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-   -   Mick O'Malley's Moss Monaco (https://madabout-kitcars.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6245)

Mick O'Malley 12th October 2021 15:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mick O'Malley (Post 98003)
I remembered doing similar in '91 to the bonnet of my Dutton P1, my third kit car.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4903/...6d662f62_b.jpg

I seem to have gone a bit mad with the rivets!
Regards, Mick

I bought this P1 in late 1990 for only £80, as the owner had enthusiastically T-Boned a Chevette at the end of his road. I cut off the 1" box tubular front suspension bay, took it to my welder, and had a new one made for £120. A special builder friend welded it back on for pocket money :). I used it for six months and sold it to a club member for £600. He found he couldn't fit in it so I bought it back for the same money, used it some more and passed it on again. Fast forward 30 odd years and it's appeared, fully restored, on Ebay. A nice little sportster, just as long as you're skinny!

Regards, Mick

Lucky@LeMans 12th October 2021 20:17

It's funny, all the kit cars I've owned over the years have never been seen again ! The only exception was my McLaren M6GTR by UVA. I caught up with that after two years at the now defunct Donnington Kit Car Show about 18 years ago !
Looking on the government website and entering various reg numbers from my old cars found a few more, mostly SORN and off the road for years ! Some seem to have vanished all together, exported perhaps or scrapped, I hope not !!

Mick O'Malley 22nd October 2021 10:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mick O'Malley (Post 106852)
My very short drive to and from the retro festival highlighted......a second problem relating to the rather vague remote gear linkage, the driver end of which is mounted to the body so is not in sync with engine/gearbox movement. This makes changes from 2nd to 3rd and back very hit and miss. I considered replicating the A352 solution of joining two butchered Triumph remotes with aluminium channel but this was a non starter due to the limited clearance. Sitting in the beast yesterday evening pondering the problem, I decided to fabricate a Ferrari style gate, so this morning I've ordered a small sheet of 3mm aluminium. Time will tell.

Regards, Mick

Before even making a card template, I carefully measured the throw of the lever in both planes and in all gears. It was apparent that a funky Ferrari style gate wouldn't be possible, so my dream of a highly polished one with a couple of dummy slots for that six-speed look quickly evaporated :(.

I went cardboard assisted design as usual, offering up the template whilst selecting all gears - I was reasonably happy that it was there or thereabouts and cut my ally sheet accordingly, with the gate slightly undersized for relieving as necessary. After six or seven trial fittings with judicious filing of edges and ovalising mounting holes in between it finally worked :) . I'll fit the tunnel end with a tech screw for now and cut it down to a nicer shape and put an M5 Rivnut in the tunnel when time and enthusiasm permit, tidying off with a gaiter from my seat cover fabric.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...61dc50c1_c.jpg

Regards, Mick

paul_n 9th December 2021 07:54

Mick

Is this a distant relative ?

https://retrorides.proboards.com/thr...-random-racers

https://i.postimg.cc/YCwPftw9/Austin-7-Hamblin.jpg

and

https://i.postimg.cc/vHdRXrrb/Hamblin-1959-01.jpg

all the best Paul

Mick O'Malley 9th December 2021 09:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by paul_n (Post 107213)
Mick

Is this a distant relative ?

Good shout!

Back in '68 my sister's then boyfriend bought an up-and-running Super Two, a kit which used that Hamblin Cadet bodyshell. It was the cheapest on the market at £99:0:0, although the floor was an extra!

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...e8019161_b.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...75933ded_b.jpg

It prompted me to buy my Lotus VI from the girl next door's boyfriend for £100 and spark a lifelong interest in kit cars. In the 80s, around the time I was building my first Dutton Phaeton, I joined the Fairthorpe Sports Car Club and tried to track down a Super Two, but without success. When the Monaco burst on the scene at £499 circa '86 I immediately sent for the brochure (a pound coin taped to card and an SAE were needed IIRC) and began a 30 year dream...

I've seen a good few Super Twos over the years at the Specials Day held at the Cotswold Wildlife Park each August, and have many photo's taken there, although this evocative period one is my favourite.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...0ee1feeb_b.jpg

There are a couple of FB groups which cater for nostalgia freaks such as myself: '50s/60s Special builders' and 'Homebuilt Cars from scratch or kits', both absolute mines of information!

