Restoring Jim Halls Chapparal 1

NASTYZEN · Feb 7, 2011

Restored this one back in 1992 for a certain Jack Boxtrum.At that time my shop was in Scarborough Ontario.
It is one of four built by Mr.Hall and body by Troutman and Barnes built in 1961 I believe.The car chassis was found lying on it's side in a barn.It had corrosion problems on the side witch was lying on the ground.An interesting feature was that it was entirely put together using oxy.-acetylene welding and was restored using the same techniques.Only the chassis,suspension,body and massive gas tanks were found.All the other components had to be reproduced using pictures from the era.

NASTYZEN · Feb 7, 2011

Some more.Hard to tell from the pictures but I installed a modern fuel cell in the left tank so as to conform to new racing rules.The other one was filled with foam to absorb energy if it was ever involved in a crash.With the amount of fuel it could carry it must of been unnerving to drive at the time knowing it could send you to the moon in an accident.

During this project my friend Brian decided to go to Bonneville to try and beat Stirling Mosses land speed record with a Lotus 11.I modified his roll bar to meet the rules to go out on the salt.Both cars were somewhat of the same style of construction.Thought it would make for some interesting shots.

NASTYZEN · Feb 7, 2011

Still more.
I am(or was)5ft 10 and could not fit in the thing.Jim Hall is a tall man,I wonder how he managed to drive it??
The car owner at the time was 6ft 4 and was upset that he didn't fit!But kept it in his collection for years because it is believed to be the first sports racer to have a front spoiler.All those pretty shapes and curves are beautiful but create lift at speed and make the car a handful when the front end comes off the ground!Jim Hall was a pioneer in aerodynamics and came up with many innovations such as ground effects.

disquek · Feb 7, 2011

Wow! What an incredible car. Your restoration looks fantastic.

As a current SCCA national racer and crew for an SVRA team, this is right up my alley!

More please!

-Kyle

NASTYZEN · Feb 7, 2011

The wheels and uprights had to be recast in England.The Hali brand diff. had to be filled with custom cut shafts and gears.
Tying the engine to the chassis was done with a 1/2 thick Magnesium plate that must of cost a fortune in 61.
Note the tiny diagonal tube behind the roll bar.The rules at the time stated that the roll bar had to be triangulated but did not spec how it should be done.Any way the headers are held up by the gas tanks. :wtf:

The motor was from a 427 from vette I think.You guys could probably tell more than I can.I'm not a mechanic I'm a fabricator. :beer:

If anybody knows more about this car,please feel free to ad to this story.

banzaitoyota · Feb 7, 2011

what a fantastic piece of history!

MP&C · Feb 7, 2011

Awesome job on the body... Be kinda un-nerving driving that with the fuel tank right next to you....Imagine that left rear tire coming apart....

djjsr · Feb 7, 2011

Wow. Any info on the motor?

PCO6 · Feb 7, 2011

Great job on both cars NASTYZEN. I remember both of them very well. I never met Jack Boxstrom but I saw him race often. He had a lot of great cars and is very well know in Canadian racing circles. I recognize Bill and Brian MacEachern's Lotus 11. I used to share garage space with them in Scarborough during the mid 80's. I remember when Bill bought that car and brought it to the shop. I also remember him (or Brian) damaging it in a race and having the body rebuilt. Was that done by you?

Where were you located in Scarborough? We were south of Eglinton and east of Warden in an old industrial building that was made of wood. We were next to Rick Bye's shop.

NASTYZEN · Feb 7, 2011

disquek said:
Wow! What an incredible car. Your restoration looks fantastic.
As a current SCCA national racer and crew for an SVRA team, this is right up my alley!

More please!

-Kyle

Thank you,it was a fun project.
This car was originally run in VARAC after the restoration.

banzaitoyota said:
what a fantastic piece of history!

Some people put these cars in museums as art.Vintage racers race there art.

MP&C said:
Awesome job on the body... Be kinda un-nerving driving that with the fuel tank right next to you....Imagine that left rear tire coming apart....

