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IanA's Z300S Barchetta Build

By IanA · 173 updates · May 2014 to May 2025

Read the full original thread (with everyone's replies) in the archive →

August 2014

13 Aug 2014, 9:00pm General Update
Still not heard from the DVLA but the insurance company called today and they are dumping me with 7 days notice- "we don't insure modified cars".
14 Aug 2014, 2:50pm General Update
A-Plan now have my business as of next Monday.
15 Aug 2014, 12:22pm General Update
Amanda Price - we love you

Amanda Price is now on my Christmas card list...



Received today.
15 Aug 2014, 12:44pm General Update
And it's now correct on the DVLA Enquiry database:



using

Vehicle Registration Mark
"T210YHO"
Vehicle Make
If the make does not appear in this list, select 'Other' and complete the text box below.
"Other"
...or other make(only if you selected 'Other' above)
"Z300S BARCHETTA"
15 Aug 2014, 3:43pm Engine Mechanical Overhaul Chassis and Body


Yes- just sent in the V5, V627/1, the receipt for the work from Chris and 4 pictures of it (from front with hood up, from front with hood down, from rear with hood down and an under-bonnet shot clearly showing the retained front protection "bumper" and the BMW name on the engine).

TBH, I think the detailed receipt from Chris swung it with wording like "Supply ... kit to fit BMW Z3" and "To fit the above to customer supplied BMW Z3 Reg. No. T210 YHO..."

That made it quite clear that it was only body panels that were involved without modification to chassis, drive train or suspension. My pics were taken with the wire wheels fitted.
15 Aug 2014, 6:07pm General Update


Just remember that Amanda is your friend here.
23 Aug 2014, 11:21am General Update
Cheers !!!

So when I saw that someone on eBay was custom engraving Tribute beer glasses- how could I resist???

23 Aug 2014, 5:22pm General Update
Search for "PERSONALISED ENGRAVED TRIBUTE BEER PINT GLASS - BIRTHDAY, BEST MAN, 40TH" on eBay or go to [url]www.quality-engraving.co.uk[/url]

I bought one on eBay and it came with a 10% off next order coupon.
26 Aug 2014, 10:34pm Chassis and Body


On the Additional notes or comments section of the V627/1 I wrote:

"Tribute Automotive is a supplier of replacement bodywork parts to fit BMW Z3 Roadster cars. They call this bodywork swapped car a Z300S Barchetta. It is not a kit car - only the external body panels are changed. It is not a replica of any existing car - it is meant to resemble a 1950's Italian sports car."
31 Aug 2014, 8:12pm General Update
Some pics from Donington 2014 August 30/31

A good day on Saturday but a great day on Sunday.

















31 Aug 2014, 9:12pm General Update
Can you believe that some guy asked Chris if my Barchetta was one of his because it had Italian number plates so someone must have driven it to Donington from Italy!!! Result !!!

September 2014

1 Sep 2014, 8:39pm Chassis and Body Electrics
Drain your boot for £7.24

So- the big question I had for Chris at the weekend was... how to drain the boot lid channel and keep the boot dry? I've not sealed round the boot aperture channel yet and periodically have to dry out the battery tray area. then apply some WD40 until the next time.

Well here's the answer:



The £7.24 in the title refers to the price of 10of 15mm Tube Supports and 2m matching pipe from B&Q in the plumbing section.

How to: locate the widest area of the channel in the rear corner of the aperture- you can check this out from underneath against the light. The old rear light panel obscures most of the channel but in the corners there is room to drill large enough holes.

Before:



Once the hole is drilled and made large enough for the support, countersink it carefully to get the lip as deep as possible into the hole without it falling through. Then cut a length of pipe to suit. I angle-cut the lower end to maximise the exit area- it sits on the inside of the rear apron just below the rear lights. Feed the pipe through the vacant rear light hole in the rear panel keeping a loop of wire on it so that you can manoeuvre it easily to be under the hole you've made. Then push the tube support into it.
That gives you the dry fit.

And it looks like this:



Remove it all, apply the sealant of choice to the hole in the channel and to the end of the pipe and re-assemble.

My sealant of choice is Sikaflex (or Tiger Seal) but I use so little at a time, I end up wasting half a tube because it goes off. Any tips for stopping it doing that please?
4 Sep 2014, 9:29pm General Update


Thanks for the explanation. I was already using cling film but obviously need to do more to keep moisture at bay.

I enjoyed Donington as well. The Jago club won the Best Club Stand award.
I can't see the show continuing unless they can keep subsidising it by having racing on the same days. Attendances were down and the exhibition hall was only full due to the models displays and the sweet stands.
5 Sep 2014, 8:32am General Update
Ever used Tiger Seal ???
These are only drain holes- no pressure.
For plastic-plastic sealing, Osma provide an adhesive.
5 Sep 2014, 9:02am General Update


I encourage it by attending shows and spending money with the organisers and the trade stands who attend and have done so for the last 12 years and intend to continue to do so. I own three kit cars.

I also encourage it by telling people outside the movement why I drive these cars and how good a social life attending shows brings.

Malvern, Detling, Stafford, Exeter, Newark, Castle Combe, now Malvern again - I listen to the traders telling me how the price of stands is increasing and how much their on-line sales are increasing as a proportion of their business. They're the people who need encouragement- not the "I want free entry in my kitcar because without us you don't have a show" types.

Economics comes into play as well, organiser costs are rising, people don't have the leisure money to spend on trips, or the spare time to enjoy them. Maybe when the economy really picks up, we'll see a change.

And if it were the fact that the existing shows were expanding to compensate for the defunct ones, there would be more cause for optimism but to take Stoneleigh as a case in point, it is a shadow of its former years.

Perhaps body kits like Tribute's will turn the tide against this as they don't require the expensive IVA procedure- I hope so.

As for my (conditional on racing) "can't see it continuing" statement- that's an opinion of mine- I couldn't be happier than to be proved wrong.
5 Sep 2014, 2:06pm Chassis and Body

I wasn't looking for the ultimate seal with the plastic, very few things do that, but Tiger Seal will support it sufficiently. I'll check out Stixall- interesting name. Yes, Osma is a solvent and wouldn't work on GRP. I might try moulding some GRP pipe myself. It will make it worthwhile mixing up enough resin for that along with other small jobs that need it.
11 Sep 2014, 5:09pm General Update
More cheers !!!

So when I saw that someone on eBay was custom printing these- how could I resist???

11 Sep 2014, 7:11pm General Update


Nice !!!

November 2014

2 Nov 2014, 10:28am Chassis and Body
Stripes !!!

So- in a do something, do anything moment yesterday I stripped off the 4" bonnet stripes and cool weather notwithstanding replaced them with 5" stripes spaced 5" apart. More central, not quite straight but this is still a tryout.



2 Nov 2014, 12:27pm General Update
Thanks for the comments & pics, Mr T.
I'm still trying to evoke the spirit of the Male's (Snr & Jnr) A6GCS on a larger car.