Belly Tanker / Lakester / So-Cal style Bonneville project vehicle! L@@K!!

I am listing a project that could one day become a functioning Belly Tanker or Bonneville Salt flats car. It has taken many years to research and locate all of the parts and pieces that are listed here. I'm not splitting it up. The intent was to keep it as period correct as possible by using as many close to era correct parts as possible, with many of the parts being Ford related. Those have gotten harder and harder to find but what you see is a very good start to constructing one of these cool race vehicles.Drive train was anticipated to be primarily Ford so that is why it is listed in this section of eBay.

Belly tanker / Salt Flats / Bonneville / Lakester Project car

· Complete (two halves) all metal belly tank extra fuel cell. Used for extended range of fighter and bombers from the WWII era. This one is suspected to have been used for a Lockheed P-38 Lightening or possibly a P-51 Mustang.Opinions vary but that is the consensus from those that have seen it, and some mechanics who restore these vintage planes at the Colorado Springs National Museum of World War II Aviation. The tank is approximately 11 feet long and approximately 30 inches wide. I believe this is a 165 gallon tank. No baffles. This is a steel tank which is in very good condition for it's age. It has not been cut so how you set it up for your drive train is completely up to you.Some of the pics show it with support braces criss-crossing. Those are in place it so it can be hung from shop rafters and kept out of the way. That is where it has been for many many years until now.Those pics have one piece inside of the other but both halves are there.Previous owner of the tank stated it came from the mid westin Ohio. This may have been used at Wright Patterson Air Base where many P-38 Lightening Pilots trained. It has a USS (US Steel Corp) stamp on the inside.

· Curved bubble windshield supposedly from a WWII Grumman TBM-3 Avenger Torpedo bomber. I believe this was an old stock piece located from a facility in Texas.

· The internal mount frame is constructed from 3/16" steel plate. Both upper and lower pieces were computer laser cut from new 4'x10' sheets of steel for a precise match. The sides are also 3/16" plate. Cut to match the curvature, welded and smoothed to what you see in the pics. The spacers were also custom machined to increase the rigidity.This should be a good base to start with when constructing the curved ribs for the shape of the tank.

· V-8 60 P-Ayr Products plastic composite "mock up" motor. Block and heads.

· Single barrel plastic "Mock up" intake manifold.

· Ford Model 59 Carburetor. Needs complete rebuild if planning on using. This was for mock up.

· Two (2) Ford V-8 60 water pumps.

· Assorted length steel braid aircraft hose and lining. Thought about running wire through it.

· Two (2) V-8 60 "mock up" oil pans.

· V-8 60 front motor mount.

· Two (2) new, thick laser cut V-8 60 exhaust flanges. These are bare metal and ready to accept whatever exhaust configuration you chose to use to route the exhaust.

· 1931 Ford Model A front and rear axle assemblies.

· 1931 Ford Model A rear radius rods.

· New aluminum bomber style seat.

· Two (2) So-Cal large metal blisters. (Exhaust ports possibly?)

· WWII era deadmans foot pedal. It looks like it could be used as a functioning pedal depending on what you do with it.

· In dash hand fuel pressure pump (replica).

· Stewart Warner (old school style) gauges. Fuel Pressure, Water temp, Amps, etc.

· Custom machined aluminum dash to house the gauges. No speedo but the larger center hole could house this or a tach. Multiple smaller holes in the dash are drilled to fit spent 9mm Luger shell casings. I have a box of them and they are included.

· Vintage Beechcraft Yoke. Great for use as a steering wheel.

· Period correct military throttle quadrant.

· Oxygen tank for possible fuel cell. Includes two (2) retention straps for mounting it.

· WWII era Bendix Scintilla ignition switch with correct key. Slightly wider for gloved hands.

· Two (2) other military container tanks. One in OD green with nozzles and a filler port and another smaller NOS half moon shaped tank.

· Aluminum Fuel cap reportedly off of a Messerschmidt BF-109. Custom fuel neck was machined specifically for this thread pattern and pitch. To be mounted to the tank of your choosing.

Please note: The last two pictures are for reference only. They do not depict any parts or pieces included in this auction. They were found on the internet and are to show what it COULD look like once it is completed. They are in no way associated with this auction at all.

Additionally, this is a project which does not have a title to it. The option of "no title" is not available as a selection through eBay. Again, its a ground up, untitled, no serial number project, nothing more. I selected "Rebuilt, Rebuildable" from their drop down menu since that was the closest option.

I have many other items that I have collected which are not included in the sale but may be available for purchase after the auction has met the reserve and the transaction has successfully been completed. The new owner of this project will get first choice to look at the other items available. Most of those items are a lot more aircraft parts and pieces that could be used for this project or for nostalgic artwork or man cave material. Leading edges to wings, bulkheads, and a lot more very light weight aircraft pieces. A hard to find, very short Culbert Automotive Engineering in and out 2 speed transmission from the 50's. These period correct transmissions are hard to find with this one being somewhat morerare due to it being set up to run a clutch with the shifter and throw out bearing. I have a bunch of other odds and ends as well.

Keep in mind this a large project that will need the attention of a good mechanic and/or fabricator and metal work specialist to bring it to life as a lakester, belly tank style hot rod. In my opinion, the big ticket items and hard to locate pieces are here. Bringing it all together will take someone with a good knowledge base for these cars as well as good engineering skills to make it function and operate correctly and safely. Again, this a project for an experienced builder or for someone that can get it to an experienced builder for completion. Trying to locate these pieces have become harder and harder over the years and that will only continue. You've got most of what is needed here in this package.

Please ask all questions prior to placing a bid and prior to auctions end. If you'd like to come look at it or send a qualified person to inspect it for you, that would be fine. I'll just need some advanced notice so I can make arrangements for that. I would strongly encourage that you do this.

If you know what these are and know the history behind them then you also know how difficult and rare they have become to find original, unmolested pieces which are still in very decent/usable condition. If you've researched these before then you know mostof these original 40's and 50's era tanks have just rotted away, been scrapped, cut up by amateurs or have simply been lost to time. Here's a unique opportunity to get the majority of parts and pieces you need to complete a very special vehicle!

Payment: A non-refundable deposit of $500.00 is due via PayPal within 24 hours of auctions end date and time. The remaining balance is due within 7 days from auctions end date and time in the form of bank wire transfer, or cash.

Shipping:The shipping and transport will be solely up to the successful new owner. I will assist on my end with advanced notice. I would really like to see the new owner pick this up in person rather than leaving it to a shipper. In the end, it's the new owners decision.

The reserve is in place for a reason. Please don't ask what it is. It is very, very reasonable considering what it has taken to get all of the parts and pieces located and the frame constructed as you see it.

If you have more than 2 negative feedback posts or zero feedback post, don't bid. I'll cancel your bid. Sorry, but it becomes frustrating to deal with people that are impulsive and cannot follow through. This is a US auction only.

Finally, I'll say it again, if you have questions please, please ask first prior to placing a bid. You'll get an answer which may be yes, no or I don't know but you will get an answer. Please be reasonable and ask with enough time left for me to answer rather than waiting 30 minutes before the auction ends. Yes, that has happened before so it needs mentioning.

Good luck and thanks for looking!