From concept to reality
 

I liked the zagato inspited Z300s but the more I looked the more it should be a modified swb - as others have commented the rear is much closer to the DB4 Barchetta.

So It was back to the drawing board literally.
I love the classic swoopy lines most modern cars lack but I didn't want an old looking car.

I was tempted by the concept cobras in the Kobra and Danny's thread.
Especially when I saw Danny's finished car - looks great and the colour is perfect.

I showed my son and he said "yeah looks good but still looks like an old fashioned car"

So I sat on google images and youtube trying to find inspiration.

I wanted the presence of a cobra with its purposeful stance.
I still love the zagato with its low slung nose.

Add to that Listers and Lolas and I still want to use 18" wheels and modern lighting.

Sketch after sketch I started looking for the answer.

Im still refining the details but I have the basic concept pinned down.

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/...psuwhfvgfp.jpg

No photoshop here im afraid - just pencil and paper
Im still undecided on the rear diffuser details and each sketch they still change.
As does the wing vent.

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/...psu1a5wn0d.jpg

In an attempt to visualise it further I tried using paint but im not very good with it.

The front is under wraps at the moment as Chris will help me turn a sketch into a reality.

Feel free to comment but please don't slag off my drawing skills

Never going to slag off someone else's drawing skills. you should have seen what I went to Chris with when I did this for the original Z300S*

It is great fun, and slightly frustrating too, sketching and fiddling with the ideas. I had the advantage of being bed bound for 6 months so lots of time on my hands.

Remember, it doesn't have to be perfect. Chris is great at listening, understanding and interpreting what it is you are after.


* Early pages of this thread : http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/foru...ead.php?t=4253

Thanks Nick
I was worried taking a handful of sketches to Chris but it was a joy when he said "I get it"
I could see he had the design in his head and as we found bits and pieces in the workshop that had the basis of the shapes I had drawn I knew that we were on to something

The rear is ok but its the front im proud of.
In fact the rear will be z300s based so part of your design evolves. :)

My toughest critic is my son, Owen. He has seen all my weird and wonderful creations.
He said its "awesome" lets hope I get the same approval on the finished car

Looks good, have you looked at the rear end of Anthony's Bertini?

Could be a good base for what your looking for on yours.

yes its horrible
its sharp angles that in my mind don't match the front end and in the flesh it looks like not much thought went into it.

reminds me of a Dutton or early Silva Star/leader rear end

If you've seen an eagle speedster or bmw z8 that inspired the rear end then you will know what I mean

The drawings are a lot better than most of us could manage ..just those 2 pics show it will be something worth building

The drawings are a lot better than most of us could manage

Are you sure they are better than mine?

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-t...ifications.bmp

:-)

I really like the idea and love cars that look modern but take their styling from classics (think Eagle speedster, modern Cobra or even F type Jag). The drawing looks great too. I will watch this with interest!

Which donor are you using, Z4?

Are you going with a z3 donor?

In the early stages of me wanting a newer style cobra, my 1st idea was to usea z4 donor and make the panels fit. As chris had a z3 kobra advertised on ebay i decided to buy that and go down the z3 route and now mines finished I do regret that. The z3 interior is what lets my car down in my opinion. If you want a newer looking final product the id go for a z4 donor or a mk 2 slk

SLK roof might be an issue. Heavy, restrictive for styling, slow, metal and integrated into the body to make removal hard and leaving it in place means the boot stays fat.

[pedant mode] The Maserati 300S body was designed and built by Medardo Fantuzzi.

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d6.../DSCF2142a.jpg

[/pedant mode]

A tribute to Tribute that Chris can take someone's concept and build it.

Good luck with your project- will you keep it as a one-off or "licence" it for copies???

I thought of the mk2 slk as they are getting cheap now, similar price as a Z4. The Z4 works for me but I'm not too fussy on the interior and I like what mercedes do with théirs

Look on my 'on the road' thread for a video of an SLK and see the issue with the hood

Thank you for your kind words

It will be built on a z3 I bought a donor and I like it a lot more than I thought I would.

Hopefully 18" wheels wont ruin its driveability too much.

I believe it will be available in some form but that's for Chris to decide and why I haven't posted pics of the front.

The rear is being played with by me.
Its a challenge- a great shape but not a single flat spot makes fitting modern lights something to think about.

I have chosen fiat coupe rear lamps all functions in 4 compact round lamps and an added bonus is they sit recessed into cups I can blend into the body.

The rounded back also makes cutting a diffuser in a little more interesting - no off the shelf bumper has anything like these curves.

However I think I have a cunning plan :)

Mark, I have had a look at your chosen headlights in their original setting today, I think they are going to require some more work to the Z300S headlight buckets than I originally thought due to being more vertical. Not a huge problem. Looking forward to making a start in a couple of months.

I have 20" alloys on my Kobra and the ride is affected dramatically however thats the look and feel I wanted to achieve...

http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/...psouj1wepx.jpg

I fitted a rear diffuser from a peugeot 407 coupe....

http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/...psy1gpdtdy.jpg

(the exhaust is getting modified next week)

Roadster, I really like your sketch/design. It clearly shows what you are aiming for.

I hope you don`t mind but I have tried to convert your original sketch/design into a Photoshop image.

http://oi61.tinypic.com/2mmtidf.jpg

It´s not exact but I hope it inspires you.

