OK,
I know that Abbey Panels stamped and welded the early GT40 chassis and then Tennant built chassis that were used for repair and new cars (including, I understand the last batch of Safir Mk V cars).
What I do not know is this: Abbey stamped the parts for FAV/Ford and welded the chassis, delivering a semi-complete monocoque unit to Slough. Tennant later did the same. Did Tennant make new dies or were the original dies transferred to Tennant? What years did Tennant make these chassis?
As the cost of matching steel dies is not insubstantial, I am hard pressed to imagine Tennant cutting steel dies for a run of what? 20 or 30 chassis at best? I understand that when Abbey did them Ford was paying the bill and cost effectiveness was not a great concern but I can't understand another company doing it without much chance of a return.
Did the original dies survive the Abbey fire? What year did Abbey go up in smoke?
I have seen a quote that Superformance has spent over "$75,000" to do the new chassis they are making, I will bet my life thst this is WAY low. I have had matched metal dies quoted and you can't make three parts of a GT40 tub for that amount much less over 50 pieces...
I do know that the early Safir cars had the steel roof spider made by Autokraft by hand (Brian Angliss told me how he had a falling out with Peter Thorpe and would do no more parts for Safir)and I know that P1116, the MK V I was familiar with had a hand formed spider.
Perhaps Chris or one of the other board memebrs in the UK can fill me in on this issue.
Understand this is not an issue of "originality", I am only curious and interested.
Rick /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
I know that Abbey Panels stamped and welded the early GT40 chassis and then Tennant built chassis that were used for repair and new cars (including, I understand the last batch of Safir Mk V cars).
What I do not know is this: Abbey stamped the parts for FAV/Ford and welded the chassis, delivering a semi-complete monocoque unit to Slough. Tennant later did the same. Did Tennant make new dies or were the original dies transferred to Tennant? What years did Tennant make these chassis?
As the cost of matching steel dies is not insubstantial, I am hard pressed to imagine Tennant cutting steel dies for a run of what? 20 or 30 chassis at best? I understand that when Abbey did them Ford was paying the bill and cost effectiveness was not a great concern but I can't understand another company doing it without much chance of a return.
Did the original dies survive the Abbey fire? What year did Abbey go up in smoke?
I have seen a quote that Superformance has spent over "$75,000" to do the new chassis they are making, I will bet my life thst this is WAY low. I have had matched metal dies quoted and you can't make three parts of a GT40 tub for that amount much less over 50 pieces...
I do know that the early Safir cars had the steel roof spider made by Autokraft by hand (Brian Angliss told me how he had a falling out with Peter Thorpe and would do no more parts for Safir)and I know that P1116, the MK V I was familiar with had a hand formed spider.
Perhaps Chris or one of the other board memebrs in the UK can fill me in on this issue.
Understand this is not an issue of "originality", I am only curious and interested.
Rick /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif