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Having bought the very rotten 250 SWB wooden buck that was on ebay recently, I finally had a chance to take a proper look at it this week and all the parts that had fallen off it!
This is the front panel section that we found in the grass where the buck had been stored for many years:
The craftsmanship involved in making this originally is outstanding:
Trying to figure out which rotten bit went where was like an episode of Time Team:
But got there in the end. Plaster was used to fill the gaps:
Now needs a coat of resin to stabilise it and then a skim of filler before a mould is pulled.
The rear of the buck is in much better shape:
We made a start on filling between the profiles with foam prior to a thin layer of GRP and then filling:
This is a very interesting project.
Once you take a mould do you plan to develop this as a complete kit?
What are the plans for a chassis, engine, donor parts, etc.?
Can you share your development thoughts with us.
This is a fantastic replica and there is nothing like this currently on the market.
I know of one that is still under development running on a space framed chassis with BMW donor parts, etc.
Really looking forward to following this and how it develops with great interest.
I know your particular expertise is in modern donorship projects, but please, please please build this on a classic chassis too. Herald/Vitesse/Spitfire whichever it'll fit. Simple mechanicals, loads of engine/tuning options and no road tax, plus that period feel you just won't get from a modern car because they're just too , erm modern.
Built with a modern donar, you get looks and possibly performance, but for myself and Mr T, it would be devoid of any heritage, history or pedigree, and be some losing something because of that.
If a "period 50's car" is built on an older donar, it somehow adds something special to the finished car for some people.
It would seem that certain people do not feel that " something special", and I feel that is a shame, as they are really missing out.
I do not intend to offend here, just to try to explain why certain fellas like older donars, as for them it adds an awful lot to the whole experience.
Built with a modern donar, you get looks and possibly performance, but for myself and Mr T, it would be devoid of any heritage, history or pedigree, and be some losing something because of that.
If a "period 50's car" is built on an older donar, it somehow adds something special to the finished car for some people.
It would seem that certain people do not feel that " something special", and I feel that is a shame, as they are really missing out.
I do not intend to offend here, just to try to explain why certain fellas like older donars, as for them it adds an awful lot to the whole experience.
Morning i think this could be one of those discussion`s where each (side) would have already decided the best way forward , certainly i have , being old enough to have owned a Herald and a Spitfire when they were cheap secondhand cars , i dont recall a great deal of heritage , history or pedigree , then that is probaly more down to me being a Escort rally man . There will be a number of people on here with the car building skills that i can only dream about (you know who you are) so if i can get a usable replica by going down the Z3 route so be it , Geoff .
Actually, for me part of it is down to not wanting to be too profligate with the old green and folding. A cheap donor (sub £1,000), free road tax, fix/service it yourself simplicity and comprehensive insurance at £93 a year are big bonuses for a hobby car to have imho.
Actually, for me part of it is down to not wanting to be too profligate with the old green and folding
Me too. I know my mechanical competence and don't want to have to pay people to correct my fixes on an old car that (potentially) needs more maintenance
Actually, for me part of it is down to not wanting to be too profligate with the old green and folding
Me too. I know my mechanical competence and don't want to have to pay people to correct my fixes on an old car that (potentially) needs more maintenance
Ah, understood. Thing is, I have the skills, I have the tools, but modern cars are now built using so many specialist fasteners and mysterious black boxes full of magic moonbeams that the competent home mechanic can't work on them.
The manufacturers do this on purpose to maintain control, they want the £150 per hour thank you very much sir, oh, that's plus VAT sir!
They certainly don't want anyone to be able to do anything, on any car built today.
I tend to agree with Mr T. If a "period 50's car" is built on an older donar, it somehow adds something special to the finished car for some people.
Absolutely. And the skill and concentration needed to drive an older car is special, and the satisfaction received from getting that string of corners "just so" is such a great reward.
This is going better than Geoff (and I - albeit a couple of weeks behind him) started off on this SWB tribute journey.
Anyone want to buy a 2.8 Z3 with M3 mods and 245bhp?
Like I asked earlier in the tread, I think this is a great opportunity for Tribute to develop it as a full kit with its own be spoke chassis, giving potential owners choices of running gear, old and new.
It would be also great if a dashboard could also be replicated and available as an option with the kit for those of us who wish to go down the replica route.
We wait and see what news comes from the main man.
Pulled this quote from my previous entry on the EBay SWB tread:
TributeAutomotive wrote:
First priority is to pull a couple of splash moulds off the front and rear of the buck (after a lot of remedial work) to finish Geoff's Z3 based car. After Stoneleigh we will look at moulding the whole buck, but will confirm availability of shells once this has been done.
The obvious, and the only viable route for us as Tribute Automotive, is a non-IVA body swap onto an existing chassis that has the correct wheelbase, the TVR Tasmin 'wedge" fits the bill on both accounts. The only downside with this potential new project is the huge amount of labour (unpaid) and investment (£) needed. We need to make this a viable proposition before we can proceed any further.
Yes I fully appreciate that any project and development needs to be viable.
The TVR will be a great option. Especially with the option of the V8 engine.
The non IVA route is also another big bonus.
This car, I'm sure will appeal to many and if developed will look fantastic and a definite winner.
I think that one of the main areas of development and which will need a lot of thought will be getting it to look right as well as sound right. Glass, lights, chrome work all add to the complexity of this but if sorted out could, in my opinion, be one of the best looking classic kits which will tick a lot of boxes to many kit car builders.
Me for one will be following this with great interest.
