| This is one of the grandest projects I have taken on. I was contracted to build this replica of a 1922 Autocar Hotel and Station Bus. Beginning with a number of old photos, I studied and designed something that looked authentic. The genuine look of this body comes honestly, as I built it pretty much the way it would have been done in 1922. This coach will eventually be fitted back to the chassis I framed it on, a 1923 Autocar Truck. It is a cab over configuration. The "arm rest" looking things are just that. The lower panel you see will be at the driver's heels. There will be a partition between the driver's area and the passengers. The main timbers in the frame are oak, as are the curved frames. All this wood is either laminated, sawn, steam bent, or all the above. The Hourglass shape gives this coach an especially elegant look, but it compounds the degree of difficulty of engineering and construction. Just building and fitting the S shaped door was a major undertaking. So far I have set nearly 800 rivets and the total will top a 1000. Building and installing the top was especially challenging. Most of the windows in the body will roll down, as well as the one in the back door. When completed this coach will seat 12 people. There is full standing headroom inside (6' 4"). When completed the coach will be painted black outside, wood and all. The interior wood is a beautiful combination of walnut/cherry stained oak, finished bright. |
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