Taildragging wheels

[Dig these feet]

I was reading a booked called Kustomland last night. Photos taken by James Potter between 1955 and 1959 of custom cars in Southern California. Very good it is too.

Anyway, the text mentions that it wasn't uncommon for custom cars at the time to have a pair of small wheels at the back (presumably damped in some way) to prevent the rear grounding when going into driveways or over big pot holes.

I'd never heard of this. Can anyone shed any light on how this worked? Ever seen it over here? Sounds just the ticket for speed humps!

[kapri]

I used old jack wheels for awhile on my last Kapri. However mine were in the middle, on the gearbox crossmember, to deal with sleeping policeman.

[Dig these feet]

I used old jack wheels for awhile on my last Kapri. However mine were in the middle, on the gearbox crossmember, to deal with sleeping policeman.

And did that work?

[40Stude]

I've heard of castors being used. I can also remember a fairly recent 40 Ford that was very low in the front that had a roller mounted to the frame very slightly below the grille 'chin piece' to prevent it being wiped out.

[kapri]

And did that work?

Well apart from when I got lodged on a particularly pointed humpbacked bridge !

[Dig these feet]

Well apart from when I got lodged on a particularly pointed humpbacked bridge !

Just splurted coffee over my computer!

[lancelot link]

I had a pair of castors under the rear bumper of my old '50 Chevy ....It got lowered the 'mexican' way and they were much needed for getting out of some garage forecourts etc.....bloody noisy though !!

[KoppaK]

Hmmmmmm, I always use the chassis legs thought this was normal????? :) :) ;)