Rebody Z3 Donor - Options and other rebody questions
- Thread starter ruan
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- Dec 8, 2011
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- 145
IMO, those crimes are no different to sticking a £5 Ferrari badge on. If anything, they are minor in comparison.
I'll be interested to know what it makes.
I may need to find a fool who is easily parted from their money when the time comes. I was easily parted from mine, but I was well lubed, and enjoyed it. I just hope the next guy is as well
.
- Joined
- Dec 8, 2011
- Points
- 145
Are you a car salesman?
IMO a donor for a replica should never be an automatic. Not many 1960s cars were autos, and tiptronic hadn't been invented.
If it has an 'overdrive' gearbox then maybe.
Not many 60s cars had electric windows, or Power steering, or heaters (whcih actually worked) or even vaccuum assisted brakes (let alone ABS) so where do you draw the line?
Tony.
Tony.
All those things can't be seen, though. A dirty great auto shifter can (especially with silly paddles). ABS, power steering and power brakes are a useful hidden addition, granted, but an automatic gearbox is neither IMO.
I don't remember seeing a dirty great shifter in a BMW either. I get it's just "Your" opinion but other's may not be the same. IMHO opinion what you and others are doing is also totally irrelevant, BUT, that's just mine isn't it. Leave people to do what they want without needing your approval.
Tony.
Tony.
I don't know what the BMW tiptronic looks like but my mercedes tiptronic is just a bog standard looking gear knob with only 3 positions R-N-D the 'tiptronic' action is done by just touching the lever to the left or the right to shift up or down. Once touched the lever moves back to the central position.
If I put the standard manual leather gaiter on it you would never know it was automatic.
Yep, that's almost the same in the 3.0 Auto. Touch the lever left and you're into Sport / Manual Mode where you just touch up or down to change gear and put into manual, but the lever looks like a normal gear knob
ClassicCoachworks are just in the middle of building my ZGT. They are the first to tell you that they are NOT replicas. Essentially they are a homage to sportscars of the 60s and any apparent similarity to an actual 60s car are incidental. I don't want a 60s car, with all its lack of comfort, if I did I would buy one. I want as many modern comforts as its possible to retain on my version as it will be my daily driver. 3.0 Automatic, with cruise control and air con was my pre-requisite for a donor car.IMO a donor for a replica should never be an automatic. Not many 1960s cars were autos, and tiptronic hadn't been invented.
If it has an 'overdrive' gearbox then maybe.
Absolutely!
Tony.
Tony.
I'm even keeping the big OEM electric mirrors. (So flame me ) I tried little chrome ones but, because it'll be a daily driver, decided they just weren't up to the job.
) I tried little chrome ones but, because it'll be a daily driver, decided they just weren't up to the job.
I did struggle with getting rid of the electric mirrors but decided that was a comfort too far as they were clearly not in keeping with the external visuals of the rest of the car and how often do you adjust the mirrors anyway?
I do like to swivel when reversing into the garage to check where she's left the mower. But it's mainly the size. I just like to know what's happening behind me all the time without cricking my neck.
The plan is to find classic looking chrome mirrors that cover the holes if ever I want to look classic.
How about Rover75 Chrome electric mirrors?
Worth looking at ?
Tony.
Tony.
Everyone has their own reasons for doing a 'rebody' and also their own requirements of what they use it for I suppose.
Yes, Tribute Automotive bodies are not replicas. Mine is as it's a DNA; they produced extremely authentic replicas. Which is why they are no longer in business. A certain Italian car producer shut them down, permanently. Tribute make the kits they do purely to avoid them going the same way DNA did. IN MY OPINION!
But then I don't really understand going to all the expense and work to build something that looks 'a bit' like a certain 1960s Ferrari, or 'a bit' like a 1960s BMW 507. But I don't need to understand because that is not what I am doing.
I want a finished car which is as authentic as it can possibly be to the car it is trying to emulate. Hence my opinion on autos. But each to their own. As long as everyone is happy with what they eventually achieve that is all that really matters.
I'd need to see it in the flesh, so to speak. But if I'm not mistaken the foot/base sits above the door in corner in front of the side window. Wouldn't be easy to bolt on to the tribute door skin. If it was just chrome I needed I could have the oem z ones wrapped.
Rebodies are definitely an "each to his own" proposition.
Yes they can cost £30k+ but can be done a lot cheaper. A Tribute 250SWB sold at Malvern last year; the asking price was £35k. I believe that enough Tribute 250SWBs were built as race replicas that they received a visit from the same manufacturer.
Yes I'd like a genuine Maserati 450S but my Z300S which wears "Tridente" badges (which don't say "Maserati") gives me a lot of pleasure. Also, knowing that there are only eight ( 3 x 2.8, 3 x 1.9, 1 x 3.0 turbo and 1 x electric) means I won't see myself coming or going. I've only ever seen two together.
My TFS is unique and provokes lots of attention when parked and many waves when driven.
Yes they can cost £30k+ but can be done a lot cheaper. A Tribute 250SWB sold at Malvern last year; the asking price was £35k. I believe that enough Tribute 250SWBs were built as race replicas that they received a visit from the same manufacturer.
Yes I'd like a genuine Maserati 450S but my Z300S which wears "Tridente" badges (which don't say "Maserati") gives me a lot of pleasure. Also, knowing that there are only eight ( 3 x 2.8, 3 x 1.9, 1 x 3.0 turbo and 1 x electric) means I won't see myself coming or going. I've only ever seen two together.
My TFS is unique and provokes lots of attention when parked and many waves when driven.
That's a shame. The Ledbury road from Gloucester is glorious. Then the turn-off up to the showground and the first sight of the Malvern Hills is magic. As is the early morning sight of them bathed in sunlight. You do lose the sun early in the evening though. Three Kobras there last year on the first day.