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Lucky – I know Chris doesn’t post much on the forum these days.
But I found the original message that Dan posted back in October 2016…
I think the arrangement with Nubodi covers the Tribute range, but the 275 kit will not be a Tribute.
The coupe was a ‘one off’ from Tribute, but the convertible will be an ‘Old No.7’ kit, if that makes sense.
At this point, I should point out that technically I know nothing, just what I’ve read on here.
Cheers, Paul.
Nubodi represent the Tribute products shown on their website (250 SWB Hard top / soft top and the Kobra). These are also (along all the other Tribute products) available directly from myself.
As Paul L has correctly pointed out above the 275 is an Old No.7 product and will be available exclusively from Dan.
Egdik, can you give me some more information on the Harrington bumpers please.
I have been considering a set for my MK2 Jag but they are a very heavy style and unless the shape is perfect they just won't fit. At around £1300 a pair they are not cheap and the return postage to Vietnam would be horribly expensive.
A friend fitted a pair to a Dino and he said they fitted, just, after a lot of fiddling about, he said if they were large one piece bumpers he probably wouldn't have got them to fit.
The Harrington bumpers are marketed as being 'to original style / spec / fit' so far as I can understand these things.
On receipt, I noticed that the main cross section of the rear bumper was NOT square / would not sit flat on a flat surface.
Harrington's view was that it might still fit, but they inspired no confidence in me if that was their standard. There are plenty of blogs out there from other buyers expressing various concerns. The 275 rear body on the Z3 is slightly wider where the side sections wrap around and this complicates the fit between the sides and the main rear section. I may find a little further improvement.
Harrington do not give tolerances for their products.
At £1500 I did not expect a sub-standard part.
It is all too easy to see the 'beating out' marks on the metal; they are clearly not pressed out, which Ferrari maybe. They are well polished. The metal is thinner than I would expect. They are painted black inside. The appearance overall is not unsatisfactory. They do look very good, design wise, for this car.
Currently there is very little alternative for a set of stainless bumpers [for a number of cars]. Perhaps in future, with quality scanning, things will improve. These days an old car can be scanned and whole panels made as 'exact' replications. Chroming plastic is a growing area of technological advance . . .
Knowing what I now know, it is probable that I would buy the same again.
Once the schools were back Carol & I set off on a trip down through France via Le Mans, the Dordogne and the Pyrenees to Sos del Rey Catolico in Spain. Returning via the Isle d'Oleron and the Eurotunnel.
A tyre change has made the car steer slightly better, by fitting a 215/70 R15 [Vredestein] to the rear - raises it an inch - and a 215/60 R15 [Continental] on the front - about standard ride height. Pressures R:34 & F:30. The rear arch is better filled and more 'period'. Here we are at Guzet near Aulus les Bains in the Pyrenees.
The fog & reversing lights have been moved back under the bumper by a couple of inches, as you can see, though the sheep are totally disinterested. In an attempt at discretion the GB plate was printed off and laminated - euro stars included . . . plus an aluminium front plate.
Attachment “2 fog & rev lights look better but sheep totally disinterested.jpg” from the original forum could not be reliably recovered.
In the boot is a 'baguette box' made of spare pieces of plastic and a piano hinge. The bread fits in quite well, but we used it for a large array of tools, which were not required.
However, we had a little problem which may tax your grey cells: when the lights - side or main - are turned on, the engine cpu or the throttle sensor partially & temporarily limits the fuel supply / varies the ignition - very similar to when one lifts off the accelerator - saving fuel. Any pressure on the accelerator rectifies the situation, but it is an irritant. Anyone else had this experience ?
It may also be the same 'conflict' that causes the auto gearbox to change up of its own accord from M4 to M5, which it seemed more prone to do when it was wet - usually meaning the lights were on.
On motorways cruising around the French limit of 130kph oil consumption is very low. But on the mountain passes [including snow over the Tourmalet] oil was being consumed at an alarming rate of about 1 litre per 500 hard miles.
We have tried to fit some guttering over the door tops, with limited success. The basic form comes from a Lotus derivative, which we have bent in various directions to fit / bolted through the door 'return' and sealed with Butyl. Room for improvement. How wide can the gutter gap be ?
Over the last 40 years or so we have mostly toured on large motorcycles and organised weekend breaks and holidays of up to a fortnight in Europe. Might the club enjoy such a thing or perhaps we ought to start with a weekend in England ?
Finally here is a photo from the top of the Puerto Sos pass with Sos del Rey Catolico in the middle distance. The Parador here is a very good one, on the hilltop of the old town. The man who unified Spain was Ferdinand the Catholic born here in 1452.
The gutters were purchased as a long strip of aluminium with a curved bend along the full length for the gutter. I then cut then down and bent them to fit. Probably they are too tight against the roof edge and I'll have another go at pulling the gutter edge out 2 - 3mm.
Looking very good indeed! Have a look at old Mercedes sedans for guttering. Fairly soft aluminum and shape easily. Used this on a Zagato replica a few years ago. Worked perfectly.
