Hello from Norfolk, England

[TonyBrowne]

Hi

After 20 years of always saying I will have a GT40 one day, that day is nearly hear - I collect a part built rolling car tomorrow - I will add some pictures in the next few days and more details about the car.

For the past 25 yers I have always had classic cars, doing my own restoration/re-builds, the only task I have never master to a good standard is spraying. Mechanical, fabrication, welding, body work etc I am OK with - wiring I am technically Ok with but colour blindness does cause some issues from time to time (Can you believe that I was nearly offered a job as a BT engineer)

I once did a count of the number of cars owned, I got to 40+ at which point I gave up trying to remember them all - ones I wish I still had:
Escort TC
Capri RS3100
Tickford Capri
BMW E9 CS

Time to go and clear a space in the garage ready for the new arrival (Just like having a new baby)

Tony

 

[Jack]

Hello Tony, welcome aboard! Enjoy.

 

[Jason Winter]

Welcome Tony, looking forward to seeing the pics.
Jason

 

[TonyBrowne]

Got home with the GT40 at 11.00 this morning, gave the car a wash to remove 10 years of dust and grime, then started the strip down with all panels now removed.

Job for Sunday is to decide if the Rover 3.5 is usable or go the Ford V8 route.

I will start a build blog.

 

[Andy Green]

Hi Tony,
welcome to the forum and good luck with the build
Rgds,
Andy
(pm sent)

 

[Tony Hunt]

Welcome to the forum, Tony.
I have a couple of points for you:
1. If you want to revise the KVA rear suspension, talk to Mick Sollis at Southern GT (01489 784994). He's in Southampton, but a trip to talk over your problems would be well worthwhile. He can do a rear suspension that lowers the engine appreciably, improving all sorts of things, but mainly allowing visibility out of the rear view mirror!
2. Have you thought of joining the Enthusiasts Club? There's masses of KVA stuff in the magazine archives, an active building and driving membership and a monthly Norfolk area meeting at Scole, near Diss.
Whatever you do, good luck with the build. Most importantly, don't be put off when the going gets tough, but keep your goal in sight.

 

[Mike Pass]

From your pics it looks like you have an early KVA with mk3 bodywork. The chassis looks like the early type which has a Cortina Mk3 front axle and KVAs own trailing arm setup at the rear. I can't see which gearbox you have but I guess it will be a Renault 369 type from a Renault 25 or 30. The KVA bodywork is pretty good quality but Mk3 stuff is a bit more rare than Mk1 or 2, such as the plastic windows and headlight covers.
The later type C chassis is better as it used tubular wishbone front and the same type of trailing link and wishbone as the original cars and GTDs etc at the rear. This is a better arrangement if you intend to do track type things. As Tony says a visit to Mick Sollis at Southern GT would be a very good idea as he can show you the many upgrade options that are possible and worth considering at this point in your build. It depends on what you want to do with the car when finished and your budget and what you can get back when you sell it. These cars tend to be worth the sum of what is in them. If you have not got a windscreen with the car then check that the GTD type screens will fit your bodywork. I had a GTD with Mk1 KVA bodywork which needed a KVA screen which was slightly different. They should be still available however.
If you join the Enthusiasts Club there will be a good source of expertise and advice available to you in your local area.
Good luck with your project.
Cheers
Mike