Back to 'Short Nose' configuration... ...and plans for a new grille
 

After a recent bird strike taking out the grille on the 'long nose' Barchetta I had a chat with Chris about putting a proper metal grille in place and he came up trumps with a set of these cut steel pieces for me to play with.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4063/...d9eb9e21_c.jpg20170702_175955 by WCA!, on Flickr

The plan is to do something like the Maserati but without the badge

http://www.luxury-insider.com/sites/...ttro-GTS-5.jpg

Meanwhile I will be looking like this for a while

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4239/...137758b1_c.jpg20170702_175858 by WCA!, on Flickr

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4212/...2f0dda48_c.jpg20170702_175920 by WCA!, on Flickr

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4046/...35156872_c.jpg20170702_175907 by WCA!, on Flickr

The new grill sounds like a neat idea.

Liking the short nose look though. A lot :)

I am going to have to change my welding style for this project. At the moment I have perfected the Totally non-penetrative lace splatter weld.

Apparently this isn't the preferred technique when working on cars

Looking at that I wonder if there is a reason why we can't have a 250swb that uses the existing Z3 doors and a bolt on rear clam like the 3000s or Cobra. The doors are probably the trickiest part of the build.

I agree about using original doors. Been part of all of my cobbled together variations. A coupe that uses original windows would be a boon also.

I'm not sure if Chris made a mold for this, I know it was a one off commissioned by Nick. Part 3000s bonnet joined to a 250 SWB nose.
There might well be a market out there for a simplified 250 SWB kit. Fewer panels would add up to a quicker build and a cheaper kit.

It could be a solution if tne vat takes the price too high for some, and demand falls away. But this does not seem to be an issue currently as by all accounts they are rushed off their feet.

My bonnet was a cut and shut using the front of a 250 and the back of a Z300S, not a proper mould job.

Doing a full 250 without doors would change the bonnet, roof and back end. Basically every panel. The end result would be a car that doesn't look right. Mine looks okay and I am happy with it BUT a few non-car people have asked why I put an MG nose on my car.

Is is a proportion thing. The Z3 is just too narrow to carry off the 250SWB look without the door skins.

It is all part of Chris's evil genius. He makes kits cheap enough to afford and beautiful enough to need and then expects you to put some effort into finish them to your desired standard. He's a bastard like that!

I honestly couldn't tell the difference from to between your bonnet and mine from the posted pictures.
The door skin where it sits on the widest part of the door, horizontal centre line is probably less than 1cm. It is more top and bottom but all you would lose is a bit of curvature. I think it would work on the convertible.

Look behind the front wheel. I have the little winglets like on the Z3 rather than the bonnet going all the way down. Photo shows approx cut line

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4042/...93e9aa99_c.jpgZ300S Shortnose by WCA!, on Flickr

Wouldn't take much to add them to the bonnet mould.

There should be a switch on your welder with a pigeon engraved on it. The amateurs forget to turn this switch off which is why their welding is poor.

Have you placed your order for a 275 front end yet ? If Chris was up for it I'd be in the market for one too !

Wife would kill me if I got a third bonnet!

Quick update on progress, hope to make more progress this weekend


A) Got these from Chris
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4285/...f1fd5b89_c.jpg20170714_135621 by WCA!, on Flickr

B) Got this from Metal Supermarket
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4288/...f63ec3b6_c.jpg20170714_135626 by WCA!, on Flickr

C) Got this from Screwfix
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4237/...f1e91733_c.jpg20170714_135630 by WCA!, on Flickr

A+B+C =
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4322/...8b31f2c2_c.jpg20170714_144125 by WCA!, on Flickr

And one final photo before beer stopped play

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4323/...c54b1dd5_c.jpg20170714_181004 by WCA!, on Flickr

WCA - Look forward to seeing the finished grille on the car. :cool:

Good luck, Paul. :)

Looking forward to the first bird-strike on the new grille, they will be neatly sliced up for the barby!!

Should get it back from the powder coasters soon, then work out how to attach it securely.

Perhaps I should have sharpened the leading edges for the full sliced and diced pheasant effect

It's back...

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4439/...2f609189_c.jpg20170810_163950 by WCA!, on Flickr

... and still weighs a ton. I will need a jack to raise the bonnet once this beauty is mounted.

Now I need to work out how to glass the brackets into the existing bonnet so they are secure enough to hold the bloody thing.