Skip to main content

MadaboutKitcars

Build Stories are assembled automatically from a build thread's own author, in their own words and order — see all featured builds.

All Aluminium 1957 250 Testarossa

By Lucky@LeMans · 176 updates · Dec 2017 to Aug 2023

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

March 2019

14 Mar 2019, 11:15pm General Update
Progress has slowed a little as my father has recently passed away. A shame as he was keen to see the car on the road and was always supportive of my projects. He was a bit of a car enthusiast back in the day and owned all sorts of what are now very interesting and highly prized collectable cars.
I still hope to have the car complete and on the road for the Bromyard Speed Festival on the 7th of April.
24 Mar 2019, 9:57am General Update
Thanks for all the kind messages regarding my Dad.

Good news now, a few little finishing jobs to complete, the MOT is booked in for later in the week, then on the road !!
25 Mar 2019, 6:32pm Mechanical Overhaul Chassis and Body
99.9 % there now, here are a few photo's taken today. Ready for the MOT later this week. There are a couple of little jobs to do and I'm waiting on some springs for the bonnet and boot catches. I want to tweak the bonnet a little too to improve the gaps and general fit. I did buy a pre formed bonnet blister / bulge but when it arrived it was only half the length I was expecting so I need to re visit that later ! I decided against the roundels, I did try out one on the door but it didn't look as good as I thought it might so its just going to be ali all over !

If you buy Octane magazine later this week you might see an advert for my car for sale in the classifieds. I'm just testing the water so to speak but I think it will attract a fair bit of interest !
26 Mar 2019, 11:20am Electrics
The garage I use is run by an Italian family, the father and two brothers ! They know I'm bringing in a Ferrari replica but that's all, they'll be expecting an old MR2 or something like that!

Mister Towed, I did the mods to the rear indicators that you highlighted, I think I'm ready now. I want to use the car a little before I let it go, I'll be surprised if it goes right away.
26 Mar 2019, 9:03pm Mechanical Overhaul
I've seen that car before. I don't know why you would go to such lengths to create such a poor replica. There has obviously been lots of work put into it but it went wrong somewhere along the line !

It wasn't my first thought to advertise my car so soon but we are coming upto the spring time and it just made sense to test the water to see if there was interest. It also occurred to me that I could pay the mortgage off 10 years early and have change left over for my next project. I have always been into this hobby for the building / creating side rather than the long term ownership.

We will see what happens...

I'm not familiar with Octane Magazine, I only went to them because I remembered you had a good response with your ad Mister Towed. It will also be in the next issue of Classic & Sports Car.
26 Mar 2019, 10:29pm Mechanical Overhaul Chassis and Body
No offence Molleur, like I said there is obviously a lot of work gone into it.
When I started my TR project I had several suggestions about chassis options but most were too wide or too long to fit the body onto. The number one reason I went with the 7 style chassis was that it shared the same wheel base and track of the TR so I could retain the body and its proportions without modification. The Giordanengo body is a very close to the original Ferrari dimensions , there was no way I would compromise that just to suit a chassis.
28 Mar 2019, 7:11pm General Update
MOT in the morning, I think its ready, touch wood !
29 Mar 2019, 2:08pm General Update
MOT passed !!

No problems at all, I asked the inspector to do a thorough job as well.

They were quite intrigued at the garage, spent a good 20 minutes talking about the car and its history.
29 Mar 2019, 9:13pm Chassis and Body
I plan to go to the Bromyard Speed Festival in Herefordshire next Sunday and Prescott the following Sunday. Not too far me, just hope the weather is good !
31 Mar 2019, 8:26pm Chassis and Body Electrics
Whilst the car is now mot'd, I have a handful of jobs to complete. Most of it is cosmetic, finishing touches. I need to fit the headlight covers, the additional bonnet catches, I fitted them to the boot already and what ever else comes to mind. I've remade a new grill, that can go on. I want to get a few miles on the car this week locally before going over to Bromyard on Sunday.

April 2019

2 Apr 2019, 8:28am General Update
Breakfast Club gathering. Well attended when the weather is good. Get there early, people starting drifting away by midday . See Mick's link above.
2 Apr 2019, 8:47pm General Update
Looks like the organisers of the Bromyard Speed Festival want me to attend now. They've sent me emails requesting my presence ! My wife says my head could explode at any moment !

Also had a number of calls regarding my for sale ad, one of which seems to be quite serious, so it might go quicker than I thought.
4 Apr 2019, 12:01pm General Update
The car is also listed in Classic & Sports Car magazine. In fact it's in twice as they have mentioned it in their classifieds " car of the month ".

I've also got an online ad running with carandclassic.co.uk with extra photos and a full description.

Weather permitting I'll be out and about with the car so I want to get some photos and video.
4 Apr 2019, 8:00pm Chassis and Body Electrics Interior & Trim
Carried on with a few detailing jobs today. The headlight covers are now fitted along with the grill. I ordered a new voltage regulator as the fuel gauge and petrol gauge were a bit inconsistent so that will solve that problem. The boot and bonnet catches are now fitted. I've given the underside of the bonnet a coat of satin black which looks much better.
4 Apr 2019, 10:50pm Mechanical Overhaul Interior & Trim
Does look very nice. I don't know if the price is right, they also have a Maserati 350S replica with a similar theme but that is priced at nearly 250,000 Euro's.

Something isn't right with the floor height, the seats and the fact the bottom of the steering wheel is nearly touching the seat ! Look at where the floor is and the bottom of the steering wheel, maybe only 6 or 7 inches !
6 Apr 2019, 7:06pm General Update
The sun was out here so I managed to get some miles on the car. All good and no issues to worry about. Probably did about 40 miles and it certainly turns some heads going through town !

Bromyard Speed Festival tomorrow, I'm looking forward to that one.
8 Apr 2019, 9:16am General Update
Thanks for posting the photo Mick ! Better than my photo's !

Wow, a great day out at Bromyard, loads of interest in the car. Spent hours talking to people and answering questions.

They parked me between an early Bugatti and the oldest, still on the road, 1910 Morgan, amazing !
8 Apr 2019, 8:36pm General Update
I'm not familiar with changing reg numbers, I've never done it because to me it isn't that important. Correctly registered V5 was my main goal ( It is by the way ! ) Could it be swopped with an old plate of the old black and white style ?
8 Apr 2019, 10:17pm General Update
The TR is registered as a 2007 on the V5. The donor car in the beginning being 1973 and that reg being used on the subsequent "7" that was built and put through SVA.
10 Apr 2019, 6:01pm Mechanical Overhaul Chassis and Body
A couple of little jobs I've been finishing off include the boot area. All now neatly panelled in aluminium. I also made a boxed storage recess above the tank that will be good for a soft bag or tool kit. The rear part of the boot has enough room for a spare wheel and storage each side. I'll post some photo's.

I'll be off to the Prescott breakfast club gathering on Sunday, I know Mick's going in the A352, anyone else going ?