cheapracer

Later this afternoon I slotted the engine back in which lowered the front and trimmed, but not fitted, the bonnet scoop, threw the seat in for relativity, then parked it next to my Hyundai Tucson work hack for a size comparo ... http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt289/mongrelexo/low1_zpse62da6ef.jpg http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt289/mongrelexo/low2_zpsc2970b9e.jpg http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt289/mongrelexo/compare2_zps1fb4da47.jpg http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt289/mongrelexo/compare3_zps72091f16.jpg Long way to go yet but getting there.

Now it's really starting to take shape! The car has no engine/box here so a little high in the front. Note that the scoop, just sitting on the hood here, is universal so it's of course too long and too high in order that it can be cut down to suit whichever engine is fitted later... Next is the rear fender flares and the front fenders.

First time on 4 wheels proper today ...

So I made up an adjustable hood scoop that can be raised or lowered to suit different engine heights and then sent my bodywork over to my mate's fibreglass factory to start getting some moulds prepared and in the meantime will get some steering, pedals and brakes sorted out ...

Yeah, there's certainly times when you can rely on your eyes and gut feeling and don't need FEA to declare that a chassis is somewhat lacking for the job.

Great feeling isn't it and no matter how many you start for the first time the good news is the feeling never changes. You can run it for a minute or so and no harm at all will be done.

As a young guy I couldn't afford 2 cars so my competition cars were also my daily drivers and most ended up with straight cut gearsets. Yeah the noise is awesome the first 1000 times you hear it but it becomes not only a PIA after a while but you even start to cringe at the people noticing you as well. Attracting attention to cops doesn't help the wallet either. Very tall first gears become very tiresome too, in fact my first CR gearbox for my Datsun B210 (geez I'm old ... ) was a straight swap for my road going 5 speed because the guy had had a gutful of the very tall first gear!

Pictures of the setup, history; eg, has this just started etc ....

I think it's starting to look snappy!

Just a little more to go then some filler and blending and get some nice radius into those corners ... I have been told my hood and nose is finished being bondo'ed so will go look in the morning.

Thank you. Wheels/tyres are 205/55/16 which are 610mm/24" diameter.

Getting the rear bodywork together, you can see where I am headed with it ....

You own 2 of them, I respect any opinion coming from a true enthusiast and understand there's an ethos as you see it that you would like to see maintained. Anyway ..... chipping away at the rear shape the last few days ...

In 1967 a Toyota Corolla weighed 1500lbs, now a Corolla weighs 2500lbs. People are now also considerable bigger, up and especially sideways. The biggest selling car in America is a Ford F150 - mine is a small nimble car, it's now 2014 and it's called relativity.

Well I'm happy enough with the buck's basic shape now to send it off to the car repairers and get it bogged/bondo'ed up and see how it comes out in a few days time ...