Note the tow hitch at the front so it can be trailed to shows and events

Large country hotels tend to have golf buggies to take guests and luggage about - something like this would be ideal.

Nice one andy , people a little slow April fools:laugh:

:laugh: ha ha, fair cop!

I actually think it could work....:peep:

(Must remember to check dates before replying to forum posts, although in my defence having a 2 week old baby I don't know if it is night or day at the moment, never mind the date!)

Or are we :laugh:

DOH! although I would be worried that no one questioned you on your choice of vehicle project!
:-)

And now the news,

and we start with the Navigator. It's been nearly a year but she has finally gone off to the paint (we are not saying what colour she is being painted). We hope to get her back by the end of next week so she can be finished ready for Stoneleigh!

The GT got back from paint last week and work has been progressing nicely to get her built again and trimmed ready for it's launch at Stoneleigh!

Our Pilot demonstrator (AndyP57's) has now passed it's M.O.T as of this week and we are pleased to be getting her back either Monday or Tuesday after a winter of being tinkered with by the mechanics at the garage where she is currently.

As always if I have forgotten to add anything then AndyP57 will no doubt add his bits, but for now g'day!:eusa_dance:

Only that after a pub dinner break the other day, we discussed REALLY building something on the lines of the Colliday Chariot Commander above, but in a different guise, to be sold in groups of 5 for car football :biggrin:

Any takers? :loco:

Any takers
 

Top Gear? ;-)
Rocker

Hi Rocker. We were actually thinking of a 'sport' car before Top Gear played 'rugby' with them. Never one to join the Clarkson School of Motoring... :biggrin:

Navigator is back
 

Just a quick note to show you the Navigator in paint with no doors visible. We're very happy with her and will be finishing her off (at least cosmetically) ready for Stoneleigh. Just how we're going to get Three cars and a caravan there and back is a mystery to me though :biggrin:

The colour is Aston Martin Silver Birch
http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/...pseddc0eec.jpg

Looking very happy next to her sister
http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/...psa3dcbe73.jpg

It's only when you see the two cars next to each other you realise how different they are.

Now, that is a colour. Looks great.

It does show off the aluminium interior really well. We'll be topping her off with Black race circles with cut out numbers to show the silver underneath. Got some ideas about the grille too :biggrin:

Sisters together at last!

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.n...39073534_o.jpg

Love the colour.

I am looking forward to seeing these in the flesh at Stoneleigh, as they look great in the photos. :cool:

Cheers, Paul. :)

PS
I'd still like to see a few side photos of the green Navigator.
Is that the bottom of the Spitfire sill I can see below the fibre glass body?
Also is that an experimental bonnet I see?

Hi Paul,

Yup that sure is the body you can see. This is very much an experiment at the moment though.

No experimental bonnets to report on, I think it's part of the G46 mould if I am not mistaken :icon_surprised:

Beautiful colour, but I'm biased I suppose.

Itching to get mine sprayed now I've seen that one. :lock1:

Keep up the good work :)

It should be good to see a Silver car of each design together Towed!

On another note, it's a good feeling to walk out of DVLA office with a 12 month tax disc with no currency of the realm having changed hands :biggrin:

Following progress of the Navigator demonstrator, we now have her initially 'stickered up':

http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/...ps519c8f76.jpg

http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/...psba22471f.jpg

http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/...psb0787dca.jpg

Now awaiting tail lights and will be working the interior over the next week or so.

On a business note, we are now able to supply vinyl cut sets of 'Race number roundels' and 'Show' number plates to order. Price for 4 x Roundels and 2 x Number plates is just £20.00 including posters. We can take Paypal and orders can be taken by PM with required number, colours and number plate requirements.

AndyP57 - You are going to have an impressive collection on display at Stoneleigh. :cool:

If you still have to fit the rear lights I take it there is no "boot" floor to prevent access?

In which case, how are you going to mount/support the twin silencers?

Good luck, Paul. :)

You're right. No boot floor on this one. I've cunning plan to hang the exhausts which is yet untested but involves strip hangers from the rear of the frame. Plan may yet change when I start scrabbling around under it.

