Hi all,
Can anyone tell me exactly how the Thruxton GT and MK HSR Healey-esque bodies differ from each other? It's obvious they share DNA, but I
understand they are not exactly the same.
Here the Thruxton:
...and the HSR:
There are some styling differences (holes in the bonnet and front side/indicator lighting), but other than that? I've read that the Thruxton is
better finished, but I can't quantify what that actually means...
Thanks in advance for any help!
Cheers,
Jon.
Scratch that, I just answered my own question by ringing MK and finding out they don't supply it any more!
For any mods, this topic can be deleted. I can't find any obvious way of doing so myself.
The body manufacturer is in Derbyshire somewhere. Had a bodywork for sale recently on ebay
[Edited on 19/6/15 by femster87]
I really want one of these ( Thruxton GT ), anyone got a cheap one sat doing nothing? Is there any online info on the kits etc anywhere as cant find much?
He was at Stoneleigh this year on the kitpartsdirect stand, I was so annoyed because he had a show special discount and I've got nowhere to store
it yet!
I couldn't really see much difference in finish between the two, they're both 'rough' as they come out the mould and aren't
as polished as some other suppliers. But that's why they're cheap.
I'm sure I have some photos of a 'raw' shell as it was at the show, I'll try and post them later if I can.
Look at the lights and you will notice a difference. Front and back
if you contact us we can look to help to with a purchase of the old hsr body,
u2u or email sales@kitcardirect.co.uk
regards
sean
kcd
quote:
Originally posted by The Knobs
I really want one of these ( Thruxton GT ), anyone got a cheap one sat doing nothing? Is there any online info on the kits etc anywhere as cant find much?
quote:
Originally posted by Slimy38
I'm sure I have some photos of a 'raw' shell as it was at the show, I'll try and post them later if I can.
the lightweight matt black one looks awesome, wonder how light though?
Nice picture of the Thruxton! 
There isn't much info on the web as Jim Walker who manufactures them does it as a sideline to his garage business in Cornwall and doesn't
really do computers. He will however chat to you for hours if you call him.
I set up the facebook page to share the pictures of my build.
As for the differences in the ex MK body V's the Thruxton. The Thruxton is basically a development of the MK HSR body which was in fact owned by
another friend of mine. Jim bought a body, didn't think much of it and chopped it about until he was then used it as a buck to make new
moulds.
The Thruxton fits on top of the chassis rails of a MK, MAC#1, Westfield, even a Haynes. The lights are different and the general fit and finish are
far better. Mine is in gel coat and a good finish. With the body Jim will supply outriggers to fit to a 7 chassis or he can supply an entire kit.
If you need any more details let me know.
Cheap ones for sale? Not really as there are only 2 Thruxtons on the road. Mine, & the black demo car. There is a yellow one currently in bits
(old demo car) and a customer V8 one in build which should be ready for next years Stoneleigh. The is also a blue body fitted on a particularly nice
Saab powered Haynes Roadster.
I might be persuaded to sell mine but not cheaply 
quote:
Originally posted by kitcardirect
if you contact us we can look to help to with a purchase of the old hsr body,
u2u or email sales@kitcardirect.co.uk
regards
sean
kcd
Will look into this as if the body will fit a range of chassis, this could make a decent light track car with the retro look.
Some pics;
And the price that I missed out on 
Cheap as chips, where can i get one at that price? pale blue is the colour i am thinking like the fiat 500s with black trim and wheels. may be getting a bit excited lol
I'm just hoping/praying he does the same price at Stoneleigh 2016... to be fair, I'm sure I was looking at about £1300 originally, so £1100 is a good price itself.
quote:
Originally posted by Slimy38
I'm just hoping/praying he does the same price at Stoneleigh 2016... to be fair, I'm sure I was looking at about £1300 originally, so £1100 is a good price itself.
quote:
Originally posted by The Knobs
quote:
Originally posted by Slimy38
I'm just hoping/praying he does the same price at Stoneleigh 2016... to be fair, I'm sure I was looking at about £1300 originally, so £1100 is a good price itself.
