25-03-2025, 12:11 PM
Having built a GE Brooklands replica, I would offer the following advice.
There is much more to it than simply dropping a new body onto a Chummy chassis and running gear. The suspension will need to be altered as will the shock absorbers. The chassis cross-members may need altering. The steering column will need to be raked. The pedals are problematical. The braking system will need considerable modification.
The GE body frame is a very clever design and is quite easy to make, provided that you have the correct template for the lower box members that run the whole length of the body. The body width at various points is critical. Special brackets will need to be made for the body mountings and the frame strengthened in these areas. The fact that the rear axle is 'within' the body frame raises many difficulties, the chassis height and suspension movement are critical.
Paneling the body frame is a specialist job, whether in aluminium or fabric. The Brooklands has various fairings, apron and spare wheel hatch cover that are all quite tricky to make.
If you have an up and running early Chummy I would personally keep it that way, improving it as required. It would be much simpler than making a Brooklands replica. Also a rather more practical car!
Photos of the body frame.
There is much more to it than simply dropping a new body onto a Chummy chassis and running gear. The suspension will need to be altered as will the shock absorbers. The chassis cross-members may need altering. The steering column will need to be raked. The pedals are problematical. The braking system will need considerable modification.
The GE body frame is a very clever design and is quite easy to make, provided that you have the correct template for the lower box members that run the whole length of the body. The body width at various points is critical. Special brackets will need to be made for the body mountings and the frame strengthened in these areas. The fact that the rear axle is 'within' the body frame raises many difficulties, the chassis height and suspension movement are critical.
Paneling the body frame is a specialist job, whether in aluminium or fabric. The Brooklands has various fairings, apron and spare wheel hatch cover that are all quite tricky to make.
If you have an up and running early Chummy I would personally keep it that way, improving it as required. It would be much simpler than making a Brooklands replica. Also a rather more practical car!
Photos of the body frame.