What a great looking conversion, you must be chuffed to bits.

Are you going with dark blue in similar style to the well known Stirling Moss car?

http://i1301.photobucket.com/albums/...psjfn05p42.jpg

Looks like I might have to make the journey over to Norwich in the Spyder one day next week for a look-see. :)

Looks great, do the windows work ok?

Superb Effort
 

Excellent work, I have just looked at driven and bought a 2001 2.2 auto, pick it up tomorrow, so looking forward to sorting it ready for fitting a kit later this summer.

thanks for the pics Bob...couldnt quite see how it was sitting in the pics you posted

blue def. suits these posted a link on mister toweds thread earlier of this one

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7579/...f7aa00e5_b.jpg
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7570/...9db231af_n.jpghttps://farm4.staticflickr.com/3943/...0cd8c187_n.jpghttps://farm8.staticflickr.com/7561/...c3db64a8_n.jpg
http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/foru...d.php?t=353277

I certainly am chuffed. You're welcome to come over Mr T, send me a message first as my daughter and 3 little granddaughters are up from Wales next week so we'll be quite busy.
Dark blue like the Stirling Moss car but the stripes will only go on if the body looks like it needs it once painted.
http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/foru...&pictureid=220
This simple look is my inspiration.

The windows look good and work well. They also fit nicely with the picture above.
Cheers, Bob.

Yep, meant to comment on how good the windows look earlier.

Love the colour, it's going to look great. Will pm you re visit in a few days, might be tied up next week travelling to see potential donors...

I'm impressed with the look, speed and quality of work. I love it.

Morning I am also having mine in the Blue gel coat , must say Chris has done a cracking job , trouble is makes the waiting hard! Geoff .

going to be so great seeing all these cars appear....

For me it's hard to understand how you cope with seeing other customers getting their car first.........i always thought you would be the first to have one out as it was your idea to build one........or am i wrong?
Sure i would be pissed a bit:nono:
Anyway i hope you get yours soon.
René

René, the first bird may get the worm but the second mouse gets the cheese.

Now then, let's be nice. I don't want any bad feeling starting because I ended up the first one assembled.

As put so well by 8 Valve Ed, the next one will have all the small issues sorted that have shown up on this first one, so it should be a smoother build for Chris.

It's a superb car and I'm sure they will only get better as Chris refines the details.

Cheers, Bob.

Bob it is not your problem,you orderd a kitbuild and Chris made it happen,so be it.
But to explain my feelings about this..........it feels like you in a cue and when it is your turn the guy behind the counter asks the guy behind you if he can help him and let you stand in the cold.
I am sure there are reasons why Chris did it this way and as long as Geoff is happy with it it's fine by me.
Just reflecting my feelings,perhaps totally unneccesary but had to say it.:tea:
Back to your car,get of the sofa and START DETAILLING.

No, you didn't have to say it...but anyway, car looking great.

Not Redratbike standard but took flash lines off and lowered your car to get a rough idea of how it may look further down the line

http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/foru...2&d=1427572993

[img] url [/img] are your friends

I think it would look good in satin black

Rene, you're absolutely right, and thank you for making the point. Geoff expected car No1 and I was to have No2 but that hasn't happened for a number of reasons, mainly because Chris needs to get standard cars out of the door quickly to recoup his development costs.

I'm sure that Geoff has his own reasons but in my case I want changes to the shell and Chris will do this later on. I've waited a long time so a little longer is of minor consequence to get the result I want.

Have any prices been finalised for kits ? Nothing on the website yet.

http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/foru...t=4261&page=37
scroll down

I did to photoshop that other pic I'm not that good :eusa_shifty:

Thanks for that , I would never have found it ?

So it should be possible to build one for around £5k , stunning !

I'll be at Stoneieigh to check it out and place my order

Really pleased that you are so happy with the conversion, despite the missing grille and issues with the door locks. I think I have found a replacement door handle that will solve that problem.

Dan deserves a huge amount of the praise also for all his input too.

Hi Chris,

Bit of a late reply as we're looking after our 3 granddaughters this week (all under 5) so all logical car based thought is a bit lost.

Sorry i missed your name off Dan, I realise the effort you've put in as well, both in construction and problem solving. I'll wait for your update regarding the new handles.

Replacement front indicators (to replace the ones you lent me) and the extra number plate light have been ordered today. Also on order are a pair of mirrors that I think should look ok, give some rear vision both sides and fit on the door trim without fouling the door glass. I'll report back.
I'll do more with the car next week including fitting the small woodrim wheel I bought last week. The car's in the garage out of the weather for now.

Hope to send the DVLA paperwork off shortly, then I can pass on any info that may be helpful to others.

Hope the guy took the body parts away and paid you without any hassle.

Cheers, Bob.

Hi Bob

I will be doing some invoices over the weekend, so will get you the revised one with reg number on for DVLA.

Here are a few pics I took before you left the workshop.

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...pswazw8psx.jpg

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...psbx7zk6tl.jpg

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1ywazqke.jpg

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...pspflqeupk.jpg

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...psglyzccek.jpg

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...psqw9ybdht.jpg

I must point out that the window frames are normally supplied in bare steel and will require some fettling before painting/power coating/chroming to your choice of finish. The alloy rain gutter and lower window trim shown above are not included in the cost of the kit, I just needed to cheer myself up one day after struggling with Bob's door locks so test fitted them. The material is available here:

http://www.woolies-trim.co.uk/p-1039-cope-moulding.aspx

It will need sealing onto the car after it has been sprayed. It would also work well on our MX250 kit.

