KiwiBirkin

Hi guys I have sold a few of these to USA7 members and they have been really happy with the quality and how they look when put into a cars grill. Im starting to get some inquires again from here and need 5 to make it cost effective to get them cut. So if any one wants one let me know via email to Hotdognz@gmail.com. I will also ask on the OZclubbies forum again. Laser cut Caterham 7 front grill badge ideal for adding into your 7 replica/clubmans grill. Laser cut from 3mm mild steel so its thick enough to weld or braze in without any distortion to it. Size is 195mm wide x 185mm deep http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu326/Hotdognz/bits%20and%20pieces/GrillMain.jpg I can also get these cut in Aluminum for those who might like one but would ratrher qoute the price via email as its not that cheap for one off's. With the current exchange rate on your US $$ nearly matching our Kiwi I need to adjust the price a small bit. US $62 + postage (US $12.50 via airmail) Cheers Guys

Hi Paul as soon as I start the project to extend the footbox I'll update my posts in the members rides section with pics on the progress.

Great buy I think you have yourself a nice car for the price, car looks to be in great condition and having the hood and doors included is a real bonus for the $$ paid. As I said I wouldn't bother with the wide track conversion as I find the narrow track ok. As for changes to the car in it's current form the only thing I would suggest is to maybe get the passenger footwell extended as it's very short and will pose a challenge to people over 5"9 it's a easy conversion to do And I'm in the proccess of doing it next too my car. Another good thing to do to Birkin's around the 1996/8 years is to lower the seats down into the cockpit which I have done and it dropped me into the car another 2" inches which put my view central to the windscreen.

I would imagine the wiper kit is there under the scuttle maybe just the wipers missing, honestly I wouldn't even worry too much about adding a wide track front end as it won't need it really the normal narrow track works well on the the car. Great thing about the Birkin is 95% of the new Birkin bits fit the older Birkin's as they haven't changed the car too much except In size and shape.

Owning a Birkin too this looks like a reasonably good price for the car, my guess is it's around 1996-1999 as it has the narrow track front end and the older style cycle guards yet it has the newer rear guards than mine (1998). If it had been SA assembled (pre 1999) it would have had a ford 1600 crossflow but ad it was shipped as a kit it more than likely would have been set up for a ford detect but instead had the Miata engine put in along with custom seats. Other things missing are the full windscreen but that's easy to fix and also vinyl dash ask easy fixed. As for price in the US check out what a kit will cost you from the USA Birkin dealer and then maybe add $1000 (maybe way off the mark here) for the bits you need to bring the car up too what you would need/want and compare. I love my 1998 Birkin it's built well and goes great.

I think the guy who owns and runs Redline is a Kiwi that's why it a old school feel too it.

We also have a MX5 (Miata) in NZ we have only just purchased it about 12 weeks ago but have wanted one for ages, its a 1998 1800 manual VSpec model imported from Japan. We both love it and while its mainly my wife's daily runner I really love driving it too, we have also joined the MX5 club here in Christchurch which has well over 300 members and have enjoyed a few winter trips out with them so far. Gay & hairdresser car maybe.... but they are really fun to own and drive. [img]http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy162/Kiwibirkin/MX5%20Genral%20Pics/MX5VSpec.jpg[/img]

Your car looks fantastic Mike well done on getting it finished, I really like the stack dash it looks great.

Nice site the wife thought some of the pics were pretty artistic

Twobone I had Spax shocks on my Birkin when I purchased it and changed them over to Gaz (front & rear) the difference in ride was like night & day, I think the Spax had a hard life over the 30000 kms they had done on the car before the change. The car became more settled in corners and the Gaz were easier to adjust and setup.

You would be better of fiddling with the wife/girlfriend it would bring a smile to your face while waiting for the engine :smilielol5:

Sorry didnt get time to finish my post before my iPhone cut off so have added some more txt and a couple of pics.

