MadaboutKitcars

Congratulations Paul for getting over this big hurdle.

Now the rewarding fun begins, driving it

The finishing touches will come over time while your still enjoying it.

Big respect to everything you've done on this build and this detailed thread.

& I got a mention

Molleur, Lancelot Link, Roadster, Mister Towed, Oxford, JG & WelshOne - Thanks again gentlemen.

I'll cover "giving up" in more detail below, but here are a few other quick replies first:

Just Drive It - That is certainly the plan for a while and I will create a new "To Do" list as I go along.

Reply Count - I had been keeping my own manual record, until I discovered the forum did it automatically.
( Hover your mouse over the replies number until it is underlined, then click on it and a table of who posted pops up. )

Spare Time - I really hope that "real" work will occupy most of my spare time going forward.
Then I'd like to spend more time with my family, improve my fitness and catch up on everything else I've neglected.

WelshOne - You deserve a mention, as 100% of your forum posts have been on my build thread.

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Giving Up:
Regular readers will know that I have experienced several low points during this build.

So the thought of giving up completely has certainly crossed my mind more than once.

I posted these old photos from May 2013 earlier this year and it was complete chaos.





This is when I had to make a commitment to my Frankenstein Hillbilly project plan.

As I really could not think of a better way of putting this big jigsaw puzzle all back together.

But the biggest issue with maintaining motivation was the sheer scale of work required.

Again, I've posted this photo before, but it really summed up the never ending nature of the workload.



Actually, I dread to think how many hours I have sunk into this project.

But the really good news is that the final car looks miles better than I could ever have expected.

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Apparently, I will be going to the dump/recycling centre at 8am this morning.
( So I guess my spare time is already being allocated chores. )

Mind you, while I'm there, I will ask if I can use their weigh bridge for the Swordfish.

So I'd better go, cheers, Paul.

Congratulations

Well you not only finished it and it looks superb, but you overtook me and got it mot'd and on the road before me. While I have the weather here where I should be out and about it still languishes in the garage ��.
The plus point is that I haven't given up, just waiting on available funds, I will have to come back to UK for the mot once complete, who knows that run to Norfolk may be a reality one day when we can can make a Sammio derivative convoy.. Well done again great job..

Pops - Cheers.

In fairness, your car is painted, so you are still ahead of me at the moment!

A Sammio convoy would be a sight to behold.

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I'm Lovin' it!
Sorry, I've got to be quick, as I have a train to catch….

The guys at the recycling centre said it was OK to weigh the car, provided I didn't get a printed ticket.

Then I made my first upgrade to the car, going from 'Popular Plus" to "L"





Who said I didn't think of my passengers.

Then I took the car out for my first proper drive and the sun shone.

I started with a bit of sight seeing, this is the stop of Harrow Hill.
( Normally you can see the city through the gaps in the buildings. )



As soon as I got out of the car I had my first "Tell me more" conversion with the church gardener.

Closely followed by my first "Is it OK if we take a photo?" request.

I also spotted a few other people at various other points taking photos on their phones whilst trying to looking like they weren't.
( One person's video camera light came on, which was a bit of a give away. )

Anyway, a couple more next to various Harrow Boys School buildings.





Then I drove to the weigh bridge.



Triumph Swordfish 1500 - "Kerb" weight - 760kg
( With pretty much a full tank of petrol. )

Triumph Spitfire 1500 - Kerb weight - 790kg

So despite all my over engineering, I am a shade lighter than stock.

As I left the recycling centre, I was in a traffic queue and this was my view!



The next stop was the Ace Cafe as that was just around the corner.



Followed by a trip to Wem-Berr-Lee.



End of Part 1…

Part 2:
Thankfully I remembered we had run out of toothpaste.

So I had to stop off at Sainsburys on the way home.





Then with the toothpaste secured…



I headed home and then took my wife for a quick spin around the block.

I'll add some more thoughts later, but that's all for now.

Take care, Paul.

Absolutely well done Paul!!

You deserve a lot of credit for your efforts!

Look forward to seeing the eventual paint job, best of luck with that too.



Scottie

well done paul.... norfolk here you come

I'M SO CHUFFED YOU HAVE HAD A BIT OF A DRIVE AROUND ...

Get used to the questions and pictures , there's something about a vintage sports car that appeals to everyone ...

Great pics as well ...I know you have fettled a fair bit and the car is different in many ways to ''as supplied'' but your pics really make the rear look like it dips away ...I like that - it reminds me of a DB3S in that area ...

Great locations for the pics, nice one.

I'm well chuffed for you Paul

And I got a bronze star woo hoo.

Im happy for you too Paul.

