Spitfire with Olds 215

[88v8]

Haven't seen a V8 Spit for ages, then a second one comes along:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271041285636?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Pretty good. OK, the front apron, the trunk lid, the driver's door, and the exhaust looks a Saturday afternoon job, but it's had a lot of work put into it, that rear end sounds seriously ambitious, and.... it has a nearly working speedo, ask yourself how many.cars you've seen where the speedo isn't connected.
At this price, well....... even the paintwork looks quite decent from 4,000 miles.

I'd better stop... be talking myself into buying it... lol

Ivor

[bsa_m21]

I'd love to see how the rear end is set up.
 
"Differential center section out of an 85 BMW 735, Audi Quatro Rear Disc brakes and hubs, with Parking brake. Rear suspension is Indi Car style 4 link tubular with all Hiem Joins and Coil Over Shocks"

M.

[88v8]

Yes, I would too.

The seller tells me although he never claimed to be a body and fender man, he did everything on this car in his home garage, including the paint. He says the car does work very well. it handles well, stops well and 'rides decent'.
I imagine he must be very sorry to part with it.

OK the speedo reads slow, but when I think how many cars one sees with engine transplants where the speedo never got hooked up at all, this is not exacty a crime. Even Ric Vandenberg never connected the speedo on his TR6, and btw neither did the seller who resold it on eBay.
The seller of the Spit comments that the car is way better than when it came here from England and none of the Lucas or Smith stuff worked. Not for nothing is Lucas dubbed the Prince of Darkness.
 
This looks like an admirable piece of work, and I hope it sells for a decent price.

Ivor

[rocket]

[88v8]

Seller also seems unusually honest, photographing the front apron hanging off, the trunk lid not shutting too well, the driver's door hanging out a little. Most sellers would have 'accidentally'  omitted these features.
What you see is really what you get, as they say.

And anyway, none of that stuff really matters, after all, you can't see it when you're in the car lol.

That suspension work must have taken a deal of time to figure out. Out of my league; I just got as far as making lowering blocks to put beneath the rear axle of my Landrover, and even that didn't work as I made them out of alloy and now they're fretting. Doh....

Ivor

[Moderator]

I wonder what his other photos look like... you know, the ones he decided not to use.

[rocket]

I'll show you any pictures you want to see. It,s not a show car. it's was a design (mule) and a daily driver. from the looks under the car you can tell it's not trailerd or babied. Concidering that it was saved from rotting away in a field,I got to say that it works rather well.By the way, the front apron is not (falling Off). The hood and body were raised for radiator and engine clearance. Rodney

[88v8]

Hello Rodney, and welcome to the forum. We like chaps such as you who can do things.

I think you should mention that point about the apron in your listing, it sure looks as if it's falling off.

Ivor

[rocket]

Well the car sold. It's going to North Carolina to be stripped down again and brought back as a Vintage Road Race car. The front apron that was( falling off) will be replaced with a new air dam. Bigger brakes,suspension upgrades, a full roll cage, among many other modifications will be going into this car. The basic v8 5 speed and BMW diff will remain. I look forward to seeing the pictures of the build as it comes together this winter. Rodney

[rficalora]

Hey Rodney - suggest to the buyer that he sign up and post build updates here.  I know a bunch of us would be interested to watch the progress.

[roverman]

Rodney and clan, What Vintage class will this car run in ? It's an engine swap car. Thanks, roverman.

[rocket]

I'm not sure what  class  it will run in. The new owner states that the Vintage Racing classes in North Carolina are (Rather Laxed).