John Bonnett
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| posted on 21/3/23 at 06:24 PM |
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All being well, I'll have the final exhaust mount in place and the propshaft bolted up early next week and then I hope to be able to drive it a
hundred yards up our lane. There will definitely be a video of that.
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John Bonnett
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| posted on 22/3/23 at 06:57 PM |
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Sandra the upholsterer dropped off the dashboard today and I am absolutely delighted with her work and how it has turned out. The curvature and
general contour changes gave her a huge amount of grief and her parting words were, "I never want to see that again"!
I've been ask by a few people to do a walk round video so here we are.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xE5xNHnkUV4&t=17s
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HowardB
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| posted on 23/3/23 at 07:02 AM |
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that is complex and impressive in equal measures.
It is all coming together now John, do you have a finsih date in sight?
Howard
Fisher Fury was 2000 Zetec - now a 1600 (it Lives again  and goes zoom)
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John Bonnett
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| posted on 23/3/23 at 09:31 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by HowardB
that is complex and impressive in equal measures.
It is all coming together now John, do you have a finsih date in sight?
Sadly not Howard. I don't underestimate the challenges ahead, the doors being at the top of the list. Realistically, there's probably at
least 12 months work. But I'm looking forward to tackling the front end which will define to shape and character of the car.
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John Bonnett
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| posted on 23/3/23 at 09:32 AM |
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Just a short walk round video that i took yesterday
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xE5xNHnkUV4&t=3s
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jps
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| posted on 23/3/23 at 12:17 PM |
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I’ve got the Retro-rides thread permanently open on my phone so I keep checking in for updates. What amazing work, can wait to see the front end when
you get into it John!
Would love to see the car in the flesh one day too.
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John Bonnett
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| posted on 23/3/23 at 01:08 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by jps
I’ve got the Retro-rides thread permanently open on my phone so I keep checking in for updates. What amazing work, can wait to see the front end when
you get into it John!
Would love to see the car in the flesh one day too.
I too am looking forward to getting the buck in place and getting an idea of what the whole car will look like. Exciting times!
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John Bonnett
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| posted on 8/4/23 at 05:55 PM |
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Having spent the best part of a week paying around with pieces of plywood I'm now at a stage when I'm now pretty happy with the basic shape
of the front end and how it blends in and compliments the rear. Styling and body shape are very subjective but for me, I really like the shape
that's emerging. Currently, the stations are just resting in place but this makes it easy to make changes and adjustments.
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Mr Whippy
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| posted on 9/4/23 at 06:30 PM |
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Oh here we go at last. Can he stay away from making it look like a DB4? 
Your perseverance is an inspiration and lesson to us all.
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John Bonnett
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| posted on 9/4/23 at 07:23 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Mr Whippy
Oh here we go at last. Can he stay away from making it look like a DB4?
Your perseverance is an inspiration and lesson to us all.
Ha ha, yes Mr Whippy, I think I probably can stay away from the DB4/5 because although I love the Aston lines I think the front end of my project will
by necessity, have to look a bit different. I'm still experimenting with the shape using pieces of plywood to get an idea of how it might look
but I'm not there yet. Body shape is a very subjective and emotive subject and what I eventually decide upon will, I hope, please me but may not
be to everyone's taste. We are all different which is great and we all have our own individual favourites. If I can get close to the
Artist's impression I shall be a happy chappy.
[Edited on 9/4/23 by John Bonnett]
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John Bonnett
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| posted on 10/5/23 at 08:29 AM |
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So, a bit more progress with the buck and the frame for the radiator surround. The surround is made in 15mm diameter steel tube and the aluminium
panels will be wrapped around it.
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HowardB
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| posted on 10/5/23 at 01:54 PM |
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that is looking great John-
that radiator grill looks very very Aston - I am really looking forward to seeing the finished article
[Edited on 10/5/23 by HowardB]
Howard
Fisher Fury was 2000 Zetec - now a 1600 (it Lives again and goes zoom)
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John Bonnett
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| posted on 10/5/23 at 05:22 PM |
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Thank you Howard. I'm not trying to recreate an Aston but the rear lamp arrangement and the shape of the grille are, I have to admit, iconic DB5
which make people straight away think, Aston Martin. The rest of the body shape is very different and other marques can be seen in it. I on that shape
of grille because I really like it and because it allows a beautiful reverse curve to run down the bonnet and blend with the grille. Not the easiest
shape to form but in my view, well worth the trouble.