Nice and curvy.

seperated at birth?
https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/i...nFqWhtyOR7-1Kg

Yours is more curvy and less effeminate

Nice... just try to keep all TVR styling cues out of sight !!! Nothing against them (I've had three) but it's starting to say Sagaris to me.

Great job im jealous - I cant get on with photoshop
Its very close to my idea the front wing vent needs to follow the shape of the trailing edge of the wheel arch.
my idea was to exaggerate the front wheel arch.

What's the diffuser you found off of?


Ian no TVR styling cues - I don't want Chris to mould in huge panel gaps :)

Nick I confess the rear was heavily inspired by a post in "what do you want Chris to build you" and lots of Cobra concept rears

In fact DSG4ME's post

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/...pszktjyf85.jpg

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/...psbpy59e5x.jpg


More like this
Im looking forward to the day I can reveal the front end.

Yes, I like that front vent a lot better. The rear diffuser I have used is a modified Peugeot diffuser similar to the one on Danny_HUFC,s Kobra.

Im a big kid and I have checked with Chris
I have to wait until Christmas to see in real

So heres the front

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/...pscbwwtu3d.jpg

Im really happy with the styling cues from lots of my favourites
Grille and bonnet vent obviously a nod to the Cobra

The low sloping bonnet and low headlamp position a reference to the prototype Aston Zagato DP209's.

Colour scheme is still to be confirmed but Dannys Graphite coloured Kobra is impressive.
At the moment im leaning towards this....

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/...psyaito3nm.jpg

Wow...:smile: It really looks great. You have got a winner there.
I think the graphite grey would be an ideal colour, the same as those black and red alloys.

Thanks DSG$ME
After the response I received when I posted the rear I was expecting more comments on the front.

So either you all like the rear more

or

You cant see anything wrong with the front

or

more likely no ones interested :P
Its ok I'll get my coat

Ofcourse we're interested, maybe a bit of photoshop would help.

Here is a PS sketch of something similar just to get an idea of what Roadster could be aiming for.





http://oi62.tinypic.com/w6s9j5.jpg

How about grill folding over the top of bonnet...

http://i1076.photobucket.com/albums/...e/IMG_0247.jpg

It looks well, have you an idea of the headlights your going to be using?
If your going going down the modern look as I think you are, I would reconsider using fiat coupe rear lights as the amber colour to me screams out old car.

I like that very much, though would prefer for the top of the front wing vent to be higher - to the top of the wheel arch. It looks disjointed as it is.
The front is good too, and reminiscent of a modern cobra interpretation posted previously on another thread. The front design will be made or broken by your headlamp choice, something aggressive is needed due to the sporty nature of the design and that may be difficult to achieve with the soft shape of round headlamps. A good starting point will be to ignore the FIAT 500 lamps chosen by Anthony. Anything should be better than those on this type of car.

Is it Z4 based and have you had a project date from Chris for the build? I like it so much I'm interested in knowing when they'll be on sale. Any idea?

Thanks DSG4ME I knew you would whip up a visual for me.

I have chosen fiat 500 front lamps - I tried bmw mini but they look huge in the new lower position.
Danny I know what you mean about the fiat coupe lamps - I intend to tint all 4 of them smoke colour.
Its not a perfect soloution but the fiat bezels lend theirselves to the curves of the boot and they contain fog and reverse in a very small area

She is Z3 based and I believe Chris will have the project ready in December but worth giving him a ring

Without getting melodramatic over this, I strongly suggest you reconsider your headlamp choice. Fiat 500s are designed as pretty, cute, small, friendly little cars, and they meet those criteria perfectly.
You want a snarling, evil, in your face car with the presence of a wolf with a flickknife. Look at the Bertini and tell me fiat 500 lights suit it!

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/...psdvajwnxj.jpg

I hope you don't mind DSG but I used paint again crude but im trying to show whats in my head

Y cymro I agree im not sure on the wing vent but I think I need to see in the flesh before I finalise.

Bertini is a Jag D type front end with a XK8 bumper blended to it.

The Austin Morris Mini is small cute looking car.
But it has a 7" sealed beam that was in C type D type E type and AC Cobras

I know what you mean but its all about how you use parts in a holistic approach.
Its common place in the specialist car market to use mundane parts Lotus and TVR are obvious with it.

Seeing my idea what headlamps would you choose.

What about Porsche 997 headlamps.

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s...96912dbcc0.jpg

No, it's a unique design. I think Anthony's done an exceptional job of designing a good looking car in its own right. Though I think it would be better with different headlights.

I can only remember round 7" headlamps in the early 60s and every car had them!
A difference between the original Mini and the new 500, is that the former was a superb, simple, pragmatic design for a small family car, whilst the latter was designed deliberately to look cute and evoke the past.

A holistic approach is important and that's what I'm suggesting: an aggressive sports car built using similarly themed, aggressive-looking parts. Putting cutesy headlamps on it can't be construed as holistic.


That was purely around cost saving and is something often picked up negatively by journalists during road tests. Manufacturers have been doing it for years and sometimes it's acceptable and sometimes it's not. If you remember the Austin Maxi, you'll remember it had Austin 1800 doors which compromised the design of what, at the time, was regarded as a clever car (though still shite imho).

Are you sure new Mini headlamps wouldn't work. This Mini design is quite similar to yours especially if you cut 200mm off the bottom of it

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s...6ABDE565A1.jpg

The Puritalia 427 is a similar concept. Not sure of the provenance of the headlamps though

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s...51F10B7034.jpg