MadaboutKitcars

Excellent work. Looking forward to seeing the finished cover.
I now see who to turn to when it comes time to make my leather seat covers

Many thanks for encouraging comment Kon .

Sadly, my domestic sewing machine couldn't cope with leather and, as a committed vegan, neither could I. Faux leather vinyl, however...

Regards, Mick

They're never really finished...

I remembered this morning that my poncey custom reg. no. has been languishing on its DVLA retention certificate for three years now, since its removal from the A352 'D-Type'. As the Phaeton I'm building is on a Q plate, and the no. would simply look wrong on my Jazz, I decided its last resting place should be on the Monaco .

Reading the blurb on the V778 which details the hoops which require jumping through, I also remembered that I hadn't affixed the Spitfire donor's chassis plate to the Monaco. Digging it out and offering it up to likely locations, I plumped for the scuttle brace as favourite.



The handbrake lever made aligning the drill for the LH rivet hole tricky, which has resulted in the plate being slightly off level. I persuaded myself that this simply adds to the overall quirkiness

So, tomorrow I can get the necessary paperwork together and make my application to DVLA. I already have pressed ally black and silver plates which I purchased in the 80s for the imagined Moss Midge which never was. The reg. no. was originally on a 1950s Minor 1000 in Lincolnshire. I found it advertised in The Sunday Times in '72, it cost 35 quid, a fortnights take home pay then. Bizzarely, MDO 1 was for sale in the same ad. for a mere 400. Dream on! Vanity doesn't come cheap!



The 'D' is for Desmond. I'm thankful that my father's wish that it should be my first name was vetoed by SWMBO!

Regards, Mick

A testing time...

Earlier in the week, whilst hitting the DVLA website to make my 'Cherished Number' transfer application, I learned that, despite the Monaco being MOT (and tax) exempt, a current test is a prerequisite. I know I've been a little cavalier to have not bothered so far, but will nevertheless find out soon if my faith in my building ability has been misplaced. I'll keep an eye on weather forecasts to ensure a dry day for booking. I'll go to the place which sympathetically tested the A352, as they let me sit in my cramped creations whilst they poke it about on the hydraulic ramp.

Regards, Mick

p.s. I know a second pair of eyes etc. blah blah so please don't preach to the (partially) converted...

I would have assumed that you'd get an MOT anyway, after all this work, as an easy way to prove that it's now road-worthy again, (for insurance at least). I think i'd want to get one anyway, like you say, for a 2nd pair of eyes.
I watched a kit-car helper video the other day which said you should get an MOT before taking a car for IVA, which was news to me. I thought that was the whole point of the IVA, but apparently the MOT man actually creates the new entry in the system for it, not the IVA man.
I cant wait to see this thing in the flesh... do you already know which car shows you'll be taking it to next year?

Hi Kon

First of all, many thanks for your interest. Seeing more than 170,000 hits on this blog is gratifying, but there's nothing like the personal touch .

Whereabouts in the country are you? My regular events are Shelsley Walsh; Prescott; Castle Combe; Gloucester Goes Retro; and possibly the Kit Car Show, although if this year's is anything to go by, it's withering on the vine. There's also a small meeting on the morning of the third Sunday of the month at Cheltenham's Staverton Airport attended by sundry petrol heads. Every year, on purchase of the next's calendar, I hit all the venues' web sites and ink in their dates. I also sometimes fork out for a copy of Classic Car newspaper which has a decent section regarding the subsequent few weeks' events. Fingers crossed for decent weather in '04!

Regards, Mick