Season's Greetings

Mick

Mick O'Malley 19th February 2022 09:33

Bromyard Speed Festival 29.5.22
 
Entries for this spiffing event, for both spectating and exhibiting, are now open. If mine's successful, I'll reprise this pose-athon :) .

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...0433f078_b.jpg

The Monaco's possibly a little down market for this prestigious event, but the chance of a slot in the parade lap, led by the Vampire Jet Car, is unmissable.

Regards, Mick

Lucky@LeMans 19th February 2022 17:17

Great event and worth a look if you haven't been before.
Not sure how the jet car will get around the streets of Bromyard, at 30 feet long, hardly any steering lock and no reverse !
Might enter my new Mini Beach project, should be done by then.

Mick O'Malley 2nd May 2023 10:39

Tonneau. Part 1
 
Tapping into my suddenly resurgent enthusiasm (for the Phaeton), I decided to attack the long neglected length of Double Duck and make my tonneau cover. Having been more than happy with the one my seamstress friend (now stateside :() had made for the A352, I plumped for a similar two part design, the passenger side of which would provide a modicom of draught protection.

I'd ordered a metre of the DD but ended with almost two as it was the end of a roll, the extra being FOC :). Retrieving it from the dark recesses of the cave and stretching it out revealed a marking that looked like a giant frog.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...33d86b16_b.jpg

I cut off a rectangle slightly bigger than the passenger side opening and, leaving a suitable margin for trimming, made an impression in the fabric by thumbing it hard onto the front centre male 'Lift The Dot' fitting. I could then march back down to the cave and attach the first female fitting. Mating the two and stretching the fabric back I could then similarly mark the position of the centre rear fitting. It was then repeat at a fitting at a time to ensure reasonable tension. The angle of the sun makes it look slack but it's quite taut enough.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...fb793dcb_b.jpg

This seemed to take an age marching back and forth to the cave fourteen times :rolleyes:. I then repeated the above for the driver's side, but this time fitting the first two to the remaining uncut length, generously marking the edges before roughly cutting it oversize.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...9df57346_b.jpg

Accurate cutting to size and binding the edges yet to do.

Regards, Mick

Mick O'Malley 6th May 2023 14:55

A couple of days ago, whilst waiting for the guy coming to collect my redundant Phaeton hardtop, I carefully cut to size the edges of the covers, replaced them and admired my handiwork but neglecting to take a photo'. Today I decided to experiment with sewing the edge binding, but using scrap off cuts for my inevitable blunders. After two or three false starts I managed to achieve an almost satisfactory sample by doing the underside first, then folding over the visible edge for stitching a little at a time. Excuse rubbish photo'.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...eacd65bc_b.jpg

I'm certain that sewing the unwieldy covers will prove quite a bit more difficult than my small sample, with concentration at a premium. Time will tell.

Regards, Mick

Mick O'Malley 5th August 2023 07:46

Je t'aime...
 
British engineering and imagination meets French enthusiasm :).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFe5PQ3ir4g

Mick O'Malley 24th August 2023 06:40

Gloucester Goes Retro
 
A quick plug for this event where, once again, I'll spend the day posing alongside the Monaco :)..

Regards, Mick

Mick O'Malley 27th August 2023 20:25

Bank Holiday Cosplay Fun.
 
Yesterday's sortie in the Monaco was to the above event, making three in a row to add to the A352's two.

Despite starting first touch consistently during the week, Friday night's damp had me in despair for a short while at 0715. However, leaning out of the cockpit and aiming a jet of Easy Start at the air filter got the job done. It's only about a two mile drive to the centre where the steward couldn't initially find me on her printout, which bizarrely wasn't in alphabetical driver order. I let her off as I was her first customer and motored the last 100 yards or so to my customary pole position for all day faux 50s motoring overalls/flat cap pose-athon..

The weather forecast hadn't been too clever but there were some good spells of sunshine before a couple of heavy showers mid afternoon which my home made tonneau cover dealt with admirably :thumb:. I lifted many delighted children in and out of the driver's seat for parental photo' ops, and chatted endlessly to a stream of interested punters, only one of whom identified the car's underpinnings before I fessed up. The most common question asked was "Do you race/hill climb it?". I resisted temptation when replying. Queried as to how much it had cost me to build elicited surprise each time at my modest outlay, again answering truthfully.

