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From concept to reality

26 Jul 2015, 8:48am
I liked the zagato inspited Z300s but the more I looked the more it should be a modified swb - as others have commented the rear is much closer to the DB4 Barchetta.

So It was back to the drawing board literally.
I love the classic swoopy lines most modern cars lack but I didn't want an old looking car.

I was tempted by the concept cobras in the Kobra and Danny's thread.
Especially when I saw Danny's finished car - looks great and the colour is perfect.

I showed my son and he said "yeah looks good but still looks like an old fashioned car"

So I sat on google images and youtube trying to find inspiration.

I wanted the presence of a cobra with its purposeful stance.
I still love the zagato with its low slung nose.

Add to that Listers and Lolas and I still want to use 18" wheels and modern lighting.

Sketch after sketch I started looking for the answer.

Im still refining the details but I have the basic concept pinned down.



No photoshop here im afraid - just pencil and paper
Im still undecided on the rear diffuser details and each sketch they still change.
As does the wing vent.



In an attempt to visualise it further I tried using paint but im not very good with it.

The front is under wraps at the moment as Chris will help me turn a sketch into a reality.

Feel free to comment but please don't slag off my drawing skills
26 Jul 2015, 8:58am
Never going to slag off someone else's drawing skills. you should have seen what I went to Chris with when I did this for the original Z300S*

It is great fun, and slightly frustrating too, sketching and fiddling with the ideas. I had the advantage of being bed bound for 6 months so lots of time on my hands.

Remember, it doesn't have to be perfect. Chris is great at listening, understanding and interpreting what it is you are after.


* Early pages of this thread : http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4253
26 Jul 2015, 9:22am
WorldClassAccident wrote:
Never going to slag off someone else's drawing skills. you should have seen what I went to Chris with when I did this for the original Z300S*

It is great fun, and slightly frustrating too, sketching and fiddling with the ideas. I had the advantage of being bed bound for 6 months so lots of time on my hands.

Remember, it doesn't have to be perfect. Chris is great at listening, understanding and interpreting what it is you are after.


* Early pages of this thread : http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4253


Thanks Nick
I was worried taking a handful of sketches to Chris but it was a joy when he said "I get it"
I could see he had the design in his head and as we found bits and pieces in the workshop that had the basis of the shapes I had drawn I knew that we were on to something

The rear is ok but its the front im proud of.
In fact the rear will be z300s based so part of your design evolves. :)

My toughest critic is my son, Owen. He has seen all my weird and wonderful creations.
He said its "awesome" lets hope I get the same approval on the finished car
26 Jul 2015, 9:32am
Looks good, have you looked at the rear end of Anthony's Bertini?

Could be a good base for what your looking for on yours.
26 Jul 2015, 9:38am
Jaguartvr wrote:
Looks good, have you looked at the rear end of Anthony's Bertini?

Could be a good base for what your looking for on yours.


yes its horrible
its sharp angles that in my mind don't match the front end and in the flesh it looks like not much thought went into it.

reminds me of a Dutton or early Silva Star/leader rear end

If you've seen an eagle speedster or bmw z8 that inspired the rear end then you will know what I mean
26 Jul 2015, 10:03am
The drawings are a lot better than most of us could manage ..just those 2 pics show it will be something worth building
26 Jul 2015, 10:11am
The drawings are a lot better than most of us could manage

Are you sure they are better than mine?



:-)
26 Jul 2015, 10:18am
I really like the idea and love cars that look modern but take their styling from classics (think Eagle speedster, modern Cobra or even F type Jag). The drawing looks great too. I will watch this with interest!

Which donor are you using, Z4?
26 Jul 2015, 10:21am
Are you going with a z3 donor?

In the early stages of me wanting a newer style cobra, my 1st idea was to usea z4 donor and make the panels fit. As chris had a z3 kobra advertised on ebay i decided to buy that and go down the z3 route and now mines finished I do regret that. The z3 interior is what lets my car down in my opinion. If you want a newer looking final product the id go for a z4 donor or a mk 2 slk
26 Jul 2015, 11:14am
SLK roof might be an issue. Heavy, restrictive for styling, slow, metal and integrated into the body to make removal hard and leaving it in place means the boot stays fat.
26 Jul 2015, 12:12pm
Roadster wrote:
I liked the zagato inspired Z300s



[pedant mode] The Maserati 300S body was designed and built by Medardo Fantuzzi.



