MadaboutKitcars

Gary was fine and he had loads of projects there in various states of build, so one could have been yours!

I also popped over to see Dave who is building the Sammio Turnkey cars and he has one that has been painted and is coming together nicely. That will probably be up for sale soon.

So not a bad weekend, but I might take a day off work this week to get some more done!

Aaah, that scene looks familiar: the blue tarpaulin; the stiff brush in the background; the black grit all over the place; the gaping holes revealing themselves from under the crud - I can look back with rose tinted nostalgia now and I'm glad I blasted the chassis myself but it doesn't half make a mess.

Good effort doing it diy and you seem to be making real progress.

Well, a very wet and cold day on Sunday saw my lad and I drive down to Stoneleigh to the Triumph show and spares day. I had all sorts of good intentions of getting all my 'list' for the vitesse suspension and chassis so had prepared myself with printed parts diagrams (Highlighted part numbers etc) and a wad of cash.

The place was undoubtedly full of bits but it appears the lesser mortals such as Herald and Vitesse were overshadowed by TR marques and of course the Stag. Looking for chassis members and other bits from most of the stalls was something like a scene from Monty Python's 'Cheese Shop' sketch.

Have you got Vitesse Chassis members?...
Oh yes, of course ...
Can I have a pair of Rear outriggers please? .....
(Dig, Dig) I've got one left hand one here! . .
So not a pair then? . . .
Must have just sold the other one. . .
Ok, then how about an offside Centre outrigger then . . .
(Dig, Dig) No, sold out . . .
Right, lets forget chassis then, how about bush sets? . . .
Yes, we've definitely got them (Dig, Dig) but not a complete set I'm afraid, we've had a run on them!
And the story goes on. . . .

On the bright side however, there were some VERY nice motors around and my lad is well and truly converted to older cars (Wants a Stag! Typical ...) I also spotted an identical Steering wheel to mine (The Vitesse 'Banjo') which I was humming and Ha'ing about selling for £245 I also joined the TSSC as they have a good line in goodies available to club members and a nice monthly mag. (They see such cars as the Sammio as a 'Special' and are included in their circle)

SO, after returning, I did what I'd gone there to avoid and put in a mega order from Rimmers who had everything showing stock on their website(Though obviously not taken to the show) Hopefully arriving Tuesday so I'm going to spend my lunch times today and tomorrow preparing the chassis for its new bits.

I had a similar experience about fifteen years ago when I saw a Fiat 128 - 3p for sale in a classic car mag. It was a complete rust-bucket but the ad said that the mechanicals were excellent (which they were).

Before succumbing to the overwhelming wave of nostalgia I felt (I'd owned a nearly new one in the early eighties) I examined the car, stripey deck-chair seats 'n' all, listed the panels I'd need to replace and contacted a company advertising repro Fiat panels in E&M. Each time I named a panel there was a rustling of catalogue pages at the other end of the phone followed by a cheery "Yes, we can supply that for a reasonable sum".

So, I stumped up for the car and called the panel supplier again...

"Ahh. Hmm. Fiat 128 - 3p you say... No. Hang on a minute, erm... No. No, we definitely don't do parts for that model. Thank you, good morning..."

It broke my heart but I had to sell it to a stock car racer.



RIP 128 - 3P

NIKE - Not got much done yet , I am soo busy I have enrolled a friend to do the welding - he works in a classic car workshop and used to work for me about 10 years ago ...so I know hes good.
I will get an update from him tonight hopefully.

Your body is made
Your bonnet is made
Your doors are made......all taking up space upstairs !

I have ordered the sections required to do your frame ....they are probably ready but I haven't collected them yet.

Basically , watch this space as it is going to happen this week !!

Dave ....thanks for taking the time to visit Saturday.....sorry it was a bit chaotic...everyone arrived at the same time !!

Tlrtone ....thank you as well....

Saturday , we worked and played ....temporarily fitterd a customers body to his rolling frame so he could transport it home looking like a car....

Sunday , took Sam on a roadtrip to Southampton to collect some wire wheels I bought on ebay....14'' MG examples , for stock....or the Cordite , not sure yet.

No worries, i know that you like to keep yourself busy

What was it you said to me at Exeter about refocusing and reducing the load on yourself ?

Managed to pick up "man flu" I feel bloody dreadful , but had enough left to pick up the base for the cordite well chuffed just surface rust on inspection , but I must get Skippy painted I've got all the stuff Fiat broom yellow, when I find the camera you'll get to see her PAT

Lancelot - Many thanks - sorry for impatience - know you're busy down there - just can't wait to get my hands on 'my' G46 and finish it before 'WCA'!!

Race yah!

Work is really getting in the way at the moment so you might make it

The weather forecast is good for the weekend and i have Sunday off, not to mention the wife is working so no distractions.

I plan to cut the boot. I have been putting it off for months but i need access. Then i can reconnect the battery ans start fitting the coilovers.

im not sure how far to lower it, I do like the stance of the the low drag coupe
but it might be unpractical and uncomfortable. Haha im getting old.

I've slammed mine onto the tarmac because I'm getting old(er) - as it's got no doors I won't have to stretch so far to climb over the side.

Took my chassis and temp fitted body off the axle stands the other day and was very suprised by how low the car sits to the road, have only changed to a swing spring and 1 inch lowering block but still leaves minimal ground clearance. Maybe just looks worse due to the low sweeping lines of the the rear, and the fact my daily drive is a 4x4. Getting my legover should not be a problem!
Psycho Pops