MadaboutKitcars

I was thinking about lights. And almost every day this week I've parked in front of a fiat bravo. New shape they look quite nice and may fit the bill. Almost astony.

The fiat lamps are nice Zafg but that z300 rear makes finding modern lamps a pain
Thank fully I have it sorted now after countless attempts.
Yes Triumph MG TF lamps are also cheap as chips and fit the modern front curvature.

Still have to work on the bumper the real life shape is not as I had imagined.

Spent day down with Chris and Dan yesterday.
While the weather up in London was poor I managed to get burnt working at the "dream factory"

Chris and Dan were hard at it as always with various projects.
My son is off on half term so I took him to help me.

My original roadster took me 4 years to complete - as it came together it changed directions a few times.
This one is no different (except im sharing my changes of direction with you guys)
The z300 base of my build has its roots in the D type Jag - Its curved rump and hunched rear arches are what drew me to it. Its also the part of the design that's never changed.

I tried to use small light units to make it easier to fit the complex compound curves. But I was never really happy with them . Even when I tried to defend them against negative comments last year.

So after a few attempts of different lamps I finally ended up with Puma lamps.
Albeit modified to clear lenses to change their identity.

The modern front end was fighting me.
The curves and angles just were not gelling with the rear.

I tried to reconcile it but in the end I felt like I was swimming against the current.

Another round of scrap yard sourcing and a pic of a concept car from 2000 led me to this revamp.



As its not a replica of anything, I don't have to stay too close to my inspiration.

https://youtu.be/cwrfMrWB9w4

The z300's rear reminds me of the light weight coupe and the hard top has also a similar shape. So if I can make an upto date version.
Not an E type replica but I wanted the silhouette to be similar



So with my 11 year old son with a pocket full of tec screws and the cordless driver in his hand we tacked together the new shape.
Its still only a rough shape but it works well and it compliments the rear end much better.





The wings need reprofiling to blend into the mg tf headlamps but over all im happy with it so far.

Hopefully another update next month.

That's starting to shape up now..I can see where you are going now , it was a bit unclear before ...I also love the fact that you had a day on it with your son ..that's just great ...

Thanks Gary
I must be honest and admit I was unclear too.
I love lots of different styles, if I had a garage and budget like Jay Leno I could endulge myself.
I love 50's sleds and Chris has the bits for one of those too.
TX1 chassis and cheap V8 (lexus etc) ahhh I can dream

But live life one dream at a time........

I have a soft spot for a good 50's American car too ....The mouldings you refer to of Chris's are great ..huge potential ...I chopped one years ago for the guy who developed them ...

Here's 2 of my old Chevy's that I had 20 odd years ago ...first one bought about 70% done and mildly modified and made roadworthy by me ...Second one bought from an old guy in PA as a stocker and all mods , some radical , some very subtle , carried out by myself

Roadster - As they used to sing on the football terraces…

[SIZE="3"]"Are you ZagMag in disguise?"[/SIZE]



Jokes aside, this is now coming together very nicely.

I quite liked the previous "radical" front end, but this "modern classic" look works too.

In fact, there is the smallest hint of an updated version of your old Sammio Roadster.
( Although when I went back to check the photos, all the links in your old build thread have failed. )

Good luck,

Paul.

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Roadster & Lancelot Link - Well, if you like sleds, then this is the epic build thread for you…

http://www.rodsnsods.co.uk/forum/garage/49-mercury-build-pics-8642

From this:



To this:



I do love to see what people who know what they are doing can achieve.

And even though this project has only just started, it is already as mean as hell.

http://www.rodsnsods.co.uk/forum/garage/51-kustom-caddy-429858



But just read all the work Emma has done in the first post to reach this stage.

It appears to be just a casual list, but represents some serious skill.

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Nice cars Gary and Paul.
I saw this a few years ago in in Queensland and I always loved the old Mercurys

Imagine the Efigy concept with a Carson style roof
Lose the chrome on the rear arches and the chrome on the rear valance.


https://youtu.be/tSzf9ZI-v5M

Well for those following my progress -here is a small update.

The body is finally at a point where I need Chris and Dan to add their magic and glue all the pieces together.

The shape is there if you ignore the the different colours of the pieces of puzzle.



The fronts curves imitate the rear and the front now has lines that lead into the side sills.



My work is still ongoing, I have the roof and the grille panel to complete at home.

