DOH! although I would be worried that no one questioned you on your choice of vehicle project!
:-)
1 Apr 2013, 1:08pm
Ribble News
6 Apr 2013, 10:39am
And now the news,
and we start with the Navigator. It's been nearly a year but she has finally gone off to the paint (we are not saying what colour she is being painted). We hope to get her back by the end of next week so she can be finished ready for Stoneleigh!
The GT got back from paint last week and work has been progressing nicely to get her built again and trimmed ready for it's launch at Stoneleigh!
Our Pilot demonstrator (AndyP57's) has now passed it's M.O.T as of this week and we are pleased to be getting her back either Monday or Tuesday after a winter of being tinkered with by the mechanics at the garage where she is currently.
As always if I have forgotten to add anything then AndyP57 will no doubt add his bits, but for now g'day!
and we start with the Navigator. It's been nearly a year but she has finally gone off to the paint (we are not saying what colour she is being painted). We hope to get her back by the end of next week so she can be finished ready for Stoneleigh!
The GT got back from paint last week and work has been progressing nicely to get her built again and trimmed ready for it's launch at Stoneleigh!
Our Pilot demonstrator (AndyP57's) has now passed it's M.O.T as of this week and we are pleased to be getting her back either Monday or Tuesday after a winter of being tinkered with by the mechanics at the garage where she is currently.
As always if I have forgotten to add anything then AndyP57 will no doubt add his bits, but for now g'day!
6 Apr 2013, 11:17am
Only that after a pub dinner break the other day, we discussed REALLY building something on the lines of the Colliday Chariot Commander above, but in a different guise, to be sold in groups of 5 for car football 
Any takers?
Any takers?
9 Apr 2013, 2:50pm
Any takers
Top Gear? ;-)
Rocker
Top Gear? ;-)
Rocker
9 Apr 2013, 4:23pm
Hi Rocker. We were actually thinking of a 'sport' car before Top Gear played 'rugby' with them. Never one to join the Clarkson School of Motoring...
17 Apr 2013, 3:55pm
Navigator is back
Just a quick note to show you the Navigator in paint with no doors visible. We're very happy with her and will be finishing her off (at least cosmetically) ready for Stoneleigh. Just how we're going to get Three cars and a caravan there and back is a mystery to me though
The colour is Aston Martin Silver Birch
Looking very happy next to her sister
It's only when you see the two cars next to each other you realise how different they are.
Just a quick note to show you the Navigator in paint with no doors visible. We're very happy with her and will be finishing her off (at least cosmetically) ready for Stoneleigh. Just how we're going to get Three cars and a caravan there and back is a mystery to me though
The colour is Aston Martin Silver Birch
Looking very happy next to her sister
It's only when you see the two cars next to each other you realise how different they are.
17 Apr 2013, 4:03pm
Now, that is a colour. Looks great.
17 Apr 2013, 4:05pm
It does show off the aluminium interior really well. We'll be topping her off with Black race circles with cut out numbers to show the silver underneath. Got some ideas about the grille too
17 Apr 2013, 4:36pm
Sisters together at last!
17 Apr 2013, 5:10pm
Love the colour.
17 Apr 2013, 6:46pm
I am looking forward to seeing these in the flesh at Stoneleigh, as they look great in the photos. 
Cheers, Paul.
PS
I'd still like to see a few side photos of the green Navigator.
Is that the bottom of the Spitfire sill I can see below the fibre glass body?
Also is that an experimental bonnet I see?
Cheers, Paul.
PS
I'd still like to see a few side photos of the green Navigator.
Is that the bottom of the Spitfire sill I can see below the fibre glass body?
Also is that an experimental bonnet I see?
17 Apr 2013, 7:07pm
I am looking forward to seeing these in the flesh at Stoneleigh, as they look great in the photos.
Cheers, Paul.
PS
I'd still like to see a few side photos of the green Navigator.
Is that the bottom of the Spitfire sill I can see below the fibre glass body?
Also is that an experimental bonnet I see?
Cheers, Paul.
PS
I'd still like to see a few side photos of the green Navigator.
Is that the bottom of the Spitfire sill I can see below the fibre glass body?
Also is that an experimental bonnet I see?
Hi Paul,
Yup that sure is the body you can see. This is very much an experiment at the moment though.
No experimental bonnets to report on, I think it's part of the G46 mould if I am not mistaken
17 Apr 2013, 11:35pm
Beautiful colour, but I'm biased I suppose.
Itching to get mine sprayed now I've seen that one.
Keep up the good work
Itching to get mine sprayed now I've seen that one.
Keep up the good work
18 Apr 2013, 4:09pm
It should be good to see a Silver car of each design together Towed!
On another note, it's a good feeling to walk out of DVLA office with a 12 month tax disc with no currency of the realm having changed hands
On another note, it's a good feeling to walk out of DVLA office with a 12 month tax disc with no currency of the realm having changed hands
23 Apr 2013, 8:59am
Following progress of the Navigator demonstrator, we now have her initially 'stickered up':
Now awaiting tail lights and will be working the interior over the next week or so.
