275GTB bumpers
 

Hi,

The Harrington bumpers are marketed as being 'to original style / spec / fit' so far as I can understand these things.

On receipt, I noticed that the main cross section of the rear bumper was NOT square / would not sit flat on a flat surface.

Harrington's view was that it might still fit, but they inspired no confidence in me if that was their standard. There are plenty of blogs out there from other buyers expressing various concerns. The 275 rear body on the Z3 is slightly wider where the side sections wrap around and this complicates the fit between the sides and the main rear section. I may find a little further improvement.

Harrington do not give tolerances for their products.

At £1500 I did not expect a sub-standard part.

It is all too easy to see the 'beating out' marks on the metal; they are clearly not pressed out, which Ferrari maybe. They are well polished. The metal is thinner than I would expect. They are painted black inside. The appearance overall is not unsatisfactory. They do look very good, design wise, for this car.

Currently there is very little alternative for a set of stainless bumpers [for a number of cars]. Perhaps in future, with quality scanning, things will improve. These days an old car can be scanned and whole panels made as 'exact' replications. Chroming plastic is a growing area of technological advance . . .

Knowing what I now know, it is probable that I would buy the same again.

You are welcome to come and see them.

Kidge.

Updates and travel
 

Once the schools were back Carol & I set off on a trip down through France via Le Mans, the Dordogne and the Pyrenees to Sos del Rey Catolico in Spain. Returning via the Isle d'Oleron and the Eurotunnel.

A tyre change has made the car steer slightly better, by fitting a 215/70 R15 [Vredestein] to the rear - raises it an inch - and a 215/60 R15 [Continental] on the front - about standard ride height. Pressures R:34 & F:30. The rear arch is better filled and more 'period'. Here we are at Guzet near Aulus les Bains in the Pyrenees.

Attachment 4586


The fog & reversing lights have been moved back under the bumper by a couple of inches, as you can see, though the sheep are totally disinterested. In an attempt at discretion the GB plate was printed off and laminated - euro stars included . . . plus an aluminium front plate.


Attachment 4585

In the boot is a 'baguette box' made of spare pieces of plastic and a piano hinge. The bread fits in quite well, but we used it for a large array of tools, which were not required.

Attachment 4587

However, we had a little problem which may tax your grey cells: when the lights - side or main - are turned on, the engine cpu or the throttle sensor partially & temporarily limits the fuel supply / varies the ignition - very similar to when one lifts off the accelerator - saving fuel. Any pressure on the accelerator rectifies the situation, but it is an irritant. Anyone else had this experience ?

It may also be the same 'conflict' that causes the auto gearbox to change up of its own accord from M4 to M5, which it seemed more prone to do when it was wet - usually meaning the lights were on.

On motorways cruising around the French limit of 130kph oil consumption is very low. But on the mountain passes [including snow over the Tourmalet] oil was being consumed at an alarming rate of about 1 litre per 500 hard miles.

We have tried to fit some guttering over the door tops, with limited success. The basic form comes from a Lotus derivative, which we have bent in various directions to fit / bolted through the door 'return' and sealed with Butyl. Room for improvement. How wide can the gutter gap be ?

Attachment 4588

Over the last 40 years or so we have mostly toured on large motorcycles and organised weekend breaks and holidays of up to a fortnight in Europe. Might the club enjoy such a thing or perhaps we ought to start with a weekend in England ?

Finally here is a photo from the top of the Puerto Sos pass with Sos del Rey Catolico in the middle distance. The Parador here is a very good one, on the hilltop of the old town. The man who unified Spain was Ferdinand the Catholic born here in 1452.

Attachment 4589

As they say in tThe life of Brian, you lucky, lucky b*****.

How did you do they gutters, I like them a lot.

gutters
 

The gutters were purchased as a long strip of aluminium with a curved bend along the full length for the gutter. I then cut then down and bent them to fit. Probably they are too tight against the roof edge and I'll have another go at pulling the gutter edge out 2 - 3mm.

Thanks, it looks like a great job, well done.

Looking very good indeed! Have a look at old Mercedes sedans for guttering. Fairly soft aluminum and shape easily. Used this on a Zagato replica a few years ago. Worked perfectly.

Kidge - That first photo with the mountains in the background has got me singing "On days like these." :cool:

Sounds like a great trip overall and I'm sure the car got a very positive reaction.

Cheers, Paul. :)

Great trip Kidge. Awesome to see the car out in such a beautiful habitat....it fits right in. Next time bin the tools out of the baguette box, but maybe add an old school quart of oil! Keep us updated how you go fella, but loving action on the car.

V5c.
 

The DVLA issued a new logbook today with our preferred 'Make', as a Coupe and no extra bits . . .



Attachment 4595


Here is a link to the quoted Munro song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQIRbV_noi8 with a beautiful lack of the ugly and unsightly armco.


In the sixties, I was more into the Doors, Stones and Pink Floyd, but watching a Miura in Alpine scenery is a pleasure. Had a demonstration drive in one in about 1970.

Here is a try at supplanting a crash barrier and disguising a ski resort:



Attachment 4596

The great thing about building these cars on a decent Z3 is that such trips are most likely to be trouble free wrt the car, and even if problems arise, getting a bmw fixed should not be a holiday killer. Glad you had a great time, and looking forward to doing something similar next year in mine.

We all love the Matt Munro song, an all time classic.

Here is one of my favourites but you hardly ever hear it , reminds me of holidays in the Alps and touring around France.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pqWAdw6ceA

275gtb on Z3
 

Wow!!!. That is beautiful, and I am talking about the car not the scenery (although that is beautiful too). That is just how mine should have turned out if health had not got in the way but my wife does not like the colour - tough!

Hi Kidge, hope things are well. Any developments on your kit in the last few months or have you been holed up in the winter hibernation after your great trip on the continent.
Really interested to see how you are progressing. Cheers Mark.

We have used the car a bit when there isn't salt on the road, but thinking of some anti-rust treatment . . .

The headlining on one side has come unstuck, so will have to remove the panel and re do.

Put it in a paint oven [about 55 degrees for 40 mins] and very little showed up of concern. We have some new seals to try around the doors. Then looking for some fibre / fill finishing and paint next year.

Good stuff Kidge, nice to see it is getting some use and keeping it active. Sorry to hear about the headlining, but there is always something in these projects that will raise its head as trouble. Sure you’ll sort it.
Good to hear the paint oven hasn’t unearthed too much, that is my big fear with the harshness of the nz sun is brutal and how the kit reacts and flexes is a big concern. Are the doors struggling to keep dry at the moment due the custom windows? You doing most of the prep work before paint or are you going to give that to others to have a play with? Cheers.

All the best for the season as well to you. Good luck with the doors, doesn’t sound too major so you’ll work that in no time hopefully. Are you making any changes that need big glassing talents? Or are you just looking at primer fill and flatting etc. Get a book from Santa and you never know you may surprise yourself!
Look forward to your further progress. Cheers.

Hi Kidge, I am always trawling through your build thread keeping my inspiration going waiting for the panels to be finished. I really like how you did the lower sill stainless stripe on yours so may be attempting something similar on mine. How’s things going with yours? You been able make any changes or further progress on the car? Been able to enjoy it in between the rough weather? Cheers Mark.

Moving on
 

Good stuff Kidge, a lot going on then. Will be well worth it when finished. Have you finalised your colour? Assuming you are sticking with the blue tones with the interior? Can’t wait for the first of type back on the road and proudly driven when the sun breaks through! Please post as you make that progress as we are all looking forward to that point. All I can do is covet at the moment trying to catch you up! Cheers.