Rebody I can't build a replica. So. . .

[Duncodin]

My Tribute 507 is never going to be a 'replica'. Too much 'Z3' in there. I don't drive it much. I spend most of my time working on the bodywork looking at it. The more I look the more 'Z3' I see in there and it grinds my gears.

I do enjoy the build though so long may that continue. But what direction?

If I, as a young man in the 70's, found an old broken 507 in a field before they became valuable, I might have done a mild custom job on it. Fatter arches, reshaped the nose and bumpers etc

As I said, the Tribute 507 can never ever be a replica. So should I give up trying?

What'd'y reckon?

 

[Pond]

I didn't think you went it this to create a replica. I thought you enjoyed the 'messing' more than anything else.
Personally I think this is the problem with Tribute Automotive kits. They are not really like anything (presumably for legal reasons) and can never be made to be a replica. Admittedly their 250GT coupe is fairly similar but that has the added issues of putting a GRP roof on a convertible.

Surely you knew this when buying the bodykit, though, and embarking on the project?

All down to what you want I suppose. As you well know I wanted an authentic replica (or as close as is possible) of a very specific car, which I have achieved. Albeit at huge financial cost and many tears.

I don't think of mine as a Z3 anymore. It has the chassis, engine and running gear from a Z3 but it looks nothing like a Z3 anywhere (not even the V5 or MOT database) and doesn't even drive like a Z3 anymore. The suspension, wheels, steering wheel and long gearlever make it drive like something else. I don't think of it as a multi-million pound rare Italian exotic either. It's somewhere in between for me.

If you want to get rid of the Z3 feeling you need to change everything you can see that is Z3. That won't be cheap or easy.

 

[Duncodin]

I didn't think you went it this to create a replica. I thought you enjoyed the 'messing' more than anything else.
Personally I think this is the problem with Tribute Automotive kits. They are not really like anything (presumably for legal reasons) and can never be made to be a replica. Admittedly their 250GT coupe is fairly similar but that has the added issues of putting a GRP roof on a convertible.

Surely you knew this when buying the bodykit, though, and embarking on the project?

All down to what you want I suppose. As you well know I wanted an authentic replica (or as close as is possible) of a very specific car, which I have achieved. Albeit at huge financial cost and many tears.

I don't think of mine as a Z3 anymore. It has the chassis, engine and running gear from a Z3 but it looks nothing like a Z3 anywhere (not even the V5 or MOT database) and doesn't even drive like a Z3 anymore. The suspension, wheels, steering wheel and long gearlever make it drive like something else. I don't think of it as a multi-million pound rare Italian exotic either. It's somewhere in between for me.

If you want to get rid of the Z3 feeling you need to change everything you can see that is Z3. That won't be cheap or easy.

TBH, @Pond , I did, kind of, go into it with my eyes half closed. I liked the look of the real 507 and I liked the look of where other 507 rebody'ers were going but by the time I placed my order for the kit nobody I knew had actually finished one. The part finished ones looked really good though and I wanted in. A retirement project based on the Z3 that I'd had for nigh on 20 years.

I don't mean that I dislike the Z3. I just don't think that the remaining Z3 bits, ie windscreen rake and actually the 'stance' of the car as a whole, look good on a 50's 60's style car. Just looks wrong.

So instead of fighting the 'modern' Z3-ness of it. I'm thinking of embracing it. By making my body look like an 80's facelift it allows the body to match the z3 dimensions.

Think MGB RV8 A 90's revival of a old design. That's a marmite car if ever there was one. I would have designed the RV8 different but you know what I mean.

 

[mittaw]

I can feel your pain but if it helps I've never set out to make a replica. Instead build a car of a shape I love like the 250 SWB. So what if the proportions are off or it smells of Z3 underneath. I see that as a benefit. I'm not putting any badges on it and it still gets lots of attention for what it is (pre-fire lol). But when it comes to style im going a little retro than full classic that says this is something different/bespoke etc. Im going slightly modern retro inside as I want a modern feel in old car. Might not be everyone's taste but who cares.

Your work looks great and has brilliant style/adjustments to look original and you've been working on it for a while. Maybe a week away from it will help. I got so deep in mine I could see wood for trees and started conflicting my thoughts on what to do as it wasn't a replica of anything.

Then I saw the continuation Bizzarini which looked classic with modern twist and I was inspired by it. Direction sorted!!

Enjoy it for what it is and what you make it. It looks fantastic and will turn heads regardless of whether it's 100 replica or not, and you'll probably be the only one bar a few purists that will smell Z3. Mostly no-one I talk to smells Z3.

You car will look fantastic. Love it for what you've made it mate