She started first time at my 1730 departure and I motored home in the sunshine having had a cracking, if tiring, day.

This morning, having noticed yesterday that the fuel gauge wasn't registering, I removed the rear number plate and just managed to worm my arm through the access hole I'd long ago cut behind it and successfully reattach the errant spade connector. This shows the two riveted on plates with M5 Rivnuts which take the attachment screws.

https://live.staticflickr.com/7924/4...979a5fd4_b.jpg

Regards, Mick

Mick O'Malley 10th September 2023 10:09

It took you how long?
 
Yesterday, after a week in which I addressed some of the remaining tweaks to my build, with which I won't bore you at present, I took the Monaco out for a couple of spins.

Firstly, I motored about a mile to my second nearest petrol station (the nearest involves a stretch of busy dual carriageway and I wasn't feeling very confident) and put about twelve litres in on top of the couple of cans full of possibly stale old juice. I was waylaid on the forecourt by a curious guy on a pushbike and a young lad on an e-scooter who said "That's the sickest car I've ever seen." Praise indeed!

Reeling from the heat on return I waited for some high cloud to arrive, and set out on my usual test run up to Painswick and back (7.4 miles x two, according to Goggle). This involves a decent hill climb outbound and a scenic photo' op mid way. Sadly, my camera's batteries died as I took a couple of shots so illustration will have to wait.

Climbing the hill revealed two things:1) The standard fan (which had a floppy blade which I broke off long ago, as well as the one opposite it to maintain balance) struggled to keep the gauge out of the red, and 2) She pulled like a train despite the 15" wheels, even in top :biggrin: .

So, a couple of jobs for this week before venturing to Shelsley Walsh next weekend: 1) Fit the electric fan I found in my shed and 2) Move the electric pump switch to a more sensible location - it currently (no pun intended) lives behind the passenger side seat back.

Regards, Mick

Mick O'Malley 12th September 2023 09:42

Fan-nying about.
 
On Sunday I pitched in early to address radiator fan fitting. I first offered it up to the ample nose space and decided to hang it from a lateral bar with downward angled bottom supports. Each side of the inside top of the bonnet opening there was originally a glassed in wooden stiffener, the offside one of which I had partially replaced with a sturdy length of aluminium angle to bridge the missing chunk cut out by a previous owner for DCOE Weber clearance. The upper support will mate with these, the lower two with existing holes in the Triumph radiator supports on the frame rails beneath. After seeing what was available on Ebay I bought a couple of metres of 15mm x 15mm x 2mm aluminium angle which should arrive in a couple of days.

So, yesterday I addressed the wiring. First job: disconnect the battery's earth lead! Searching through my box of switches I found one to match the existing, tested it and drilled its new home hole in the dash, using my stepped bit. Why I didn't buy one of these decades ago I do not know, as the previously half-hour job was completed in a couple of minutes, including smoothing the edges. I ran the switch's feed wire from a spare spade on the ignition switch and another from the former's supply side through the bulkhead to a fused relay I had decided to mount on the engine side. Probably not essential but better safe than sorry. I ran an earth wire from it to the frame rail beneath where there was an existing drilled and tapped earthing point. I then used 17amp wire both from the starter solenoid to one of the relay's switched spades, and from the other along the engine bay side to in front of the radiator, leaving enough length spare for connecting and tidying up. I likewise ran a 17amp earth wire from the fan's proposed home straight down to another of my demon earthing points.

Let's hope the nice man brings my ally angle soon so that I can complete the job, when I will post again

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...7e940921_b.jpg

Regards, Mick


Mick O'Malley 17th September 2023 06:02

Almost there...
 
Over the last couple of days, having received my ally angle, I've pitched in with my fan supports. From a left over strip of the ally I'd used to locate the fuel tank, I fabricated four angle brackets to locate the ends of the angle to the body. Two can be seen at the top and bottom of the picture. I used a Tech Screw to locate the top one into the GRP/wood support, the other (and the two bottom ones, having decided on a bottom lateral support) with M6 nuts and bolts.

