Front suspension i.d.

[volksnut]

I just pickup up this Volksrod T bucket and for the life of me haven't seen another front suspension like it. The guy that built the car back in the 70's was a chassis builder and used Fiat wheels and it's possible the spindles too, but does anyone know of any production car that used the other components? Any pictures of the suspension if so, because I can't find any.... thanks

[HWORRELL]

Ain't never seen nothing like that ! Looks like the leaf springs are the lower control arms ?

[RestoRod]

Unless I'm mistaken, that looks like a stock Fiat Topolino suspension. It was used on a number of early formula 500 racing cars including the very first Coopers in 1946.

.

[volksnut]

Very close, on checking the Coopers with the Fiat 500/Topolino suspension, the spring is used on the upper side with tubular lower control arms.

[lurker mick]

Not positive but Opal used a front end similar to that. I remember seeing them used under some street rods in the 70's.

Mick

[echnidna]

euro cars used that setup a little bit, maybe an old volvo

[RestoRod]

Very close, on checking the Coopers with the Fiat 500/Topolino suspension, the spring is used on the upper side with tubular lower control arms.

Happened to be watching the TV show "Hard Parts South Bronx" and they had a shot of a 1957 Fiat 500 (needed a steering box) that had the spring on the bottom like that....so I googled 1957 Fiat 500 and found this: Fiat 500 'Nuova' - Motorbase

It includes this in the specs: "Suspension: Front: Independent with lower transverse leaf spring and wishbones."


.

[volksnut]

Happened to be watching the TV show "Hard Parts South Bronx" and they had a shot of a 1957 Fiat 500 (needed a steering box) that had the spring on the bottom like that....so I googled 1957 Fiat 500 and found this: Fiat 500 'Nuova' - Motorbase

It includes this in the specs: "Suspension: Front: Independent with lower transverse leaf spring and wishbones."


.

That looks like it, the 126 has the same type as well but with disc brakes I believe, I also found out the dampner/shock is a Armstrong unit, but looks like a custom upper control arm

[thigh19]

I have a 50 Willys 2wd wagon that has that same setup. It's called a Planar Supension. Parts are near impossible to get, or very expensive.