Must be overdue for an update.

Is Kidge going to do a build thread?

Progress . . .
 

On October 20th Chris & Dan 'dry' fitted some panels, as seen here; they took away the front end to modify - in a fortnight 'he said . . .'

Meanwhile I am thinking about what is here, what isn't and what I can do about it all.

What is all this soft white filler ? Some new skills are required.

The bumpers look nice.

Attachment 4025
Attachment 4026

Good luck with your build , I'm sure it will look stunning when its done !

Looking good this far!

Is there a way to shorten the rear a few inches, raise the wheel arch opening, and raise the "bump" so it's highest point is above the center of the wheel arch? it would be more visually pleasing and closer to the original. Sorry if I sound like a critic but maybe it's possible to do this at least for the spyder version. I don't know if it's possible on the z3, I know it's hard to get the nose down because of the radiator support.

http://i.imgur.com/hZ6Wd5c.jpg

Rear view looks dead on and sexy!!!

I think at this stage of the game its only right to wait and see the prototype in a more finished state . Until you see a finished car its hard to judge how good it will look or otherwise. A full on side view doesn't do a car justice , you need to see the whole car viewed at all angles to see how the proportions work. I'm sure this design will work and even more so as a convertible version.

This shot shows the rear end "bump" position , looks to be the same relative position in photos above.

Any progress with this? Looks great.

Are there still no updates on the 275?

Probably on the back burner until Stoneliegh ?

Updates?
 

Is anything happening with this build?

This is the car that could make me pull the trigger. I love the DNA Cal Spyder but I need a roof where I live. I'm in far North Queensland, Australia and whilst we get over 300 sunny days per year, it's too hot to have the roof down. I'm originally from the Lake District so don't handle the sun too well!

I think this with aircon could be my long term dream car.

I know the z3 has a soft top, but I would never drop the top so a hardtop makes more sense.

I had an Elise for a while and never took the top off - too hot here.

I might be wrong but earlier posts by Tribute suggest they will only be offering a convertible version.
It would be nice to hear from Tribute / Old No 7 with an update on this project.

Slow progress
 

This project with Chris at Tribute is moving slowly forward.

We are still waiting for the updated front 'valance'.

The plan is to have most of the modest interior work and exterior finishing ready to go BEFORE bolting / bonding the panels in place.

The soft top aluminium bracket, that the fabric fits into on the body, is usable as a finishing 'edge'. A transverse wooden bar is replacing the plastic boxes behind the seats. Bought a leather hide - Martrim. A leather lining is due for much of the ex soft top 'well'; same leather for the door cards and possibly the steering wheel. Speakers will be on a wood base, between the roll cage and the wheel arch, where the soft top frame used to be. Will fit a grp board, with Woolies Grey all wool headlining; pus foam each side; dynamat extreme and a lead foam sandwich from CBS. Fitted a fan under the 'parcel' shelf.

The door handles and catch mechanisms are part ready, but far too complicated and costly in time and funds - may look good though. The standard door mirrors are fitted onto the grp skins; will try and get them heated. The bonnet struts may be uprated, but there is limited room for a 22mm body. The boot catch has been lined up wrong and declines to work.

The rear light indents will be rebuilt. The front winkers recesses also need a complete rework to face forwards. The mis-alignment, shorting, deficiencies of some panels requires attention. Recently welded a metal strip up the rear window frame to give the same width as along the top. Plastic windows in hand. Just now some door seals are ready for trial: two seals will be fitted along the top and up the rear edge. Bought from sealsdirect and Woolies.

Fabricated some stainless brackets for the rear bumpers. What to do about a wobbly roof ? Have cut out vents in bonnet and rear 3/4 - will add grp when panels off again. Talked to glass men about inserts in rear vents. Put threaded inserts in bonnet for catches, as 'tapping' threads into grp is not wise. Planning inner wheel arch extensions / replacements with 3mm canvas / rubber sheets. Possibly change front suspension units and fit taller 70 profile tyres ?205 / 215 on the 15'' alloys etc . . . front wing interference ?

Anyone with experience of epoxy coating grp ?

The plan is to do most things then photograph and text a long entry.

Not idle but still a long way to go; please be patient.

I am sure it will be worth the wait in the end.

Good luck, Paul. :)

I also recall seeing that Tribute would only do convertibles. I think there is a market for a hardtop (include me in that list).

I remember that DNA very graciously stated they wouldn't do a hardtop 250SWB to avoid stealing business from Tribute. Perhaps they could consider a 275 hardtop? I think a 275 is sufficiently different from a 250 for DNA to not be pinching customers. Personally I would be in the market for a 275 but not a 250 so DNA wouldn't be stealing my custom from Tribute.