The 15mm depth of the angle provided insufficient bearing for the fan's leg supports so I made natty pop riveted on fishplates to take them. Note the felt tip F reminder to ensure that I didn't repeat my usual trick of getting things back to front/upside down when assembling down in the cave :rolleyes:. It took multiple tries, nibbling a little off each time, to get the length right (and many many more for the lower one) to bridge the opening accurately.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...782dc207_b.jpg

Once the top support (joined to the fan's legs with M4 nuts and bolts) was in place I could carefully dangle the fan, with its bottom fishplates attached, to mark their locating positions on the temporarily wedged in bottom angle. This done, with extreme care, I could then begin final assembly. I'd almost finished when both rain and lumbar discomfort called a halt, with only the end body mounts of the lower angle and wiring attachment/tidying to do for another day.

Regards, Mick

Mick O'Malley 17th September 2023 14:08

Job Done :)
 
This morning, the forecast thunderstorms having failed to show up, I finished off the fan job. Carefully manoeuvring the bottom length of angle until it was aligned with the top one, and judiciously tweaking the angle brackets at each end until they sat snugly against the body, I drilled through from the outside, using the 'hit and hope' method. My careful measuring paid off and the M6 fixings soon had everything rigid.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...937a85cd_b.jpg

The wiring proved a doddle and, after blowing the 3A fuse I'd long ago temporarily fitted to the relay to test continuity, and replacing it with a 20A, the fan blew a treat.

Regards, Mick

Mick O'Malley 21st September 2023 17:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mick O'Malley (Post 108624)
So, a couple of jobs for this week: 1) Fit the electric fan I found in my shed and 2) Move the electric pump switch to a more sensible location - it currently (no pun intended) lives behind the passenger side seat back.

Regards, Mick

Happy with the fan installation, I turned my attention to the switch. The existing is a bathroom pull switch located against the RH side (as you look at it) of the vertical plywood panel shown, and hidden behind the absent, in this picture, battery.

https://live.staticflickr.com/4897/4...63a30de4_b.jpg

My thinking was that a potential thief would never guess why they ran out of petrol after a couple of hundred yards. The power for both the switch and the pump's fused relay came directly from the +ve battery terminal, their respective earths from a terminal block I'd mounted on the boot floor with a stout cable to the -ve.

After a bit of head scratching I decided that the simplest solution was to break the relay's earth and extend it along the existing loom on the passenger side, up to the switch on the dash, and from that to my frame earthing point in the engine bay below the loom hole in the bulkhead. This was a doddle except that the switch I'd selected from my box turned out to be a dud which passed current irrespective of position. I substituted a tested one from the box and all was well functionally. However the replacement switch is a tacky looking plastic abomination, so I've today ordered a repro Lucas item which matches the one below the horn push. It's located to the right of the indicator warning light, its matching fan control twin symmetrically to the left.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...308ce294_b.jpg

Regards, Mick

p.s. It's the Lotus at 75 themed retro meeting at Castle Combe on Saturday and the weather forecast is good!

Mick O'Malley 24th September 2023 09:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mick O'Malley (Post 108635)

p.s. It's the Lotus at 75 themed retro meeting at Castle Combe on Saturday and the weather forecast is good!

Yesterday I attended this event and, sadly, was underwhelmed. Given the good weather I'd anticipated an absolute flood of Lotus but I think the best represented marque was Caterham. I left at lunchtime having seen only one car that truly blew my skirt up.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...f46d742f_b.jpg

My camera/Flickr seems to have enhanced the colour somewhat, but it was a beauty.

Whilst loading it my computer recognised the one I'd taken of the Monaco on its first real outing, having previously ignored it. Weird!

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...b7b85dca_b.jpg

Regards, Mick

Lucky@LeMans 24th September 2023 12:11

Wow, that Maserati looks fab ! Is it and original ? It almost looks too perfect.
Chris at Tribute has a buck for one of these, don't think he has taken a mould yet but it is on my radar as a future build !
Some of the shows can be a bit underwhelming that's true but finding a gem like that can make your day !