Thank you,the right rear inside brake disk was about 1/4 inch from the seat,that must of got warm after a few laps...not to mention the drive shaft spinning away next to the driver...

djjsr said:
Wow. Any info on the motor?

Not really,I thought one of you guys could identify it.I think it's a 427.It had 3 holleys on it if I remember correctly.

PCO6 said:
Great job on both cars NASTYZEN. I remember both of them very well. I never met Jack Boxstrom but I saw him race often. He had a lot of great cars and is very well know in Canadian racing circles. I recognize Bill and Brian MacEachern's Lotus 11. I used to share garage space with them in Scarborough during the mid 80's. I remember when Bill bought that car and brought it to the shop. I also remember him (or Brian) damaging it in a race and having the body rebuilt. Was that done by you?

Where were you located in Scarborough? We were south of Eglinton and east of Warden in an old industrial building that was made of wood. We were next to Rick Bye's shop.

Thank's PC06.
Yes Jack has many awesome cars like Sadlers and Aston Martins.I have some more pics of other stuff I did for the man.When I get more time I'll post some more.
I've had the opportunity to do major work on that Lotus 11 over the years.Brian drives the wheels off of that thing and rarely but sometimes wrinkles her a little...I was lucky enough to have him bring me to Bonneville that year.That was one of my most memorable trips ever for me.He beat the land speed record one way but unfortunately it rained before he could make comeback run,so it didn't count.I've also had the opportunity to do work on Rick's Formula cars.I think he still races today.
My shop was on Barbados Blvd.off of Eglington between Mc Cowen and warden just around the corner.I was there from 90 to 94.I think my old partner is still there.
Small world eh? :beer:

TA^Guy · Feb 7, 2011

Wow that is amazing, excellent work!

djjsr · Feb 7, 2011

NASTYZEN said:
Not really,I thought one of you guys could identify it.I think it's a 427.It had 3 holleys on it if I remember correctly.

It's not a 427, although the car may have had a 427 in it at one time. The motor that's in there now is a small block Chevy. Hundreds of variations of those motors, so there's no telling exactly what it is.

I don't think the 3 carbs are original either. I believe the car was fuel injected when raced. But he was a pretty innovative guy, so who knows, he probably tried everything at one time or another.

It's probable, as with many racecars, that the original motor was pulled before Hall sold the car and the new owner installed the current smallblock.

Abodyracer · Feb 7, 2011

If it was raced back in the mid 60's and was fitted with a small block Chevy it most likely would have been a 327. The 350 came out in 68 or 69 I believe and the 400 was in the 70's.

djjsr · Feb 7, 2011

I know Jim Hall ran a big block at one time but it was in one of the mid-engined cars, I think the Chapparal 2. The front engined Chapparal 1 was raced around '62-'63, before the big block was available. The first factory big block was the 396, starting in 1965.

Zeke · Feb 7, 2011

And if it was a Traco motor from Los Angeles, there will be some doubt as to what size it really was.

Amitygravel · Feb 7, 2011

Stunning. Thanks for taking time to show us NASTYZEN. What a gorgeous car and fantastic work.

NASTYZEN · Feb 7, 2011

Ooops!I typed 427 didn'tI?I meant 327 cubic inches. :bounce:

It did run the three carbs though.

NASTYZEN · Feb 7, 2011

Amitygravel said:
Stunning. Thanks for taking time to show us NASTYZEN. What a gorgeous car and fantastic work.

Thank you,no problem. :thumbup:

NASTYZEN · Feb 7, 2011

TA^Guy said:
Wow that is amazing, excellent work!

Thanks!

SpeedCoach · Feb 7, 2011

wow! Really cool pictures. Thanks for sharing!

54FordPanel · Feb 8, 2011

Here's this post! Thanks for sharing. You're a lucky guy to be able to do that for a living!

930dreamer · Feb 8, 2011

Those body styles are just as amazing now, as they were back then. Sir you have/do a great job.

