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Building a replica car
nick205 - 6/9/18 at 09:15 AM

An acquaintance has an aim to build a replica of the 1930's BMW 328 car shown below.

Having built a kit car I'm relatively familiar with the SVA (at that time) rules.

The car is intended for road use only - no track days or competitive use.

Would the same rules (IVA now) apply to his project or would the DVLA/VOSA treat the car differently?

Thanks,
Nick



[Edited on 7/9/18 by nick205]

[Edited on 7/9/18 by nick205]


mcerd1 - 6/9/18 at 09:45 AM

depends what chassis you use - if you use an unmodified chassis from a suitable donor vehicle you'd get away with calling it a re-body


if its a new chassis then it will need an IVA

[Edited on 6/9/2018 by mcerd1]


Mr Whippy - 6/9/18 at 09:53 AM

Unless your friend could find a chassis based car with the same wheel base that was already registered and use that as the underpinnings it would be just the same as any kit car through the IVA. Going to cost a heap of money regardless


nick205 - 6/9/18 at 10:28 AM

He already has GRP body mouldings for the car.

The mouldings don't have opening doors and he's happy with the idea of climbing in/out as per a 7 type kit car.

Chassis wise he plans to build it around a Locost type chassis. This could be a fresh built chassis or potentially a registered Locost stripped back to take the body he has.

His real concern at this stage is which rules it will have to comply with and tests/inspections it may have to undergo. Whilst he has no desire for it to be unsafe he equally wants to retain the look of the original car (we appreciate the two objectives may clash with each other).


JimSpencer - 6/9/18 at 10:48 AM

I'd start with an already registered kit car - similar style, similar track/wheelbase (as Mr Whippy said) something like/similar too a Pilgrim perhaps - a re-body then wouldn't need an IVA.


nick205 - 6/9/18 at 11:53 AM

A re-body of an already registered car seems the better option to me!

He knows I built a kit car before and has asked if I'd consider dojng this car for him. Whilst I love cars this one just doesn't do it for me and it wouldn't be mine when finished so it's a "NO THANKS" to that question.


swanny - 6/9/18 at 11:59 AM

is there any database for car wheelbases that he could search through

paul


nick205 - 6/9/18 at 12:31 PM

quote:
Originally posted by swanny
is there any database for car wheelbases that he could search through

paul



Not aware of one, but that doesn't mean there isn't!


Wikipedia suggests for the BMW

Wheelbase = 2,400mm
Front Track = 1,153mm
Rear Track = 1,220mm


Seems narrow, but then I guess it's an older vehicle.

Anyone know the wheelbase/track for a MK1/2 Escort or Sierra?

[Edited on 6/9/18 by nick205]


softfeet - 6/9/18 at 12:48 PM

Putting a new body on an already registered kit car seems a sensible way to do this.
There is a build thread on the Madaboutkitcars Forum of something similar. Someone is putting an aluminium replica body of a 1957 Ferrari 250 Testarossa on a Locost. I will try to find the link.


JimSpencer - 6/9/18 at 12:48 PM

quote:
Originally posted by nick205
quote:
Originally posted by swanny
is there any database for car wheelbases that he could search through

paul



Not aware of one, but that doesn't mean there isn't!



Wouldn't worry about it, if you go for something with a fairly simple chassis and a live axle then 'adjusting' the wheelbase is pretty straightforward

The bigger issue will be width, I suspect a 328 is pretty narrow, so it'll be herald / escort / morris track width, I'd be looking for something with a ladder chassis based on one of them I reckon.


nick205 - 6/9/18 at 12:54 PM

quote:
Originally posted by JimSpencer
quote:
Originally posted by nick205
quote:
Originally posted by swanny
is there any database for car wheelbases that he could search through

paul



Not aware of one, but that doesn't mean there isn't!



Wouldn't worry about it, if you go for something with a fairly simple chassis and a live axle then 'adjusting' the wheelbase is pretty straightforward

The bigger issue will be width, I suspect a 328 is pretty narrow, so it'll be herald / escort / morris track width, I'd be looking for something with a ladder chassis based on one of them I reckon.




Again Wikpedia suggests the BMW used a ladder chassis with and Aluminium body.

I think you're right that an Escort / Sierra / (even MX5) based Locost will be too wide.


softfeet - 6/9/18 at 12:57 PM

http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6588


Daf - 6/9/18 at 01:06 PM

One off the wall alternative to consider is getting hold of a Dutton vin and log book and simply transferring it over.


russbost - 6/9/18 at 01:12 PM

Actually in all seriousness, this could actually be a legitimate use of a Dutton chassis if the wheelbase can fit & you can get the chassis under it without (obvious) modification.

