Hello, I'm new and want to build a tribute kit
 

Good afternoon I'm Mel hope your all well.

My original plan was to build a mx250 coupe as advertised on the tribute site then after lots of mind changing via triumph based d-type to miglia modified d24 replica I now find myself thinking of taking the mx250 convertible kit and removing the folding roof and windscreen and grafting on a head fairing.

At the moment this is my plan and I hope to upload some sketches soon (I trained as an automotive designer)

I would really like to see a list of the available products from tribute obviously I'm aware of the mx250 and the d style kits but having stumbled across rs2000 replica kit too I assume the range is large than those widely advertised. I understand the threats from large motor companies can sometime keep kit produces from shouting too much about things (eg Bentley)

Hope to get more involved in discussions as my project develops

Ps Swb z3 project looks amazing

Mel Simpson

Welcome Mel. I'm building a 250C, although with an MX5 hard top.

http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/foru...ead.php?t=4179

I have to admit I'm never sure about the proportions when I take the roof off so it will be fascinating to see what you come up with if you take the screen off as well.

http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/foru...ead.php?t=4623

Hope that helps, Paul. :)

Hi Mel
I have built a 250c , was seen at stoneleigh on the tribute stand .
Feel free to ask anything .
Good luck

Afternoon Mel the first customer 250 SWB (mine) should be on the road in about 6 weeks , Geoff .

Thanks everyone, I knew there was more to tribute then meets the site! Thanks Paul.

Drum, yeah it's the proportions I was troubled by. I'm hoping by removing the sloped modern screen and adding little aero ones it'll elongate the shape making it more slippery looking like a late fifties racer.

Anyone know of other kits that have that kind of look? Iv seen the 500 replica from Sweden I think but it's way out of my budget, it's sort of an Ocelbo (excuse my spelling)

Thanks towed, yeah I should have mentioned there is something about the ribble/sammio kits I don't quite like. I can't put my finger on it exactly I think it's a proportion/scale thing again. I'm also a sucker for a replica I know the project I proposed in my first post wouldn't result in an exact replica but the 250 styling appeals.

I don't think a real one exists but i did find this that made me smile

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-o...Z300Sfront.jpg

'nuff said

Now we're talking, I'd have to chop that screen off though! I love the idea of building something using the design language of 50s/60s Italy, what with all the one offs and variants from different design houses and race teams. I still need to get my sketch bad out but I'm still thinking I'll use the mx250c kit with roof and screen removed, then fill the folding roof aperture and ad a hump. I'm unsure about the door shut lines as the door obviously looks big and modern in relation to the rest of the car and was even thinking of welding the doors up all together.

Not very practical I know but I thought with a minimal interior and maybe a half cage it would all contribute to the race look. Not sure how my mrs would feel about climing in over the top mind!

Mel

Well the screen chop for a Z3 has been done
http://images.onset.freedom.com/ocre...MW-1997-Z3.jpg

I agree about the doors being wrong proportions but weld then closed and you are away.

Check the pictures towards the bottom of this page to see what I had to do to make the compromise : http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/foru...ead.php?t=4253

I am sure you can reverse that easy enough

Yeah I like that! See how the removal of the screen has the effect of elongating the car while obviously going some way to hiding the modern origins in the case of the mx250c

What will this do to the iva requirements however? is screen and surround classed as a structural component? I would assume yes :s

You could always chop it off after you have re registered it ??!!

I seem to recall we had that conversation on one of the Z300S threads (amongst others I felt the Z3 screen spoiled the overall effect) and the conclusion was that the Z3 screen frame is a structural element of the car body.

There must be some way of bracing across the space left if you cut the screen frame off though...

I would think so. I know they don't manufacture a huge amount of bracing in the screen frame especially on cars such as the mx5 for example, purpose built rag tops. My hope was perhaps to lop the screen off and keep the car registered as the donor obviously noted as seriously modified. Registering it first is an option I guess, but I want the build to be methodical and would rather cut if off before fitting the nose section.

Technically chopping the roof off and reinforcing would mean an IVA test, quite a painful and expensive process.

Hmm, just done some background reading. Take a look at paragraph 1.9, 5th line down -

https://www.gov.uk/government/upload...iva-scheme.pdf

So, IVA does not apply to 'old' vehicles over 10 years old.

Discuss...

Iva
 

:rapture:
I read that to mean if your car is over 10 years old you can do what you like.But what defines your vehicle. When I took mine to DVLA for inspection to change log book, all he wanted was to see was it had same chasis number and engine number. so perhaps thats all you need.

Maybe someone in that department could make it clear. Once and for all. :-)

It will never be clear!

In simple terms modification of a chassis or monocoque should result in an IVA.

Surly amongst the guys on here we have an iva tester?! I think I'm swaying towards the suck it and see approach I'll source an mx5 that's as sound as I can find then bite the bullet and get the grinder out eh?

First things first Iv got to get my alfa 166 mot'ed this month :s euro barge hand brake fettling today

If it was me and I wanted to chop the screen, id just do it without an IVA. It wont fail an MOT!

With reference to the 10 year old term, it initially got me all excited, thinking my altered TR7 wouldn't need to go through IVA afterall, but the following extract from the linked document is key I think;

"In all cases, IVA (whether Basic or Normal) is only required for passenger cars and light goods vehicles
less than 10 years old, which require first licensing and registration in the United Kingdom. "

So from the above you could assume you could import your 10+ year old Z3 from abroad, do your modifications and then register it without the need for IVA but if it is already a UK registered vehicle then you're stuffed!

This is just my interpretation of the above extract, it seems too big a loophole to be real :noidea:

A quick biro scribble, you get the picture?

You can tell, you do a lot of this kind of thing... i'd love to be able to draw upside down.

Oright... I don't know why it's upside down! It's far too long, a bit twisted and looks like it's got two punctures on odd sized shopping trolly castors! What can I say I'm a bit rusty..

Here's an MX5 Speedster, looks quite different.

http://www.build-threads.com/wp-cont...012/09/152.jpg

The great thing with this forum is all the cars are different , the more people the more ideas. It works very well. Welcome and look forward to seeing where you go!



[IMG]http://i1253.photobucket.com/albums/...pse519b1b2.jpg[/IMG]

Now that's a nice looking car!

Love the reg too! Sets it off.

Thanks Scottie
Looking forward to seeing yours finnished . Have just resprayed the front end of mine.The sun brought out a few lumps.So before you paint be sure to go over your gel with a hot air gun to see if there is any air trapped in the gel. I did but don't think i got the fibre glass hot enough.luckily I am a DIY painter and had just enough paint left. The plate is from DVLA auctions, worth looking at.

Peepsy - those front arches transform the car and help to integrate the bottom of the door line. It's a great looking car.

Thanks for the tip peeps, I don't think I had considered that, but will do it before I paint.

Thanks. They are available from tribute to graft on.
:D

Thanks Peepsy, I've got bubbles as well ( Not the Monkey) Didn't reaiise it was trapped air. Good job you said before I got it re-sprayed.