TRIBUTE A352 Project

[seanick]

Now look here, would you kindly refrain from posting any more pics of very desirable motors BEFORE I'VE FINISHED THE LAST ONE!!

[Tribute Automotive]

Originally Posted by seanick

Now look here, would you kindly refrain from posting any more pics of very desirable motors BEFORE I'VE FINISHED THE LAST ONE!!

Sorry Nick!

[Tribute Automotive]

Sorry again Nick!

[Tribute Automotive]

Originally Posted by froggyman

It would be possible to make a frame and not use the Spitfire body I think. Definitely onto a winner I think.

Hi Frog. Good to meet you on Saturday. As I mentioned then, first step and original idea is to use the Spitfire tub, but as an option later, the frame may be a good idea to give the customer a choice. The tub route is the quickest way of building a car like this. Dan and I have talked this over and estimate that if an MOT'd Spitfire was used as a base that we could have an A352 on the road in 3-4 days

[tytek]

Originally Posted by Tribute Automotive

Hi Frog. Good to meet you on Saturday. As I mentioned then, first step and original idea is to use the Spitfire tub, but as an option later, the frame may be a good idea to give the customer a choice. The tub route is the quickest way of building a car like this. Dan and I have talked this over and estimate that if an MOT'd Spitfire was used as a base that we could have an A352 on the road in 3-4 days

Thats bloody quick!!!

[seanick]

Mmm, some air suspension, maybe a Citroën donor...I dont know weather it would be easier to get into!
one has to suffer for ones art....

[tonyt]

Like the light covers, did you make or buy them?

[Tribute Automotive]

Originally Posted by tonyt

Like the light covers, did you make or buy them?

We made them. After failed attempt by 2 suppliers, we have finally managed to get the right mould/heat/pressure yourselves to produce them. We are just waiting for the polishing kit to turn up before we can offer them to customers for the MX250 and A352 kits. How did you get on with your attempts?

[tonyt]

Only cut templates and played with bending some with a heat gun was going to cast a clay mould from the kit and try bend to fit.

[Tribute Automotive]

Originally Posted by tonyt

Only cut templates and played with bending some with a heat gun was going to cast a clay mould from the kit and try bend to fit.

Let me know how you get on

[Mister Towed]

I really love the 'outlaw' look of the green hard-top car above. Shame only Richard Hammond would ever fit through the door opening, and only then if you cut him in half.

Maybe a rear hinged roof with a quick release fastener above the screen would allow easier access? And that's meant to be a serious suggestion, btw.

[neemo]

AKA bubble car stylee

[Tribute Automotive]

Originally Posted by Mister Towed

I really love the 'outlaw' look of the green hard-top car above. Shame only Richard Hammond would ever fit through the door opening, and only then if you cut him in half.

Maybe a rear hinged roof with a quick release fastener above the screen would allow easier access? And that's meant to be a serious suggestion, btw.

You are absolutely right Towed I had figured that gullwing doors opening to the centre of the roof would help but I like your idea too

[Tribute Automotive]

Once the outer shell has been moulded, starting tomorrow, the internal panels, which are currently several individual pieces screwed together, will be moulded to produce 2 side panels and a rear bulkhead in GRP. These panels will make trimming the inside of the Spitfire tub a very quick and simple job to do.

[Tribute Automotive]

Boot space on the A352 isn't going to be problem!



We have slightly increased the bonnet bulge to ensure clearance for the 6 cylinder option.

[Tribute Automotive]

All improvements now completed to the bodywork. Doing this before the moulding stage means that the finished shells should need very little filling and sanding for the builder before painting, a gelcoat finish may even be possible. Also we have spent a lot of time making sure the bonnet/boot/doors fit straight out of the mould, again to save the customer build time and money.

Door hinges will be water jet cut steel profiles ready assembled on to the internal door bars, so that once the shell has been bonded on it will just be a case of packing the door gap and then bolting the doors to the hinge inside the cockpit.

The shell has now had it's "flanges" added to split the moulds into multiple sections. The grill area is separate as we may change it's design at a later date to give more choice. We have also split the mould at the bulkhead so we can add length to the shell if longer wheelbase applications are required. Current wheelbase is 83" to fit the Spitfire but Herald may be another option at 90".

[seanick]

You have been busy! Great to see the thought and work you are putting in to perfect the mouldings. Its going to save the builder hours of filling, fairing, and sanding. The last couple of pics look like somthing out of James Bonds gadget garage! That would make you Q!

[davecymru]

As i said to you guys at Exeter (in between shivering) i think you've got a real winner on your hands with this one, and i would certainly consider building one once things settle down.

[seanick]

Originally Posted by davecymru

As i said to you guys at Exeter (in between shivering) i think you've got a real winner on your hands with this one, and i would certainly consider building one once things settle down.

Once you build a [I]triple[I] garage???

[BazMason]

This is a great looking car guys and I like how you are building in options already so that there isn't a great deal of cutting and filling after buying.