WCA G46 - The slow build (MX5 donor, customer chassis)

WorldClassAccident · #1 15th November 2011, 08:39

Okay, so it begins.

None of you managed to persuade me not to try this and my wife's objections have declined from "Over my dead body!" and "If you do it I am leaving" to a simple pained look, resigned shrug and stating that the Electric Blue Candy paint looks nice.

I have been toying with the idea of building a car for a while originally looking at some of the 50's / 60's Maserati, Ferrari, Alfa, Jags etc. I had got as far as realising that although I could probably stick the running gear from a new)ish) car into a customer chassis I didn't have the artistic ability to do the complex curves and swoops for the bodywork.

I then decide I would do a wide bodied 1957 BRM GP tribute car based on BMW 3 series running gear and a Locost chassis. The body work for this was much simpler so with my dreams in place I searched the web for ideas on how to do the body.

This is where I found the Sammio cars and they pi55ed on my dreams of doing my own bodywork. they were almost exactly what I wanted in the first place!

Now I have modified my plans to pulling apart an MX5 and sticking it back together to fit the G46 body.

This thread may take a while to develop as I don't currently have an MX5, customer chassis or G46 kit even ordered but I do have the idea.

Feedback, criticism, support and general pi55 taking welcome.

WorldClassAccident · #2 15th November 2011, 08:43

And some photos of the concept

I am hoping the finish will be better that my photoshopping efforts:

To achieve this I will take one of these:

and do this to create a front/mid engined G46:

and then possibly bolt on a supercharger to add to the fun... ;-)

WorldClassAccident · #3 15th November 2011, 09:13

Slowest progressing but fastest changing build.

I have just spoken to Mark at Dreamshack. Gary recommended him for the chassis work. He has invited me over for a chat and to look at an MX5 he has in which is getting a V8 fitted!?!?!

My G46 might just get a better sound track than the MX5 4 pot.

garyh · #4 15th November 2011, 09:35

it will retain a bit of character after all! But that colour? Don't turn it into a toy...

redratbike · #5 15th November 2011, 11:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by WorldClassAccident

and then possibly bolt on a supercharger to add to the fun... ;-)

using a cheap 2nd hand mini cooper eaton unit makes for a neat installation on a budget

http://www.trlanefabs.co.uk/0_0_0_0_...pg?u=523789444

http://www.trlanefabs.co.uk/SUPERCHARGER-PARTS.html

WorldClassAccident · #6 15th November 2011, 16:26

But that colour?

So I am only allowed BRG, Red and Silver then?

I was thinking of the old A110s I used to lust after when seeing them in France. I might lose the candy finish...

Looks like I am reverting to the MX5 with supercharger having read a bit more about the Rover V8 and gear boxes

garyh · #7 15th November 2011, 17:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by WorldClassAccident

But that colour?

So I am only allowed BRG, Red and Silver then?

I was thinking of the old A110s I used to lust after when seeing them in France. I might lose the candy finish...

Looks like I am reverting to the MX5 with supercharger having read a bit more about the Rover V8 and gear boxes

I think it's the fact it is METALLIC! I don't think it goes with such a classic '50's swoopy shape and you could certainly find more than three colours... I have!

Mister Towed · #8 15th November 2011, 18:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by garyh

I think it's the fact it is METALLIC! I don't think it goes with such a classic '50's swoopy shape and you could certainly find more than three colours... I have!

Hmm, much as I love the classic solid fifties colours: blood red, black or silver (I'm superstitious about green cars) I've got to say that one of my favourite fifties racing car colours is Ecosse blue metallic!

garyh · #9 15th November 2011, 18:49

Much has been written about the colour of the Ecurie Ecosse cars and the Ecosse badge and the origin of both can be placed at the feet of original team member Ian Stewart.

First came the colour. During the 1951 when Ian Stewart was racing his red Jaguar XK120 he had a spectacular accident on his way to Turnberry circuit for a race. When the coachbuilders came to repainting the car Ian pointed out that he didn't want it to be red but was shown an attractive blue metallic paint that had been formulated by Ault & Wiborg. It was called Flag Metallic Blue and Ian had his Jaguar repainted this colour. When Ecurie Ecosse was formed David Murray decided they should adopt Ian's colour and so Bill Dobson and Sir James Scott Douglas' cars were repainted Flag Metallic Blue.

