Scottie's Tribute A352 build

[swifty]

One sweet looking car there Scottie, well done and i look forward to a vid.

[Bobby Dazzler]

Handsome or beautiful? Both!

[Paul L]

Scottie - Many congratulations on the first time MOT pass.

You now need to take a series of glamour shots* to bring your build thread to a close.
( Before you start your new "Scottie on the road" thread. )

You had a "simple" plan to build a fitting tribute to one of the coolest cars ever made.

Whilst the build may not have been simple, you have certainly achieved your goal (and them some!).

This has been an epic thread, for an epic build and a real inspiration for me.

Well done that man.

Enjoy, Paul.

* Note:
"Glamour shots" refers to your beautiful car, not a collection of topless photos of yourself!

As I hear there is a certain tribe that believe going topless will anger the car building spirits.

[Scottie22]

Thanks for the back-slapping fellahs!

I forgot to mention yesterday, that I took the car down to my local scrapyard, where much of the ally, stainless and bits and bobs came from, and put it on the weigh-bridge, as I was gagging to see how much weight I had saved.

Well, I was disappointed on that one! The Triumph given weight of a Spitfire MK IV is 720 kilos, and mine weighed in at 700.

So after all the heavy stuff had gone, I only saved 20 kilos!

Still, as the original had around 97 BHP per ton, and with the K and N and better exhaust, I would think I'd gained 5 or 6 BHP, so mine will be about 107 BHP per ton.
It is reasonably lively to drive, but the looks and noise does it every time!

P.S. A real one weighs in at 900 kilos so I'm lighter there!

[redratbike]

Was the guy from the scrapyard impressed with use of all the bits you aquired off him?

[Scottie22]

Not really redratbyke!

You should know that scrapyard dealers are hard-nosed bastards
that are only impressed by cash notes!

[jones]

I'm going to keep this short as all I will do is re-list the superlatives already deservedly given on what is a truly fantastic build and importantly I think everyone agrees with the amount of dedication you have put in the output is whole heartedly deserved!

Leaves me to say... Well Done! I hope to see it in the flesh although by your accounts I might just hear it first.

[Scottie22]

Thanks jonesy!

Deggsy, this post is for you, and anyone else building an A352:

When it comes to putting the body on the frame, the body has to be low enough to start with. After its on, only the chassis can be lowered, which may not be enough for that mean look.
This may not apply to you so much, as I know you are not using a Spitfire as a base.

I know some people do not like spacers and negative camber too much, but wheel bearings and tyres are easy to replace, and in my opinion, a price worth paying for the right look.

Also, the handling and ride are often improved by these mods.

The following pics show what I mean more than words:

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[Scottie22]

Well, I had intended to take my car to E Type day at Prescott hill, but somehow, it never worked out that way!

I was on my way to get some lead-addative stuff, just in case my re-con engine, (which came in the donar) had not been rebuilt with the right valves, and I drove past the fuel station, intending to fill up on the way back, as the fuel gauge was reading one quarter, when the engine spluttered, and I came to a halt, having run out of fuel!

Immediately an MX5 pulled up and offered help, it was a young lady, and I told her I needed fuel, so (love her) she said "petrol or diesel"?

I could imagine Sir William Lyons having a smile at that one, anyway she came back two minutes later with the petrol, and in it went, I paid and thanked her and I was off.

I always carry a gallon can of fuel in all my cars, but had not got round to doing it in this one yet.

On the way back I did fill up, and bunged in the lead stuff.

A friend came round to inspect the car, and told me he could smell petrol,
to cut a long story short, a small 4 inch bit of rubber fuel line (which had looked sort of new) had gone a bit spongy, and by the time I had jacked up the car and replaced it all, it was too late to go to bloody E Type day!

Anyhow I did go for a really good drive around, and that did put a smile on my face.

I did not take any pics, but promise I will shortly.