Mick O'Malley 24th September 2023 13:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lucky@LeMans (Post 108637)
Wow, that Maserati looks fab ! Is it and original ? It almost looks too perfect.
Chris at Tribute has a buck for one of these, don't think he has taken a mould yet but it is on my radar as a future build !
Some of the shows can be a bit underwhelming that's true but finding a gem like that can make your day !



The programme reads: No.78 Richard Wilson Maserati 250S 2490cc 1957 Red. If you went for the Tribute, what underpinnings would you go for?

Lucky@LeMans 24th September 2023 15:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mick O'Malley (Post 108638)


The programme reads: No.78 Richard Wilson Maserati 250S 2490cc 1957 Red. If you went for the Tribute, what underpinnings would you go for?

A bit of googling and it does appear to be an original !
As for a base car the Maserati has a narrow track and short wheelbase so it lends itself towards a "7" style chassis. Some of engines they used were 4 cylinder twin cams like the Fiat / Lancia / Lotus designs with twin side draught carbs. So a replica under bonnet area could be created too !

Mick O'Malley 1st October 2023 10:31

Matching Switches - ish.
 
A few days ago, when weather permitted, I swapped the tacky plastic switch for the 'Repro Lucas' item I'd bought on Ebay. It has a galvanised looking finish, unlike the chrome original, and the mechanism behind is encased in a soft plastic shell rather than the hard black plastic of the Lucas item. Only time will reveal if it will A) tarnish and/or B) fail early. I'll keep looking for an original on Ebay.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...a72656a7_b.jpg

It's the one to the right of the indicator gubbins.

Having fitted the electric fan, I began wondering about the thermostat as I couldn't recall having fitted a new one - a trawl through this blog proving fruitless. There was one fitted, which I removed for testing - it was a dud, refusing to open in a pan of boiling water. Not a lot of good. I ordered a new one c/w gasket and cleaned the mating surfaces of its housing and the top of the water pump. Once it arrived I fitted it, fired her up, and watched in dismay the resulting mini Niagara :(. I think the problem was the tissue thin gasket. Anyway, I've ordered a couple of new ones and some likely looking gasket goo, having not found a supplier of my reliable six decade standby, Red Hermatite. If all goes well I shall take her to Prescott next Saturday.

Regards, Mick

Car photographer 4th October 2023 09:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mick O'Malley (Post 108638)


The programme reads: No.78 Richard Wilson Maserati 250S 2490cc 1957 Red. If you went for the Tribute, what underpinnings would you go for?

Yes that's real, I was there at castle combe too and spoke to him briefly, I've also photographed that car at silverstone classic too

Dpaz 4th October 2023 10:12

Underpinnings? Got to be a GT6 or Vitess 6 anything less would be sacrilege,no?

Lucky@LeMans 4th October 2023 19:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dpaz (Post 108647)
Underpinnings? Got to be a GT6 or Vitess 6 anything less would be sacrilege,no?

Some of the OSCA cars by the Maserati brothers used a Fiat based twincam engine ! The MT4 being a good example. But yes, a straight six would suit it well !

Mick O'Malley 5th October 2023 11:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mick O'Malley (Post 108644)


After posting the above last Sunday, I decided that the very distressed volt meter was rather spoiling the overall effect, so I hit Ebay searching for used same. After ploughing through the plethora of mis-advertised ammeters :rolleyes: I found a nicely presented Tudor branded one BIN at a reasonable price which was delivered, very well packed, yesterday.

Not having been successful two days running in using the instant gasket installing the new thermostat - ham-fisted, moi? I set to releasing the LH end of the dash, wedging it open with a block of wood to marginally improve the meagre access, having first disconnected the battery's earth. Despite removing the recently installed switch just above it, I couldn't get enough purchase on the gnurled nut holding it on. OK, remove the fuel gauge immediately below for a try that way. Having done that, which was a struggle in itself, I was just about able to access the nut with long nosed pliers - a squirt of WD40 and lots of cursing and it was off. Having put its replacement in I remembered that a nicer fuel gauge had come with the Phaeton so I dug that out of my box of clocks and substituted it. Reinstating the dash and re-connecting the battery I was delighted, if not amazed, that they both worked a treat. A hat trick of successes was achieved as I'd spotted a dodgy connection in one of the tacho. wires and remade it so said clock now works consistently :). No picture as yet.

Today it's back to the thermostat housing problem. Third time lucky? Maybe.

Regards, Mick

Mick O'Malley 5th October 2023 16:08

D'Oh!
 
This afternoon I had another crack at fitting the thermostat housing. Once it was off I began removing all the instant gasket which was stuck like the proverbial to a blanket, first from the housing, then the top of the water pump. It's held in place by two screws, one of which is much longer than the other. I noticed that there was water from yesterday in the longer tapped hole so stuck a screwdriver in to clear the mystery blockage. Not possible, as the sheared remains of the 55 year old screw were stuck halfway down the tapping. I ground a little off the end of the broken screw and fitted it with a plain washer so that it wouldn't bottom in its hole: I think this was probably the fly in the ointment. I also ran a die down it and its oppo as they were fairly rusty. I again cleaned both the mating surfaces with acetone before applying the instant gasket, waited the recommended ten minutes for it to skin over, and reassembled. According to the blurb it takes 24 hours to fully cure, so I won't top up the rad and fire her up until tomorrow. Fingers crossed.

Here's the dash with its replacement clocks, looking much better IMO.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...bd8b13dc_b.jpg

Regards, Mick

Mick O'Malley 7th October 2023 18:42

3rd time lucky.
 
Yesterday I uncovered the beast and, in true pessimist fashion, topped up the rad. and fired her up. Bingo, not the tiniest trace of leakage. However, there was vapour floating up from the exhaust manifold. I first assumed this was carelessly spilled water soaked into the exhaust wrap and boiling off. No! A quick sniff indicated oil. Aaaaaaaaagh! So, out with the home made ramps kindly donated by my Polish ex-neighbour when he quit the UK.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...e061bbe2_b.jpg

Worming underneath with a wander light revealed damning evidence of a leak, but from where? I first checked the sump bolts and got a hit: they all needed at least a quarter turn, so I'm guessing that the gasket had shrunk over the years (decades?) of inactivity. Rolling back to earth and the smoke had vanished. Result!

Today's imagined sortie in her failed to materialise as my daughter had inadvertently boxed me in, her mind being elsewhere yesterday, and I didn't want to harass her at stupid o'clock. So, off to Prescott in the tin top. I'd not got far when I fell in behind this top-down Mk1 Sprite which I followed all the way to the venue, the pilot turning out to be a competitor.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...220c7294_b.jpg

There was the usual fabulous assortment in the paddock, which included, to my eye, some real gems. Chief amongst them was this glorious Allard J2 powered by a 3917cc flathead V8 with an overhead inlet valve conversion.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...62e1f50d_b.jpg

Next was this 1920 Bugatti with a novel front track modification.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...ce4e973e_b.jpg

Last but by no means least was this 1380cc A series powered A40.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...2e1e882b_b.jpg

All in all a brilliant day out to round off this year's accessible speed hill climb season. Roll on 2024!

Regards, Mick

Mick O'Malley 11th October 2023 15:11

Tonneau Tidying
 
Having worked out, at long last, a workable partial solution to my Phaeton's imagined engine mountings, I ordered some box section ally which I hoped would arrive today. No such luck! So, I turned my attention to trimming the Monaco's tonneau cover. I'd originally intended to edge it with the special tape in black but a trial run with an off-cut of the double duck, also black, with black thread had my eyes popping out, despite brightly illuminating the work area with the Anglepoise lamp. Thinking back to the A352's tonneau, I decided on body colour matching trim. The trim has to be folded over the edge of the fabric and held in position whilst sewing, tricky to say the least, so I decided to iron it folded first. My second hand sewing machine had always been a bit jerky, despite my having given it a good clean and lube overhaul on purchase. I realised this morning that I'd not done the same with the accelerator pedal. Opening it up revealed ancient fluff and light corrosion on the rheostat, the latter responding well to contact cleaner. A spot of oil on the hinge and its operation (tested power off) was way smoother. Result!

I then remembered that I'd fitted the 'lift the dot' gubbins after my now departed Stateside seamstress friend had edged my A352 tonneau for me. The fasteners would need to be removed from three sides of each half to be double sure that needle breakage was avoided. However, the long centre edges of each half had sufficient overlap meat for me to make a start on one edge.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...0f35b7eb_b.jpg

Taking it very steady with the now super smooth machine saw me completing my first attempt with reasonably tidy success. Once the metal fasteners are off (there are 28, each with four tabs to be bent up!) I can both do the rest of the edge and work out how to make tidy corner joins.

