Hilltop Automotive's 250 SWB Coupe build thread.
 

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Looking good Jeff
Have you decided on a colour scheme yet?

I love the colour choice
I look forward to seeing this one coming together

Great to see another build and a good one at that ! If you get anywhere near the look you're after it will be a stunning car.

Very impressive. Loving all the photo's too. Keep up the good work!

Fascinating, great to see another build, and new ideas and approaches. Looking forward to seeing future progress.

Good morning Jeff its good to see another SWB build on the forum , the work on the doors is very impressive , thank you for all the pics , Geoff .

That is going to be a fabulous car. Great number plate, love the seats and the colour choice, too.
I admire your willingness to go a long way for marginal( but important) changes, like the filler cap recess and the door shape.

I am looking forward to seeing this progress.

Best of luck,

David

Marginal? Wow! Think I'd argue that point with the doors - the door/sill depth and continuous join of the body is a massive part of the look of the original inspiration.

Really interesting to see how a pro (as in do it for a living) body shop person goes about it - all the changes really enhance it. Totally with you on the rear window it so needed to wrap into the rear butresses.

The 250 hot rod is also an excellent choice to emulate and I'm with you on the deeper red.

Without trying to upset anyone else, it looks (with all the mods and graft put in) like this one will be the benchmark for the coupe kit.

Only thing I'd change is going for wires (even though i now know what a complete PITA they are to keep clean!) but the beamer steels do look great as "premiered" on Bobs coupe :)

Wires would look great but you can't easily replicate the look of the real thing because you can't fit deep dish wheels with the wide BMW track.

Nobody has yet narrowed the track to fit the right wheels , I think the Jag ones stick out too far a and spoil the look. The deep dish Cobra wires would look great with a narrow track.

I've managed to get an old set of MWS bolt on wires that I've had powder coated.
I was thinking if I went a bit narrower than the Nubodies 225/70x15 it would look ok. However I picked up a second hand set of 225/70x15 on Ebay with 7mm of tread for 99p! That was of course a set of 4 with alloys, buy the time I sell the alloys I hope to have covered the £30 shipping cost!

Great build this, i love a build thread where you can learn as much as possible. Keep it up.

Some great work Jeff ..will have to call in when I'm passing ....who's painting it ? :-)

lol

Jeff H - Really glad you have taken the time to share your build. :cool:

Lots of great modifications incorporated so far, so looking forward to the rest.

Good luck, Paul. :)

Great stuff Jeff, love the mods.

I think posted a link to the body brace ...yes it's in the states but looking at it it looks simple enough to replicate or even improve.

I think if you make some you'll have a market for them on here

http://www.strong-strut.com/Z3products.html

Great thread Jeff. Particularly loved what you did withe the re shaped doors.

My compliments

Dave

I echo the posts above great build thread thus far and very informative. I know you might not want to give away too many trade secrets but it would be good if you could also comment on the body prep going on in the background too?

Good luck!

Jeff - Thanks for that, I look forward to seeing that progress. I have done repairs and restored an MGB however all of that was metal based and for some reason I am nervous about the finish on Fibreglass and my OCD nature I have spent too many hours already on shaping the roof alone!

I am currently at the prep stage with my MX250, I am using all Upol based products for the prepping stage.

You are lucky you are too far away for me to 'drop in' on, otherwise I think I would be dropping in to see your progress in the flesh! :nod: