!) and has made me want to live in the premises of Garage Co. I've had similar thoughts for the GT6 if I don't sell it this year as it's fairly spartan anyway. I had drawings somewhere Will
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Club Retro Rides Member
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Jul 11, 2011 16:52:09 GMT
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Get the drawings up Leigh. Loxlee, not really a Hot-Rod, the original Cafe Racers were based on British Bikes from the 50's/60's so that's what I'm kind of aiming for here. Kind of hard to explain really. Reckon it would work with family cars like Heralds or A35's?
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gn3dr
Part of things
Posts: 391
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Jul 11, 2011 23:03:47 GMT
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I'm liking this comparison. A Hot Rod I would compare more to a Harley - the cafe racer says more stripped down & lightweight to me. I've no pics but my thoughts are about an MGB (Gt or roadster) , maybe bumperless or perhaps replicas of the chrome bumpers fabricated in aluminium, alloy bonnet with paint stripped & held down with leather straps, inetrior stripped with steel rocker switches in centre of dash, modern revvy and lightweight engine & box - 4 cyl preferably (K Series, MX5, Zetec SE), V8 is overkill. Kind of like a poor man's lightweight E-type.  |
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Get the drawings up Leigh. Loxlee, not really a Hot-Rod, the original Cafe Racers were based on British Bikes from the 50's/60's so that's what I'm kind of aiming for here. Kind of hard to explain really. Reckon it would work with family cars like Heralds or A35's? I know what you mean man, hotrods are a different thing altogether. Funny you should say the Herald as my uncle has a pretty key one at home. It's got all GT6 suspension, brakes, engine and gear box and it's sitting pretty over wide steels and it just looks right. Bruce seen it and I think he agrees. Apart from a few details it's a version of a much hotter car using original triumph bits. |
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Club Retro Rides Member
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Seth
South East
MorrisOxford TriumphMirald HillmanMinx BorgwardIsabellaCombi
Posts: 15,543
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Loxlee, not really a Hot-Rod, the original Cafe Racers were based on British Bikes from the 50's/60's so that's what I'm kind of aiming for here. Kind of hard to explain really. Reckon it would work with family cars like Heralds or A35's? I'm not sure a saloon is the right basis. If taking inspiration from a bike then I think a proper roadster of some sort worka best, like the red TR3. BUT, I wonder what would happen if you took a Herald convertible, chopped off the screen frame, added a small perspex full width screen, (or aero screens) and a tonneau cover, maybe a Bond bonnet.... |
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Follow your dreams or you might as well be a vegetable. |
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Jul 12, 2011 11:01:50 GMT
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Leigh, I do like the sound of that Herald, bet it goes well too. Seth, I think you may well be onto something there, a Herald Roadster would certainly be different, and would look the part. Would a Bond front a la Benzboy fit straight onto a Herald?
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Loxlee
Part of things
Ford Capri with 1600cc's of pure power!........
Posts: 887
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Jul 12, 2011 11:09:50 GMT
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What would be the rules regarding chopping off the screen on something like a herald then?
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Jul 12, 2011 12:17:16 GMT
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Heralds have a separate chassis, so no BIVA issues |
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MrSpeedy
East Midlands
www.vintagediesels.co.uk
Posts: 4,791 
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Jul 12, 2011 12:25:44 GMT
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Leigh, I do like the sound of that Herald, bet it goes well too. Seth, I think you may well be onto something there, a Herald Roadster would certainly be different, and would look the part. Would a Bond front a la Benzboy fit straight onto a Herald? I should think so cos IIRC the Bond uses standard Herald/Vitesse doors, bulkhead and screen frame. Would be interesting to see a bare bones stripped down Herald with modern 4 pot screaming it's tits off. Honda S2000 lump maybe ? Kinda got a family connection through a tenuous link |
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Jul 16, 2011 18:29:37 GMT
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I'm not sure a saloon is the right basis. If taking inspiration from a bike then I think a proper roadster of some sort worka best, like the red TR3. BUT, I wonder what would happen if you took a Herald convertible, chopped off the screen frame, added a small perspex full width screen, (or aero screens) and a tonneau cover, maybe a Bond bonnet....  Really not a great sketch but you get the idea. |
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johnboy
Part of things
Teeth like a burnt down fence!
Posts: 405
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Cafe Racersjohnboy
@johnboyzswiftgls
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Jul 16, 2011 19:12:23 GMT
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Polished ally, tiny steering wheel?? A lot of polished ally |
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I love V-TEC like a fat kid loves cake 97 civic VTi |
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Seth
South East
MorrisOxford TriumphMirald HillmanMinx BorgwardIsabellaCombi
Posts: 15,543
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Jul 16, 2011 21:54:13 GMT
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Really not a great sketch but you get the idea. Nice one Mr Carter! That needs to be built. |
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Follow your dreams or you might as well be a vegetable.
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Jul 16, 2011 22:03:03 GMT
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Drawing of Seth's suggestion works well. Not sure I'd call it cafe style, I'm seeing scallops and moondiscs and a nice smooth ally tonneau in a lakester style. I have to agree with Loxlee about an original hotrod being similar to a cafe racer. A street rod may be Harley-esque with lots of 'look at me' chrome and paint, but an early hotrod was all about stripping the thing back to bare bones and jamming in a bigger engine. Like this.  |
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