MadaboutKitcars

3.0 V6 / Manual.....not too shoddy ....about the equivalent BHP wise as an MX5 , but with a nice little burble coming from the exhaust......

For years an Se5 has decorated our drive and now just as it's time for her overhaul to become roadworthy again, my old man showed me this Sammio Project. I'll join the queue for a kit!

Thanks for the fast response email Gary.

We all want a 'burble'

Are there any other cars that you think could be used? my brother really likes the cars you're building but worries about the age of the Herald.
Gary.

Rolled the car outside today.....had to get a car out to go to the trimmers and workshop was in desperate need of a sweep out !

took these pics....







should finish shaping up in next week or so ..then start the moulding process....first body out wil be modified and remoulded in places to create bonnet apertures , lights etc...I will probably keep that one as not really going to be ideal to sell as a new body. inbetween all this a rear end will be sorted for Roadster on here...first official complete new one goes to Patrice in France , then we have a Dutch one to sort out ( LHD , I think ) after that , ???

Looks better outside - i wish i had been there so i could have walked around it.
Did you get my email? Do you think it will be ready to collect on the 30th August.

Yes Mate , got it ...don't foresee a problem at this stage ....Mikes on the ol' gal again today and next week - so things are moving along..

Oh , by the way ....when you left last time , we noticed a huge amount of dust had gone missing ...Mike thinks he saw most of it attached to your jacket and trousers ....thats development dust and highly significant , a crucial part of keeping our workshop looking like a sh*thole....could you return it on your next visit please !!!

Hows she going Garry?
Almost ready to start laying up the moulds yet.

No worries.....we are trying like mad to get this ready asap....

not long now.....

Not sure why he's worrying about the Heralds age in a Scimitar based thread ! LOL....

The donors are classics in their own right for various reasons....seperate chassis , tax exemption , cheap donors , non SVA etc. but that doesn't mean you are totally restricted to them as the donor....We supply an outer skin style bodyshell that can be fitted to any chassis that is dimensionally correct - in other words , pick a set of running gear that will work , trackwise , height etc and you , or someone , can make a spaceframe or box style chassis to suit.
We have a background in box or ladder style chassis , similar to the classic versions under various seperate bodied cars ...Ford Pops etc...so we could build a chassis in that style with bulkhead hoops etc to fit the bodies ...very similar to a Sammio Spyder format...Spaceframes isn't my field really but , depending on your location , I can point you in the right direction...

The Spyder body is a tricky one to find alternative donor running gear for as it has a fairly narrow track ....we are working on a wider version to accept MX5 drivetrain , so that may be an option.
Our 550 really needs to be rear engined , but again , a new chassis and virtually every new bit you could want for a Beetle , is available aftermarket ...so building new is an option there...

The G-46 is a 99' wheelbased , 5.5' tracked car ....so no obvious donors except the MX5 again that will fit trackwise but need a stretched wheelbase - pretty simple as they have a front and rear subframe style under carriage.

An MX5 powered G-46 could be a great car ......food for thought.

More pictures please!

Looking forward to seeing more pictures of the G46 and hoping the finished product is going to look as good as the earlier pics promised!

Slow progress on this one whilst the German Cousin dominated things here for a while - but we are back.....

We need to get the G-46 to Exeter , would be disasterous if it doesn't make it , so things are starting to move again....

Mike is chucking the filler about again !! Would you believe there is about 30 tins of no.7 slop in this beast so far....thats on top of the foam , paste , hardboard etc....

We have moulded the doors ( 4'' lengthened Porsche 550 doors ) and they are ready to go ....body flanging starts next week....

Some pics of progress.....

This is really looking an impressive beast - it will have great presence on the road.

It will look brilliant in BRG with brown leather trim, or Italian Racing Red and black trim or SLR Silver with red trim (& twin headrests, chip grater grill...) ...or Squadron Blue or....

Keep up the good work.

My friend , Chris Welch , the guy who had the issues with the Supra based B*ntley styled car this year , has done this little rendition for me in exchange for lending him an MX5 to get all creative with !



Gives people an idea of what direction I am going in with this one ....

Yep, can see where you're going with this one, Gary.

Just needs twin head fairings, silver paint and a big three pointed star in the grille and it's instant Merc SLR at 1/100th of the price.

I do like the powder blue paint, too. Not brave enough to deviate from red, black or silver for my own pride 'n' joy, however.

eep:

Some update pics of the current state of play.....starting to panic about Exeter now ! ....I think we will have an outer skin body with seperate doors sat on a partially stripped Scimitar to show people - should be enough for those that 'get it'

Nipple

Whats happening in pic 3

I think the pressure is starting to show through!

i think its for "the ladies"

Hi Gary, any more pics of the latest developments?

silly question as you are busy getting ready for the show..i'll wait for other peoples pics from the weekend as i cant make it down there

[SIZE="5"]Orca lives !![/SIZE]
We have moulded a body with seperate doors but no headlight detail or bonnet aperture as of yet.......we just ran out of time.

The body is out of the mould and has been fitted to the Scimitar with wooden batons at present.

It is certainly good enough for people to see the finished concept.

She will be on display with doors and headlight covers taped in place....

We rolled her out today and she does look fantastic ....

Mike has done an incredible job shaping her up.

Now we need to sell a few !!

I will be offering them at the show and for a few days after at the website price but having done my sums ( and underestimating just how big they are to lay up ! ) they will have to be sold at £1695 for the body package , basic framework and headlight covers.....

That still looks like great value compared to most kit packages Gary, I hope you get some interest and orders at Exeter. Long live Orca!

THANKS ....

I am very pleased with just how the body fits...

We locate the rear by slotting it over the exhaust pipe tips....there is a mould scar on the rear valance , that when cut out with a hole saw or similar creates the holes to give the car valance exiting exhaust tips ...the body just drops into place.

We are offering a basic 'goalpost' frame - one across the rear bulkhead area ro support the body there and two at the front across under the dash ..this will brace and support the body as well as giving a mounting point for the steering column. These goalpost hoops are tied together along the cills with little outrigger style brackets to fit the doorstep down to...

The rest of the body location is done by fitting plywood or similar bulkheads , kick panels , cover panels etc. The Scimitar provides all flooring , tunnel etc.

I think these will be even easier to buld than a Spyder as the fuel tank location , floor , tunnel etc is all done for you....door hinges are to be external mini style ( think Herald bootlid ! ) screen will be D-type style , front and sides ....

The development example ( ORCA ) is being built for a French customer ...I will add a build thread to this forum in the next week or so , as it develops....

i look forward to seeing her on Saturday! with all the hard work you've both put in and from what i saw "in progress" when i picked my Spyder shell up a few months ago, i think she'll look great!

Now as long as you can build one with minimal sanding and filling, i think i may have my next project already lined up

Saw Orca this morning...

A very imposing car, real presence! I think tomorrow will see a lot of interest in all 3 models. These are such classic shapes and each car will have its own character, who ever goes have a great day.