I think another consideration re the glass is if we are able to get it! Some older vehicles have the narrower width, but of course are less likely to be available.
The MGB is great (except for not having the very curved sides), but is (probably - please correct me if not true) readily available and likely to remain so.

are there any van/lorry screens you could use?

That's good thinking Gary. The problem is finding something small enough from a commercial vehicle. I wondered about the 50s/60s Fiat Multipla, but thats as rare as the original. I hoped those tiny Japanese vans might do but don't think they have curvature at the edges.

VW Transporter?

:icon_smile: I was thinking that too. VW camper van or transporter. The one after the split screen has some depth on the side. If turned up side down.

Thanks to all who are following this thread for comments and suggestions , sent from my B&B in Dorchester , working here for the week , very convenient for Tribute! Geoff .

http://www.pilkington.com/europe/uk+...ss/default.htm

Pilkington have a plant where they specialise in classics and made to order. A complete bespoke is a couple of grand, but they do have loads of 50s and 60s in stock.

The VW Type is probably too wide. I think Japanese Kei cars will be the right size, though have no idea how to bring a screen here. This one's the Nissan be-1 which looks to be a good size and shape

http://www.2000gt.net/Nissan/Retro/Be1_03.jpg

I tried them first but they have no pattern for the SWB rear screen. They tend to have patterns and stock availability for the front screens of all manner of exotics though.

:pop2: has anyone tried a saab 900. 90's windscreen not sure if its too curvy but has nice depth on the side. not sure on width or depth.

How about MGB GT ? I reckon thats gonna be your best bet as its the only one that will fit the aperturre that chris is using !

Picking one up this morning :icon_razz: Geoff .

Good to see you today Geoff. Very helpful to discuss things in person.

A little more progress to the rear

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...ps459dc180.jpg


And a little progress to the front. The distortion of the upper front panel due to the whole front not sitting correctly/requiring some widdening has made it all go a bit Ast*n M*rtin.....

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4ad709f4.jpg

You'll be building every 60's sports racing car soon :-)

Steve

Alfa GT Junior rear screen? too much shape at the bottom?

should be easy enough to source, and get the all important chrome trim etc

And it's an Alfa, nd that's at least Italian and from the '60s!

Al

Chis

this project looks so good
that i've gone out and bought myself a Z3
put me down for a kit when you pull the molds please.

Hi Guys,
Been talking to a member on here and he has pointed me into the direction of the skills of Chris as I'm looking at a project for the coming year.
I nearly missed this tread and must say it's looking amazing and will be watching and following with great interest. The 250SWB is one of the best looking cars of all time, in my opinion.
Not wanting to offend or upset anybody but simply trying to help here.
Are you aware of this project http://www.automirage.co.uk/GT_Project.html
Might give us all some inspiration. This is obviously a different and costly approach and will need SVA.
Any more updates on this build.
Chris, when will this be available to new builders?

That is exceptionally nice. I fear you'd be able to buy a pretty decent genuine classic/decade old Ferrari/4 year old 911 for what it's likely to cost. Best I buy a Euromillions ticket...

Looks like the inside of Tribute Automotive :icon_lol: Geoff .

Don't know if you have found decided on the rear glass but have you looked at the Renault Laguna. Saw one today and the rear glass has a nice curved shape to it. Might work.

Evening Rudycob1 , sticking with the MGB GT , i bought a rear hatch complete with glass when i was working down in Dorset and dropped it off with Chris and have purchased a new screen rubber which i will be sending down with some *old style MINI door handles* , Geoff .

Glad to here that you are sorted with the rear glass.
Those Mini handles will look good. Very similar to the original handles.
I was wondering what you were going to use and was thinking Fiat 500, old style.
I used to have one and they are also similar but I think that the mini handles are more freely available. Really interested in this build. It's looking great.

Hows it going geoff
last time i saw your build was taking great shape. The outline was pretty much their

:shocked: have you decided on colour and interior. wooden steering wheel and knobs or chrome detailing. the silver in the pics look nice. exhausts , ive decided to go for a twin exit with slash end dtm style.

Good afternoon Zagmad , body colour will be a close as i can get to the shade of Silver/Grey used on a 250SWB for the early 60s Le Mans , the interior work was basically removing all the internal Black plastic including the section that sits on the transmission tunnel and replacing with Black carpet , then covering the handbrake and gearstick with new leather gaiters from a MGZR! , removing this section of black plastic meant cutting down the section of dash that holds the radio and switches , which if anybody is old enough to remember know looks like the the dash add on kits that used to be fitted into the original Mini (just in front of the gearstick) , exhaust will almost certainley remain as standard (great believer in retaining original mechanicals). Wood steering wheel would be nice but can an air bag be removed without issues? Geoff .