On a business note, we are now able to supply vinyl cut sets of 'Race number roundels' and 'Show' number plates to order. Price for 4 x Roundels and 2 x Number plates is just £20.00 including posters. We can take Paypal and orders can be taken by PM with required number, colours and number plate requirements.
Now awaiting tail lights and will be working the interior over the next week or so.
On a business note, we are now able to supply vinyl cut sets of 'Race number roundels' and 'Show' number plates to order. Price for 4 x Roundels and 2 x Number plates is just £20.00 including posters. We can take Paypal and orders can be taken by PM with required number, colours and number plate requirements.
23 Apr 2013, 6:49pm
AndyP57 - You are going to have an impressive collection on display at Stoneleigh.
If you still have to fit the rear lights I take it there is no "boot" floor to prevent access?
In which case, how are you going to mount/support the twin silencers?
Good luck, Paul.
If you still have to fit the rear lights I take it there is no "boot" floor to prevent access?
In which case, how are you going to mount/support the twin silencers?
Good luck, Paul.
23 Apr 2013, 6:56pm
You're right. No boot floor on this one. I've cunning plan to hang the exhausts which is yet untested but involves strip hangers from the rear of the frame. Plan may yet change when I start scrabbling around under it.
24 Apr 2013, 6:53am
I have the same twin silencers, an angle bar welded between the cut down rear outriggers lets you use the standard rubber straps that come with the exhaust, you would need to adjust the rear apron maybe to get the clearance..
Pops
Pops
24 Apr 2013, 7:28am
Hi Pops, Remember the Spitfire chassis doesn't have these rear outriggers. Therein lies the problem...
25 Apr 2013, 5:56pm
Mmmmm now that I didn't realise, pretend I didn't say anything and I will wait to see your solution
26 Apr 2013, 7:58am
Some 'not so good' news along with some 'very good news' today. Firstly the 'Not so good', some of which will be mitigated by the 'Very good':
1. It looks like Gaz won't be able to make it to Stoneleigh due to other commitments so we're not only a man down, but a tow vehicle which makes logistics somewhat tricky in getting all we want to show down there.
2. The Navigator mould has suffered somewhat and in our opinion is just about unusable in its current form.
Now the good:
1. It's quite probable that we may have recruited Mac (Viatron) as a temporary, but valuable member of 'Team Ribble' (Yet to be confirmed) which will, at least allow us to get Navigator and Colani down to Stoneleigh
2. We have a cunning plan in place that will, in a very short timeframe (1 - 2 Weeks) have the Navigator reborn. This will include dressing a pull from the current mould, reshaping the bulkhead so it will no longer have the obvious curve at the bonnet line and also reshaping the cockpit sides and other aspects so they will be somewhere near symmetrical (Now that will be a first!) and revisiting the returns on the wheel arches and cockpit. This will then be filled, primed and gloss finished before a NEW mould is taken off the resulting shell. We were going to be doing this during winter break but events have overtaken us. I'll try to get photos of the new mould under construction as we go. For existing orders, we see this as a minor extension (if any, as the frame redesign is being done in parallel) but the end product will be MUCH better than before.
1. It looks like Gaz won't be able to make it to Stoneleigh due to other commitments so we're not only a man down, but a tow vehicle which makes logistics somewhat tricky in getting all we want to show down there.
2. The Navigator mould has suffered somewhat and in our opinion is just about unusable in its current form.
Now the good:
1. It's quite probable that we may have recruited Mac (Viatron) as a temporary, but valuable member of 'Team Ribble' (Yet to be confirmed) which will, at least allow us to get Navigator and Colani down to Stoneleigh
2. We have a cunning plan in place that will, in a very short timeframe (1 - 2 Weeks) have the Navigator reborn. This will include dressing a pull from the current mould, reshaping the bulkhead so it will no longer have the obvious curve at the bonnet line and also reshaping the cockpit sides and other aspects so they will be somewhere near symmetrical (Now that will be a first!) and revisiting the returns on the wheel arches and cockpit. This will then be filled, primed and gloss finished before a NEW mould is taken off the resulting shell. We were going to be doing this during winter break but events have overtaken us. I'll try to get photos of the new mould under construction as we go. For existing orders, we see this as a minor extension (if any, as the frame redesign is being done in parallel) but the end product will be MUCH better than before.
26 Apr 2013, 10:45am
symmetrical sounds nice
26 Apr 2013, 2:12pm
Quick update about the Navigator rebuild. The 'buck' has been straightened (2" taken out of the passenger's side bulkhead line alone!) and is currently being bonded to a wooden frame ready for the body shop to have a go at sorting the finish. Photos will follow
26 Apr 2013, 2:45pm
Symmetrical you say. Hmm, nope, no idea what that word means.
26 Apr 2013, 3:29pm
Well its nearly symmetrical! lets not get carried away and call it 100%!