[deggsy]

Scottie I understand what you are saying my car has already been lowers by 1 inch front and rear the wire wheel adapters bring the track out a bit but the wheels are a rather skinny. I'll have to see how the body sits when I fit it. Thanks for the heads up

[Retroman]

Scottie - the monthly breakfast club at Shelsey-Walsh is quite near us. Take it there next month (there was a meet yesterday). You're bound to raise loads of eyebrows!

It looks great, BTW!

A.

[Scottie22]

Well, today I drove the car all over Hereford looking for every speed bump that I knew of, and believe me there are a lot.

I successfully got over every single one, of course I had to slow down, and the grand-daddy of them all, was the one at Aldi's!

I thought I could never ever go shopping there in the car, but HAD to try, I cheated a bit, as coming out of the car park, I went over the bump a bit on the diagonal, which of course flattens it out quite a lot.

So there we go, I have so far covered over 200 miles, and all the Heath-Robinson things I have put on the car seem to all work well, including the "header tank" abortion, its been very warm, and the car has not boiled over yet!

The exhaust system is also working well at the moment, which please me.

There were a lot of doubters about that too!

There have been lots of admiring looks and comments, and so far NO ONE has asked me if its a kit-car, which really pleased me.

One chap asked me how old the car was, so my distressed-look efforts were not wasted!

The most frequent question is "Is it an E Type?" and "is it a Jaguar?"

Of course its smothered in Jag badges and Jag bits, but they still ask.

And just about everyone says "really love the colour" So that was worth it too.


I took it out in the country and took some pics:

I suppose I have to take the advice I have been given and start a "Scottie on the road thread"

Here are the pics I took today:

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[8 Valve Ed]

Very good Scottie, looks really nice. Makes a change from battling trying to make things fit eh?

[Scottie22]

Certainly does Ed!
I've never even sat in an XKSS, never mind driven one, but roaring round the country lanes in mine has to be the next best thing!
It really feels like the real deal!

[Paul L]

Scottie - Great photos, your car looks amazing.

Originally Posted by Scottie22

... so far NO ONE has asked me if its a kit-car ...

Even if they did ask, the honest answer is still no, as you didn't actually buy an XKSS kit now did you?

No, what you have sir is a bespoke / custom / scratch build, and a very good one at that.

Enjoy every minute, you've certainly earned it.

Cheers, Paul.

[Axel]

Very nice Scottie, well done!

It looks excellent and your colour choice is fantastic!

[Scottie22]

The saga drags on...........

I was adjusting the carbs today, and my driveway slopes quite steeply downwards to the main road, and I had not put the handbrake on hard enough, and, while under the bonnet, the car starts to move down the drive, heading towards a rocky bank, I had instant visions of a crumpled nose and smashed light etc!

I had to do something bloody quick, so I dived over the side-screen, and wrenched the handbrake on fully, which stopped the car just short of major damage!

I was not so lucky, in the rugby dive, I badly cut my hand on god-knows-what, and worse still broke a rib because the side window did not give at all, and nothing broke except the rib!

The cockpit was covered in blood, and I was well pissed-off.

So I know the door/hinge/window etc are very strong to have taken my complete weight and been undamaged.

Anyhow, life goes on, and I spent the rest of the day in an absolute orgy of roaring about all over the place just having fun fun fun!

The most asked question today was, "is it real or a replica?"

Things like that make all the work worth while I suppose.

Before I went out, I did a "Steve McQueen ", and removed the side screens. I found the car was more pleasant to drive without them, it seemed to give the driver more freedom, and there was no buffeting at all, the windscreen seems to deflect the airflow very well in that respect.

I may well put them back on in the Autumn.
(Without the screens, it is easier to get in and out of too.)

[a big scary monster]

Your giving WCA a run for his money of late? Good job you dyed the seats red, the blood will just add to the old race car patina. Ed.

[reneanglia]

Well done Scottie............and removing the screen allows you to look COOL WITH YOUR ELBOW ON TOP OF THE DOOR.......

[obr]

Sorry to hear about your injuries.

I've been checking this thread daily keeping up with your progress, and having now seen the end result I'm really pleased that after all your hard work it has paid off.

The car looks stunning.

Olly