Replica Of "Horseless Carriage"

Replica Of "Horseless Carriage" WAGONS/TRAILERS Miscellaneous 23-5-23 "If you have half the fun I've had building it, it's worth it," says Jimmy Woods of Coker, Alabama, regarding the "horseless carriage" car he built. Woods designed the unit as a retirement project after seeing a similar one at an antique tractor and engine show. "Seeing it just set me on fire," Woods says. "I built mine for children to ride in, but have also taken it to parades and shows myself. Children like it, but older people who remember cars like these are just thrilled to death with it." Woods spent about 300 hours over an 18-month period to build the vehicle and invested $800 in materials. While Woods' carriage uses the motor, transmission and differential from a 6 hp 1967 JC Penney riding lawn mower, he says 5 to 8 hp engines would also work. In fact, he believes that a 3.5 hp engine would also carry the unit "just fine on level ground." "I've carried a total passenger weight of just over 400 pounds on smooth asphalt," he says. The carriage itself weighs 312 lbs. and measures 52 in. wide and 82 in. long. It has a 36-in. wide seat for two people, three wagon seat springs, and a stick tiller for steering. It has four 26-in. heavy, industrial wheels with bicycle tires. The unit has a 1-in. sq. steel tube frame, centrifugal clutch and can travel at speeds of up to eight to 10 mph. The woodwork is stained and coated with clear polyurethane and a cushion on the seat tops off the stylish look. "A lot of people have asked me if I would build a unit they could buy, but I don't have time. I've found that there's just too much to do now that I'm retired," he says. "I hope to build another one but it will have two seats like the old touring cars, so I can carry three children. I'll also use an 8 hp engine with electric start and it'll have a hydrostatic drive, too. Another thing I really want to do someday is to build a 1912 International truck replica." The horseless carriage replica is good for parades, antique tractor and auto shows, or just entertaining the grandchildren, Woods says. He's had so many requests for plans he had a 24-page set of design plans put together along with parts information and photos. The plans sell for $20. He has already sold almost 300 sets of plans, filling requests from all over North America. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Jimmy Woods, Box 216, Coker, Ala., 35452 (ph 205-339-8138).

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