Is it as you imagined?
Have you pressed the loud pedal hard to hear the exhaust sing out?

Scottie - Thanks, if I can get my paint to look as good as yours I'd be very happy.

Phil - I am seriously looking forward to finally joining up with the three Norfolk Musketeers.

Lancelot Link - I'll happily take any comparison with a DB3S.

But I seriously can't believe the sheers number of positive comments I've had already.

Normally, I wouldn't pay much attention to anything said by someone with their "pants" on show over their jeans.

But "Your car is wicked blood!" did make me laugh.

Mr T & RedRatBike - Cheers chaps.

Roadster - Well I still haven't managed to get out of 3rd gear yet.

Plus the engine was rebuilt by the previous owner, so I'll rack up a few more easy miles before really revving it.

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Thursday Evening:
The sun was still shining when I got back from the office, so I arranged to pick my mate up in the Swordfish.

Came across a perfect photo opportunity on the way there...



Before putting the new wider radiator and free flowing grille to the test, as we got stuck in traffic on the way home.

Thankfully, the temperature gauge only just creeped up over the half way mark, so that bodes well.

The car was back under the covers before we went for a few beers.

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Friday:
Real work all day and it was a wet evening, so no further car driving adventures.

Although the postman delivered my shiny steering wheel centre.



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Head Height:
I got my wife to take this picture yesterday, so I could compare my set up with a couple of Sammio Spyders.

Paul L - 5' 8".



Mister Towel is 5' 11"



Mulberry - 5' 10"



I think Mr T has the best set up, but I'm happy enough with mine.

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On The Road vs. Build Thread:
I checked back on those people with both a build & on the road thread (Mr T, DaveCymru, Scottie, etc.).

All of their build threads covered painting, so my "on the road" thread will have to wait until after I've painted this.
( Which may be some time. )

However, it was definitely the right call to rack up some miles in it before starting final body work prep.

As there are already "lumps" appearing in the bodywork as the car gets more use/abuse.

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Until next time, take care, Paul.

Paul, you're now officially 'on the road' so you can justifiably start an 'on the road' thread.

Get used to everyone commenting on your car, young and old alike, it's just part of the Sammio ownership experience. I've had quite a few young trendies tell me that my car is sick - I initially ran immediate preventative maintenance diagnostic checks but found that all systems were running within acceptable design parameters - so my best guess is that they meant that they liked it.

As for painting it, I painted mine before the mot and then got a few settling cracks and starbursts in the fibreglass surface once I'd got a couple of thousand miles on the clock. I've recently repaired those and touched up the paint but ideally I'll be stripping and respraying the car within the next six months or so as I feel the partial repaint lets the car down a bit at the mo.

I'm happy with the way I did mine, after all, it's been on the road for three years and almost ten thousand miles and only now needs a repaint, but my advice would be to use your car as much and as quickly as possible - pay us a visit out in the Far East (Norfolk), drive it to work, drive it to the shops, drive it in the rain and drive it for the sheer hell of it, and occasionally check for stress cracks - then, after a couple of months, sort any issues that arise and give it a coat of paint. Oh, and do it yourself, you'll save an awful lot of money and will gain that final surge of self satisfaction that it really is all your own work. Then, in three or four years, you'll have the confidence to strip the paint back and respray it again to keep it fresh.

See ya soon!

i agree with towed

Mr T & Phil - Thanks gents.

I will definitely paint the car myself, as it is clear everyone else sees the overall car, not the small imperfections I am aware of.

In fact, I really can not believe the reaction I get when driving, as I appear to be spreading joy across parts of London.

But I will save the "On the road" thread until the racing numbers go on.

As it would be very tempting to keep driving it around in primer, just as it is.

Although I might make one of the plinths I designed for the passenger side mirror next.

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Saturday Morning:
Next upgrade…



Oooh Shiney.



Then, with rain forecast for the afternoon, I took my chances and headed out for a drive around 10.30am.

I managed to clock up just over 40 miles in around 2 hours, well I do live in London.

However, I followed one on my old cycling routes towards St.Albans which included some nice B roads.

Then I switched my flat cap for my Chinese open faced helmet…

(Forgive the gormless selfie, which was taken when I got home, but you get the idea.)



... and headed for the M1!

Where I finally managed to get into 4th gear and took the car up to 70mph, which was about 3,000 revs in 4th.

I did test the overdrive switch in 3rd earlier and that appeared to be working the first time I tried it.

Although it didn't seem to work in subsequent tests & made no difference whatsoever in 4th gear.
( So looking into that will be added to the "To Do" list. )

Anyway, back to the M1 where I was finding the experience required a high degree of concentration.

In fact, I would compare 70 on the M1 in the Swordfish to 140+ on track days on my Triumph superbike.

