No worries Mac. You get better soon.

I love the riveting.

Agreed. Although, I'm a little disappointed Andy P57 used tucker 'pop' rivets instead of hundreds of dome heads, a hammer, drift and reaction bar...

Here is another photo of the Colani, although the quality is poor.
With the engine in the back, there is a neat petrol tank under the flip up front...

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...L/DSCF8619.jpg

...a very vulnerable position.

http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/...ps65e8bc9b.jpg

Isn't she a stunner, she looked gorgeous under the lights!

It was lovely to meet those that popped in to say hi (PaulL, Patton and Nike55)

A very good show indeed. We were fantastically impressed with the reaction of the Colani, we never thought she'd get a good response as she did. The public loved hearing about her history and how she came to be in our possession etc. We are expecting quite a few orders from those who showed extreme interest in her and expressed how much they wanted one, so whatch this space :party:

That's all I'm going to write now as I have only just got back home and I am completely knackered.

As always I'm sure AndyP57 will fill in blanks on this mini news from the show (if he's awake that is :drum: )

Just by way of an explanation of the tank. Realising the vunerability of it's position, now we have the pattern for a fit in its original position, production tanks will be foam filled for added safety.

A couple of pictures of our stand at the Stoneleigh show!


Colani GT, for the very first time ever, the Pilot CV/Chevaux (which AndyP57 will fill you in about but bugger me what an impressive drive!) and of course the Navigator on Monday
https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.n...68772967_o.jpg

Colani GT and the Navigator on Sunday (please excuse my finger at the top of the image!)
https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.n...48856697_o.jpg

The blue really sets the bodywork off....good choice

It's a gorgeous colour (Subaru Imprezza WRX Blue) :thumb:

Well, Finally all our kit is back from Stoneleigh and we've started work in earnest again. The Navigator 'New buck' is progressing really well and I will be posting some interesting photos in another thread soon. The Navigator framework rear end is completed but with modifications to the shell, has had to stop until we get the first one out of the new mould so we can get the bulkhead support structure just right. The Pilot frame, however, is making good progress. I've made up a temporary wooden jig which can be adjusted until it's right then will be replaced with a steel one. This hasn't slowed progress though and all Pilots currently ordered will have the new framework.

http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/...ps2a0fa01d.jpg

The one in the jig right now is bound for a kit to be collected very soon by mas123mas.

Can wait to collect it. looks good.

Is the Pilot CV a Ribble Demonstrator?

Shame it wasn't there on Sunday as it always sounded like an interesting project.

More details and photos of the build if you have them are always welcome.

Cheers, Paul. :)

Hi Paul. No, we don't have a CV demonstrator. It was a chance meeting with Henry, the owner who had driven it over from Europe to join in the Citroen Specials club pitch. We met him late on Sunday and he offered to lend us his car for the stand on Monday. A very nicely finished example and a great guy. How could we refuse :biggrin:
I agree, the CV is an interesting car and the more I explore the donor engineering, the more impressed I am

I was given a Dyane 6 as a courtesy car from a garage back in the eighties. I loved it - full of character, unburstable twin cylinder engine, great brakes and a full length fabric roof. I even managed to overtake a 205 GTi in it when he had to slow down to go over a level crossing and I didn't. :whoo:

Those were the days eh T :nod:

We raced a 2CV6 for a couple of seasons including the Mondello 24 Hours in 1996. You can't help but fall in love with a car when you can do an engine change in 20 minutes and lift the engine on and off the bench with no assistance.

For the 24 Hours, we were running to nearly 8,000 revs with an engine that was put together carefully but near-enough bog standard. We did the equivalent mileage to get from Oxford to Reykjavik with 11 scheduled pit-stops and just 60 gallons of fuel. The only race car that I know of that laps quicker in slightly damp conditions than it does in the dry.

Aye. There's a lot of love for the tin snail. It would be good to follow a UK build. We started a demo but events overtook us. I do remember the donor strip being insanely easy but the wiring loom was a revelation. All the wires were Green!

That's quite logical if you think about it. When you get an electrical fault you'll always know which wire to test - it'll be the green one. :eyebrows:

And now..... The news and we begin with frames! AndyP57 has been cracking on and completing the Pilot frames and also making final 'tweaks' to the Navigator frames and if I say so myself they are brilliant!!

Also we are ready to ship the first Pilot over to the merry old land of Oz, which we are quite excited about as it's a country we would like to see more of them (plus they drive on the correct side of the road......bonus!:heh: )

And we end the news with news that today has been quite a productive day as we have done our spring clean of the workshop and we have also officially started our next car code-named 'Phoenix' :jaw:

(We or correctly) I am quite excited by this build as 1) we get to get our hands dirty and 2) have some fun :jaw:

Watch this space...

(Also as always if I have forgotten anything then AndyP57 will fill in the blanks)

A black out image I have produced of the bonnet of 'Phoenix'
https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.n...32357074_o.jpg

I must add that Phoenix isn't a new addition to the range but to our own demonstration squad.

