More Emott chassis on the repair production line...

Repairing and cleaning three more of Bob Emott's racing chassis. The one with the narrow drop arm is from late in 1968 with the first style of "plumber" hinge behind the front axle, and follows the basic Californian design introduced by Husting and refined by the likes of Terry Schmid, John Cukras and Mike Steube. The others are from 1969 with the hinges directly at the front of the drop arm.

Not all of Bob's chassis were engraved, but the one that is on these pics was used by Chris Vitucci to get a second place at the Hinsdale Arco race in 1969. All three will be assembled once repaired as complete cars with new replica bodies painted by the Noosester in the manner of the late Dave Bloom, while all mechanical components will be correct, from modified Champion motors with Kean arms to RVM and Mini Wheels mag fronts and a selection of rear wheels. Cox and Champion gears will be used as well as the original guides and lead triple blue and double yellow wires these cars were fitted with.

WOW....Just like today's Retro chassis builders, the winning cars were copied. I got an Ebay find in my hands that is an obvious amateur attempt to copy the chassis on the right. Almost all the major features are there. It even has the same narrow Cobra drop arm. Looking forward to seeing these cars restored. Then I'll try my amateur hand at rebuilding my example.

 

Boy someone made a mess resoldering the down stop on that one.

Tony, since this is the way we got them from you and Bob, I will leave it alone: battle scars! Possibly Vitucci himself during a pit stop at the Hinsdale race? Who knows...

 

 

WOW....Just like today's Retro chassis builders, the winning cars were copied. I got an Ebay find in my hands that is an obvious amateur attempt to copy the chassis on the right. Almost all the major features are there. It even has the same narrow Cobra drop arm. Looking forward to seeing these cars restored. Then I'll try my amateur hand at rebuilding my example.

Sam, they all looked pretty much the same from everyone at the time, the differences were in tiny details and craftsmanship. While Emott's solder joints appear crude, they were not and were very strong.

Tony, he got better by 1970, the chassis he made them are "cleaner". But what one sees as solder on top of the side pans etc. is showing a good flow. Only he did not work at removing that as some of us did... I do not think he cared that much for cosmetics.

Fantastic chassis.  I really dig the early one with a bunch of rails and a narrow drop arm.

Boy someone made a mess resoldering the down stop on that one.

Not that it's news to anyone here, but it is very difficult to get solder to flow on those thick drop arms.  I use a micro torch now just to save the brain damage.

Not easy indeed, as there is a mass os brass to heat up, with high risks of melting everything around it! A small torch to pre-heat the spot, and the use of a "Commando 400" hot iron is the way I am sure, but this blotch must have happened during a race, and it is likely that speed was more important than cosmetics that day... I have thought about cleaning it up, but then decided to leave it alone.