Looks like it says £899 as show offer
@Slimy38: thanks for the photos! Nice to see interior photos at last.
quote:
Originally posted by rdodger
The Thruxton fits on top of the chassis rails of a MK, MAC#1, Westfield, even a Haynes. The lights are different and the general fit and finish are far better. Mine is in gel coat and a good finish. With the body Jim will supply outriggers to fit to a 7 chassis or he can supply an entire kit.
The body is moulded to fit on top of the chassis rails behind the seat and at the side. So the main tub is kind of self jigging. It also means the
cockpit sides are double skinned and finished.
The whole thing fits together better in terms of the bonnet section and the main tub.
The lower edge has a return a couple of inches up to sit on the outrigger
It has inner arches moulded in.
The overall gel finish is spot on and doesn't need painting. The bodies are mounlded by a boat builder down in Cornwall so spot on
How much is the Thruxton body at the moment?
quote:
Originally posted by rdodger
The body is moulded to fit on top of the chassis rails behind the seat and at the side. So the main tub is kind of self jigging. It also means the cockpit sides are double skinned and finished.
The whole thing fits together better in terms of the bonnet section and the main tub.
The lower edge has a return a couple of inches up to sit on the outrigger
It has inner arches moulded in.
The overall gel finish is spot on and doesn't need painting. The bodies are mounlded by a boat builder down in Cornwall so spot on
I was quoted £1,650 + VAT
I understand the HSR is around £400 cheaper, I'm assuming that's also without VAT and without the outriggers supplied with the Thruxton. By
the sounds of it, the price difference seems justified.
I wonder if the body will fit with a full roll cage?
It can certainly be made to fit with a braced roll bar, I don't think it would be too difficult to get a full cage to fit, though it would have
to bolt in.
When I helped Ash with odd bits there was a certain amount of tweaking needed to make it fit his Haynes chassis. It took quite some time to get the
body to sit the way he wanted it, you need to be patient and accept you cannot just drop it on and bolt it up. The rear edge of the bonnet needed
extending so the front wheel sat nicely in the arches.
It did look very nice on the road and the capacious boot helped with touring practicality.
quote:
Originally posted by Toltec
When I helped Ash with odd bits there was a certain amount of tweaking needed to make it fit his Haynes chassis. It took quite some time to get the body to sit the way he wanted it, you need to be patient and accept you cannot just drop it on and bolt it up. The rear edge of the bonnet needed extending so the front wheel sat nicely in the arches.
there has got to be a market for someone to offer a drive in-drive out conversion....
quote:
Originally posted by swanny
there has got to be a market for someone to offer a drive in-drive out conversion....
you're right. it looks like three grand.....
quote:
Originally posted by Slimy38
quote:
This 100%. The price of the body and the 'flexibility' of host chassis means that I'm fully expecting it to be a nightmare to fit. I almost wonder whether the outriggers of the Thruxton kit will make it more difficult to custom fit, particularly as I've already had to modify some of my chassis for the MX5 donor. Going for the HSR version means that I can make my own outriggers to fit exactly.
The outriggers are just a length of box section with two pieces teed off to go to the chassis. You trim them to fit the width of the body/chassis and weld them on. The Thruxton body has built in shelves that sit on to the outriggers and you add packing to get the height right. Ash had to add some tube to the passenger compartment rails to get the right height for the body. You also need to remove the parts of the chassis that hold the rear bodywork and make up a frame to become a boot floor and body support.
Ash routed the exhaust from the original side can up through the wheel arch and out the back.
In case it isn't clear the reason I know all this is that it takes two people to move the tub on and off...
Slimy38 - 2/7/15 at 09:46 AMquote:
Originally posted by Toltec
quote:
Originally posted by Slimy38
This 100%. The price of the body and the 'flexibility' of host chassis means that I'm fully expecting it to be a nightmare to fit. I almost wonder whether the outriggers of the Thruxton kit will make it more difficult to custom fit, particularly as I've already had to modify some of my chassis for the MX5 donor. Going for the HSR version means that I can make my own outriggers to fit exactly.