AndyP57 - Looks like good progress is being made at Ribble HQ.

Seeing the Cordite demonstrator on sale has reminded me of one other question I forgot to ask the other day...

Do you hear anything from the other Cordite builders?

There hasn't been an update on some of the original build threads in months now.

Just curious to see how they are getting on really.

Cheers, Paul. :)

I myself haven't heard anything of the Cordite builders mate but hopefully AndyP57 has. I would of liked to of seen the others on here!

Hey Paul,

Yep, apart from yourself it's very quiet on the Cordite front

My own build was put on hold last year shortly after AndyP57 delivered my kit. When i got into the Sammio thing I had a garage and plenty of free time but that changed with the arrival of my daughter and the subsequent house extension to house her :smile:

The garage made way for the extension and even though i'm full of admiration for you building without one but it's certainly not something I fancy doing :smile:

I'm hoping a new garage will be built in the next couple of months and i'll then be able to kick off the build. It was always planned to be a long build, good job really!

Still waiting on some bits from Ribble as well which AndyP57 knows all about :wink:

Hi Paul,

I'm still lurking around here. I've been making progress with my cordite, all be it very slowly. I'll update my thread soon with the latest but as with craigt family stuff (my wedding mostly!) is slowing me down and sapping funding.

Project has turned into a full nut and bolt rebuild with the latest estimate being a rolling chassis and running gear in the Autumn followed by frame and body fitting and then completion next summer (if i'm lucky).

I know you've had trouble getting your engine started...I have no idea when my was last started but my best estimate is somewhere in the 90's!

Update
 

NEWS UPDATE!!

For those of you who wanted to know what happened to the Cordite, I manage to find this one image I took.

This was a sad day when the very last shell to be pulled from the Cordite mould arrived at the workshop and the Cordites fate was ultimately decided..

As you can clearly see, it practically took pieces of the mould with it! (Note, the blue patch on the rear was a part of the 'de-humping process)
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-g...425_140534.jpg

Rear of the shell..(Note, the blue patch was part of the De-humping process!)
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-j...425_140913.jpg


AndyP57 and Viatron can fill in the blanks and give a more detailed account....

It does look a mess but when we get the moulds finished, the difference will be so worthwhile. Mac (Viatron) has written a very good account of the process and all will come together as a single thread for all to see soon.

What number did you get up to in the end before the mould was decommissioned? I know I'm no. 13...

Not with the records right now but I seem to remember it being 16 but One of those were on hold so will get the new shell.

CraigT & Adam1979 - In my world, family comes first, which is one of the many reasons my project is taking so long.
But it is definitely worth waiting for a garage Craig, as attempting to build outside is a biblically dumb idea! :rolleyes:
Adam I get the feeling you'd have a better idea how to get an engine to start after decades compared to my months! :icon_wink:

Andy & Andy - Don't get me wrong, I am 100% behind your ideas to rework the shell & internal framework.
Clearly the original Cordite builders are going to be a very select few compared to Spyder/Pilot & Navigator builds.

It will be a nice milestone when the first one is actually on the road. :cool:

Cheers, Paul. :)

Watch this space for the new one, I can see that being more successful than Cordite ever was! :biggrin:

The News 17/06/13
 

And now the news,

and we start with our turnkey line.

We have been cracking on getting all the turnkeys done at a similar time to each other. Today saw our #1 turnkey receive its body, which we put on for a trial fit as it is the first car to have the new frame....... and it fits like a glove with no 'swearing' needed and the seating position is slightly lower than normal thanks to the new floor pans.

A few images of the car with the body on (not bonded).

Note: There are a couple of voids but these will subsequently 'disappear'
https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.n...55939145_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.n...68963886_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.n...13660753_o.jpg

And obviously the 'silly' shot :biggrin:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.n...44950246_o.jpg

A very dusty AndyP57!
https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.n...42713584_o.jpg


Also we are looking forward to receiving our special delivery later this week, more on that in the very near future! :biggrin:

As always, if I have missed anything then AndyP57 will fill the blanks in.

I think I can see a couple of hairline scratches on the o/s rear wing that may need a smear of knifing putty prior to paint. Apart from that it looks perfect!

Thanks T,

there's a bit of work to be done, but we are happy with it :biggrin:

The master of understatement strikes again........

Aye, That's the reason this one was pulled from the sale batch. Unfortunately the mould had to be moved after gelling and before laying up so the gel moved. Rather than scrap it we thought we'd use it for our own line. Glad to say the new frame does its job admirably and the full sized floor pand make seating even lower than before. Up to now, this build (and number 2 which is following close behind) has been hassle free :biggrin:

Looking good. Could you give us pic of the floorpans, please.

Furthest travelled Ribble?
 

We've just waved goodbye :wave: to a kit we believe will be the furthest build. This one is going to be packed on a boat travelling to Brisbane Australia and I do hope the builder joins us on the forum.

http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/...pse3e4274d.jpg

Bye bye :wave:

Don't forget to load the front end!