Well a real milestone today. FC316 is now painted in Signal red! There’s still a few pieces to do though including the windscreen surround, bootlid and front valance but still a big step forward.
As we’ll soon be into the rebuild stage, I’ve bought a new stainless (standard) exhaust system and a new wiring loom. I also managed to acquire a NOS door handle😀.
I’m hopeful that in the ne t couple of weeks the engine can be fired up for the first time since the mid 1970s🤞
Final post for today I think . Not too much progress in my other MK1 - FC14255. You may recall this car will be a works rally homage. So whilst she waits on the body/paint prep (and for the work on FC316 to be out of the way!). I’ve bought some nice period rally pieces 😀
1. Some Lucas 576 rear mounting (WFT) Spotlamps /Fogs as used on the works rally cars
2. A Stanpart Triumph Spitfire skid plate
3. Another 8000rpm Rev counter (I already have another on my MK3)
4. Some ex John Sprinzel snow chains in their original hessian bag (this is for looks more than anything else!) apparently used by him on rallies in the 1960s
5. A Lucas RMS576 Roof mounted Spotlamp as used on the works rally cars
6. A nice condition butlers map light
7. A Smiths time of trip click as used in period
8. Some period (late 1960s) corbeau bucket seats.
More Photos to come
Phew!
One of the reasons that things have moved a little slower than I had hoped is that my 1967 MK3 needed a little TLC. So, she had some paint touch up, had her core plugs replaced and a wiring fault rectified. At the same time I put in a new dashboard (my original dash was definitely showing it’s age!) and installed the genuine works 8000rpm Rev counter. Now adding this rev-counter may sound odd on a road car butK’ve also installed twin 40 DCOE 18 Weber’s! These are matching vintage Italian built carbs on SAH manifolds that were, I’m told, supplied as a upgrade kit by SAH in the late 1960s. They’ve needed new jets, airs, pumps etc but with a classic style linkage, they’re now fitted and sound great. Still some rattling work to ge done but I’m happy overall. Finally I managed to find a genuine SAH screen anti glare banner, which sets the car off nicely I think! Here’s a selection of photos 👍
Sticking with interior trim, I’ve also been very lucky to acquire some perfect NoS Spitfire4 door cards - the weird thing was that they were both drivers side! One was black, the other midnight blue. I called Newton commercial to discuss and they agreed to produce two passenger side cards for me to the correct grain and colour. I added the metal trim clips to these repro panels and they look great!
I was also extremely lucky to acquire a very very good condition original Spitfire4 soft top from 1963! No rips or tears anywhere and the vybak windows are in very good condition (and have the cleaning instructions moulded into the screen material which is a mark of the genuine factory soft tops!)
And finally on a piece of external trim. I found a genuine NoS Spitfire4 front bumper, still in its wrapping! This took ages to remove as the adhesive had hardened but it was worth it! Can’t wait to see this on the car!
Still on FC316. A few years ago now I came across some original Spitfire MK1 special order carpet (smoke grey/black mottle). these are ridiculously rare. Well last week another few pieces came up for sale! With the exception of the rear seat deck and heel board carpet. I now have the full carpet set in either NoS or good used condition. The missing pieces will be recreated using a spare (used) main floor carpet I have.
Many many months since the last update on this blog! How have things progressed?well, honestly< kinda slowly! Funds and prioritising other life events and cars have meant I’ve not made the progress I’d wished. However in the last couple of months that’s changed a little. FC316 is almost ready for paint! As you can see the body work is complete and paint prep well underway. The door gaps look good now and it’s ready for the Signal Red paint (I have genuine Stanpart Signal red from a still liquid touch up a tin which will be used to colour match).