[/pedant mode]

A tribute to Tribute that Chris can take someone's concept and build it.

Good luck with your project- will you keep it as a one-off or "licence" it for copies???
26 Jul 2015, 2:33pm
I thought of the mk2 slk as they are getting cheap now, similar price as a Z4. The Z4 works for me but I'm not too fussy on the interior and I like what mercedes do with théirs
26 Jul 2015, 2:49pm
Look on my 'on the road' thread for a video of an SLK and see the issue with the hood
26 Jul 2015, 2:53pm
Thank you for your kind words

It will be built on a z3 I bought a donor and I like it a lot more than I thought I would.

Hopefully 18" wheels wont ruin its driveability too much.

I believe it will be available in some form but that's for Chris to decide and why I haven't posted pics of the front.

The rear is being played with by me.
Its a challenge- a great shape but not a single flat spot makes fitting modern lights something to think about.

I have chosen fiat coupe rear lamps all functions in 4 compact round lamps and an added bonus is they sit recessed into cups I can blend into the body.

The rounded back also makes cutting a diffuser in a little more interesting - no off the shelf bumper has anything like these curves.

However I think I have a cunning plan :)
26 Jul 2015, 10:17pm
Mark, I have had a look at your chosen headlights in their original setting today, I think they are going to require some more work to the Z300S headlight buckets than I originally thought due to being more vertical. Not a huge problem. Looking forward to making a start in a couple of months.
27 Jul 2015, 9:49am
Roadster wrote:
Thank you for your kind words

It will be built on a z3 I bought a donor and I like it a lot more than I thought I would.

Hopefully 18" wheels wont ruin its driveability too much.

I believe it will be available in some form but that's for Chris to decide and why I haven't posted pics of the front.

The rear is being played with by me.
Its a challenge- a great shape but not a single flat spot makes fitting modern lights something to think about.

I have chosen fiat coupe rear lamps all functions in 4 compact round lamps and an added bonus is they sit recessed into cups I can blend into the body.

The rounded back also makes cutting a diffuser in a little more interesting - no off the shelf bumper has anything like these curves.

However I think I have a cunning plan :)



I have 20" alloys on my Kobra and the ride is affected dramatically however thats the look and feel I wanted to achieve...



I fitted a rear diffuser from a peugeot 407 coupe....



(the exhaust is getting modified next week)
27 Jul 2015, 10:51am
Roadster, I really like your sketch/design. It clearly shows what you are aiming for.

I hope you don`t mind but I have tried to convert your original sketch/design into a Photoshop image.



It´s not exact but I hope it inspires you.
27 Jul 2015, 10:57am
Nice and curvy.
27 Jul 2015, 11:21am
seperated at birth?


Yours is more curvy and less effeminate
27 Jul 2015, 2:03pm
Nice... just try to keep all TVR styling cues out of sight !!! Nothing against them (I've had three) but it's starting to say Sagaris to me.
27 Jul 2015, 2:28pm
DSG4ME wrote:
Roadster, I really like your sketch/design. It clearly shows what you are aiming for.

I hope you don`t mind but I have tried to convert your original sketch/design into a Photoshop image.



It´s not exact but I hope it inspires you.


Great job im jealous - I cant get on with photoshop
Its very close to my idea the front wing vent needs to follow the shape of the trailing edge of the wheel arch.
my idea was to exaggerate the front wheel arch.

What's the diffuser you found off of?


Ian no TVR styling cues - I don't want Chris to mould in huge panel gaps :)

Nick I confess the rear was heavily inspired by a post in "what do you want Chris to build you" and lots of Cobra concept rears
27 Jul 2015, 2:39pm
In fact DSG4ME's post

27 Jul 2015, 3:10pm



More like this
Im looking forward to the day I can reveal the front end.
27 Jul 2015, 3:28pm
Yes, I like that front vent a lot better. The rear diffuser I have used is a modified Peugeot diffuser similar to the one on Danny_HUFC,s Kobra.
27 Jul 2015, 3:39pm
Im a big kid and I have checked with Chris
I have to wait until Christmas to see in real

So heres the front



Im really happy with the styling cues from lots of my favourites
Grille and bonnet vent obviously a nod to the Cobra

The low sloping bonnet and low headlamp position a reference to the prototype Aston Zagato DP209's.

Colour scheme is still to be confirmed but Dannys Graphite coloured Kobra is impressive.
At the moment im leaning towards this....