Project Rebuild.

Now, that's red! I like it...Al

For those interested, I finally managed to get the car home from the Panel Shop with it's awesome new, rich red paint job. And the rebuild project is under way.

 

A few hours of work I had managed to install new weather rubber front and rear, and the hard part of sound proofing the chassis and kick panels with Dynamat is finished.

 

I also made new door cards and re-upholstered them, ready to go in. Next to be done is the Dash. I've modified a set of 912 gauges to look like the Speedster gauges, and will be cutting new holes for these in the newly closed up dash. Then cover the dash properly, make up the two padded panels either side of the gauge shade brow, and install the door panels.

 

Also, HUGE word of thanks to Mr Tom Blankinship and Carey at Beck, I've managed to source the last couple of items from them for my rebuild, and should hopefully receive those in about a month's time. Thanks Tom and Carey for your awesome assistance gents.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cheers

 

Alan

Pics will speak for themselves. Also not in order, but you get the idea.. front end finished.

 

 

Must say, nervous to cut into a perfectly new, repainted body, but I measured a few times, and it's all good. 90 mm's down from headlight bolt, and 13mm inwards.

 

Nice job.  Be sure to seal/paint where you cut the fiberglass.  It can absorb moisture and delaminate. Are those Lucas 494 lenses?

Alan, I'm fascinated by the 'raised' position of your headlights...sort of a subtle transition between the 356A and the later B/C's

 

Do all the A's there have such a non-Stuttgart production headlight position? 

Carl, regulations "over there" deem the lights he higher. That's why you see a larger gap between the signal lamps and the headlamps.

~WB

Hey Carl, Wild Bill's correct, and I showed some of the now current modifications the local manufacturers are doing on the Fdacebook page.. But essentially, in the 80's when the Kit Car Manufacturers reproduced the kits, the SABS standards group said the lights had to be a certain height off the deck, irrespective if the lights could be focussed or not. Mine is what it is, I'm not prepared to sink more money into this project than I already have, but the guys are now cutting off the noses and putting on a lower light position nose.

WB, I have just put my signal lamps in on the new body, and it's "to spec" height below the lights. (90 mm).

Nearing end of the rebuild process.. Interior basically completed except for the VS roof which I still need to do, but otherwise, I think the finished product looks awesome, and is a very plush and comfortable space.

 

 

Before and After.

 

 

WOW! Amazing transformation. Great job, Alan! 

Very, very nice, Alan!

Just wondering, with that part tonneau cover do you get a lot of buffeting on the highway?

My tonneau is like that and I get zero buffeting.

Really nice carpet and seats!

Thanks Lane, Jim, appreciated..

This was the closest match I could find locally to the standard square weave you guys have over there, so I was lucky to find this stuff. a pita to install as it's so thick, but the finished product is a really nice space. Just awaiting the Rubber Mats to help keep clean and finish it all off.

 

I get a little buffeting on mine, but it's acceptable considering what the car looks like.

 

Now, the roof in the next few days!! "cringe".

I only use my roof when I have to, like taking my car in & out of storage in the winter or on long trips. 

If I didn't have to store it, I wouldn't miss the top much.  I only drive her on sunny days around town.

The full tonneau is much more valuable to me.  I close it up in the garage and when parking for more than 15 minutes.  It keeps the interior clean & cool.

Also, I have to put the top up if I need to carry a passenger @ luggage to get luggage space since my top takes up that space when down.

I've always pictures South Africa as a sunny place.

Give some thought to your driving plans.  A top might not be that high on your agenda & not having it won't change the look much, plus think of the weight savings ;-).

Hey Tom,

 

I totally agree, I doubt I'll EVER use it with the top up, as it's intended use is a Sunday Cruise car. I did however buy a VS top and imported it at a HUGE cost, purely to say it does have a working, functioning top, and in case of emergencies.. I've still got to assemble it, and get it to fit properly on the existing bow and the hoops etc, but once it's done, it's going to stay down and under the small cover all the time.

Stunning job. I love the floor treatment around the pedals.