Piper Pa1200 BugSmasher Build

[CPOTED]

I LOVE home built, diy vehicles, especially those that are simple, small, light and quick rather than fast. As a subset, I am attracted to 3-wheeled vehicles and over the years have amassed a large collections of photos, drawings and articles on them. This past week I came across one I had never seen before, and coincidentally enough, it uses a late 70's Goldwing EXACTLY as I am, what's more, the builder used a ball-joint front suspension from a VW Beetle just as I will.

The builder, Ron Will, was a designer working for GM who was interested in aerodynamics and its impact on MPGs and MPHs. He quit his job at GM to work on the car he called the Turbo Phantom. He got a late 70's Goldwing and turbocharged it's 4 cyl engine. He mounted frame and all in the back of the car exactly as I plan to do. The car is 44 inches tall and 7 feet wide. One of the articles I found reports a top speed over 140 MPH and a 0 to 60 time of 6 seconds. He built three of these vehicles, one with no motor, one with the Honda, and a third with some type of motorcycle having an "inline 6".

The builds were done using plywood and fiberglas. I would think that his cars were somewhat heavier than the 1,000-1,200 pounds I am hoping for.

When he was done with the project and its testing, he went back to work as a designer and, as I remember, was responsible for the 4 Runner.

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The photo below gives a rough idea of the frame I will use to mount a Goldwing into the Piper.

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[CPOTED]

More Photos

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[CPOTED]

Due to all the heat, I haven't done much at all on my project. I do have a couple of things I need to get done to generate funds for the build anyway.

I did lay out the panel lines and location of bulk heads in the Piper. This allows me to see more clearly the de-riveting, cutting and re-riveting I will have to do.

Somewhere between bulkheads F and G the tail end will be cut off.

I will be removing about 6 inches from (roughly) the red stripe down and moving the floor pan up. I think old hot rodders called this "channeling".

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[Whiskerfish]

do you plan any aerodynamic treatment for the front end?

[Sidecar Bob]

and a third with some type of motorcycle having an "inline 6".

That would be a Honda CBX. If you're familiar with the CB750 picture that with another cylinder on each end.

[CPOTED]

do you plan any aerodynamic treatment for the front end?

Naahhh! I don't plan on taking this grocery getter anywhere near 60 mph.

Least ways that's what I'm telling the wife.

I'm definitely putting on a chin spoiler. I also plan to build some downward angle in the top of what used to be the engine cowl, plus the front and sides of said cowl will be mostly flat.

As light as I plan to build it, I don't relish the idea of this thing reverting to old habits.

[CPOTED]

and a third with some type of motorcycle having an "inline 6".

That would be a Honda CBX. If you're familiar with the CB750 picture that with another cylinder on each end.

He also painted the 3rd one red. The "Arrest Me" shade of red.

[CPOTED]

Still around. Still trying to clear the decks and raise money.

But I did come across this:

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[CPOTED]

MORE:

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This one looks like a barrel of fun!

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[Fred Camper]

You may want a prop on front that would freewheel with the wind. Get you some extra stares.

[CPOTED]

You may want a prop on front that would freewheel with the wind. Get you some extra stares.

Neat idea ... but it's been done.

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The prop on this one might actually be some sort of ... pansy:

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The BugSmasher is more about daily transportation than it is novelty. I'm kinda saving the nose for BIG headlamps.

[CPOTED]

BTW ... the Crosley's propeller was there because Powell Crosley was a big fan of aviation and built some aircraft back in the 19and30's. So, like the BMW and Saab insignia, that little prop represents an aircraft heritage.

[Easter]

Loving this build (even if it is just theoretical at this point) Hope the hurricane didn't effect you.

[CPOTED]

Hope the hurricane didn't effect you.

Thank you so much for your kind concern.

Down here, folks 5 to 10 miles away on every compass point around us got absolutely blasted. It may as well have been a clear and sunny day looking at how little we got. In our county we didn't even lose electricity. I have absolutely no idea how it passed us by. Oddly, I have a buddy who lives in up in Tennessee and it was exactly the same for him.

I am familiar with the areas around Ashville that got hit bad. My heart just breaks for those folks. It gets pretty remote up there and people who live there didn't have nothing before the hurricane got there and it left them with a lot more of it.

If you got a little to spare, I know those folks could use it and it WILL be appreciated. Even if its a prayer or just a kind thought, it's a lot more than what they got now.

[CPOTED]

Loving this build (even if it is just theoretical at this point).

I'm glad you are enjoying it ... but seein' how I got about 18 feet of Piper Comanche in my garage, my loving and adoring wife would take issue with that "theoretical" part, and I'd appreciate you not bringing it up when she's around.

It isn't a "sore subject" ... yet, but in the past I have caught an awful lot of hell for stuff a LOT smaller than an airplane fuselage. What's more, things do have a habit of going sideways when least expected so I'm stepping VERY softly and making sure not to raise ANY dust around here until this thing is built.

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