Don't you go asking DNA to start on a 275, they should be busy beavering away on the 365 Daytona!!!

There is a thread on the DNAOC website but for some reason I can't post on it.

As Tribute/No7 have the mould for a hardtop I can't see them refusing a few one off"s. I think the idea of soft top only was that it would be easier, cheaper and quicker to make and sell.

I understand that a soft top is cheaper to produce, but if a hardtop costs more, then they could charge more and therefore make more.

I'd pay the difference - as I said, I live where the sun is brutal. 34C in Summer and 26C in Winter so I need a roof and aircon. A 275GT would find a spot in my garage.

I thought this was a one off hardtop on the understanding that the kit can be sold to the public as soft top only?

I guessed that, and presumed he didn't want to bump into another hardtop in England. I'm about 10,000 miles from England so no dramas there. As has been said - if someone has created a hardtop buck they aren't likely to scrap it without making a few cars.

Coupes ?
 

Might not DNA see a 250GT Tour de France as a logical development ?

Attachment 4114

Oh yeah I like that

Are they still going to market the convertible?

Also wonder what happened with the outsourcing of the molding of the SWB that was supposed to increase quality of bodies? Did that actually happen?

That Tour de France GT looks bloody gorgeous! Interesting it has the chrome trim atop the sill - kind of vindicates it's use on a SWB as some have already done. neat and tidy

The sill trim is exactly what I am intending to do. Thanks for the picture.

I emailed Chris just after Christmas. Looks like the development of the 275 convertible is on hold for the time being. I read in another thread some time ago that "some" grp work was being outsourced but being finished off at Tribute.I think they are busy supplying existing orders.
Probably best to contact Tribute directly for an up to date answer.
I did talk to Nubodi earlier in the new year about painting my Triumph Roadster but they are very busy and fully booked with builds / paint until August.

Ah OK -thanks. Didn't contact Tribute directly because I'm not looking at purchasing anything at the moment so would be wasting their busy time - was more curiousity tbh. Are you going to build one?

Not sure how this project managed to get from the top pic to the bottom one, I guess there's no motor fitted in the first picture.

It'll be a real shame if the body can't be made to fit the donor as well as it does in the first picture as it was turning out to be a great looking car.

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4fpxgmre.jpg

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...ps2uypkjvu.jpg

It looks to me as if the bonnet isn't pushed closed in the 2nd picture. The bottom front of the bonnet has been removed, it was going to be fixed to the body with the front bumper, hence the higher closure line.
It does look very close to being finished. I would image the windows could be a stumbling block but of course no problem for the convertible version.

Rebodied Z3
 

Attachment 4340

Looking out for Z3 kitcars:

Here is an original and unusual Stefano Possati B32 from Italy, with a Lancia Aurelia radiator grill. Built in about 2013. It was a Z3(M), but with Coupe door window glass. Searches produce few close up photos.

It comes from the Mille Miglia Design group: http://www.virtualcar.it/mille-migli...efano-possati/

That is truly hideous.

What happened to the 275? It looked so close to being finished.

Not the prettiest conversion I have ever seen .....

I hoped we might be seeing a prototype on display at Stoneliegh but that looks unlikely now.

That conversion looks like a spoiled dream. Cannot believe they pursued it to the end.

The pic looks a bit photoshopped ..hopefully it is !!

They could have sorted it then haha

Mister Towed,
It is not very easy to make a 275GTB body fit on a Z3 as I have found out. The overall dimensions are close but for a start the 275 nose is very long.

Modesty and progress.
 

The Possati was shown as someone's product. It has qualities and a style different from
anything else visible on our horizons. It may or may not be beautiful, but it is original.

As a complete novice when I embarked upon this development, of a Z3 body conversion,
the lessons learnt have been significant. Many of you are decades ahead of things here in GTB land.
So far fellow builders have been patient with a slow pace of growth. There is a suggestion that
the GTB NART / convertible will move forward this summer.

Currently, the pressure of a time schedule is pushing me onwards. Often a pleasure,
but sometimes testing and frustrating . . . you may know these symptons . . .

My hope is that the car will be running in early June and shortly afterwards, I shall try and get
some text and photos up here.[/FONT]

Egdik - I certainly know the "testing and frustrating" parts of building a kit.

However, it is a great experience when you finally get to drive it on the road.

Your 275 project certainly looks like it could be amazing when finished. :cool:

So good luck and keep us posted, Paul. :)

275gtb otr
 

Attachment 4405

Here we are on some Dorset Heath, heading to the Tribute OC on Saturday. More to follow.

Well that looks very nice indeed. LOTS of photos to follow please! Is the paint matte, or is it just short of final painting? Your car has turned out very well and I'm jealous.