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Mr Whippy
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| posted on 11/5/23 at 06:14 AM |
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Are you going to fit pop out machine guns? 
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John Bonnett
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 posted on 11/5/23 at 07:34 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Mr Whippy
Are you going to fit pop out machine guns?
Definitely and an ejector seat
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John Bonnett
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| posted on 5/7/23 at 10:40 AM |
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It's been a while since my last offering but progress has, of necessity, been slow but progress nonetheless.
The grille is now finished and I'm really pleased with the result. It was simple to construct but in my opinion is effective. The slats are
aluminium flat bar separated by 6mm o/d stainless steel tube spacers. 3mm studding passes through the centres and clamp everything up tight. The photo
shows a simple jig I made to ensure all the spacers are the same length.
https://i.ibb.co/NnJmVkY/IMG-4581-Small.jpg
Start up was delayed by a fault in the ecu and a problem with the loom but everything was rectified free of charge and the great day arrived when the
car moved out of the workshop under its own power.
A very short video to mark the event. The crash right at the end is the neighbour who was reversing her car while looking at me and crashing into a
flower planter.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Y-V81lcGAlg
[Edited on 5/7/23 by John Bonnett]
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John Bonnett
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| posted on 5/7/23 at 10:42 AM |
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Mr Whippy
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| posted on 5/7/23 at 12:04 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by John Bonnett
The crash right at the end is the neighbour who was reversing her car while looking at me and crashing into a flower planter.
 Perfect comedy timing, just needed a rolling wheel...
Looks great though
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John Bonnett
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| posted on 29/8/25 at 01:27 PM |
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It's been two years since my last update but in that time I haven't been idle. The body is finished now with the help of Derek Vertenten who
built the front end and skinned the doors. Here are a couple of photos.
John Bonnett has attached this image:
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John Bonnett
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| posted on 29/8/25 at 01:30 PM |
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And one more
John Bonnett has attached this image:
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JAG
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| posted on 29/8/25 at 02:55 PM |
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Wow! That has turned out very well
I hope you're pleased with it.
It's got some classic curves while still being different - very nice work
Justin
Who is this super hero? Sarge? ...No.
Rosemary, the telephone operator? ...No.
Penry, the mild-mannered janitor? ...Could be!
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John Bonnett
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| posted on 29/8/25 at 03:03 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by JAG
Wow! That has turned out very well
I hope you're pleased with it.
It's got some classic curves while still being different - very nice work
That's very kind of you Justin, thank you. I really am delighted with how it looks and how it has turned out. There's still a fair bit of
work left to do but mercifully, no more bodywork, just wiring, plumbing and trimming.
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adithorp
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| posted on 29/8/25 at 04:41 PM |
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That's stunning work John.
"A witty saying proves nothing" Voltaire
http://jpsc.org.uk/forum/
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John Bonnett
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| posted on 29/8/25 at 04:56 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by adithorp
That's stunning work John.
Thank you Adrian. Good to hear from you.
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John Bonnett
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| posted on 16/11/25 at 06:29 PM |
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I've taken time off the project to build an insulated garage which i hope will keep corrosion at bay over the winter months and being heated and
humidity controlled, a nice place in which to work. Anyway, it's done now and for the very first time, today, I put the car in.
Before putting the car in the garage, I took a picture that I've been wanting to take for a very long time. The car standing in exactly the same
place as the rolling chassis from which the amazing artist's impression was produced.
My first task with the project has been to plumb in the Vintage Air Mini Gen 2 hvac unit. I bought it and the Dakota Digital climate control module a
couple of years ago when the pound was doing well against the dollar. All very nicely presented complete with plugs and sockets and both products are
fully integrated and designed to be used together. The installation instructions are clear and well illustrated. The only difficulty has been that
being designed for lhd the pipe outlets point to the steering column rather than the other way. This has meant turning them through 180 degrees to get
them pointing the right way. I've had to incorporate a coolant bypass loop because the heater valve is normally closed and that would prevent
coolant from flowing round the cylinder head without it. A few photos showing the current state of play.
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