Rear vents now done:

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...psc7d2ab90.jpg

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...pseea82a98.jpg

And the roof vent:

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...psba878397.jpg

We have filled in the channel that takes the Z3 windscreen rubber for two reasons, one to enable the new GRP roof/windscreen pillar covers to have hidden edges when fitted (no external metal to GRP joins as on the MX250) and secondly to visually reduce the size of the Z3 windscreen slightly. With the addition of a false period screen rubber/chrome insert bonded onto the existing glass helping to reduce the glass area even further:

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0575afd3.jpg

Very good, some lovely details.
I've been wondering how best to fit a high level brake light and the roof vent looks like the perfect place.

Bob.

This is looking better and better each time I see an update!

This Z3 on eBay could be a good option if you are quick, I would be tempted myself if it wasn't a 1.9.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1999-BMW-Z...item418e33e751

This is well worth a look



http://www.automirage.co.uk/GT_Project.html

Cocochoux will make you a special birthday cake. It looks good in red

http://www.cocochoux.co.uk/images/40...b-cake_445.jpg

Looks very nice but, I'm guessing the budget required will be North of £30k, and, unless it's built using all brand new parts, the way I understand the vehicle registration process, it'll be stuck with a 'Q' plate that can't be transferred. Shame.

A fascinating blend of old and new technology but in the words of that non-pc quip "If I were going there, I would not start from here".

While it is a fantastic looking car and a brilliant achievement, it does seem to be an awful lot of work and money expended to sort of re-invent the wheel.
And as Mr Towed pointed out, the dreaded "Q" plate would l kill it stone dead for a lot of folk.

If the car was registered under section 5 (Kit Conversions) of INF26 then it would get an age related plate under the following
"If a new monocoque bodyshell or chassis from a specialist kit manufacturer (or an altered chassis or bodyshell from an existing vehicle) is used with two original major components from the donor vehicle, a replacement registration number will be issued based on the age of the donor vehicle. The vehicle must have IVA, SVA or MSVA. The date of manufacture for the vehicle will be taken from the IVA, SVA or MSVA certificate."
In this way an automirage replica would avoid the dreaded Q plate.

That's interesting, but would you then be stuck with the donor age related plate or could you transfer a dateless plate onto it? After all, a modern plate format on what looks like a 50's Ferrari is going to look just as bad as a 'Q' plate.

One of the beauties of the Tribute approach is the ability to disguise the true origin of the vehicle with a dateless number.

And the other big advantage is that it does not require an IVA.

Which I would imagine is the reason for its popularity.

I don’t see why a kit car with an age related plate should be treated in any different way to any other car.

You should be able to transfer a cherished number plate to the vehicle in the same way as any other car, providing of course that it does not make the car look younger than it actually was.
So a dateless plate should be easy to transfer, and a worthwhile change as I agree that a classic replica should have an old number plate on it.

As far as I understood the system, an age related plate is treated in a similar way to a Q plate, in that it is non-transferable and remains with the vehicle for as long as that vehicle remains on the books.

Sadly, that's the way I understood it too. :(

Wouldn't bother me one iotta :hail:

I think you can put a number on a car with an age related plate, however the age related plate issued cannot be transferred to another vehicle.

According to the VSCC, age related 'issued' and 'recovered' registration numbers are not transferable nor can they be changed.

Quite an interesting link. (item 12 covers this)

http://www.vscc.co.uk/vsccMedia/2729.pdf

Item 12 Deals with the transfer of the age related plate.
It states they are not transferable but does not say they can't be changed.

Accepted, but if they can't be changed why the rigmarole to establish the original number, why not the opportunity to specify a known preferred available number? Reading the entire document it *seems* that once a number has been allocated it's cast in stone.

Dealing with DVLA seems to be a black art, because they don't seem to publish the full wording of the regulations. For example, the 10 year old rule as an exemption from the IVA. I keep being told it only applies to imports, yet I can't find that stipulation in any DVLA document. They clearly state that kit cars which are older than 10 years are exempt. It does not state that only applies to imports. So they seem to leave themselves a lot of discretion.

What was the price for the Automirage kit Neil? You did tell me at Donnington but can't remember.

Apologies to all customers concerned but progress is slower than planned, again due to kit production and only being able to work so many hours in one day, but major plans are afoot to speed the whole process up and get back on track, more details to follow soon. We have made some more changes to the buck (see below) but it will be in paint by the end of this week. We will still have kits out in February and start the queue of builds as soon as the first panels are out of the new moulds.

The compromise of the SWB panels Vs the Z3 slam panel has been noted on this tread before, and this previously used picture shows that the line running from the front wing and into the door top was "kinked" downwards at the join of the two panels:

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...ps6fa084df.jpg

We have raised the line at this point to now give a continuous flow from the headlight to rear edge of the door, which you may or may not be able to see in these pictures:

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...ps43cye2gp.jpg

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...psn662fmwu.jpg

Front wing vents have also been added:
http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...pst1lratn0.jpg

With the exception of the edges of the front brake cooling vents under the headlights, all shaping/mods are now done and only continued improvement for paint is left. It's been a huge amount of work (thanks Dan), but I hope you will agree that it will be worth it. More updates throughout this week.

That's coming together very nicely, can't wait to see the buck in paint and the kit in production. Also can't wait to get the funds together for one myself. :)

It's coming together well Chris, I'm sure we'd all rather it took a little more time than planned and came out exactly as you wanted, rather than rushed and a compromise.
I bought some more parts for mine today. Details in 'the Kebab'.

My feelings exactly. Good job, Chris and Dan :smile:

It's looking great and I can't wait to see the finished article especially as I have just got home from purchasing a nice little 2.8L Z3 today.

Wow
 

This is shaping up to become the most amazing body replacement kit ever conceived. Well done guys just amazing work.:thumb::thumb::thumb::thumb:

Have sent you a PM Chris.

What colour is it going Chris? And will it be going on ebay or you going to keep it as a daily?

Have pm'd you Neil

This is going to be worth the wait , Geoff .

Thank you for all your encouraging comment guys.

More sanding done, still more to go, but a few coats of filler primer were needed to see how we are doing. Bonnet fit has not been tackled yet:

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...psfwsgd63z.jpg

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

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...psi51o36kp.jpg

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...pshcxsu8pk.jpg

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...ps90xxg20n.jpg

Danny, I can't decide between "Wheelie Bin Grey" or "Skip Yellow", as this is the buck from which the moulds are to be made, it weighs 3 times more than it should, the body will be taken off and binned once the moulds are finished. It will be replaced with a set of SWB production panels, or maybe something else. It was my daily, but I now have something far less reliable, which is currently broken and awaiting a new engine. And gearbox. And suspension. Etc.

Thank you for your patience Geoff.

That is looking very very loverrly....

Is it stripped down yet Gaz?

Getting better and better ,:smile: Geoff .

Liking the colour, passion pink?

Beautiful!

Dirty paint bucket Purple! :becky:

Tribute - Chris & Dan you really have set a new standard with this build. :cool:

Especially if it can be put together in the same frightening speed as some of the Kobra builds.

Good luck, Paul. :)