Thanks Paul, hadn't seen it but it's very nice indeed.

Couple of little jobs to finish to get the Midget fully roadworthy - new shocks, oil change and recondition/balance the propshaft (I've outsourced that job) - then I can get on with my own Outlaw build.

So, no updates for a while as the very nice summer whizzed by and now it's nearly 2019.

Yesterday was the Brass Monkeys run from Brandon (Suffolk), through Swaffham and on to Wells Next The Sea (both Norfolk). I'd have loved to have been driving my Speedster (fingers crossed for next year) but had to settle for 'Iris', my '73 MG Midget, which you can see here sandwiched between a Rover P6 and 50's DeSoto -

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...ps60z1sg2m.jpg

The event is a very casual affair and attracts a wide selection of British classics, customs, rat-rods, US classic Muscle Cars and modern exotics.
Indeed, I followed a newish Lotus Elise with a registration ending 10TUS down to Brandon, easily keeping pace with it right up until the 40mph zone we were in ended, when it went off like a scalded cat while making a very agreeable noise in the process.

Among all the customs attending, this truck stood out for me for its elegant simplicity -

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...pssawarqqx.jpg

And just to show that the North Norfolk coast is a mecca for classic car enthusiasts, this Bristol Zagato wasn't actually part of the procession, it just happened to be parked outside a chip shop in Wells -

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...psvsb7bkgu.jpg

I have a few jobs to do to make Iris perfect - finish the hard top, a couple of oil seals to replace and a little attention to the paint, then I'll be getting on with my Speedster (finally).

Happy New year to all classic and kit-car nuts, and I'm hoping to see a lot more cars finished and on the road in 2019, including mine.

Just a little more work needed on the Bermuda style hardtop before it's ready for paint, and it does look as if it's going to fit well enough -

https://i1186.photobucket.com/albums...psuyykkgad.jpg

Then I'll be able to start making use of the Outlaw Speedster parts that I've been gathering over the last six months or so, including:

...suitable seats -

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...pspldykjdi.jpg

...a 550 Spyder moulded flyscreen -

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...psizq5gocx.jpg

...and dash -

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...psh9x7gxtn.jpg

...a pair of Marchal fog lamps -

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...psow0jzuvx.jpg

...and a pair of genuine Porsche European spec headlamps -

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...ps8xxc500s.jpg

More updates next year.

Looking forward to the speedster updates mr T.

What colour will the hardtop be on the midget?

Funnily enough, I'm looking forward to the Speedster updates too.

Midget hardtop is going to be RAL 5011 Steel Blue, which is a very, very dark blue. Should contrast nicely with the Iris blue body. The perspex rear window and roof lights are also blue tinted so it should all gel together nicely.

Hi Mr.T,
Looking good so far. The body seem to be of a very good quality and shortening the wheel base was very straight forward. I am curious how you are going to mod the doors. I always liked the look of a Speedster and I wish you a good luck with the build. Looking forward to see the updates next year. Thank you for your advice and support with my build too and Happy New Year.

Regards, Deni

Hi Deni, once I've mounted the body onto the chassis via a steel subframe I'm in the process of fabricating and centred the wheels in the arches, I'll take a section out of the centre of each door.

I'll then 'glass them back together with the halves mounted in the door openings to make sure they'll fit. I'm also toying with the idea of bracing them internally with aluminium sheet, both for strength and so it looks like an alloy body if you look inside the doors.

I'm aiming to create 550 style interior door panels which have large elongated holes to give access to the simple door 'pulls' and will also allow a pretty unobstructed view of the inside structure of the doors.

https://i1186.photobucket.com/albums...psdpziqiwu.jpg

Target is 'on the road' for Goodwood in September, so I'd better crack on with it!

Mister Towed – Great to see an update on your thread. :cool:

Although there is something funny going on with your most recent photos?

As they appear properly sometimes and then other times they are missing or a “X”.

I am sure all the lessons you learned during your Spyder build will serve you well in 2019.

Good luck, Paul. :)

I'm playing catchup on this thread/build, but i'm liking the way it's coming along!

Can i also spot some new toys since the Sammio build? i.e. the Clarke load leveling hoisty thingy (i think that's it proper name? :) )

Hi Paul & Dave. Still using Photo$ucket for pics so it's a bit hit and miss, I can't see the image of the Marchal lamps or the 550 screen myself today but they were definitely there yesterday.

I bought the load leveller thingy hoist to help get the engine out of the Midget as it doesn't have the luxury of a flip front like my Spyder did. I'm still toying with the idea of making the Speedster flip front, but the bonnet opening is actually very large so I might just leave it as Porsche intended.

Made a start on the doors today. Here's the problem, they're now about four inches too long -

https://i1186.photobucket.com/albums...psfc6zurfx.jpg

Bit of measuring and marking up with parcel tape -

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...pslirkqc2u.jpg

Chop, chop with the old angle grinder -

https://i1186.photobucket.com/albums...psveyyniv1.jpg

Then use some of the cut out section to line up the two halves -

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...ps9kpu15ul.jpg

Once I'd lined the halves up in the door opening I stuck the two halves together with bonding paste, 'glassing the inside for extra strength -

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...psk07ziohe.jpg

And there you have it, one shortened door -

https://i1186.photobucket.com/albums...pswu7retud.jpg

There's a bit of work needed to get the panel gaps looking their best, but they're not too bad as it is.

Got to love fearless angle grinding on a build. :cool:

Wow, that looks great Mr.T. It's been a while you've done this door mod and I am looking forward to your following posts. I hope the build is going well.

Cheers, Deni.

Picture 2, is that the same angle grinder that Mouller used to cut his door handles with?:biggrin1:

A 9” is a little overkill

No his "friends" did that with a chainsaw!!!!

Actually, I did that. My "friends" bonded the door skins on and I had to move the handles as they were too low to open the doors. They also did not fit the window frames (work in progress to address that one). Not to mention the pillar trims bonded crooked. I do have replacements (thanks Chris) and the originals are now off the car.

Sorry for the thread drift guy's...

For your viewing pleasure...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVXlN1AG064

Thanks for posting Paul, fantastic video!

Terrific, love those seats. Need to be getting on with mine, really...