MadaboutKitcars

Here's the plan guys

Spoke with Chris yesterday, here's the rundown on the kit plan.

- 275GTB coupe, with standard Z3 windows in the design, looking at options for the visual lines to be similar to the original coupe window recess.
- Slate grey/Graphite grey RAL colour
- Standard interior black leather (wooden racing wheel) with some "trimmings" for the rear shelf and headlining cream colour.
- Aston style fuel filler on the rear quarter top surface
- Fibre-glass bumpers - will be chrome wrapped to complete.
- Ferrari original style lights.
- Stainless sill stripe on the sides.
Production looking around Christmas time.

Here's what I am basing our hard work for the end result to get to! Can't wait to get going.......

Hi if your car was 1st registered in NZ before the 31st March 1999 and NZ new u don't have to worry about the frontal impact area and the front bumper can be removed Steve

Hi Steve, no on both accounts unfortunately. When I was talking to the LVTA guys after seeing the photos of a "before and after" job for the 250 SWB they weren't sure that even the frontal impact regs would save it as some thoughts were heading towards structural rigidity between the two absorbers points/chassis rails. I wasn't going to get involved in all that which was why I went for the 275GTB. Now I am really glad anyway because I have fallen in lust with the body shape and the rarity of the car! Can't wait for the panels to arrive....

https://photos.app.goo.gl/oJmfJl8W5YcEYz4J3

Trying out my image options before I start. Hopefully here's the starting point!

WelshKiwi – Sorry, I missed your grey colour choice.



I am sure that will make the car look more original that painting it red.

Did you see this build with a similar(ish) colour?

http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6186

And finally, good to see your donor car too.

Good luck, Paul.

Cheers Paul, coming together nicely. Just not sure I can wait until Feb for the panels to arrive though! That car is nice, I am looking at that colour or just a touch lighter. Looking at the NZ sky as we speak I think I can see the exact colour!

Another Kiwi...

Hi Mark,

Good to see another Tribute kit coming this way. I have the exact same Z3, although a 98 model so I can remove the front bumper.
Note that the rule is build before 1 march 1999 and imported before 1 april 2002, so does not have to be NZ new... Mine was imported in 2001 from South-Africa and like yours in perfect condition.

The remark on structural integrity seems a bit strange given that the bar is mounted on shock absorbers and a rotating pin there would not be much intended structural integrity there. I am ordering a 250 California so should not need any certification just a normal wof.... layball:

In discussing the 250 Coupe with the LVVTA here in Wellington they did point to https://www.lvvta.org.nz/documents/standards/LVVTA_STD_Interior_Impact.pdf section 2.4.9

all sections of a roll-bar or a roll-cage positioned adjacent to any A-Zone

must be covered in a high density energy absorbing material which:

(i) meets SFI specification 45.1 or another equivalent motor-sporting

specification; and

(ii) is not less than 15 mm in thickness in the area facing the occupant

cell.

A-Zone is 160mm either side of the center line of the seat and should be completely clear..

With a cabrio you can have unprotected steel bars next to your head but with a fixed roof you can't. SFI 45.1 is a motor-racing spec and only makes sense when you are wearing a helmet. Clearly the rule targets certification of Targa car's but you probably need to be aware of it and also see if they don't object to the construction of the roof support (if you call it a roll cage they certainly will have lots of requirements).
Adding rubber will reduce the head space further.... and yes I did sit in a 250 Coupe when I was in Europe and, with standard seats and being 6.6", it is cramped, another car with bucket seats was more like a standard z3. Just need to find a smaller steering wheel....

It looks like http://www.retroclassiccarparts.com has very reasonable shipping cost and they don't charge VAT on export, so looking forward to receiving the headlamp rings. Most Mini parts are readily available in NZ but rear window could be a problem...

Looking forward to the day we can have both cars in a picture.....

Cheers,

Ido

Great to see another kiwi on the tribute trail!

Hi Idol,

Cheers for all the info, I am going to have to look into the rollcage/roof protection piece a little bit more as when talking with the LVTA it wasn't something they saw as a highlight when discussed.

