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Looking really good, well done Tribute. Rear wings look like the AM pic on page 1. .Just my taste, but the transition between the rear screen and the rear wing looks a bit odd, perhaps its just the angle of the photo.
Looking really good, well done Tribute. Rear wings look like the AM pic on page 1. .Just my taste, but the transition between the rear screen and the rear wing looks a bit odd, perhaps its just the angle of the photo.
You are right. raising the area under the rear screen join to the window up a bit is in the plan, so that the line is smoothed. The boot opening will extend up to the black line, so as to give a half decent boot opening without making any hacks to the chassis.
Well that looks.....really very, very nice. That roof line and rear screen is a big step forward from SWB. There's some lovely curves - love the front but the roof back is really gorgeous. Looking quite the package. FFS don't badge it!!
Smash, point taken. I'll address several replies in one go here. The whole design takes loads of Zagato cues from different marques. Without a doubt in my eyes, the AM version is the most beautiful car overall, but this shape varies considerably in many areas, so badging would be mis-representative in the extreme, and not my intention (apart maybe from some BMW "Z's" on the front wings a la Zagato). For example, the bonnet is modified SWB, the roof is modified 275, the rear is chopped 250 coupe, the cills are Cobra and a Micra rear screen is nothing like any of the Zagato models, not to mention the Ford nose. The side grills are from an unknown vehicle that Chris picked up from an auto jumble some years ago.
All along, and discussed again this week with Chris, I just wanted a beautiful car that I could drive as a daily runaround in my retirement, and the 250 SWB didn't quite do it for me.
I really like it. Great to see a development thread coming together.
Wonder what a Zag front and Kobra rear would look like
It took a long time to convince Chris to have a go at this (about a year), and only on the basis of cannibalising as much of existing panels as possible. Also, that it would only get done when it got done. My fallback plan was a narrowed 250 bonnet a la WCA, cobra rear and a Z3 hard top. That would have been much cheaper, and on the road by now!
You've definitely achieved your aim - it is beautiful - best looking, best proportioned (as much as you can tell at this stage anyway) Tribute ever.
Are you going wire wheels? I certainly would only go painted if having wires again. Im guessing not if daily. Have you seen the image fake wire alloys. There's a DB replica for sale woth them on and they do look well.
Did you have a problem with your wires? I have been hoping to get some direct from China but they are having problems with the size and ET that I want. Next option was going to be your Dayton's but in 15"
Hi mate - yes they got surface rust quickly and had some pitting by time of sale. The car was kept out side to be fair but yes they needed a lot of upkeep to prevent deteriatuon.
My advice would be either full stainless or painted but steer clear of chrome unless you have dry garage and,are prepared to dry wheels every time it goes away. Chrome great for Dayton land - not good here! Honestly think long and hard if you can't go stainless.
I put a set of MWS chrome wheels on my MK2 back in 1993 and they are still (almost) rust free. The car is not garaged most of the time.
I did get rust marks when I first had them and was told by MWS that it was contaminates in the brake pad material. I changed over to "Green Stuff" brake pads on all 4 wheels and it seemed to stop. I do have a hose on a recoil drum and whenever I used the car in the wet or in the winter I give the wheels a quick rinse which only takes a few moments and I think helped a great deal.
I put "chrome" powder coated wires on the 250 which looked good but not when parked next to the Jag with proper chrome wires. I have been giving the 250 chrome wire an occasional squirt with WD40 as it lives outside and they seem to be holding up but hard to tell as they were a second hand purchase.
Hi mate - yes they got surface rust quickly and had some pitting by time of sale. The car was kept out side to be fair but yes they needed a lot of upkeep to prevent deteriatuon.
My advice would be either full stainless or painted but steer clear of chrome unless you have dry garage and,are prepared to dry wheels every time it goes away. Chrome great for Dayton land - not good here! Honestly think long and hard if you can't go stainless.
The wheels on the picture are Caliber Classic, same spec as Ericholm used on his 250 soft top California. I may have a look at dummy spinners, but to be practical, and being lazy, I'll stick with these for the time being.
It's great, very impressive. I like that it has a sort of 'caricature' quality to it - I mean that as a compliment. It looks stubby and purposeful. Love that the original doors are retained, too. Keep up the great work, all!
Real nice Barber, well done! Can’t wait to see this progress and as much as you will probably disagree with me this will look stunning in Aston grey/silver. Classic and very classy. Real progress. Very worth the time spent on it.
Real nice Barber, well done! Can’t wait to see this progress and as much as you will probably disagree with me this will look stunning in Aston grey/silver. Classic and very classy. Real progress. Very worth the time spent on it.
These things always take longer than we hope or expect, as you know. I trust that your knee is getting back to usable and that you can now make some real progress on your own star. There are scores of hungry boarders waiting for some titbits.
These things always take longer than we hope or expect, as you know. I trust that your knee is getting back to usable and that you can now make some real progress on your own star. There are scores of hungry boarders waiting for some titbits.
Cheers Barber, the knee is getting better, probably about 80% now so well on the way. Shouldn’t stop me too much now. Had a multitude of things on that have caused many valid and some non valid excuses for the lack of progress, but the good news is I have got clearance from the certifiers to proceed with the build. My boy has started cricket this year so you can imagine the time sucked up with that, but I have got some time planned in the man shed over the next week or so. Fingers crossed for some good progress.
Really liking your shape coming on, I love that front end.......
Is the plan to offer this as a new kit from Tribute / Old No7 or is this going to be a one off ? Any news about the 275, there isn't anything on the Tribute website, just a 275 link that doesn't work on the A352 page.
Is the plan to offer this as a new kit from Tribute / Old No7 or is this going to be a one off ? Any news about the 275, there isn't anything on the Tribute website, just a 275 link that doesn't work on the A352 page.
That is a decision for Chris. The project cost was discounted so Chris had rights to reproduce panels. I do not know if it will be offered as a kit, or turnkey only. It means I have to pay a premium over panel cost, but I am good with that, it was the only way to get the car I wanted at an affordable price. The details are of course confidential.
