I know we keep saying this, but this build really is something else. :cool:

I managed to get 99% of the panel work done this week. I've also made the dash panel up in ali and trial fitted the instruments. I'm going with bare ali finish with satin black bezels to complement the interior. The switches are also black and silver. If the car gets painted I'll probably fit chrome bezels.

The plan for next week is to complete the instrument install and connect them up. I want to make a start on the moulds for the head light covers plus what ever else crops up !

If you’re not going to do a bare aluminum interior, this pic of the interior of a 250 TDF (eessentially the closed version of the 250 TR - note the similar design around the taillights) may help: https://goo.gl/images/Fu3s1W

Here is some more inspiration: https://youtu.be/f1m_v6FFTq0 and https://youtu.be/BFeS-qHPcWA

Mods - is there a way for someone to go through this thread and edit Lucky’s posts so that the pics appear on the posts themselves, rather than links that you have to click? I have seen the mods of other forums do that. I think that it would make this epic thread much more helpful to viewers. Many thanks!

[QUOTE=JJMCD;98909]If you’re not going to do a bare aluminum interior, this pic of the interior of a 250 TDF (eessentially the closed version of the 250 TR - note the similar design around the taillights) may help: https://goo.gl/images/Fu3s1W[/QUOTE

The original 250 Testarossa was an out and out racing car. The interior on those was simply painted satin black right through. No luxury other than a slightly padded seat ! Many of the newly restored cars do feature plush interiors but they never had that when new.
The same goes with all the Cobra replica's out there, the original cars were extremely basic inside. Most of the cars you see today have padded leather and thick pile carpet plus lots of chrome bling. They do nothing for me !

Although that is generally true, the 250 TDF that I linked was a Scuderia Ferrari competition car that raced at LeMans in period and had a carpeted interior.

While a raw driving experience can be fun, a little sound dampening from dynamatting and carpeting the interior can make the car a lot more usable.

JJMCD – FYI - There are no ‘Mods’ on this forum, just a single site owner John/JG.

But if you want him to do something, you would be better off sending him a PM directly.
( As I doubt he reads every post made on the forum. )

Alternatively, you could convert the all links into photos in the same way I have done for some of them.
( PM me for details on how to do this rather than cluttering up this thread. )

Maybe in a car with a roof, but in an open car, the wind noise will top everything else no matter what you do.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Lucky – Sounds like you are making great progress.

Hopefully all the snow will have cleared by the time you are ready for the road.

Good luck, Paul. :)

Thanks for the information on mods. This is an amazing site for one person single handling it!

I was thinking not just of noise, but also the two other elements of HNV - heat and vibration. Buzzy, rattly interiors drive me nuts and, no matter how well you screw together a lot of stainless panels, it is going to rattle unless covered or coated.

I am going to great lengths to isolate all the panels to avoid resonation. Like Paul says above, the wind noise and exhaust note will drown out the lot !

Excellent! I am sure that you are very exited about getting it roadworthy and taking it on a shakedown trip. Given your screenname, a trip to LeMans is almost mandatory. Here is a hardtop that you could fit for longer trips:

https://goo.gl/images/tuRtR8

Funny that you should post a photo of that particular TR . My car was also owned by David Cooke when the body was fitted over the original 0611GT chassis.


An interesting concept with the fold back roof that he commissioned. It was quite effective at stopping his wife from having a bad hair day !

I've found this on ebay tonight, item number 333046918067.

Will probably need some work, perhaps even a rebuild !

wow wow wow!! Be interesting to see how much it sells for

Did you see this


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Ferra....c100005.m1851

Pretty cool, but the newer stuff doesn’t really do anything for me.

Looks amazing superb job.

Haven't posted for a few days, mostly doing hidden jobs that are hardly worth a mention. The wiring is nearly complete, just need to connect up to the switch gear and instruments.
The mould is ready to make the head light covers and the Perspex turned up today so that's ready to go.
I've also had a re think about the rear indicator lights, version 3 I think ! I'm happy now as the lights are mounted into the vent slots using clear lenses and coloured bulbs.

Couple of recent photo's here......

I think I may be jealous.

Brilliant idea re the rear lights spot on.

Just moulded my first head light cover. Has worked out ok so far. Needs final trimming before fitment. Got it done just before the Mrs started making the tea, luckily it wasn't too smelly, now she can have the oven back !

I only wish my oven was BIGGER!

No issue with the Mrs either. Lucky on that.

Have a look on youtube, there are lots of examples of simply made ovens to use in simple plastic moulding jobs.

I couldn't do anything bigger than the headlight covers in the kitchen oven. The supporting wooden frame I made was 16" x 14" and it was nearly touching the sides.

I'd be doing 4 ft x 10 ft poly sheets for drape moulding.

Probably never get to that though!

Lucky - Excuse the poor mobile phone camera photo.

But I was sitting opposite this model of Testarossa while eating pizza yesterday.

And thought of you.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ul...r=w520-h863-no

Was it the hot topic of conversation during the meal ? !!!

I think I lost them at Ferrari. :icon_wink:

The plan for this week is to complete the wiring, fit the seats and belts. The bonnet is nearly there, I've fabricated a steel frame onto which the aluminium outer skin is attached. Like the original TR, it will lift out rather than being hinged. I'm really happy the way the head light covers have turned out, they will be fitted by the end of the week as well.

Its all in the detail and this stage of adding the finishing touches takes lots of time, but it will be worth it in the end !

It seems like the last 10% of any build takes 90% of the time.

Now, where did I hear that before?

Yep rebuilt a motorbike a few years back it went back together 90% in no time I was well chuffed then the frustration set in as it took an age to do the last 10%

So that’s a true to life saying

I think that accounts for the boom in "nearly finished" projects on ebay after Christmas and up to March each year. The amount of work required to finish, together with the shortage of funds triggers a decision point for some. Good news for those that can be patient and wait until it happens though as prices can be good for the buyer.

Very true, I have found some very good deals in the past that were nearly complete. I'm sure we have all had that feeling of wishing we had never started a project because progress appeared to be so slow. I've been there, the way forward for me is to write a short list of things to do and tick them off one by one. Then another short list, complete those and so on.

This TR project hasn't been the same, I have had the motivation all the way through and each tick in the box is a step closer to getting on the road !

A short list is the way to go. A few small projects every day is the
way to go. Knock them out as funds allow, and keep moving forward.

Here's a recent video of the famous 121 home built Testarossa after it was crashed and subsequently rebuilt


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4ylTQVD2lA

Love that 250 TR tribute. Exquisite shape, would love to be able to create something like that myself one day :juggle:

Yes agreed .....Gorgeous car .

Good progress so far this week, a bit of finishing off over the weekend and its all going in the right direction !

Photo's to follow.

A quick update ;

The wiring is just about done, a couple of loose ends to tidy up.
Dash is fitted with the instruments and ready to go in for the final time.
The bonnet needs a few of hours worth of fettling for a good fit, then that's done. I've got the leather straps ready for both the bonnet and boot lid.

I've also ordered some badges and having watched the Peter Giacobbi 121 video many times now, I might go with faint white roundels with my old racing numbers.

She starts on the button now and sounds fantastic through the mega phone exhausts !

When I saw the Jay Leno video I thought of your build, but then spotted you had already seen it.

I had first seen the car of on Petrolicious, but don't remember seeing photos of the crash damage, which were heart breaking.

So fair play to Peter Giacobbi for just getting on with fixing the mess. :cool:

Your car will suit racing numbers and will look great whether you leave it raw, or paint it.

Good luck, Paul. :)