Great trip Kidge. Awesome to see the car out in such a beautiful habitat....it fits right in. Next time bin the tools out of the baguette box, but maybe add an old school quart of oil! Keep us updated how you go fella, but loving action on the car.
In the sixties, I was more into the Doors, Stones and Pink Floyd, but watching a Miura in Alpine scenery is a pleasure. Had a demonstration drive in one in about 1970.
Here is a try at supplanting a crash barrier and disguising a ski resort:
The great thing about building these cars on a decent Z3 is that such trips are most likely to be trouble free wrt the car, and even if problems arise, getting a bmw fixed should not be a holiday killer. Glad you had a great time, and looking forward to doing something similar next year in mine.
Wow!!!. That is beautiful, and I am talking about the car not the scenery (although that is beautiful too). That is just how mine should have turned out if health had not got in the way but my wife does not like the colour - tough!
Hi Kidge, hope things are well. Any developments on your kit in the last few months or have you been holed up in the winter hibernation after your great trip on the continent.
Really interested to see how you are progressing. Cheers Mark.
We have used the car a bit when there isn't salt on the road, but thinking of some anti-rust treatment . . .
The headlining on one side has come unstuck, so will have to remove the panel and re do.
Put it in a paint oven [about 55 degrees for 40 mins] and very little showed up of concern. We have some new seals to try around the doors. Then looking for some fibre / fill finishing and paint next year.
We have used the car a bit when there isn't salt on the road, but thinking of some anti-rust treatment . . .
The headlining on one side has come unstuck, so will have to remove the panel and re do.
Put it in a paint oven [about 55 degrees for 40 mins] and very little showed up of concern. We have some new seals to try around the doors. Then looking for some fibre / fill finishing and paint next year.
Good stuff Kidge, nice to see it is getting some use and keeping it active. Sorry to hear about the headlining, but there is always something in these projects that will raise its head as trouble. Sure you’ll sort it.
Good to hear the paint oven hasn’t unearthed too much, that is my big fear with the harshness of the nz sun is brutal and how the kit reacts and flexes is a big concern. Are the doors struggling to keep dry at the moment due the custom windows? You doing most of the prep work before paint or are you going to give that to others to have a play with? Cheers.
[SIZE="4"]The windows seal well, so no worry there.
The door seals allow too much wind noise and let water in at times.
Glassing is something that I have tried, but with modest success, so we are saving up to pay a specialist . . .
Season's Greetings and a Happy New Year.[/SIZE]
All the best for the season as well to you. Good luck with the doors, doesn’t sound too major so you’ll work that in no time hopefully. Are you making any changes that need big glassing talents? Or are you just looking at primer fill and flatting etc. Get a book from Santa and you never know you may surprise yourself!
Look forward to your further progress. Cheers.
Hi Kidge, I am always trawling through your build thread keeping my inspiration going waiting for the panels to be finished. I really like how you did the lower sill stainless stripe on yours so may be attempting something similar on mine. How’s things going with yours? You been able make any changes or further progress on the car? Been able to enjoy it in between the rough weather? Cheers Mark.
Good stuff Kidge, a lot going on then. Will be well worth it when finished. Have you finalised your colour? Assuming you are sticking with the blue tones with the interior? Can’t wait for the first of type back on the road and proudly driven when the sun breaks through! Please post as you make that progress as we are all looking forward to that point. All I can do is covet at the moment trying to catch you up! Cheers.
Just seen a sneaky shot of yours at stoneleigh on the Tribute owners stand. Cmon you can’t give us a tease without the full service? You got piccies to share? The car looks stunning in the sunshine from what I can see.... Great to see it back out of the shed and on the road. Well done that man!
Saw "Kidge's Car" at Stoneleigh - looks really good. The quality of the body (if that hasn't had masses of work done to it?) is the the best I've seen from Tribute. What is the news on this product reaching the market? It's a shame Tribute/Old No7 didn't have a stand at Stoneleigh, and I think a lot of potential customers were disappointed.
The car was collected from the grp finishing and painting shop on April 28th and delivered to the Rustbusters in Spalding on Monday 30th. The underbody was epoxy coated and waxed in the cavities, as we hope to keep the car for some years . . . my son has ambitions to drive it after I stop !
For Stoneleigh I got it back on the road, but still well short of finalised. When it is finished, then lots of photos will be posted.
At Stoneleigh it was notable that 30% floor space in the main halls was empty. Fewer people everywhere. Some stands packed up and went home on Sunday evening.
Modern cars are so good / reliable / long lasting / cheap after 6 - 7 years, such that most people never learn car diy. Might this mean kitcars are on the wane ? 'Kitcar' went under a year ago. Two magazines left.
DNA out of business, but the top end market looks ok. Tribute probably missed Stoneleigh due to the expense and time, spent on publicity, not being rewarded.
But if you desire something special, you can still do it.
If one of these so called new DB5 Astons is £500,000 - how about a grp body on a 3 series bm ?
