Another newbie

[James O'Sullivan]

Hi all,

I've been looking at the site for ages and finally decided to join and see if I can find some wisdom before I undertake a build that will probably take over my life.

I'm from the UK down on the south coast in Bournemouth but originally from Essex (wait for the jokes about Essex boys and Ford's) being down here tends to be a little cut off from the world as I found when I was a member of the MR2 OC and having to travel a long way for events etc.

Basically I would like to fulfill a dream of mine and also my Grandfather but undertaking such a mamouth task with no experiance, funds and a lack of work space has left me scratching my hea a little but hey I love a challenge and if someone tells me it can't be done it has always only spurred me on further to prove them wrong.

So if any builders/owners are from my area of the world it would be great to hear from you and anyone from the site who may be able to offer some friendly advise to help get me started.

James.

 

[glen]

welcome to the site. i'm also building a car with just a passion of cars to keep me going!! (no money, building at work and learning as i go)
you've come to the right place!! so much info and help on here!

 

[James O'Sullivan]

Hi Glen, from what i've seen of the posts on the site everyone seems to be extremely helpfull. My biggest sticking point at the moment is where to start, mainly with regards to the chasis, ideally I would like to build from scratch for two reasons being I like to do things the hard way and as original as possible and the other being that it would be a cheaper alternative than buying a built chasis (although I may be very wrong).

What did you base your build on?

 

[glen]

a set of plans, £127 worth of metal, the company's welders and jigs, oh and my free time:uneasy:
my main toy is an x pack mk 2 escort. well a lorry hit it last year, i thought about space framing the front, if i'm building a space frame, why not build a gt? so i started looking in to a budget build! nearly a year later all i've done is start building my chassis, but i've been gathering loads of parts!!!
no rush, i'm happy with how it's going!!
the sooner you start...the sooner you get to another hurdle!!!!

 

[Brian Magee]

James

You are not in a bad part of the world for GT40's. The GTD's were made in Pool as is the Mirage monocoque now. Lee Dawson who moulds the bodies is in Ferndown. There is a KVA in Wimborne and Southern GT are just the other side of Southampton. I am sure if you PM Max in Wimborne (you will find him on this site) he would bring you along to one of the Enthusiasts club meetings near Winchester. It is a bit late in the year for any cars to turn up but there is plenty of knowledge to be tapped.

Maybe see you there.

Brian.

 

[James O'Sullivan]

Glen, where did you get your drawings from and what type of chasis are they for? from what i've read on the net I'm worried about ending up with a bad set of drawings.

Brian, I've read about a few companies down this way but was unsure if they were still in business. An enthusiast meet sounds good to me, I'll have to try and find a few locals down my way.

 

[Chris Headon]

may I add my welcome James, I would agree with Brian in that you are actually quite well placed. Lee and Max are good starting points for your build, but may I suggest you put some feelers out for a part built car, it may be not be the scratch build you are dreaming of, but it will be a practical way to get the car on the road a little quicker, also if you are planning SVA rather than donor vehicle it might help having a proved and tested chassis to start with. It is amazing how many GTDs there are still out there unfinished, ten years after the company's demise.

 

[James O'Sullivan]

Thanks Chris, I've looked around for the last year or so for unfinished projects but never seem to find anything appealing car or price wise. I can understand that the owners have put a lot of time and effort into the part build but some try to command a very high price which defeas the object of the exercise really. A unfinished GTD would be a welcome prospect for a first build though.

 

[Mark]

Welcome!
This website is a bastion of infromation. I had many (stupid) questions, but everyone on this forum was patient and answered all of them. So much so, they've actually pointed me in what I feel is the right direction. A far cry from where I was going. I, too, am "financially challanged" and will have to do a little at a time. Right now, I'm working on a '71 Europa S2.

 

[Jason Lindsey]

James

I have a GTD and live in Fareham, so not far from you. I joined the GT40 Enthusiasts Club and have attended the club meeting at Meon Hut a couple of times. (would of attended more but life gets in the way) Its a great place to meet people and discuss all things GT40. There is a lot of information and experience in this part of the country, and some really helpful people. Have you managed to have a look around a car yet, just to give you an idea of whats involved with a build? I have big respect for the builders of kits, and even bigger respect for scratch builders.

Welcome to the site, and good luck with your project.

Jas

 

[James O'Sullivan]

I haven't had the chance to have a look at a car yet so I'm completely in the dark but hopefully won't be long before I do but probably have to wait until the new year as I guess most 40's will be tucked away for 40 winks over the winter by now. SouthernGT have invited me down to have a look around so I will probably give them a call soon and go take a look at their current builds and get some pointers.

 

[Chris Headon]

James, I think a few people are going to the Exeter Kit car show at the back end of November, me included. I do intend to take my MDA there so If you can make it I would be happy to take you for a spin (not literally) to get a feel for a complete car. There are usually other GT40s there so you could get a comparison too.

 

[James O'Sullivan]

Hi chris sounds good to me, i would really appreciate it! Are the details of the show posted up anywhere on the site?

 

[Jeffy]

Hi, welcome !

 

[James O'Sullivan]

Just a thought as I haven't seen any chasis designs yet but as I've been in the aircraft industry for the last 5yrs (started working on light aircraft and refurbishing vintage planes and now brokering military aircraft parts) would it be viable to build a chasis using aircraft airframe techniques? Does anyone know if this would be technically sound to pass SVA and make a lightweight car?

 

[Simon]

James pm me I know a part completed project for sale
Simon