Today with modern paints the original Flag Metallic Blue no longer exists but CKL Developments, who have been responsible for many refurbishments to ex-Ecurie Ecosse cars approached the Herbert Standox company who analysed a spray-out of some very old but real Ault and Wyborg paint that had been tucked away for donkey's years coming up with a mix that is very close to the original. The Standox reference is :

•Colour Flag blue-met
•Standox panel ref number 41051
•Paint system Basislack
•Amount 1 litre
The Ecurie Ecosse shield was also sketched out by Ian Stewart in June
1952 and when he took delivery of his brand new C-type Jaguar from the factory he had mocked up a couple of rough designs. The shield, therefore, appeared for the first time at the Jersey Road Race on July 10 1952. As can be seen from the photograph it was further modified with a larger blue section and narrower surround.

The definitive badge, which is a copyright design of Ecurie Ecosse, has therefore been used by the team for over fifty years.

Mister Towed · #10 15th November 2011, 19:16

Erm, I just like the colour...

garyh · #11 15th November 2011, 19:25

http://garyssammiospyderbuild.blogspot.com/

Mister Towed · #12 15th November 2011, 19:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by garyh

http://garyssammiospyderbuild.blogspot.com/

Thanks Gary, that post really was very informative and I didn't mean to be rude. Well, not really rude, anyway.

It is a lovely colour though.

Anyone know if it's harder to spray metallic colours than solid ones?

redratbike · #13 15th November 2011, 21:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by garyh

I think it's the fact it is METALLIC! I don't think it goes with such a classic '50's swoopy shape and you could certainly find more than three colours... I have!

mmmnn i beg to differ ..check this out maybe not bright mettalic but it def works

..

and another

Mister Towed · #14 15th November 2011, 21:28

Yep, primary colour works. Not too sure about the yellow guppy lips though...

Mister Towed · #15 15th November 2011, 21:29

WTF is that BTW?

redratbike · #16 15th November 2011, 22:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mister Towed

WTF is that BTW?

aston martins .. can you see a similarity between the first 3 pics of the dbr2 and the g46
http://www.asmotorsport.co.uk/intro.html
the 4th pic is a wam3s .replica 3dbs.pretyty sure thats a replica AM as well

jmc14 · #17 16th November 2011, 00:41

The DBR2 is one of my all time favorite looking cars. I believe that it had a 93 inch wheelbase and was 64 inches wide. I think the G46 is a great creation but besides looking like it is from the same ERA I don't see much the same. The DBR2 has a much lower over all height and is sooooooo swoopy! Love all of the cars from this era though.

Roadster · #18 16th November 2011, 04:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmc14

The DBR2 is one of my all time favorite looking cars. I believe that it had a 93 inch wheelbase and was 64 inches wide. I think the G46 is a great creation but besides looking like it is from the same ERA I don't see much the same. The DBR2 has a much lower over all height and is sooooooo swoopy! Love all of the cars from this era though.

I agree JMC - i have a thing for the Costin jaguars - Tojiero jaguar and of course your last inspiration the Lister Jagaur

Mister Towed · #19 16th November 2011, 07:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmc14

The DBR2 has a much lower over all height and is sooooooo swoopy!

Lovely though they look, the trouble with low, swoopy cars like the DBR2 is that the seating position can be a tad high for the fat, middle aged men with moobs who can afford them.

Just take a look at the merchant banker driving his XKSS below, that £2k Stella McCartney designer hat's never going to survive the journey...

WorldClassAccident · #20 16th November 2011, 08:36

Loving the DBR2 and I agree with RedRat that you can see the influences on the G46 although obviously Gary took several different inspirations.

Thanks to GaryH for defending the use of metallic blue. A very authoritative explanation, almost like you read it somewhere (http://www.ecurieecosse.com/colour_and_emblem.html)

;-)

I did a quick Google to find out what colour the old Alpine A110 were and it is French Blue. I then Googles what French Blue was and it appears to be any shade of blue on a car, preferably but not necessarily French!

I may well be going with Flag Metallic Blue...

I wish I could make my mind up. I am back to an MX5 engine btw. Though it might become a Supra Turbo unit at some point later...