Martin sad to say Baillies bar has gone it collapsed in the Feb 11th EQ and has been demolished along with several buildings in that area The CBD is a no go zone with a fence built around it and patrolled 24/7 by the NZ Defense force too stop looters getting in, think it's a 5x5 km exclusion zone. The Cathedral in the square you so fondly remember has now also lost it's west wall along with the belltower, the picture below is from the Feb 11 EQ but it now has that much more damage that it cant be saved, they are now talking about relocating the city and starting again. http://images.tvnz.co.nz/tvnz_images/news2011/christchurch/christchurch_photogallery/cathedral_1406_pgb.jpg Catholic Church also badly hit and a city icon http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2011/02/22/1226010/393907-christchurch-earthquake.jpg

Hi Martin thanks for the pictures they certainly did bring a smile to my face. TwoBone lots of people would like to sell up and move but as with everything the reality isnt quite as easy as people would like it too be. Those people who rent have left the city and are moving out to the suburbs built on stronger ground (old riverbed) as the main center of Christchurch and the Eastern Suburbs (worst hit) are built on reclaimed swamp land. Our house is out to the North of Christchurch and is solid ground we have been told and has only really minor cracking in the interior paint & jib and is a area people are looking to buy in as they move away from the city. The latest stats put the rebuild at 30 Billion NZ $$ and 20 years which is a long time to be with out central bars, restaurants and culture and this is another reason to leave for a lot of people.

First thing is the stock birkin seats are not ideal for the track as they are made of very thin fiberglass, instead of looking at other seats you could look at taking the Birkin seats and getting them strengthened up with more fiberglass and then re-upholstered again. A friend of mine did this with his seats and also had a metal bar glassed into the bottom of them where the holes are that the bolts go through.

If were off to heaven then I'm making sure I take a couple of cars with me, hmmm new Birkin, Elise S3 here I come. See you up there guys.

Hi Martin cheers for your thoughts. We are OK but shaken up AGAIN. The house has a few more cracks in it but nothing too bad and its very livable still. Both the 5.5 (violent) and 6.3 (not so violent but long) came through while I was workin on Grace in the garage, I was busy putting a rear seal in the gearbox of the Birkin I was sitting in the car tapping the seal in place when the second one arrived (6.3) and the whole car and house started rocking and shaking and I stood up in the cockpit of the car and it felt like I was riding a surfboard as the car bucked about on the axle stands. Funny though as the house was also being inspected for damage by the NZ EQC & builder (Earth Quake Commission) for my Feb 22nd claim and they both bolted out the house through the garage outside and stood watching me ride it out in the car. :party: But we are now over it and the wife's nerves are shot and we are looking to sell up and leave NZ to greener pastures in Aussie in the future and away from all the doom & gloom that Christchurch has become because of these EQ's, with each one a little bit of the heart of the city gets ripped out and its going to be a very long time before it gets put back (if it doesn't bankrupt NZ first)

Had a funny feeling it was for trackdays You USA guys must have too much disposable income with all these cars listed in people sigs and trailers for trackdays, here we are in NZ being told its all doom & gloom for the US economy ??.

Lovely trailer and really nice design, i'm having trouble though wondering why you would want to trailer such a nice car and not drive it

Couple more of Grace on my fav road before winter set in and the the road was un-drivable after the Feb 11 Earth Quake. http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu326/Hotdognz/bits%20and%20pieces/PIctures/LotusSunday19-09-2010067.jpg http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu326/Hotdognz/bits%20and%20pieces/PIctures/LotusSunday19-09-2010094.jpg One from futher down the NZ South Island at the Benmoore Dam spillway http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu326/Hotdognz/bits%20and%20pieces/PIctures/WanakaLotusTrip54.jpg

Nope spotted them too, now trying to get my wife to pose like that but not having much luck but figured out what's wrong and that there were two girls in the photo so offers to get her best mate to join in...... Still no luck

ALL SOLD If anyone missed out im taking pre-orders again and will get 10 cut when I reach 5 pre orders, just email me. Cheers Kiwibirkin

I now only have 1 grill left, please email me first too make sure its hasn't gone though if you are interested.

Croc thats a great looking car you have there, its great to see it on the road.

Hi found the USA7s members email now so if a admin wants to delete this post please feel free to do so as I know its in the wrong area. Cheers Stephen