There was also a slightly surreal moment when a car passed me with the passenger hanging out the window filming me!

After I got back onto normal roads, the flat cap returned and I made a few stops to take some photos.







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Spooky!
When I was driving to meet my mate on Thursday evening, I passed another friend on the way there.

We were going in opposite directions, but slow enough to spot each other, so we pulled up & had a brief chat.

He was on my list of people to visit at some point, as his son loves cars.
( Unfortunately, his son wasn't with him at the time. )

Well, who should I meet for the second time in two days and this time his son was there.

So more photos.





[Harry Hill] "What are the chances of that happening?" [/Harry Hill]

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And Finally..
I was trying to think of another excuse to stop in Sainsburys on the way home, but felt a drop of rain.

So I headed straight back instead and the car was safely covered before the rain finally arrived.

Although I did spot a sheet of plastic melted to my exhaust pipe when fixing the cover straps.



So I'll have to scrap that off another day.

But until next time, take care, Paul.

PS
I'll leave you with this "Thought for the day"…

great.......thats all i need to say....

Hi Paul ,top job looks brilliant ,enjoy the journey !

Looks great ! A very individual Cordite .And you have the addictive smile of some one who has built their own car! A distinctive feeling isn't it !

Living the dream Paul

Im sure those miles are going to rack up before she is tucked away for winter.

Paul, you are such an encourager to everyone. Your build is looking good. maybe you could do with one of those concertina type gazebos that take about 5 mins to put up?

Paul the car is simply fantastic on the road, great news on the Mot.

When you say it brings happiness to the roads of London I can vouch for that which was a surprise to me when driving it for the first time. I find van drivers in particular flash their lights or thumbs up, a couple of weeks back driving down the A1 a taxi pulled along side with the passenger taking a video on her I pad, enjoy it.

I like that your threads are still as detailed as ever, keep on posting matey.

Fantastic work and congrats on the MOT. It's a real buzz watching the reaction of other people isn't it.

well done paul the car is a credit to you. you should be very proud of your self to have built such a unique and individual car. it's been enthralling reading from start to finish. the conditions in which you have worked on the car, would have caused many others to give up on the project. you are an inspiration to us all. good luck with the final touches, and most of all enjoy it........ when people stare at you smile and remember it's the only one off its kind, built by you.

Phil, Slickshod, Nellieb, Roadster, Barber, Swifty, Fatbloke, Thurcroft Flyer - Cheers chaps.

Just to pick up on a few common themes...

Normally, the only exchanges between motorists around here involve rude words & gestures!

So to have so many complete strangers saying nice things as you drive around takes some getting used to.

That and the fact conversations start not only when you are stationary (at lights) but while you are driving along too!

I've have motorcyclists chatting to me as they ride along side and car passengers leaning out of their windows.

I honestly thought the best I could hope for with "Project Frankenstein Hillybilly" was to create a good first impression.
( Where the car would be let down by all the symmetry issues I just didn't have the skills to fix. )

But the reality of the positive reaction has really blown my mind.
( And I know Mr T & others said this would be the case. )

So I'm working on the classic car driver's equivalent of the Cowboy's "Howdy mam." tip of the hat.



Where a gentle tug of my flat cap's peak seems a polite way to react to a big smile from an adult pedestrian.
( Obviously children get a thumbs up, or a wave. )

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If this epic build thread has been an inspiration to others, then that is an added bonus.

Although I wouldn't recommend building on a sloping driveway, I have shown it is possible.

But seeing how fast the Tribute (and recently the DNA California) kits can go together, they would be a better bet for a novice like me.

Getting the build this far really took a lot out of me, so driving around is helping to re-charge my batteries.

As I know tackling the bodywork for final paint is going to require a lot of effort.

Before the MOT I was really dreading the extra work involved, but now I am almost looking forward to it.
( It will require a LOT more driving miles before I am actually looking forward to it! )

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Barber - Welcome to my build thread.

I have always appreciated the help & encouragement I have received from the forum, so I try to help/encourage others.

I do have a gazebo/"circus tent", but the problem is securing it on the front driveway (to stop it blowing away).

My driveway had to be "permeable" for planning permission, so there is nothing "solid" below the pavers.

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Cheers, Paul.

I do have a gazebo/"circus tent", but the problem is securing it on the front driveway (to stop it blowing away).

My driveway had to be "permeable" for planning permission, so there is nothing "solid" below the pavers.

Paul I have a solution for securing your gazebo.
I will give you some construction fixings. think self taping bolts for brick and block work. capable of high loads in shear and tension.

When your finished simply unscrew them and fill the 6mm holes - simples.