I absolutely love this, the shape is superb and a credit to Chris. I especially like that it is a coupe, so much more practical.

Air bag can be removed easily enough (disconnect the battery first, or it may activate upon removal l!)

But there may be problems with zealous Mot people, and perhaps issues with the ECU which may notice it's missing.

I did exactly this with a car of mine with no such issues, bit it may not work for everyone.

Best to research this in-depth first. Hope this helps.

Good luck with whatever you choose.

Ref the airbag i realise that all Tribute car owners would have one type or another of Kit Car insurance but where the original car in my case the Z3 had an airbag as standard could the insurance company expect that feature to remain? i guess it may be possible to negotiate with your insurance company first to see what there reaction would be? Geoff .

Airbag
 

Hi,
Ref the airbag, if you re-body the car, I suppose it follows that you register it correctly and call it whatever.

Then, when you come to insure it, the company usually will give you a form to fill in ,or ask you verbal questions.

Make sure they know it has no airbag, there may be no need to invite trouble and tell them it's been removed, if you see my drift?

Speak to 'A' Plan specialist insurance brokers, they actually knew what I was talking about when I contacted them about insuring my self built pride and joy.

I also paid £93 for a year's fully comp when I renewed with them on my 2 litre spyder, down from £99 the previous year. :party:

Some airbag electronics store a charge (capacitors?) and the recommendation is to leave a while (30mins?) after disconnecting the battery before attempting removal. You may have to put in a dummy resistor (called a squib I believe) in place of the airbag so that the ECU is ok.

Geoff, as previously said I love what you and Chris are doing with this project and following it closely.
Have you got any update pics that you could load on this site.
Have you started thinking about the front grill, lights, and will you be looking at a way to put chrome around the windscreen, rear glass and doors. Also fuel filler cap and any chrome bumpers or over riders?
Keep the good work up.
One thing on the air bag. I removed mine from my DNA430 and was OK with insurance. You will need to blank the warning light on the dash as otherwise this will be an immediate MOT failure. If it's not on, they will not check it. Hope this helps

It is 5 minutes between disconnecting the battery and removing the airbag on a Z3 accoreding to the YouTube I saw.

Morning Rudycob1 answers to your questions would be ,
Grill will probaly be made up by a friend of Chris , if not certain Peugeots have something that looks the part!
All lights bought (old style) sealed beam headlights and Carello side and indicator lenses to be attached to Lucas holders , plus my pride and joy expensive *Original* front wing repeater indicators
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...24774040_1.jpg

WCA has already spoken about the chrome and i will probaly follow suite and use chrome wrap and see what happens , no bumpers or overiders for my *race * look , there are people selling resistors on Ebay that are supposed to mask the removal of the Airbag which may be the way to go rather than removing the dash to work on the bulb!
I am hiring a van and driving down to Dorset on Wednesday to pick the bits from the Z3 that wouldn`t fit in my Alfa 159ti , bonnet etc so will take some more photos then , thanks Geoff .

Geoff
Really like what you are doing with this.
Look forward to more update pics.
There are aftermarket chrome windscreen surrounds available for the Z3 if that's of interest to you.
Chrome wrap is OK but will not give the 3D effect. I have been looking into this and was wondering if there if a flexible enough chrome strip that can be used around the windscreen and rear screen and a wider moulding to put around the door frame. I suppose this will be trial and error.
Love those side indicators.

If you like the side repeaters, I have similar in clear glass. Check my thread and pm me if you want them

Cheers Nick i am sorted for the rest of the lights , Geoff .

Geoff's SWB is coming together nicely. The rear end is nearly all there, next stage will be to glass all the parts together and start filling and shaping.

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...psfb8dadf5.jpg

Having brought the front end up the windscreen by a couple of inches has removed the clearance issue over the top mounts on the front suspension struts and has the bonus of improving the side window opening too.

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...ps96d66c77.jpg

The Z3 doors aren't a bad shape when viewed from the side but belly out in the centre, this will be sorted by adding new door skins.

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...ps24558dbf.jpg

The rear valance seemed a bit deep and bulky, so it was unscrewed and pushed up 1.5 inches. Much better.

http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/...pse0b70352.jpg

Really looking good. It's starting to take shape. The glass works well and looking forward to seeing the rest of it coming together.

O my god i started off with a Z3 which then turned into a AC Kobra Coupe and know the MG *Leyland* never built:roll: i visited Chris yesterday to pick up the large bits off the Z3 , 540 miles round trip in an excellent hire van from Enterprise on £83 worth of diesel , know to put some adverts on Ebay , Geoff .