MadaboutKitcars

I recently saw this listed on E-Bay and as it was local I decided to have a closer look.





It's a Moss Monaco one of about 70 made before the factory burned down!!

It later turns out the guy didn't want to sell it but was moving house so it was "Hobson's choice".
I offered him an a better choice and after thinking about it overnight he just couldn't resist, so it's now in my workshop awaiting completion.
One of the conditions of the build was me being able to take a mould from the completed car.

If "adjusted" to fit the Spitfire chassis it might make an interesting addition the SAMMIO range although a large chunk of front Spitfire chassis needs to be removed for the body to fit, which might be a problem at DVLA HQ.

Micky1Mo - Sounds like a good arrangement for both sides.

Found a finished one on Google that matches the colour scheme I'm aiming for.



I've also copied this from the ACE website:

[color="blue"]VOSA have provided the following response to your questions;

Chassis.

Q) What is classed as chassis? Is it purely the outer longitudinal rails or are the crossmembers between these also a part of the chassis?

A) Chassis should be taken to include crossmembers.

Q) We know that cutting or shortening a chassis is classed as modification but is this relative to the vehicle wheelbase i.e. the chassis must remain uncut between the 2 axles but anything forward of front or aft of rear suspension mounts can be removed?

A) Chassis includes the full original length of the longitudinal members including to the front of the front axle and to the rear of the rear axle.

Q) Is it acceptable to remove bodymounts, which contribute no strength to the chassis when changing a body to a different style /make?

A) Yes, providing they are additional to and are not an integral part of the chassis structure.[/color]

Could you argue that the bits you need to remove from the Spitfire chassis are "bodymounts"?

Either way, good luck, Paul.

Another BRA model here for sale http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BRA-P-and-J-type-Kit-Car-Unfinished-project/252205096662?_trksid=p2047675.c100010.m2109&_trkparms=aid%3D555012%26algo%3DPW.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D20140221143405%26meid%3Dbf8eef7b20dc483cbc0323b874d9f9fe%26pid%3D100010%26rk%3D5%26rkt%3D24%26sd%3D291624495394

Hi, I'm the owner who did a deal with Mike to finish the car. It looks great already even unfinished and in a bit of a state. Paul, that color scheme is pretty close to where I intend to go as it just so happens that green and yellow were my last squadron colours (ex RAF). I'm thinking the green will be matte though but haven't seen many examples of such a finish in the real world. Anyone any views on what a matte finish would be like?
John

John - Welcome to the forum.

Mike has a good track record of getting project cars through their first MOT.

I think you might be able to get away with a Matte Green on that car.



Actually, I’d love to see someone add some “teeth” around the nose.



Just don’t get carried away.



Good luck, Paul.

Hi John, sure I've seen matte green with a yellow nose band somewhere before.

Oh yes, that's right -



Try Deep Bronze Green (BS 224) and Golden Yellow (BS 356) for best effect.

Painted like that I'm sure it'll be a blast...

Haha, very funny thanks for the ideas Mike is really keen I put some sharks teeth on as well - maybe we'll try that later

Have you got any plans Mike to possibly fit this body on a 2CV chassis? The wheelbase is probably better suited to this body since it was originally designed for a Herald or bespoke ford based chassis with the same wheelbase. The Spitfire chassis might be a bit short as well as the other issues with the front bonnet supports sticking out, and no attachment for the rear suspension struts.
There seems to be a lot of space for all the engines you could fit on the 2CV, e.g. Moto Guzzi, BMW R Series. You could also position the seat and steering wheel centrally with no prop shaft tunnel and create a single seater or a tandem arrangement. Your single rear wheel fabrication, for your other three wheeler Leighton design, might fit under the rear body as well to create an other possible option.

I have thought this might suit a 2CV chassis and running gear but only as a 4 wheeler

The magic thing about these single skinned body is with a little effort it's possible to make them fit anything on wheels.

The owner MightyNimrod was in today for a "fitting" as there's not a lot of room around the bulkhead and pedals.

I went for a floor mounted pedal arrangement, nice well built assembly for £90 from E-Bay.



When everything is in pace he'll need another "fitting" just to make sure it's right.