I have the same twin silencers, an angle bar welded between the cut down rear outriggers lets you use the standard rubber straps that come with the exhaust, you would need to adjust the rear apron maybe to get the clearance..
Pops

Hi Pops, Remember the Spitfire chassis doesn't have these rear outriggers. Therein lies the problem...

Mmmmm now that I didn't realise, pretend I didn't say anything and I will wait to see your solution:cry:

Some 'not so good' news along with some 'very good news' today. Firstly the 'Not so good', some of which will be mitigated by the 'Very good':

1. It looks like Gaz won't be able to make it to Stoneleigh due to other commitments so we're not only a man down, but a tow vehicle which makes logistics somewhat tricky in getting all we want to show down there.

2. The Navigator mould has suffered somewhat and in our opinion is just about unusable in its current form.

Now the good:

1. It's quite probable that we may have recruited Mac (Viatron) as a temporary, but valuable member of 'Team Ribble' (Yet to be confirmed) which will, at least allow us to get Navigator and Colani down to Stoneleigh

2. We have a cunning plan in place that will, in a very short timeframe (1 - 2 Weeks) have the Navigator reborn. This will include dressing a pull from the current mould, reshaping the bulkhead so it will no longer have the obvious curve at the bonnet line and also reshaping the cockpit sides and other aspects so they will be somewhere near symmetrical (Now that will be a first!) and revisiting the returns on the wheel arches and cockpit. This will then be filled, primed and gloss finished before a NEW mould is taken off the resulting shell. We were going to be doing this during winter break but events have overtaken us. I'll try to get photos of the new mould under construction as we go. For existing orders, we see this as a minor extension (if any, as the frame redesign is being done in parallel) but the end product will be MUCH better than before.

symmetrical sounds nice

Quick update about the Navigator rebuild. The 'buck' has been straightened (2" taken out of the passenger's side bulkhead line alone!) and is currently being bonded to a wooden frame ready for the body shop to have a go at sorting the finish. Photos will follow

Symmetrical you say. Hmm, nope, no idea what that word means.

Well its nearly symmetrical! lets not get carried away and call it 100%!

For info, as the weather isn't looking too guaranteed, instead of a club pitch (Which we had no takers for anyway) we've taken the opportunity of a last minute stand vacancy at Stoneleigh. We should be on stand 153 in hall 2 so please drop by and say hi. :tea:

With all the work you are doing on both the frame and bodywork I am sure it will be. :cool:

If you end up with something that can actually be bolted to a Spitfire "out of the box" you will be on to a winner.

Good news on the stand at Stoneleigh, I look forward to seeing you there.

Cheers, Paul. :)

Sunny! Car! Pub! :biggrin:

http://sphotos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphoto...17676568_o.jpg

The Ribble's natural habitat.

Absolutely! We've been asked to put on a local 'open day' at this venue (Ye olde Hob Inn at Bamber Bridge) on 23rd June by ukwheelsevents and incorporating the Preston Supercar club who normally turn up with Ferrari (Real and Replica), Astons, TVR and other interesting motors. We'll be giving runs to the unit (about 5 minutes away) and it looks like we'll be supported by the local media (LEP and Lancashire Life).If anyone can make it, whether with their car or not we'd be VERY happy to see you

So that's why your not answering your phone!

Andy, can you check your pm please?

Sorry about that Craig. Missed the PMs but will give you a full reply in the morning from the pc. (Same goes for Paul L)

Good to meet the two Andys today (P57 & P85) & Pat (Patton) too. :cool:
Special thanks for AndyP57 for answering the ton of questions I had.

The Colani is very curvy in real life & the blue paint looks really good.

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...L/DSCF8612.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...L/DSCF8613.jpg

Obviously I was there for the Navigator & the silver finish on that is also impressive.

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...L/DSCF8634.jpg

It was only after I got home I realised I only had one photo of the "whole" car. :rolleyes:
All the rest of my photos are of things I wanted to check for my own build.

So I have lots of photos like these...

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...L/DSCF8599.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...L/DSCF8618.jpg

I also took lots of measurements that should also help me.

Well worth the trip, even though I had to rush back for a family trip out.

Cheers, Paul. :)

Wish I had been able to make it but my gut is only one down to less than 1 somersault per hour