I mentioned in an earlier blog post some of the very early features of FC316. Here are some photos of the stop lamps. the right hand unit is the prototype. As you can see the metal lug at the bottom is traight rather than slightly inverted like in the left hand "regular" unit. In the second photo you can see differences in the unit pressing (again the "regular" unit is on the left), whilst the last photo shows the "regular" unit on the left with the Lucas branding and part numbers whilst the "prototype" unit has no markings at all apart from a crudely stamped L672 behind the lamp reflector.

The other interesting item is the boot lid frame. The parts catalogue I have show these were amended sometime before February 1963 by adding a central strengthener. The photo on the left shows the "regular" strengthener the right hand photo shows the frame from FC316 without the added central stengthener.

Ok. So this is supposed to be a blog for my very early Spitfire4 and so far no pictures :-) well time to rectify that!

Here is is in all her, ahem... glory! - She's actually worse than she looks! Not that she looks much like this anymore! So far I've removed the body, and dismantled to component parts. Chassis has been blasted, painted and the front suspension has been rebuilt with new springs, shocks, discs, wheel bearings, polybushes, trunnions, top ball joints, trackrod end etc The steering rack has been refitted as has the anti roll bar. The Diff is in place as is a new rear leaf spring. Whilst doing this work I've been keeping track of what's original (pretty much everything) and what's very different/unique to the early productions cars - here's a list of the items present on my car:

• All glass has been Triplex dated as being 4th Qtr 1962



• Rear stop lamps are prototypes with no parts numbers or makers marks!



• Bonnet runners on the bulkhead are pop riveted rather than part of the pressing - V. early production change



• Fuel tank is unique with welded cut outs rather than part of the pressing on later cars - V. early production change


• Dashtop is straight rather than flared over the instruments early change not noted


• Original boot frame is in place without additional strengthener tube changed pre Feb 1963


• Frictionless propeller shaft rather than sliding spline - Changed at FC 1876


• No dust shield on front discs; separate casting for brake calliper mounting - Changed at FC2393


• Different lever arms - Changed at FC15576


• Different Vertical links - Changed at FC 15576


• Drain tube and plenum chamber from Heater box rather than later rubber flap arrangement - Changed at FC 5964


• Long nose B-post cappings and rear wing trim to end of panel - Changed at FC 5463


• Original two piece door seal cloth/rubber instead of furflex single piece seal - Changed at FC5463


• Rear valance has the top and bottom holes for the rear bumper/over rider fixing - Changed at FC 14196

That's all for now :-)

Here's theMk3 Sun Visors that I bought recently from eBay. I've seen these raise more than £100 in auction so was very happy to pay £30 for this set, which appears to be in great condition!

On the History side of FC316 I've managed to track down the last real owner (the chap I bought the car from had never officially had the car registered in his name). Once again I was lucky in that whilst all I had was a name, it was an unusual name, especially for Devon and a village/area which was pretty sparesely populated. Add to that the fact that the chap had at one time his own business meant I could track him via the Companies House Directors register and get an address. Again some good luck in that the address was a house name and a google search on this turned up that Mr M. Fraser or at least his son D.S. Fraser still lived there. I've written to Mr. Fraser asking for anything he may recall aboyut the car (given that I believe they owned her from 1975 or so to approx 1996 they should know a fair bit!)