I may have to be careful with that one.

With the frontal impact regs etc for the 250SWB, I am certainly not suggesting that it can't be done, because I know that time of entry/build reg is a factor. It just wasn't an option with the donor's that I could find that were in good enough nick. The only piece of info that also was key for me was that after the guys in Wellington discussed the issue at length with some photos of examples from me of previous builds, they commented in my donor case some kind of structure would need to remain between the two absorber points if removed. It was discussed briefly that may be the case with any example (whether it met import timing dates for the frontal regs or not), however as I believed in my case I couldn't fit any structure in there with the proximity of the front clam edge to the radiator, it was a no go for me and I picked the 275GTB kit which kept the front bar anyway. All I would recommend is that you can get surety from the LVVTA on that front bar if you haven't already got it. Expensive if we get it wrong!

Keep in touch, feel free to PM if you want, look forward to the day we may be able to get two cars together in NZ for pictures etc! As you know I am in Auckland. Cheers for all the good tips, Mark.

Hi Mark,

Planning to stay within the threshold regulations https://www.lvvta.org.nz/documents/suplementary_information/LVVTA_LVV_Cert_Threshold.pdf such that there is no lvvta involvement. Alas that also includes not moving the petrol cap....

The only reference I can find to chassis rails is in https://www.lvvta.org.nz/documents/standards/LVVTA_STD_Frontal_Impact.pdf section 2.2.2.b

any chassis rail or sub-frame rail bridging components provided by the

vehicle manufacturer (such as structural tie-bars behind the front

bumper) are not removed or significantly modified.

Which is a recent change, so certifiers will still be building experience around that, but as far as I can see does not apply to the Z3 bumper.

Cheers,

Ido

Shiny bits have arrived!

The car is starting small guys, but is starting all the same!

Thanks to jagtvr and casamolino for the great tips! Cheers

Shiny bits have arrived!

Thanks to casamolino and jagtvr for the great tips.
Small steps for the car but you can only eat an elephant 1 chunk at a time!

Hey all, hoping for some exciting updates soon for you all. Spoke at length with Chris last night and won’t give too much detail as concepts are fine, don’t want to place any pressure on top of him with what can be done.
However we are on the same page with our thoughts and visual touches for how the car will look. A lot of agreement in how it will look.
We are hoping soon for some pictures to share, rear panels are being trialled this week and work on the form of the windows going on with the new mule that Chris has.
Some locked in details tho are:
Original z3 windows being used.
Monza type fuel filler on top of rh rear quarter panel.
RAL 7015 slate grey gelcoat colour.
Looking possible the kit will be completed production by Xmas as planned. I cannot wait to get started, the wait will be unbearable. (Better dedicate my time on the donor to keep my fingers in activity!) Update you soon......

If you can't wait you can always prepare the lights and indicators.
I thought they would be a quick part of the build but was very wrong.
Are you allowed to cut any of the bodyshell away in NZ? If so you can remove the rear panel in the boot and flip the crash bar upside down so you get one large boot rather than 2 smaller compartments.

Hi Jag,

The donor has to stay on the road for the summer down under really, so I will be limited to “normal bits” such as discs/pads and some sealing work/ tidying the interior as required. I am sure cutting the back panel out will go against the regs in nz. I am getting by with pretty minimal LVV certification due only panel swapping etc. Will look into it though when the panels arrive in case doable. Good thoughts.

The magic has begun!

Hi all,

The magic has begun and we are underway.
The following photos are not my panels but the ones that Chris/Dan are putting their wizardry to, to make the concepts that we have discussed come to life.

The rear panel is on the mule with a stripped off roof covering/structure still there and being modified to accept the Z3 standard window glass. - What we are envisaging is the recess/profile of the 275 GTB window, with the Z3 glass and sealing surface inside that profile - Let's see what the guys can conjure up. Chris seems to think that what we are looking at is certainly doable. The top surface will be covered with a rain/water gutter the full length of the glass and almost back to the quarter panel vents.

