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This is a read-only archive of the old Madabout Kitcars forum. New posts and replies are no longer possible, but every thread is still here to browse and read.

Z3GTc New Build

21 Aug 2020, 2:00am
The headlights look amazing!
4 Sep 2020, 5:01pm
Collected the rear end yesterday and trial fitted earlier today. All good, everything lines up. Chris has utilised the Z3 boot hinges on this kit so the boot lid is a quick and easy fit. The gas struts fitted to the hinges mean you don't need to fit an extra boot stay. The rear moulding also makes use of the upper mounting points from the Z3 wings so it all helps alignment and a quick assembly.
Plans for the weekend include fitting twin filler caps, recessed into the upper part of the rear wings. I also want to french in the rear lights a little further along with the rear number plate light.
The deep dish BMW wheels might get a 10mm spacer each side so they really fill out the arches. Lowering springs will be decided upon when everything is fitted and the car driven a bit, I've got a feeling it might settle a little.
Photos to follow !
4 Sep 2020, 7:51pm
Congrats!
Appears to be a well thought out kit.
5 Sep 2020, 7:32pm
Any chance of a shooting brake :-)
6 Sep 2020, 7:22pm
Managed to make a little progress. I've decided not to fit the twin filler caps on the rear wings. I mocked them up in place but they just spoilt the flowing lines of the car. So instead I've decided to use the Z3 filler flap with the subsequent cut out from the body fitted over it. This worked well on my 275 kit and with the midnight blue paint you'll hardy notice it. So if anyone wants a pair of alloy 3"Monza style caps pm me, £50 the pair plus P&P.
Mods were done to the frenched rear light mounts, just the upper indicator light mounts needed a tweak so the lamps fitted in a bit deeper and squarer in the recess.

Zagmad, I stumbled over an ebay ad the other day for a DB7 shooting brake kit to fit a SE6 Scimitar. I didn't save the ad and I haven't found it again. Think he had several "kit" options, but the advert description was really bad, you would need to talk to him ! The photos of the finished car were pretty convincing.
10 Sep 2020, 6:40pm
Most of the prep is done, just a light skim of filler here and there but nothing major. I've had the rear end and boot lid on and off a few times but I'm happy with the fit now.
Looks like a warm and dry few days coming up so I'm hoping to get the paint done by this time next week !
13 Sep 2020, 8:16pm
I can see why body shops charge so much for paint ! Another day spent prepping, sanding and a bit more filler ! To be fair the panels are pretty good but the more prep you do the more you find to do ! Should get some primer on it early this week.
14 Sep 2020, 2:04pm
Try some high-build primer, might mean less filling before sanding.
14 Sep 2020, 7:21pm
High build primer is next, I needed to get it close before hand ! 40c in the garage at 3pm but I managed to get a fair bit done by 7pm. All masked up and ready for primer, hope it isn't quite so hot tomorrow afternoon. Humidity should stay low enough when I'm ready for top coat later in the week.
15 Sep 2020, 7:05pm
Lol, 35c today when I was ready. Too hot for me and the paint ! Change of plans Wednesday so I'm in with a chance to get some paint on about midday !
17 Sep 2020, 6:03pm
Got some paint on the car today, at last ! Not too bad considering its the first car I've painted in 20 years or so and I wasn't an expert back then ! First time with 2k paint as well. A few areas will need a wet sand and polish but on the whole pretty good ! The council decided to mow the grass and kick up loads of dust in the playing field opposite me just as I was finishing up, couldn't believe it !! Luckily the paint was going off enough not to worry about it.
The headlight buckets will be painted silver before anyone points out I've missed a bit !
17 Sep 2020, 6:24pm
Well done!
18 Sep 2020, 6:17am
Looking Good!

Nice colour choice too :).

Regards, Mick
18 Sep 2020, 12:08pm
The paint is a couple of shades lighter than I thought it was going to be but it looks very period and similar to sports cars in the 60's.

Should be on the road in a week or so !
20 Sep 2020, 8:28pm
Panels and parts going back on the car now. Best part of the build is the final reassembly, it all comes together really quickly and looks finished for the first time !
24 Sep 2020, 5:50pm
Getting there slowly ! All the panels are back on the car and the rear lights fitted, wired in and working. Moving onto the front lights next, a few hours work to finalise them. The windscreen aluminium trim is fitted around the whole circumference giving a retro look. I'll get some photos at the weekend !
28 Sep 2020, 4:54pm
Couple of photos from the weekend. The car is covered in dust when I took the pictures, Ill get some better shots outside in the coming days ! The wiring is all done and everything works ! I'm not sure where to mount the front number plate, at the moment I'm thinking of a stick on one on the nose. I'm also in two minds about highlighting the inside faces of the lower ducts in silver . What do you think ? The front grill worked out well, I used the Mondeo outer surround with honey combe mesh behind it.
28 Sep 2020, 6:41pm
Quite nice, especially the grille.
28 Sep 2020, 6:59pm
Thanks Molleur. The modern chrome finish slats in the Mondeo grill were too blingy, the painted mesh suits the car well with just the chrome surround fitted.
30 Sep 2020, 8:37pm
Nice work on what must be the first soft top version.

That is a good rear view so far.

The boot looks enormous. How is the weight of the bootlid when opening and closing.

Agreed on the stylish grill. Classy.

Dave
30 Sep 2020, 9:45pm
Dave, its an optical illusion ! The boot lid is only about 10" deeper than the on the Z3. The Z3 lid is very shallow to start with. The standard gas struts hold it up just fine too !
2 Oct 2020, 6:56am
Always prefered the coupe to convertible for the SWB but much prefer this convertible Z3GT to the coupe version. Very nice.

Now wondering what Z3GT front and Kobra rear would look like...
2 Oct 2020, 8:18am
smash wrote:
Always prefered the coupe to convertible for the SWB but much prefer this convertible Z3GT to the coupe version. Very nice.

Now wondering what Z3GT front and Kobra rear would look like...


I wondered the same thing Scott. And also whether the Z3GT bonnet fit onto the Kobra side wings without amendment.

Having two bonnet options would be interesting. Although not sure how much I would actually change them over.

Bit like WCA’s two bonnets

Dave
2 Oct 2020, 1:50pm
Several options to choose from, the Z300 front with the Z3GTC rear would work well too.

Received my revised V5c back from DVLA today. Less than 10 days turn around so the Kit and Rebuild department must be working as normal at the moment.
Its worth adding K and R to the address when submitting the form to the DVLA, it does speed up the process.


BMW has gone from the make and replaced with Tribute Z3 GT. I had asked for Tribute Z3 GTC but it is near enough and is what is written on the Tribute invoice I submitted.
2 Oct 2020, 2:35pm
I'm surprised they removed BMW from the make. DVLA are anything but consistent, from the various 'reports' I've seen...... Funniest one was the JZR which was described as JCB 3 wheeled earth mover :roll:
With mixing and matching the fronts and rears we need to be careful not to end up with something akin to a Morris 1000 rear and Triumph Herald front (not that that's likely, but you get my drift!)