NASTYZEN · Feb 8, 2011

Thank's guys!I love my job and I totally realize how fortunate I am to work (play and get paid for it)on all these different projects.Just for the record,I will only go as far as priming stuff.I unfortunately am zero at painting,therefore someone else with finishing talent gets to do that part and they deserve the credit.I am but a metal fabricator :lol_hitti

Zeke · Feb 8, 2011

Smart man. I, too, try to take if to rough prime and hand it off. Last painter stripped my primer and what little skim coat I used, so now I won't even prime. If it rusts, they can clean it.

Tantara · Feb 8, 2011

That car body is one of my favorite designs ever.

Brad

e-tek · Feb 8, 2011

NASTYZEN said:
Thank's guys!I love my job and I totally realize how fortunate I am to work (play and get paid for it)on all these different projects.Just for the record,I will only go as far as priming stuff.I unfortunately am zero at painting,therefore someone else with finishing talent gets to do that part and they deserve the credit.I am but a metal fabricator

milt said:
Smart man. I, too, try to take if to rough prime and hand it off. Last painter stripped my primer and what little skim coat I used, so now I won't even prime. If it rusts, they can clean it.

VERY SMART MEN! I HATE doing the finishing part....I'm still DRAGGING out this 56 Chevy...I've blocked it 2X and have 2X to go....sheesh. I gotta be smarter and let someone else finish it!

NASTYZEN · Feb 12, 2011

milt said:
Smart man. I, too, try to take if to rough prime and hand it off. Last painter stripped my primer and what little skim coat I used, so now I won't even prime. If it rusts, they can clean it.

e-tek said:
VERY SMART MEN! I HATE doing the finishing part....I'm still DRAGGING out this 56 Chevy...I've blocked it 2X and have 2X to go....sheesh. I gotta be smarter and let someone else finish it!

Creates way too much dust for my liking!

fergus · Feb 12, 2011

Nasty,

Dude...you are working in some rarified circles my friend. Jim Hall's era was way before my time, but I only had to see his Chaparall cars one time for them to be forever imprinted in my mind. Thanks for preserving pieces of automotive history.

By the way, how in the heck did somebody just discover the frame...and actually know what they were looking at? Must have been a collector?

NASTYZEN · Feb 17, 2011

fergus said:
Nasty,

Dude...you are working in some rarified circles my friend. Jim Hall's era was way before my time, but I only had to see his Chaparall cars one time for them to be forever imprinted in my mind. Thanks for preserving pieces of automotive history.

By the way, how in the heck did somebody just discover the frame...and actually know what they were looking at? Must have been a collector?

This guy appraises cars for RM Auctions.I guess he gets a lead now and again. :bounce:

Someone once said that we are only the caretakers of these fine pieces of art.They may live fore ever with a little tlc but we are only of passing.
My way of staying immortal.

Anyone know what this is?Take a guess.

johno · Feb 17, 2011

Aston Martin. Maybe a DB2

NASTYZEN · Feb 17, 2011

johno said:
Aston Martin. Maybe a DB2

Good eye! 52 DB2 :thumbup:

I'll be starting a new thread for that one,took me 4 years to get er done!

djjsr · Feb 17, 2011

Cool. I mean it's really cool. Get my drift?

Tufftoy · Feb 18, 2011

I've seen most of Jim Hall's cars in Midland Texas at the Petroleum Museum. Really beautiful cars...every once in a while they bring them out and drive them...really cool.

johno · Feb 18, 2011

NASTYZEN said:
Good eye! 52 DB2
I'll be starting a new thread for that one,took me 4 years to get er done!

I look forward to it, they are great looking cars. Where is St. Columban near?

onewaydave · Feb 20, 2011

Great storey. I grew up in Midland, Texas. The Chapparal test track was just outside of town. We'd ride our bikes out there and hang out waiting for a car to come by. I never saw a car on the track. I wonder if they tested at night? It was a big deal around town at the time. Everybody thought they were crazies to go racing.

