Jeremy's 2Fifty Cal story begins....

[Jez]

Quick update.
Been juggling lots of business travel with working on the 250 Cal and doing the normal household jobs, so progress has slowed down a little. However, the bodywork is all complete, bumpers trimmed, windscreen trim also cut to fit, all lights, handles (except boot) grills etc trial fitted and removed.
Door pulleys now fitted and door handles pre-fitted and removed.
Also made a start on the interior, so now the inside is a complete mess with no dashboard, seats, centre console etc. I have cut out the Z3 dash ready to join to the DNA dash moulding. Also had the angle grinder at the metalwork so the new dash can be fitted.
Spent this weekend cutting out the headlight covers and bezels from the acrylic moulding supplied by Brian. Time consuming work, and unfinished due to the death of my Dremel mid cutting!!! New one arrives tomorrow so will finish that next weekend.
Car going for paint at the end of June 

[seriph]

Thanks for the updates! I imagine you don't have progress pics as they're one more step in a million actual steps that get the car done!

The dash sounds an interesting process - keen to know how straightforward you're finding it.

Thanks again

[Jez]

A few pictures from the last 2 months.......

[Jez]

and more.....

[Sir Percival]

Looking great Jez....the dashboard pictures will be a big help to me. I have bought a second hand black dash (as mine is beige) so I can cut it before I need to fit it. This will save me having to paint the beige one black, and leave the car drivable for longer, while I prep it separately.

Looks like the light surrounds are coming on...when I was at that stage I started using the little dremel rolled emery tools....they shift it OK if you don't let it get too hot, and give a nice rounded edge to the interior corners where the tabs stick out for the bolts.

What colour have you decided on?

[Furrari]

I see your 'specs on the scuttle panel.  Do you ever loose them?  I used to loose mine but then I put coloured pipe cleaners around the arms. ( any bright colour). No more problems.

[Jez]

Not lost them yet Furrari (well not for more than a few minutes anyway!).

July 5 Update.

Headlight covers and bezels now ready, and all the fun and games completed with the side grills. Boy were they a challenge! Trimming them to the exact correct thickness and getting a good fit was tricky. Then cutting the slots at the correct angle without damaging them - you only get one shot at this!
Had to do a bit of body filling to reduce the curve of the cut out for the grills. It seems the radius is not quite right so you end up with a gap. I bonded a small piece of left over fibreglass to the back of the wing, then filled the corner with good old P38 filler (last time I used that stuff was in the 80's filling rusty parts on most of my cars!). Then I re-cut the corners to the correct radius and sanded them back flush ready for the paint shop.
Anyway, all good and these parts now ready to go off for prep before chroming.

[Jez]

Last little job was to trim the windscreen trim that goes along the bottom. I was not happy with the corners where they meet the windscreen pillars, so lots of filler and re-shaping was carried out.
I also made a couple of adjustments to the bonnet fit (I was not 100% happy) and the filler flap. Trimmed the bumpers a bit more so they looked a better fit, and bonded some spacers onto the front grill surround that will get chromed. This makes it sit centrally in the aperture.

Car is now ready for collection on Monday, when it goes off to the paint shop. Still can't decide on the colour yet though......

[Jez]

So for colour I am thinking red, but not Rosso Corsa. I rather like the Rosso Rubino which is a little darker and more of a ruby red (Rubino).

Closest colours I have found are Ford Ruby Red or Jaguar Italian Racing Red. The alternative colour was a dark blue like Blu Scuro........

Any suggestions?

[Furrari]

If you are considering a darker red, how about Brandy Wine.
Not period but looks damn good in sunlight.

[seriph]

Your chariot is looking great! Have you considered grey? It's the colour of the only RHD 250 ever made.

[seriph]

https://youtu.be/IDe5xaMtcTc

[Jez]

Well after a little over 6 months off she goes to the paint shop......
Several weeks now to tidy up the garage a bit, sell off all the Z3 bits I don't need, and start work on the interior panels and radiator grill. And cut the grass (neglected gardening duties in favour of playing in the garage!).

[Sir Percival]

Hope it goes well mate....get that grass cut...it will take your mind off it!!

[Steve4321]

 :D6 months, very well done. All the good stuff to do now.