T70 on track

watched it without sound but don't see driver changing gear - is it auto box?

Fred - couple of days ago stumbled on your thread once more - I have posted before a few years ago (don't remember doing that) and see you are nearing completion. I also noticed that this has been going on for about 6 (?) years ... and it struck me as to whether you considered buying the body from GD? What is price of the shell from GD?

Superb work by the way, don't know how you have the patience to keep at it for so long.

It looks like it's got a right-handed gear-change (watch his right hand coming back to the wheel shortly after each change).

Very nice, always liked the GD T70 would have one over any cobra rep or even a Ultima.
Just need to win the euro lottery tomorrow night so I can get one.

Thanks 02

In reply to the questions, I did see a GD price list on the web a long time ago, and If I recall correctly the body parts only were listed at about 3000 UKP. But:

Would GD sell a body only?
I would have to pay for transport.
Import duties would be applicable.

I have a bit more than the same value in the pattern and mold materials only so far.

Plus, now I can sell bodies to anyone who wants. Yes, one could "splash" a set of molds off someone else's kit but I don't consider this ethical.

I started with assembly of the pattern 4 and a half years ago now.

T70's usually have a RHS gearshift as the original

Cheers

Fred W B


[Edited on 7/7/11 by Fred W B]

yes, I knew you would have looked into it; it is just the sheer amount of effort that has gone into this project, plus it must be quite unpleasant work: dusty, fumy (is that a word) etc.

in my dream world I would do a porsche 917; on one hand it is clearly doable as you have proven; on the other to do a really good job takes so much time; may be when I retire...

(I did spot the RH gear change just for some reason discounted it; I clearly remembnr the shifter on the RH on the orange GD show car)

carry on wit hteh good work.

Yea, fibreglass work is messy and tedious.

Re a 917, if you look

HERE

you can see a thread of a chap doing a scratch build, who is making quicker progress than me. He started after me and now has the complete body done.

Cheers

Fred W B

[Edited on 8/7/11 by Fred W B]

Seeing as you mentioned GD, apparently I am known to them - See extract below from a mail I got from a Gardner Douglas T70 builder in Europe that has been good enough to help me with some details.

Cheers

Fred W B


I have finally been able to collect the body for my GD t70, When I was at GD's the MD Andy Burrows asked me about the fellow from Africa that is making his own bodywork, I off course knew right away about whom he was talking, so we chatted a bit, seems that have been topic of discussion in the UK kit car scene swell. Andy said that he really liked the effort of doing things right, and also said that "one should give him all credit on perseverance, outstanding"

re: 917 the approach is same as yours - make the body then make the mould off it.

would it not be quicker to make the mould first? do the outline of the vehicle in strips of plywood but use the "negative" part to make the hollow mould.

ofcrouse it is much harder to get the shape smooth in a convex part but even if it is close, the errors can be cleaner up by laying up a thicker skin then sanding it down.

or am I talking complete rubbidh ,

A mold is a good as the surface it is taken from, and parts are as good as the mold. If the mold is right parts taken from it can be used without any further work

As you say, it is much easier to finish a positive (convex) shape than a negative (concave) shape, and the major advantage of making a positive first is that you can see exactly what it will look like.

And filler is a hell of a lot easier to sand than resin......

Cheers

Fred W B

[Edited on 10/7/11 by Fred W B]

[Edited on 10/7/11 by Fred W B]

I should drop the 917 guy a mail - there are 3 original 917's being restore by a chap that I know.

Andrew