The way I read Pete's message he was definitely paying you and your shop a complement! Great Work being done here!!!! Luke
Thank you both Pete and Luke, I really appreciate it. We have tried to be the local McGyvers , we really make do with very little. My guys are spectacular, and always proud about about their handiwork. It is unfortunate we cannot be in the USA, and that no one can send us cars... But we certainly can make and send parts out... Regards, Alberto
Timo, it is a compliment! Thank you! Wait until you see the paint cabin. It is almost finished and I am really pleased. Used the old motors from window A/C units as extractors. cost: $0, the lights out of an office that was going to be torn down. We copied a lot from old Ferrari books and spoke to a lot of the old craftsmen and fabricators, that were incredibly generous to teach us and share such valuable information. The fellow that built the paint booth, is MIT material. Too bad no one noticed when he was young... Mr Ferrari, was a brilliant man, had the pleasure, actually the experience of meeting him when I was 10 years old, and after having been to the Alfa Romeo factory, I asked him where the machines were, he showed me me around the factory, and he said: "the hands are the machines". Anecdotally, being in the 3rd world , we have always kept everything, always repair, the repairable, and never throw away anything as one day it might be useful. Wives tend to hate that Unfortunately, the 'civilized' world has taught us that you take a fender off, and put a new one on. You do not need to be a fabricator or a craftsman to do that. Regards, Alberto
Finally some progress. Started at the tail and are replacing the bad stuff with the new stuff. As usual, rust everywhere. Surprised? The XKE, belongs to a friend and we are slowly stripping it to see what need to be replaced It appears that the same guy that worked (!!!!) on the Dino, worked on the XK. Just for fun, my father in law was the Jag importer here from late 50's until he went belly up. I would say, about 1967 His crowning moment, was selling a 'D type'. Regards Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Just for fun...found 4 different colours. Black, not showing. Regards, Alberto Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Made a few new parts, then the tail will be practically, almost 60% They will never be seen once installed, but at least they are epoxied, then painted, just like at Scaglietti... Regards, Alberto There is Manuel, the metal wizard, extremely proud of his work, rightfully so. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Peter, it better be but then they were not very well built at the beginning, were they? I am fortunate to have a great guy working for me, more so, he listens Thinking way back, he could not believe that I had an English wheel and a DVD. We both learned together, and now it is 'his baby'. This car was an economical disaster. The plan is to finish this body, then assemble both at the same time, kind of a miniature assembly line. Will be great fun...have to come and visit. This country is not so crazy (yet...) Best, Alberto
Tempting invitation thanks...looking forward to follow your assembly line project, the synergy effect will be tremendous. You are a lucky man with access to all that competent support from locals. In this part of the world this is just not economical feasible on such demanding projects.
More progress on the rear... Regards, Alberto Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Looking very good! Will you be drilling drain holes in those double bottomed rear panels? I couldn't get myself to drill holes in those nice new panels so ended up filling the cavity with tectyl anti corrosion fluid Best Peter
If you are clever with how you do the folds on the bottom tip of the double panels it is possible to integrate a drain that goes totally un-noticed by even the most observant eye. What we did was leave a drain hole and then quickly fill the cavity to the rim with a gallon of rust preventative paint. The paint drained out the hole slowly and in the process coated the whole void with a rust resistant layer. A very low tech way of achieving a level of coverage that is otherwise impossible.
Great way Rob! We also painted the inside of the chassis tubes with a garden sprayer and the nasty, sticky POR. 'Course the sprayer became history right away. Regards, Alberto
The rear end is coming along at a good pace.. Regards, Alberto . Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Tony, now that you bring it up it is kind of funny, first take the car apart, then reassemble it, then take it apart again, then reassemble. Do it any other way and it will bite you... Then .... Regards, Alberto
Rust is everywhere! Buyers beware A few pix and for the guys in the frozen North....a few rotisserie shots in the balmy outdoors Not a Dino, but still fun to see. Regards, Alberto Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Made new door front inside gasket retainers. The doors are getting somewhere. Regards, Alberto Image Unavailable, Please Login
We made some new door skins, Manuel is very proud, rightly so Regards, Alberto Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