Question; Can you fit a well built guy (he's not called MightyNimrod for nothing)) into a space designed for a Mongolian Midget?
Answer; Watch this space as were all going to find out soon.

Hi John, I take it as an ex CXX squadron member you will be adorning the finished car with loads of badges!? eep:

Baz (ex 206 and 201)

There's a lot of it about, I was doon the road at Lossie on 226 Jags in the early eighties. That's the nineteen eighties btw. Shared a pan with 8 Squadron Shackletons - eight screws are better than two blow jobs and a' that.

Moved on to F2 then F3 tonkas on 5 Squadron at Coningsby, taking over the Squadron colours from the Lightning boys at a parade at Binbrook (where some of the lineys managed to smuggle a dummy red top onto the bus back to Coninsgsby as a gizzit), before ending up on GR4a mud-movers on 13 and then 2 Squadron at Marham.

Oh, and for any non ex pan trash or growbags out there who don't understand the banter, try Google translate...

I would'nt waste my time, can't read big words anyway

I had a green Monaco for a while - never got round to sqn colours though (ex 201 / 120) - great to see another back on the road!

Happy new year to everyone.
Is there a website for the new sammio?
All I can find is the old Ribble one!!!!.

Hi ufo17, Happy new year to you as well.

There is no web site yet for the NEW SAMMIO as it's still in the R&D stage.

That said we are trying and hoping to get the prototype ready for Stoneleigh Kit Car Show in May 2016.

Hi,
Thank you for taking the time to reply. I am in Oxford and wondered if in the new year I could visit you to take some measurements (of the car not you !! ).
I have an idea about using one of your shells in a different way but need to see if it is viable.
Again thank you for your time.
UFO17

ufo17, The A1 ALPHA is based around a Triumph Spitfire so you can get all the spec from the net.
That said, you are welcome to call-in for a cuppa any time

if you look up [url]www.replicarides.co.uk[/url] you will find all my contact details you need.
I am normally there 7 days a week but call first.

Got the two chassis together today, ready to make a start on Wednesday.
With the two side-by-side you can clearly see the difference between the Herald and the Spitfire wheelbase.





Also got a very important bit through the post.
It's a deep-dish steering wheel with a removable boss.

My plan today was to get stuck-in and make some progress but it just didn't happen

I did manage to get the body swapped the Spitfire chassis.




You can now see just how much of the front chassis I have to "loose"



I think I might try and use the old SAMMIO trick of leaving the chassis in place until after the paperwork is sorted.

Right now my big problem in fitting a pedal box, there is just no room in the foot well.

I was expecting to see a Herald chassis when you removed the body. Are you planning to put it through IVA..........

Micky1Mo - I'm certainly no expert, but if it was me, I'd make a copy of the Herald based body shell...

Then slice that copy straight down the middle, from nose to tail!

Once either side of the body work at least covered the main frame rails the gap between the two halves could be "bridged".

This should also give you more room in the footwells for the pedals & cover more of the front suspension too.

You would still be left with the overall look of a racing car body, but with a lot less of the hassle.

But what do I know?

Good luck, Paul.

Oxford 13/60 The existing chassis/engine are unknown so if used an IVA would be needed.
We are using a Triumph Spitfire chassis, engine and running gear to get around this as it then becomes a body swap SAMMIO style.
Fortunately the owner has the original receipts for the body which relates to a Triumph based kit which should help when dealing with DVLA.

Paul L Cutting the body would improve things and involve a lot of work but part of the Monaco's charm is the "cigar tube" shape.
That said the front end will need a little cutting.

My theory is that you would still keep keep the cigar shape, just supersize it a bit.



Mind you, I know even less about cigars.

Got some time in today.

First thing was to fix the tie-rods on the rear axle.
I know the standard way it to build some sort of framework and weld/bolt it to the chassis but as always I relay on KISS.

I removed the front tie-bar bracket from the Spitfire bodywork and fitted them to the centre chassis mount.



Then simply extended the tie-bar to fit.



This means I can still use the original shims to get the axle sitting right



I did beef-up the mount with a reinforcing plate.



Less time , less effort and a neat looking job

Simple but effective layball: