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Go Back   Madabout Kitcars Forum > Mad Build Area > Vintage and Classic Roadster Kit Car Builds

Vintage and Classic Roadster Kit Car Builds For Vintage and Classic era kit cars. Post your build reports, problems and progress here

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  #461  
Old 9th February 2021, 07:45
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Mister Towed Mister Towed is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dpaz View Post
Mr Towed, It could be worse, you don't like the wrap, etc. But what if it was affordable and SOLD?
Hi Dpaz, not 100% sure I fully understand your question here, but the only issues I have with the Speedster under discussion are that:

The dash looks unfinished - I'm all for a stripped down, painted or bare metal look dash, but I feel that the Speedster dash at least needs the 'eyebrow' over the instruments to look its best;

The cream dials stand out as not matching the era or style of the rest of the car and just shout 'Kit Car' on what is otherwise a very high quality replica;

The rear numberplate lamp changed from above the plate to below it in '57, a detail change which coincided with replacement of the four rear beehive lights with a pair of integrated teardrop lights (using the 'wrong' combination of rear lamps is common on Speedster replicas and it's a dead giveaway that it's not an original to anyone who's 'spotting' it for originality);

Although the vinyl wrap looks terrific on this particular car, I would be concerned about its longevity - at best it'll last five years until it needs replacing and the experts suggest that it could be very difficult to remove without damaging the surface beneath when it does need replacing.

https://www.edmunds.com/car-maintena...ap-my-car.html

I appreciate that a paint finish might also need touching up or refinishing after a similar length of time, but you do still see sixty or seventy year old cars wearing their original factory paint and still presenting very well. I doubt you'll see a vinyl wrap lasting that long.

As for the price/affordability/SOLD status, I'm happy that the price is right - the seller is a well established company with many similar cars both on sale and in their 'sold' archive, so I'm sure they've got the price spot on and someone will buy it soon. That's good for us amateur builders as it pulls the values of our creations up alongside them should we ever decide to sell them.

Anyway, sorry for the thread hijack, Mick O'M, I know my posts can be a bit wordy, but I'm quite passionate about these specialist cars and like to promote the hobby whenever I can.
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  #462  
Old 10th February 2021, 10:02
Mick O'Malley Mick O'Malley is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mister Towed
Anyway, sorry for the thread hijack, Mick O'M, I know my posts can be a bit wordy, but I'm quite passionate about these specialist cars and like to promote the hobby whenever I can.
No problemo. Always interesting to read others' thoughts on automotive subjects .

Regards, Mick
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  #463  
Old 10th February 2021, 10:34
Mick O'Malley Mick O'Malley is offline
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Originally Posted by Mick O'Malley

I squirmed into the drivers side and adjusted the seat belts, which are the ex-WD twins of Paul's, I need a 10" rather than a 12" steering wheel (I'm not as accomplished a contortionist as I used to be)

Regards, Mick
My spiffing 10" steering wheel arrived in short order, so I shot down to the cave intending to fit it forthwith. However, the thought of fiddling with the tiny mounting bolts in the freezing cold deterred me, so I took this rather average picture instead to show how much easier it will make getting in.



I'd bought and added the Tricolores a few days before having seen them in an old photograph. The eagle eyed amongst you may also spot my similarly coloured but sadly faded Monza badged gear knob. I bought it in '68 or '69 from Les Montgomery in person in his Super Accessories emprorium, lashing out the princely sum of 7/6d (that's 37½p for you young 'uns). Happy Days!

Regards, Mick
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  #464  
Old 10th February 2021, 11:51
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...and for the really young 'uns, 7/6d was quite a lot of money back in the sixties, in today's money it'd be the equivalent of about 0.000000000000000000000000000000000001 Bitcoin!
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  #465  
Old 10th February 2021, 14:48
Lucky@LeMans Lucky@LeMans is offline
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I remember Bitcoin when it was first talked about. It was about $1.5 per Bitcoin. Thinking it was a good idea I was going to buy 500 but was put off because you needed to be a computer geek to get your hand on the currency !
Live and learn as they say !
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  #466  
Old 10th February 2021, 16:36
Mick O'Malley Mick O'Malley is offline
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Thumbs up Fitted

On fine days at this time of year, the sun is just high enough to bathe the south facing cave in its warming rays. Encouraged thus today, I ventured down and swapped the steering wheel. A couple of the M5 screws weren't cooperating so a gently pass with the drill was required. Anyway, half an hour and it was job done .



I took this much better photo' which shows both the improved access (the left knee/tunnel interface was the problem) and the famous gear knob in all its faded splendour. Once I've fettled the brake hydraulics I can now hit the road.

Regards, Mick

p.s. Before the expected barrage of pedantic criticism, I do plan to ponce up the alignment of the slots....

Last edited by Mick O'Malley; 19th February 2021 at 07:57.. Reason: Typo.
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  #467  
Old 10th February 2021, 17:44
paul_n paul_n is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mick O'Malley View Post



Regards, Mick
Mick

Is the black switch and green lights in the top left corner for the indicators ?

Does that cause any problems at MOT time ?

Paul
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  #468  
Old 11th February 2021, 09:48
Mick O'Malley Mick O'Malley is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by paul_n
Mick

Is the black switch and green lights in the top left corner for the indicators ?

Does that cause any problems at MOT time ?

Paul
Hi Paul

MOT? MOT? It's exempt. Only joking! I had that style of switch on the A352 and before that on my Mk1 Marlin Roadster without a mention from testers. Why would it be a problem?

Regards Mick
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  #469  
Old 11th February 2021, 10:44
paul_n paul_n is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mick O'Malley View Post
Hi Paul

MOT? MOT? It's exempt. Only joking! I had that style of switch on the A352 and before that on my Mk1 Marlin Roadster without a mention from testers. Why would it be a problem?

Regards Mick
In my 2cv days I came across a couple of tester hung up on the indicators not self cancelling.

On the 2cv there was a stalk in the usual place however from the factory they never self cancelled.

Least with a switch like that it is logical for it not to self cancel.

Paul
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  #470  
Old 11th February 2021, 11:12
Mick O'Malley Mick O'Malley is offline
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Talking Mictor O'Meldrew

Thanks Paul. Self cancelling indicators are one of my pet hates, along with other so-called driver aids. IMO they simply allow drivers to put their brains into neutral, rather than maintaining concentration. I chunter to myself when behind the wheel and "Manouvre, Signal, Mirror." aimed at the car in front is a favourite. I think the fault lies in learners being nowadays taught to pass the test, rather than to drive. Rant over.

Regards, Mick
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  #471  
Old 13th February 2021, 08:08
Mick O'Malley Mick O'Malley is offline
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Talking I can resist anything,

....except temptation.

Regards, Mick
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  #472  
Old 13th February 2021, 08:20
paul_n paul_n is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mick O'Malley View Post
....except temptation.

Regards, Mick
...and your not viewing it because ?
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  #473  
Old 13th February 2021, 08:52
Mick O'Malley Mick O'Malley is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by paul_n
...and your not viewing it because ?
I'm unsure if it would fit between my and my daughter's houses to get it down to the cave. If I knew how wide a Sherpa/LDV/Freight Rover is I could work it out. I just performed a search for this info. but couldn't find it .

Also, it's outside my permitted radius of quarantine travel, although I could always be testing my eyes...

Regards, Mick
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  #474  
Old 13th February 2021, 11:00
paul_n paul_n is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mick O'Malley View Post
I'm unsure if it would fit between my and my daughter's houses to get it down to the cave. If I knew how wide a Sherpa/LDV/Freight Rover is I could work it out. I just performed a search for this info. but couldn't find it .

Regards, Mick
So do I go out and measure the Sherpa/Freight Rover I have sat in my garage ?

Paul

Last edited by paul_n; 13th February 2021 at 12:28..
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  #475  
Old 13th February 2021, 15:33
paul_n paul_n is offline
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OK I did

Chassis rails are 34" apart

Outside of a front tyre to the chassis 17"

Making front track 68"

Outside of rear tyre to chassis 15"

Making rear track 64"

According to vehicle hand books I have :-

Width excluding mirrors 68"
track front 58"
track rear 56"

track is without saying that is to centre of tyre or outside [ wheel base is to centre of wheel's ? ]

Be very careful these figures only apply to the 200 series.

The 300 series was wider and I think only available in twin rear wheel format.

It looks to have the O series 1 engine , however I could be wrong , if it has that would date it easily ? 1978 - 1986 [ mine is a 1989 O series 2

It would lend itself to a LaFrance Peking to Paris look ?





Although I am sure you already have your own ideas what to do with it ?

Paul

Last edited by paul_n; 13th February 2021 at 15:40..
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  #476  
Old 15th February 2021, 09:30
Mick O'Malley Mick O'Malley is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by paul_n
OK I did

Chassis rails are 34" apart

Outside of a front tyre to the chassis 17"

Making front track 68"

Outside of rear tyre to chassis 15"

Making rear track 64"

According to vehicle hand books I have :-

Width excluding mirrors 68"
track front 58"
track rear 56"

track is without saying that is to centre of tyre or outside [ wheel base is to centre of wheel's ?

Paul
Many thanks for that Paul .

I braved the howling wind and pissing rain with my surveyor's tape yesterday afternoon and the net gap, taking the vulnerable soil pipes each side into account, is 92" so is more than enough.

Seems bidders are incapable of keeping their powder dry, pushing up the price by showing their hand early. I expect the vendor is delighted....

Regards, Mick
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  #477  
Old 15th February 2021, 17:13
Lucky@LeMans Lucky@LeMans is offline
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Mick, the Monaco is nearly done so you'll need a new project, go for it ! You won't find a donor Sherpa that cheap anymore, they're going the same way as early Transit vans and becoming collectable for some reason !
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  #478  
Old 15th February 2021, 21:28
paul_n paul_n is offline
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Mick

I would ask to see a picture of the other side of the engine ?

You want to see what they did with the steering box.

Why is the gear lever miles from the gearbox output ?

What is the strange mechanism on the front passenger floor ?

Where is the handbrake ?

Paul
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  #479  
Old 15th February 2021, 21:58
Dpaz Dpaz is offline
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Maybe the price is being 'helped' by a friend. A marlin Roadster recently went to £2K+ very quickly then stuck and closed at that. Suspicious, no? Shame about the Q plate. Maybe the handbrake is where it should be, on the outside. Please buy it Mick and remove temptation from me! BTW all sorts of older commercials are going up. They have simple electrics and are easy to fix. A lot of newer LDVs are being scrapped because of lack of electrical spares, so my son, a Sherpa owner tells me. He has one of the last 'simple' electrics vans and has been told to keep it going as long as possible by his garage.

Last edited by Dpaz; 15th February 2021 at 22:05..
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  #480  
Old 16th February 2021, 11:46
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Mister Towed Mister Towed is offline
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We used Sherpa vans in the RAF in the 70's and early 80's (I got one jammed under a Vulcan bomber once, long story...). We then switched to LDV's in the mid/late 80's.

The Sherpas felt lighter and quicker, handled really well for a van and were definitely more reliable - I recall that the LDV's would drain their batteries if left standing for a fortnight.

An old Sherpa would definitely work as a a base for a vintage car. It's just a real shame that this one has a Q plate.
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