The vertical seal/alloy trim (Land Rover) between the panes of glass is included and the windows and the frames come assembled with glass installed.

Thanks for the pictures Chris, they angles they are taken from look much better than mine.

New mirrors and replacement indicators arrived today so will give you yours back when I next see you.
Will post details of the mirrors once they are fitted and I know they work well.
I've posted a thread in the garage section on Rods'n'Sods and the car has gone down very well.
http://www.rodsnsods.co.uk/forum/gar...3-based-334033
Cheers, Bob.

I fitted the new mirrors yesterday. Curved arms and lots of adjustment mean I can actually see out of both of them. Very reasonable price too.
I'll post a picture of them on the car when I remember to take one.
Cheers, Bob.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2314592054...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/foru...&pictureid=259

Any more updates and photos ?

Will you be at Stoneleigh with the car ?

Hi,
No changes at the moment due to work commitments although plans are shaping up.

I'll be with the car at Stoneleigh on the Monday.

Cheers, Bob.

Hi all,

It probably looks like nothing much is happening with my project but although it still looks the same, plans are being made.

I've got a wood rim and boss to fit and bought some badges that I may or may not fit.

Today I ordered an adjustable coilover kit as, for me, the wheel arch to body gap is higher than I'd like but I want to keep the same rolling radius so the speedo is correct. I did look at air suspension but the although it would be fun, the price was just too high for my budget.

I've got prices for paint and interior which I will probably book for over the winter.

I will be trying on a range of wheels soon as I have the 17" steels, a single bolt on Jag wire and I've borrowed one of a set of American 15" wires. (I probably won't use those but they will be handy of checking offset etc.) They will probably be for sale, if so I'll post on here.

Finally remembered to take a photo of the mirrors I fitted. I'm very pleased as they offer good adjustability.

http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/foru...&pictureid=260

A friend has ordered a set of these spinners which seem really good. He'll just use the spinner as a hub cap fitting on his Zodiac but they come with the towers. The price was around £50 the set including shipping and tax. Several styles available.
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Gorill...-OD,83689.html

http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/foru...&pictureid=261

Cheers, Bob.

Those spinners are also available direct in the UK -

http://www.raceways.co.uk/Wheel_Nuts...ccessories.htm

Only issue is that there isn't a suitable tower to go in a BMW steel 72.4mm bore hole.

I've been trying different wheels this morning.
Here's my findings.

1st picture is how the standard alloy sits in the rear arch.
http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/foru...&pictureid=262

Jaguar 15" wire wheel, balanced in as would need longer bolts.
http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/foru...&pictureid=263

http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/foru...&pictureid=264


American 15" wire wheel, one of a set of 4 which may be for sale. Ideal for 'rat look' car. Again, balanced as longer studs needed.

http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/foru...&pictureid=266

http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/foru...&pictureid=265

17" BMW steels.
A nice fit under the arch in my opinion as they have the same outside offset as the alloys. I'll use these with some new tyres as my rear ones will be too wide.

http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/foru...&pictureid=267
http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/foru...&pictureid=268

Outside offset and overall width on the front is the same as the alloys.

http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/foru...&pictureid=269

http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/foru...&pictureid=270


Not sure what to do about spinners yet as the wheels are a snug fit on the hubs so there may not be room to fit a tower in between.

I've mocked up fitting them to the outside of the wheel and they look good
http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/foru...&pictureid=272

and they should keep pedestrians away!





















http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/foru...&pictureid=271

A couple of other options, both fairly unlikely.
http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/foru...&pictureid=273
http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/foru...&pictureid=274

Or maybe spider caps.
http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/foru...&pictureid=275

It looks as if you are sanding the flash to get it off the moulding- word to the wise- use a file, at right angles to the line of flash, and "flat" on the bodywork.

With a bit of practice, you'll be able to remove the high spots and hardly touch the smooth surfaces either side of the line. It's quicker too because a file cuts the plastic faster than any abrasive paper.

Cue WCA comments about 2nd cuts and b@st@rds no doubt.

I use an Oberg woodworking file- the side for shaping wood is far too coarse but the other side is equivalent to a 2nd cut pattern and works well on plastic and filler. Just need to keep a wire brush handy for cleaning it regularly.

And when it comes to sanding down the filler, check out the "It's Diy time" Sanding Block from Poundland. The sandpaper purports to be 100 grade but it cuts well and doesn't clog readily. When you've used up the 8 sheets (used to be 10) it comes with, you can cut up some of your favourite grade of wet'n'dry and use that in it.

How much are they, Ian?

Thanks for that Ian, I realise I didn't make a very nice job of it.
It will all be sorted properly before it's painted.

I found the moulding flash may it hard to appreciate the nice curve of the boot, so thought I'd have a go. It may not look good but it did what I wanted.

Cheers, Bob.

Dunno- don't you just hate that shop- nothing's price marked.

Of course it will. It's just that I remember the Brightwheel Viper cobra replicas- you could specify a gel coat finish with the flash lines polished away- and that's how they did it- careful filing first followed by rotary polishing.

Hi Ian,

I went to look at an Aristocat before I bought this car. The finish was as you describe and was very good. For me though it still had a plastic look if you know what I mean.

The wire wheel without a tyre in the picture below is for sale as part of a set of 4. They are 15", Jaguar/Chevy stud pattern and all in need of a blast and paint but at £50 the set they may be of use to someone. I'm in Norwich, Norfolk and on 01603 408021.
http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/foru...&pictureid=266
Thanks, Bob.