Another 250 SWB build
 

Hi all,

This is the start of my 250 SWB build-thread, a project being undertaken by the very able folks at Classic Coachworks...with some help (hindrance!) from myself at various points and as my time allows!

I very seriously considered buying a semi-built 250 SWB elsewhere, but decided against it on the basis that i'd rather start with a good solid donor car that had been looked after and with service history, rather than something I knew nothing about.

So after a good hunt I found and bought this....
Attachment 6165
2.8 litre wide body, with service history and 77k miles. Wheels not to my taste at all, but a nice sound start-point....

Build started today at Classic Coachworks, where Ian and I jointly set about dismantling the donor and removing the various panels, etc...
Attachment 6166

Loosely offered up the rear 'clam' (more to get it out of the way than anything else at this stage!) and resulted in an immediate improvement on Munich's original offering....
Attachment 6167

Then set about the front end strip-down too....
Attachment 6168

Not bad for a first morning's work (if I do say so myself!)

I'm going a little off-piste with some of the spec but Ian has been very amenable to my ideas and is obviously a man who enjoys a challenge or two!

I'm planning on fitting the Grassbank rear window conversion, plus a fuel filler on the rear deck with the boot-lid re-shaped accordingly as some other's have previously done of course (notably Ace's 250 recently!) - I personally think the rear wings look so much cleaner without the filler protruding on the haunches!

More to follow as the build progresses, but meantime a big shout-out to Ian and Belle at Classic - highly recommended to all considering a build!

Welcome to the group and good luck with the build. I’m not far so may come look see at some stage (with dirty clothes on just in case).

Dave

Thank you Dave! Appreciated! I've lurked here for a while and have read your own build-thread with great interest too of course!

Do please check with Ian/Belle before popping in at their's unannounced as they are often out sorting parts/cars etc for their customers! I'm sure they'd be disappointed to miss any callers!

Welcome along Gary and cool build thread so far! What colour will you be going for and what size and kind of wheels?

Great to see another new buil thread. Good luck

Hi Simon, and thanks for the welcome! I'm thinking a dark blue, maybe a period Ferrari shade too and so perhaps Pozzi. Not 100% decided as yet tbh!

For wheels I like wire wheels for the period look, but I'm not sure I can be @rsed with the cleaning of them and I actually really like the 5-spoke look of one of the early Tribute development cars here...http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/foru...?t=5387&page=2
Again, not 100% decided...apart from the fact that the wheels from the donor car won't be re-fitted...Ian has plans for these himself!

Thanks Barber! Local to one another I see! I'm Ascot area!

I'm hoping to get Image wheels to make me a set of their 16 inch "DBW" cast bolt on wheel that looks like a wire wheel. Advantage is you don't have to mess around with different hubs just bolt them on as normal and you can get a decent offset on them to get the wheels inside the arches. Pricey though.....

http://www.imagewheels.co.uk/dbw-alloy-wheel/

Gary,

No worries about checking with Belle and Ian. It’s a little trek for me and will come bearing gifts. Lurker huh ? Thanks for coming out of the shadows :)

Oh and if you after spares and wheels the Z3 forum over on FB or online has stuff come up all the time. Ascot ? No wonder you are out of town this week :)

Dave

They look an interesting option! Wheels for me will be a decision to be taken later on though...plenty of other decisions to be taken in the meantime!

That is Very good progress for just one day in!

Car is going to look great with the rear window and bootlid conversion.

Oh, and welcome :)

If you are fitting the Grassbanks rear window, have a look at some of his other parts. Does a nice gear lever, front splash shields for the front and GRP wheel arches that close off the front and rear arches. He is also producing a Veglia dash insert to get rid of the original BMW dials, will look much nicer, will be perfect for Barbers dash.
He also sells the stainless steel electric side windows, these transform the look of the car but are £3.5k......ouch, but if you are going for a top quality build then I think they would be worth it.
If you need any help or advice, I'm just down the road in Egham.
One thing that I would suggest is that you ask CC to ensure that you get a tight gap around the bonnet. So many cars have a gap that you can get your fingers in down to the knuckles. It is a simple job to do and sets the build off.

Thanks for your pointers! Indeed, there’s a few other items from the Grassbank catalogue that I’ve included in the spec having spoken with them at Stoneleigh and looked at their fantastic demo car in detail there. I’d love their electric windows but they’re too rich for my budget initially. I’ve a little of my own experience in developing an electric window system for a car designed without them so may have a go myself, but in all likelihood will probably stick with the standard slider for the foreseeable future!

Noted on panel gaps too - I have great confidence in Classic’s abilities in that area! Their own Coupe demo car is shaping up very nicely now!

Thanks again for the input! Appreciated!

Welcome Gary. Good progress so far. The 250 SWB mould is certainly better quality than the Kobra mould. Looking at your panels, there is a lot less prep to do. I am looking at getting this kit next, so will follow this thread closely. Great work and good luck.