The outriggers are just a length of box section with two pieces teed off to go to the chassis. You trim them to fit the width of the body/chassis and weld them on. The Thruxton body has built in shelves that sit on to the outriggers and you add packing to get the height right. Ash had to add some tube to the passenger compartment rails to get the right height for the body. You also need to remove the parts of the chassis that hold the rear bodywork and make up a frame to become a boot floor and body support.
Ash routed the exhaust from the original side can up through the wheel arch and out the back.
In case it isn't clear the reason I know all this is that it takes two people to move the tub on and off...
That's actually really useful, thanks for the info. It's kind of what I was expecting to do, particularly around the back end. I've not actually built up the rear bodywork frame on that basis, I'm just leaving it as the bottom diff cage and the bars from the top suspension struts.
And yes, the bodywork seemed reasonably light, but the sheer size suggests a two person job!
[Edited on 2/7/15 by Slimy38]
ashg - 2/7/15 at 01:05 PMhere are a couple of pictures of mine
you can see the outriggers here
fitting thruxton body on a haynes roadster
ended up adding an inch onto the bonnet but wasnt a big deal to do.
sadly i sold the car to a chap in Germany and moved to the USA. little bit sad about that :-( currently have no idea where she is or if shees been smashed into a ditch/wall :-(
ashg - 2/7/15 at 01:07 PMi documented the whole conversion for CKC but it never got published
Slimy38 - 2/7/15 at 01:58 PMquote:
Originally posted by ashg
i documented the whole conversion for CKC but it never got published
Those pics look really good, nice colour as well. I'd love to see the whole conversion process as well, would you be able to post it for us to take a look?
JonTarry - 2/7/15 at 02:37 PMquote:
I'd love to see the whole conversion process as well, would you be able to post it for us to take a look?
Absolutely, that'd be great!
slingshot2000 - 2/7/15 at 03:20 PMquote:
Originally posted by JonTarry
quote:
I'd love to see the whole conversion process as well, would you be able to post it for us to take a look?
Absolutely, that'd be great!
^^^^^+1
AndyW - 3/7/15 at 09:39 PMThink I may have found my next project. I like that a lot!
PAUL FISHER - 4/7/15 at 09:42 PMHere you go
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Austin-Healey-3000-Kit-Car-Body-Kit-Fits-Lotus-7-Locost-MK-Dutton-Robin-Hood-/291507284186?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=it em43df3028da
Slimy38 - 4/7/15 at 11:14 PMquote:
Originally posted by PAUL FISHER
Here you go
Austin Healey 3000 Kit Car Body Kit Fits Lotus 7, Locost, MK, Dutton, Robin Hood
That is quite eye-opening in lots of ways!! Firstly I didn't even twig there was two variations, despite seeing both the light blue and the white ones next to each other I didn't realise one was a wide arched version!!
And then there's the price...
femster87 - 9/7/15 at 09:27 PMHere you go, registered car. Needs a new engine
Thruxton GT original prototype
HOL - 10/7/15 at 07:45 PMquote:
Originally posted by ashg
i documented the whole conversion for CKC but it never got published
Hi Ash,
Did you move with work?
Andy
femster87 - 10/7/15 at 10:00 PMThruxton GT road track and sprint car
stamfordspeed - 18/6/16 at 09:59 PMI am trying to get one of the narrow Healey 3000 bodies......saw an ad on ebay last year....have emailed the company ( kitcarparts ), but no reply yet........any news on who owns the moulds.
Slimy38 - 18/6/16 at 10:37 PMThis is who you need;
http://locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=204213
I asked him about the narrow bodies and he's still making them, that was only a fortnight ago.
[Edited on 18/6/16 by Slimy38]
stamfordspeed - 19/6/16 at 08:51 AMThanks, I will give them a try
[Edited on 19/6/16 by stamfordspeed]