I'll keep you in the loop with progress as there are a few other concepts planned that hopefully will come to fruition. Looks like Barbers Z3 Zagato will certainly have a good base to start from with the learning's on the window shape/setup.

Cheers Mark.

Step by step, the dream draws ever closer.

That it does sir! Really interested now to see the angles that are formed with the rear window edge/body transition flow. From the pictures it certainly looks like it will work and we’ll be able to keep the functionality of the glass and seals etc. Exciting times....

light sources

Hey Welshkiwi, another Aucklander here. I'm following your build and plans avidly. I'm not sure if you have those front indicators yet but I think they are the same as my old Lancia Fulvia. These are around. Lancia parts are available from specialists - I think there's someone in Hamilton selling them, certainly in Australia there are Lancia specialists with them. As an (expensive) example - Mr Fiat in USA sells them:

http://mrfiat.com/italian/lancia/fulvia-coupe-1-2-3-series/lights/lancia-fulvia-coupe-2-3-series-altissimo-side-marker-light-set.html

One place to ask for all things Fiat, Ferrari, Lancia, Alfa (classic and new) is Mal Simmonds at Dino Services in Cambridge - there's nothing he doesn't know about them and a nice guy to chat about alternative trim and lights with.
Good luck with the build!
Ross

Much cheaper on Ebay £67


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Seitenblinker-Repeater-Ferrari-250-SWB-330-GT-275-GTB-500-ALTISSIMO-/401433005339?

Hi Ross, great to hear someone with the similar passion is in NZ and in Auckland! Thanks so much for the contact and hints for items, as far as lights go I am all sorted apart from the main headlights - Just trying to work out whether I go sealed pods/bodies which will mean access required through the headlight cover or semi/sealed H4 with pilot and some rearwards protection of the loom/connectors etc. I may have to wait until the kit arrives to see how much room I have got. I have the Italian teardrop side repeaters, carello glass clear indicators (see previous post) and Chris in the uK has already received the Lancia Stratos/Ferrari-esque rear assy's with centre strip reflector.
Have been in contact with Chris recently and hoping for some updates soon. Keep in touch! (I will look into the hints you have given me!) Cheers.

They are the ones I have Jag and very nice they are to. Came direct from Italy with no issues. As I have mentioned above I am hoping for some updates soon, I have the rear window shipping to Chris this week and the rubbers/trims etc. Also hoping to get the AST100 fuel filler from CBS if they can get stock back in. If not I need to find a decent priced/good standard locking fuel filler that will fit in Chris's 5" round recess on the rear wing. Likely to be Aston or Monza style for the look I am going for and not the "classic" ones.
Cheers.

Have a look on eBay.com They have a lot of Monza style "gas caps". I bought mine from there and it was much cheaper than the ones listed in the UK.
Don't forget to replace petrol with Gas in the search and make sure you don't get a motorcycle one as they are much smaller.
Search
flip top
monza
Aston
cobra
etc etc

Hours of fun to be had!

very quick search
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Speedway-Small-2-5-Polished-Aluminum-Shelby-Cobra-Style-Flip-Top-Gas-Fuel-Cap/131499842182?epid=675419935&hash=item1e9e005a86:g:me0AAOSw6HJZyX2d&vxp=mtr

I got mine from here, mainly because I wanted one to lock and the other just for show.

http://www.burtonpower.com/parts-by-category/fuel-system/fuel-filler-caps-filler-hoses.html?brand=76&p=1

Was also interested in these, but they were out of stock at the time.https://www.carbuildersolutions.com/uk/aston-cap-assembly-complete-with-neck-and-locking-insert

Thanks guys for the fuel filler tips.
I have been scouring Mocal/Burton/Europa/CBS/Ebay UK and US as well as others for weeks. Because I can't "touch and feel" I am just dragging my heels a bit on the purchase. I have a 5" round hole to fill (ooh err) and need to make a decision.
As far as you guys go you have been happy with your purchases? Finish and construction good? Cheers.

You may best go for a 3" like JagTVR.