Chris of Swindon

I think you will find the body of the kobra needs a lot less work than the 250. The 250 needs a lot of work to get the gaps right and the bonnet sitting correctly.
Then you have the mx250, I was tempted but the amount of bodywork needed put me off, I could see me giving up halfway through the build.
You then have the RS200, God help you, and finally, you have the Sammio. Apparently, it comes with its own noose so you can hang yourself in the garage!

I meant the condition of the received GRP. Apparently this is because the 250 mould is better, newer, and there have been many more pulls from the Kobra mould comared to the 250.

I'm sorry and I really don't want to ruffle feathers being a newbie here, but I can't help feeling you guys are maligning Tribute a little unjustly.

I had a good look at a Kobra kit at Classic Coachworks the other day as well as my own SWB, plus I've quite some experience with glass fibre in my past and I think the kits are fantastic quality for the money.

OK so some fettling is required to a greater or lesser degree, but what are they? Sub £6k for a full SWB kit or £3k for the Kobra? C'mon guys! :icon_wink:

Latest photo, taken yesterday with the front end's first trial fit....
Attachment 6172

They are very good value for money, so much so that I bought a second kit. I do think some of them need more finishing than others which a newbie should be aware of. Best go for a 250 or a kobra for an easier build, I wasn't knocking tributes products.

I agree, Tribute kits are awesome. As mentioned, I am planning my second build, 90% sure it'll be a 250 SWB.

My comment was specifically regarding the condition of the kit I received ... which was not from Tribute (directly).

The actual build (Kobra) is probably one of the easiest. But my kit did take a lot of "repairing" in addition to the build.

Hope that clears things up :grouphug:

looking good. Agree, value plus for the 250 SWB from Tribute.

Take Jagtvr up on his offer. I have been to see his cars a few times, and nothing beats seeing the modifications "in the flesh".

My Kobra needed a bit of fettling. Especially after I transported the bonnet badly. Some magic with sandpaper and filler (and a bloody good body shop) and I’m very happy with the results.

My next tribute will be either another Kobra ( I want a Matt black one that looks as ratty as my earlier attempt ) or even a Z*gato if they are produced in Cali form. I have driven the 250 SWB coupe and felt a bit restricted. It’s all about the roof down for me.

Oh and I’m lazy and don’t want to deal with door skins :)

I didn’t even fit a filler cap ...

Only drove it until you emptied the tank then??? That’s a design flaw methinks! :shock:

GaryR – A belated welcome to the forum. :cool:

I think adding your own personal touches is part of the fun of these builds.

Good luck, Paul. :)

Another afternoon spent on the build together with Ian today. Apparently my Z3 is coming apart nicer than most others....
Attachment 6175
Electric hood mechanism unbolted and removed without any issues at all!

Door mirrors removed, inner screen trims stripped and front and rear shells trial fitted again....
Attachment 6176

Looking nice! Great progress. Its a clean looking Z3. Well done.

Btw - are you selling the electric hood by any chance?

Thank you, yes very pleased both with both the donor car and progress thus far!

I believe Classic Coachworks have a buyer lined up for the hood already but I will check and come back to you if they don't.

you are always most welcome mr painter! give me a text x belle.

and Garyman, it is always a pleasure!

I agree, being hand made, they can vary! welcome to come see our swb before ordering for a good look

ps... thank you to everyone that continues to support us here at classic, it's been a blooming hard year and is at times physically and mentally exhausting ( with occasional blue air on my part stripping old z3s for parts/engines/gearboxes in the peeing rain outside our tiny unit, or tripping over my feet as we've grown so quickly and need somewhere bigger! ) but... only a year in and we are seeing incredible results.
the complete kit car magazine feature this month was amazing, if I was "real girl" not a mechanic bird it would have moved me to tears, and tkc is about to feature us too.
we couldn't do this without you chaps pushing us forward and encouraging us to keep learning and growing.. there are exciting developments in the pipeline in the coming year.

if anyone has any questions just ask, its often chaos so a phone call is usually quicker option.
thanks all, can't wait to see what the next year brings!
belle. 07986291525

LOL no I meant I didn’t bother with a flash filler cap and all the hassle that goes with fitting it. I kept the location and original flap from the donor car. I like easy :)


https://live.staticflickr.com/4876/4...3c796cba_z.jpgKobra side on by Muddy_B, on Flickr

Dave

So I will be calling soon then. About time I got Max all dusty :) will call to check when convenient.

Dave

I like that - much smoother and better than those great big chunks of alloy on top on the rear wing (IMHO) - and the fuel flow will be perfect!

Thank you :)

Ian had the quarter lights and door internals stripped out over the past couple of days - good work that chap!
Attachment 6179
(Nice seat covers:sick:....only there to protect the leather seats beneath thankfully!)