Dave.

mattmcginn · Feb 20, 2011

Thanks for posting your photos

This post highlights why I like boards like this. If there were a magazine article on the restoration of either of these cars, it would likely skip the entire restoration process and talk about how the wheels were "shod with" or "wrapped in" some some tire.

The nuts and bolts, literally, that are the restoration of a worthwhile car should be the same nuts and bolts detailed in the article. Most print magazine articles and almost all of the popular shows that focus on either restoration-as or, customization-as-drama, skip the truly hard parts of the process. This is what calls for true team effort and in result, forms a team, in favor of scripted and superficial drama.

What I like and appreciate are good detailed photos like this that show how the tubing was joined to make a chassis. How the sheet aluminum was shaped and welded to form a body.

I'll have to spend some quality time with the photos you've shared, thanks for doing so.

Putting soap box away, thanks for sharing!

Matt

NASTYZEN · Feb 22, 2011

djjsr said:
Cool. I mean it's really cool. Get my drift?

Every time I get behind the wheel in winter I'm drifting!

Tufftoy said:
I've seen most of Jim Hall's cars in Midland Texas at the Petroleum Museum. Really beautiful cars...every once in a while they bring them out and drive them...really cool.

I've seen several of them at different occasions but never all of them at the same place.Got to make Texas a destination some day.

johno said:
I look forward to it, they are great looking cars. Where is St. Columban near?

What I like about them is that they are entirely hand built and each unique. North of Mirabel Airport

onewaydave said:
Great storey. I grew up in Midland, Texas. The Chapparal test track was just outside of town. We'd ride our bikes out there and hang out waiting for a car to come by. I never saw a car on the track. I wonder if they tested at night? It was a big deal around town at the time. Everybody thought they were crazies to go racing.
Dave.[/QUOTE=

Pioneers are often labeled crazies....look what this man did for auto racing advancing aerodynamics still used today.

mattmcginn said:

This post highlights why I like boards like this. If there were a magazine article on the restoration of either of these cars, it would likely skip the entire restoration process and talk about how the wheels were "shod with" or "wrapped in" some some tire.

The nuts and bolts, literally, that are the restoration of a worthwhile car should be the same nuts and bolts detailed in the article. Most print magazine articles and almost all of the popular shows that focus on either restoration-as or, customization-as-drama, skip the truly hard parts of the process. This is what calls for true team effort and in result, forms a team, in favor of scripted and superficial drama.

What I like and appreciate are good detailed photos like this that show how the tubing was joined to make a chassis. How the sheet aluminum was shaped and welded to form a body.

I'll have to spend some quality time with the photos you've shared, thanks for doing so.

Putting soap box away, thanks for sharing!

Matt

Click to expand...

Well thank you Matt that's really nice of you.My job is funny that way I do my work behind closed doors in the background .I do what people don't see under the paint and chrome.Only true amateurs can really appreciate that part of it.And I see that there are many here.much of the general public will see all the glitter and shine and stop at that.

I started a new thread called restoring the good doctors 52 Aston Martin
I would of included a link but don't seem to have the skills for that.

NASTYZEN · May 22, 2011

Found this the other day and thought the transporter looked pretty funky.

Wonder what it was??

gorilla · May 22, 2011

Looks like a cross between a Corvair and a 60 El Camino.

ptschram · May 22, 2011

NASTYZEN said:
Found this the other day and thought the transporter looked pretty funky.

Wonder what it was??

Looks like some sort of Corvair based forward control.

Beautiful restorations. Far better work than I could ever do, but the trucks I work on are typically not nearly as rare. I have a truck being delivered next week from Virginia via Bahrain. I can't wait!

As for the oxy-acetylene welding. I started an A&P apprenticeship in 1981 with a gentleman who restored crashed aircraft. I am proud to say that I have oxy-acetylene welded many airframes and engine mount together and never had one fail X-ray inspection. It's a skill that I'm afraid I've lost as it hasn't been exercised in 25 years.

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