Twin Engine Dragster ala Tommy Ivo, 1960

[erix]

Hi Folks,

Let me start off by saying I really wish Lego would make a smaller diameter motorcycle tire...

This is a project I started last year after posting images of my first flat four powered digger in this thread: http://www.eurobrick...topic=75987&hl=

I suggested building a multi-engine dragster as kind of a joke and then but the more I thought about ,the more interesting it sounded. I did some internet research and found a lot of information on Tommy Ivo's twin Buick powered dragster from the early sixties:

http://twotogo.homes...m/TommyIvo.html and http://www.standard1.../TwinBuick.html

The more I look at it, the more I love it!

I built the front end first, and then the frame. It has a tiny bit of suspension travel from the rubber links.

I then built a twin V6 powerplant but it just didn't look right. I needed more cylinders! So I got a Unimog 8110 for Christmas, built it, tore it apart after a week, and went back to work on the dragster.

Then I got stuck with the body. The red panels I have from other projects wouldn't come together nicely to make the body and so it sat for 6 months without any work. Then, this past weekend it hit me - make it orange!

I used almost every orange part in the Unimog to make the body, only having to raid my son's collection for a few 1x plates. It could probably be shaped a little better if I bought more orange panels but I need more Legos like I need another hole in my wallet.

The engines turn with the back wheels but the steering link is non-functional. I built a work-gear mechanism to make it work but I couldn't fit the body arpund it! I kept the Mercedes Benz star on the car out of homage to the Unimog 8110 set.

Now I think I'll keep it like this for a little while but, after seeing this video of Ivo's quad-engine dragster, my gears are turning...

I've got two more big tires but I'll need to buy more engines, and those fancy new hubs from the 42000.....

Brickshelf folder here: http://www.brickshel...ry.cgi?f=530280

erix

[DLuders]

@ erix: Nice model of the Tommy Ivo dragster! I see similar ones at the Spokane County Raceway dragstrip about 4 miles from my house. As you said, it's tempting to add MORE POWER to make a model of his quad-engine dragster:

[timslegos]

Nice MOC you have built, i like the frame design.

tim

[Edwin Korstanje]

Very great dragstar

Is your engine works ?! and how many cylinders it's have

Edited June 22, 2013 by VFracingteam

[twoofive]

that's a very interesting moc;-)

well done !!!!

[erix]

@VFracingteam: Yes, the engines work. They are two independent V8 engines that are tied together 1:1 with the big tan gears through a middle tan gear.

A short driveshaft runs from the central gear to a ring-and-pinion type arrangement using the same two gears. They are not exactly in alignment but they seem to work fine.

The roll cage is an integral part of the body so it looks kind of odd with the panels off..

erix

[Rishab N]

Very nice MOC!But does it lean backward due to the weight of the cabin as the front seems much lighter

Edited June 23, 2013 by Rishab N

[Karimix]

Small World! I made a Google search "Lego front engine dragster" and Eurobricks with this thread showed up. In the first comment there's Spokane raceway mentioned. I was there in Goodguys nostalgia drags in 2006 when I lived in Seattle.

Very nice MOC. You don't see too many of these... I'm currently doing some research to build a FED MOC.

Here's my friend's vintage digger in Mount Vernon, WA.

Edited February 8, 2014 by Karimix

[erix]

Thanks for the kind words (and bumping this thread back up)! I've always like how this MOC turned out but I'd do a few things differently if I were to build it again, especially now that I know brick link exists! My next MOC is another vintage racer and I've been to the parts well far too many times to get the required pcs...

Good luck with your MOC! There is a lot of fun to be had researching those old racing machines. Their construction echoes LEGO pcs on so many ways.

Also, your buddy's dragster is awesome, don't change a thing!

Edited February 8, 2014 by erix

[Karimix]

Yeah, I know what you're talking about. Had about 4 hours building time today and I managed to start (and tear down / rebuild several times) my vintage FED. It's lot of fun to build. And yes, I also ran out of parts. I will post some photos when its ready.