Had a look at this on my way home today: very nice, it has a mini-modernised-XK8 look to it overall. How are you going to recess the rear lights to sit flush? Isn't the inner bumper-beam in the way?

Thanks Triumph
After so many changes of direction, im confident it should be good looking.
The early Xk8 was compared with the DB7 and both were pretty

The rear lights sat in there with the bumper beam on.
Sometimes it fights me and then other times it just builds itself and when I found the right light units it just fell into place.

That's cool, glad they've worked out as they're an excellent modern/retro styling twist. The rear diffuser and cut-out does much to reduce the visual bulk of the haunches - nice. It'll work well in a pale solid or metallic paint, I imagine, much as the XK180 does, above.

Well the weather has been lousy even though im working in the front room
Fibreglassing without the windows open isn't an option.

So what to do - I returned to Microsoft paint and had another go at visualising the finished shape



As Paul said this is begining to show similarities with the Roadster...



An early pic on a road test in the country



And the finished car

Roadster - I think you are on to a winning design.

Good luck, Paul.

As a Father's Day treat I was taken to Gaydon Motor museum.

Lots of interesting cars there but I had a few must sees.
The XJ13 was in the workshop so I couldn't get as close as I wanted



There was C types, D types, E types but the one Jag I was hoping for a good look at was missing.
I gave in and asked and I was told that a lot of the Jaguar Heritage vehicles were locked away while a floor was repaired in the showroom.

I was disappointed but then I was offered a look behind closed doors.
I was told that we can't show you all the locations but maybe I will find the car.

Row after row many beautiful cars including a SS owned by a Spanish princess fully restored.
Then out of the corner of my eye I spied her.

A one off that had been damaged by journalist and then rebuilt.
The XK180 - an early project 7 from the late 90's





Inspiration for my creation - If I capture some of this profile I will be happy

You are very close. An XK180 style body on a Z3 would look interesting.

The xk8 chassis is shortened to make the xk180 amd the Z3 gets widened to become a z300

So the dimensions aren't close but the proportions are.

Hopefully mine will get its lightweight e type inspired roof

I remember the XK180 making a surprise appearance at the Bovington classic car show when it was new. The event was organised by the JEC and it was quite a coup to get it there. I'm not a Jaguar fan per se, but I much prefer it to everything they make now.

I must admit it is a good looking car (or will be!) but it is miles away from your 1st sketches which I personally thought looked great.....





I think you have gone towards the bertonti type look and im not realy a fan of that.

Roadster - I finally watched all of that Jaguar video link and the XJ13 looked & sounded great.



Good luck, Paul.

I have to agree with Danny, no offence meant but isn't it now resembling an XK8 at the front? Might be more visible to buy an XK and just reshape the rear haunches? I really liked your concept drawing's and it looked like good progress was had initially.

Thanks guys for the feedback

Yes my original sketch was more unique but back then I got negative feedback over the fiat lamps.
I agreed it was a little too retro and I was worried when we started forming the huge hole that would become the grill.

Danny I accept it has a risk of having a touch of Bertini about it as both start with a Jag bumper. But the Bertini uses the later 2006>
This uses the rarer 2005 and I am intending to fill the fog lamps holes.

The overall idea is to mimic the E type lower.
An XK is still 5K upwards and I can't afford to run one.

Please bear with me, the finished article will look very different to the pile of bits.
This is one of the things I love about the Tribute forum, you get to peak behind the curtain and see how the shapes are formed.

Paul im glad you enjoyed the video .
Yes I've always been in awe of the xj13 but now I've stood beside it and seen the spartan cockpit. not even a cushion and its oh so tightand the V12 right behind you head.
Imagine someone driving it for hours on end at lemans.

The CX75 is the modern version. I think it would be easier to live with

After the recent comments, I decided to play with paint again.



Im happy it doesn't look like the Bertini
But it has a touch of Callaway corvette.

Visited Chis and Dan today.
As usual they were flat out, with many different projects at varying stages of completion.

Dan had managed to glass all my puzzle pieces into one lump
Chris advised me on how to progress with it and I got stuck in.

A few hours of the Dorset sun baking down was enough for me.
But im reasonably happy with my progress, if you squint you can start to see the shape coming together.



Good news the grille I had made at home actually fitted the aperture, the rushed splash mould was good enough for me to cut and shut and fold the mesh across.
5 hours there - 5 hours back
I really need a really productive visit next month.