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Locust cars...any good??
donut - 26/1/05 at 09:29 AM

I have seen an ad for a Locust 7 on Findit.co.uk and it looks nice and it's cheap!

Has anyone had any experience with these cars? The body is made of ply wood which is worrying but it's covered in Ally.

Cheers

David Jenkins - 26/1/05 at 09:44 AM

The fact that it's made of plywood isn't in itself a problem, but you will always have the worry of how well it was made, whether the right grade of ply was used (i.e. waterproof), whether the car has been wet at any time, etc, etc. A steel space-frame is far easier to check for rust and cracks.
Personally I wouldn't touch it... I don't particularly like the engineering, or the styling. It smacks too much of the 'old school' of kit building - "Make a car out of an old Austin 7 and a pile of packing cases" sort of thing.

David

britishtrident - 26/1/05 at 10:09 AM

They changed a bit over the years but most use complete Cortina suspension --- everything
really not good idea. It would however make a god donor.

Peteff - 26/1/05 at 10:17 AM

and race it. Dare to be different. If it's the red one in Tamworth it's really nice looking and the spec sounds good. Looks like it's been well cared for so I can't see it being bodged.

James - 26/1/05 at 01:42 PM

Andy,

Atleast if you get caught out and it pisses it down at Newlands you'll be able to paddle home!

James

donut - 26/1/05 at 03:50 PM

hmmmmmm

been thinking.. prob not a good idea!

DarrenW - 26/1/05 at 04:09 PM

I was told a story about a guy who went for an SVA test with one of those. He was an old guy (in his 70's), car had taken lots of years to build in a garage that was not the driest in the world. Examiner already had over 6 pages of defect notes. Car was lifted up and he was then able to push his finger through the MDF floor.

To me using timber sounds wrong. Think also about potential resale. I dont want to speak out of turn about all locusts, im sure the majority are extremely well built but i bet there are some that are of dubious heritage (as are some locosts and reputable kits). Defo not for me.

Jasper - 26/1/05 at 04:32 PM

Andy - they're crap - buy mine, you know it makes sense

James - 26/1/05 at 04:53 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Jasper
Andy - they're crap - buy mine, you know it makes sense


Problem is Jasp- he's just sold his welder!

James

donut - 26/1/05 at 04:56 PM

Oh yeah....bum!

Did you find out if the chassis is straight?

Just found out the car's sold anyway

[Edited on 26/1/05 by donut]

ned - 26/1/05 at 05:27 PM

have seen a presumably early locust, and that was based around triumph front suspension..

Ned.

donut - 26/1/05 at 05:40 PM

Yeah some were ford and some were Triumph........and most were dodgy!!

britishtrident - 26/1/05 at 08:37 PM

quote:
Originally posted by DarrenW
I was told a story about a guy who went for an SVA test with one of those. He was an old guy (in his 70's), car had taken lots of years to build in a garage that was not the driest in the world. Examiner already had over 6 pages of defect notes. Car was lifted up and he was then able to push his finger through the MDF floor.

To me using timber sounds wrong. Think also about potential resale. I dont want to speak out of turn about all locusts, im sure the majority are extremely well built but i bet there are some that are of dubious heritage (as are some locosts and reputable kits). Defo not for me.


Nothing wrong with using wood if it is the right wood, done correctly a marine ply monocoque is stiffer than a space frame and only slightly heavier.
wooden monocoques have a long history going back at least as far as the Issigoniss_moulton Lightweight Special, Jem Marsh made very good use of marine ply in the Marcos which only changed to a steel chassis around 1967/68.
On top of that of course there is extensive experience of plywood structure on aircraft -- including early post war military jet fighters and bombers some of which have been in service for 50 yeaers. Having said all that locust=crap

[Edited on 26/1/05 by britishtrident]

donut - 26/1/05 at 08:47 PM

And don't forget the Morgan....still, i don't like that much either!!

jack trolley - 26/1/05 at 08:55 PM

don't say "plywood", say "carbon-composite material"
Much sexier

britishtrident - 26/1/05 at 09:03 PM

quote:
Originally posted by donut
And don't forget the Morgan....still, i don't like that much either!!


Don't talk about Morgan --- the dreaded Morgan speed wobble that they develop once the chassis gets geriatric truly terrifying --- z section must be the worst possible material to make a chassis out of.

[Edited on 26/1/05 by britishtrident]