RU Car Crafters
I took a visit to RU (Roger Upton) Car Crafters in Sand Springs, Oklahoma to see
their operation, take a look at their kit, and put a down payment on one. Roger
is a very enthusiastic, outgoing and easy to talk to fellow. The ride we took
in his personal Cobra was a kick and builds a great deal of anticipation for
being able to do the same in my own. Overall, the kit seems very well constructed.
Here's a few pictures from the trip - you can click on any picture for a larger
image.
RUCC seems to have about three cars in various stages of assembly going at any one time.
One kit is in the frame jig getting set for welding. One is out of the jig and getting
the suspension installed, the welding of floor, firewall, transmission tunnel, steering
installed, etc. The third car is a rolling chassis getting pedals, fuel lines, brake
lines, radiator, etc. installed.
| Parts before assembly | ||
|---|---|---|
the parts bin full of laser cut pieces |
a front crossmember pre assembly |
the inside of a door showing the safety beams |
| The kit in the frame jig | ||
|---|---|---|
| The frame out of the jig | ||
|---|---|---|
| The rolling chassis | ||
|---|---|---|
The body and other fiberglass parts are made in an adjacent section of the shop
to the welding fabrication. While I was there they were curing a body. The fiberglass
is laid with a choppergun using a DCPD resin. The resulting body is very strong - Roger
climbed up on the body shown freestanding below and walked all around the front end and
bounced on the hood where the windshield will go. Tolerances are also quite good. Also
to the freestanding body we brought out a finished door and held it in place - it had
a very good fit.
| Body in the mold | |
|---|---|
| Free standing body | |
|---|---|
This is what a finished kit can look like. This is Roger's personal car.
| Roger's Car | ||
|---|---|---|
Roger Upton in his Cobra |
Going for a ride |
|
Roger's race car |
||