Regards, Mick

kon 20th October 2023 14:27

Excellent work. Looking forward to seeing the finished cover.
I now see who to turn to when it comes time to make my leather seat covers :)

Mick O'Malley 28th October 2023 09:27

Many thanks for encouraging comment Kon :).

Sadly, my domestic sewing machine couldn't cope with leather and, as a committed vegan, neither could I. Faux leather vinyl, however...

Regards, Mick

Mick O'Malley 5th November 2023 13:29

They're never really finished...
 
I remembered this morning that my poncey custom reg. no. has been languishing on its DVLA retention certificate for three years now, since its removal from the A352 'D-Type'. As the Phaeton I'm building is on a Q plate, and the no. would simply look wrong on my Jazz, I decided its last resting place should be on the Monaco :).

Reading the blurb on the V778 which details the hoops which require jumping through, I also remembered that I hadn't affixed the Spitfire donor's chassis plate to the Monaco. Digging it out and offering it up to likely locations, I plumped for the scuttle brace as favourite.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...e2c0ef2c_b.jpg

The handbrake lever made aligning the drill for the LH rivet hole tricky, which has resulted in the plate being slightly off level. I persuaded myself that this simply adds to the overall quirkiness :rolleyes:

So, tomorrow I can get the necessary paperwork together and make my application to DVLA. I already have pressed ally black and silver plates which I purchased in the 80s for the imagined Moss Midge which never was. The reg. no. was originally on a 1950s Minor 1000 in Lincolnshire. I found it advertised in The Sunday Times in '72, it cost 35 quid, a fortnights take home pay then. Bizzarely, MDO 1 was for sale in the same ad. for a mere 400. Dream on! Vanity doesn't come cheap!

https://live.staticflickr.com/4867/4...276517df_b.jpg

The 'D' is for Desmond. I'm thankful that my father's wish that it should be my first name was vetoed by SWMBO!

Regards, Mick

Mick O'Malley 11th November 2023 10:06

A testing time...
 
Earlier in the week, whilst hitting the DVLA website to make my 'Cherished Number' transfer application, I learned that, despite the Monaco being MOT (and tax) exempt, a current test is a prerequisite. I know I've been a little cavalier to have not bothered so far, but will nevertheless find out soon if my faith in my building ability has been misplaced. I'll keep an eye on weather forecasts to ensure a dry day for booking. I'll go to the place which sympathetically tested the A352, as they let me sit in my cramped creations whilst they poke it about on the hydraulic ramp.

Regards, Mick

p.s. I know a second pair of eyes etc. blah blah so please don't preach to the (partially) converted... :)

kon 14th November 2023 09:31

I would have assumed that you'd get an MOT anyway, after all this work, as an easy way to prove that it's now road-worthy again, (for insurance at least). I think i'd want to get one anyway, like you say, for a 2nd pair of eyes.
I watched a kit-car helper video the other day which said you should get an MOT before taking a car for IVA, which was news to me. I thought that was the whole point of the IVA, but apparently the MOT man actually creates the new entry in the system for it, not the IVA man.
I cant wait to see this thing in the flesh... do you already know which car shows you'll be taking it to next year? :D

Mick O'Malley 14th November 2023 16:30

Hi Kon

First of all, many thanks for your interest. Seeing more than 170,000 hits on this blog is gratifying, but there's nothing like the personal touch :).

Whereabouts in the country are you? My regular events are Shelsley Walsh; Prescott; Castle Combe; Gloucester Goes Retro; and possibly the Kit Car Show, although if this year's is anything to go by, it's withering on the vine. There's also a small meeting on the morning of the third Sunday of the month at Cheltenham's Staverton Airport attended by sundry petrol heads. Every year, on purchase of the next's calendar, I hit all the venues' web sites and ink in their dates. I also sometimes fork out for a copy of Classic Car newspaper which has a decent section regarding the subsequent few weeks' events. Fingers crossed for decent weather in '04!

Regards, Mick


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