Personally if you can find something with the right wheelbase I would have thought a Robin Hood or Vindicator might be a sensible starting point, or go for something that already starts out more like the finished article, like a Bulldog (as already suggested) or possibly Spartan - fine as long as you don't mind old running gear

One other possibility would be a Scimitar? Tho' a bit thin on the ground now


nick205 - 6/9/18 at 01:50 PM

quote:
Originally posted by softfeet
http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6588




Thanks - passed this one for him to read/digest.

He now tells me he's also bought a Mk1 MX5 he hopes to use as the donor car - which kind of changes things!


Ugg10 - 6/9/18 at 02:04 PM

https://www.carfolio.com/specifications/models/car/?car=56551

mm inches

Wheelbase
2400 94.5

Track/tread (front)
1150 45.3

Track/tread (rear)
1220 48

Length
3900 153.5

Width
1550 61

Height
1400 55.1

Ground clearance
200 7.9

length:wheelbase ratio
1.63

Kerb weight
830 kg 1830 lb


jps - 6/9/18 at 07:10 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Ugg10
https://www.carfolio.com/specifications/models/car/?car=56551

mm inches

Wheelbase
2400 94.5

Track/tread (front)
1150 45.3

Track/tread (rear)
1220 48




Triumph Herald pretty close on wheelbase and track

1959 Triumph Herald Coupé data
dimensions & weights
Wheelbase
2324 mm
91.5 inches
Track/tread (front)
1219 mm
48 inches
Track/tread (rear)
1219 mm
48 inches


gremlin1234 - 6/9/18 at 07:22 PM

quote:
Originally posted by jps
Triumph Herald pretty close on wheelbase and track

also 2cv maybe
wheelbase ok, but 14cm wider at front. (oh and it might drive the wrong wheels)

Wheelbase 2400 94.5
Track/tread (front) 1260 49.6
Track/tread (rear) 1260 49.6


nick205 - 7/9/18 at 07:29 AM

quote:
Originally posted by gremlin1234
quote:
Originally posted by jps
Triumph Herald pretty close on wheelbase and track

also 2cv maybe
wheelbase ok, but 14cm wider at front. (oh and it might drive the wrong wheels)

Wheelbase 2400 94.5
Track/tread (front) 1260 49.6
Track/tread (rear) 1260 49.6



Thanks gremlin1234 - he seems to have his heart set on building a spaceframe chassis from scratch and also seems to have accepted he'll have to undergo the IVA test.

He's known to be a "sucker-for-punishment" as they say so if that's his desire then I'm not one to intefere.

On the positive side he retires end of October this year so should have time to put into the project.

On the negative side he doesn't have a garage/workspace or many tools (certainly no welding kit). He's also known for being pretty tight on spending money so the conecpt of ivesting in tools may be a little alien to him. He doesn't have any children to whom he might then leave any tools or acquired items.

To my benefit he's just disappeared for 2 weeks on leave though so I don't have to listen to any more questions


owelly - 7/9/18 at 01:25 PM

Simply weld a few bits of metal together and screw on some old number plates....job done.
Thus:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Classic-Mini-Kit-Car-Tax-Mot-Exempt-Project/302871811240?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649 />
[Edited on 7/9/18 by owelly]


ettore bugatti - 7/9/18 at 07:38 PM

It also depends how accurate that body is dimension wise.

There was a look-a-like kit for Scimitar chassis

[img]http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u143/rogp/New-Scimitar-01w.jpg~original[/img]

[Edited on 7/9/18 by ettore bugatti]


steve m - 9/9/18 at 08:31 AM

Just from an IVA point, the windscreen looks like a fail, and the spinners, and not sure about the indicators on the wings
but apart from that the body appears to be designed with IVA in mind in 1930 !


nick205 - 13/9/18 at 10:12 AM

quote:
Originally posted by steve m
Just from an IVA point, the windscreen looks like a fail, and the spinners, and not sure about the indicators on the wings
but apart from that the body appears to be designed with IVA in mind in 1930 !



He's already raised his own concerns about those items.

I explained that I'd SVA'd my MK Indy without any screen and then fitted a low plastic (too low for wipers and not in the field of vision). The screen on his target car certainly seems a different question though!