Walk Around Video of recently graduated #8419

[Hotyacht]

We are back in Covid lock down here in New Zealand so I thought I would take advantage of a nice sunny winter's day and create a quick walk around video of the car. Hopefully some of the details may be of interest and help inspire some of you that may be wondering if your build will ever end!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZMa-e6aM3o

I have driven 450kms (280miles) so far and things are starting to loosen up a bit - the transmission felt like stirring a box of rocks to start with but it is getting smoother with every drive. While just taking things easy running in the engine I am getting about 13mpg with a mix of around town and highway........I suspect that will get worse once I start to squeeze the loud pedal a bit more.

Starting to relax and enjoy the driving now.

133541

[cv2065]

Looks and sounds great! Really like your 3rd rear tail light. Where'd you get that? Also, the coat of arms decal is unique as well. Nice work!

[Mark K]

Congrats, mate. Great looking and sounding build.

Is it tough to get a constructed car registered in NZ?

[Hotyacht]

Looks and sounds great! Really like your 3rd rear tail light. Where'd you get that? Also, the coat of arms decal is unique as well. Nice work!

Hi thanks for the compliments. The high stop light is a requirement here in NZ and the light I have used is New Zealand made product from Hella NZ - https://www.hella.co.nz/ - you see them a lot on open top sports cars here, however because most cars come with high stop lights from the manufacturer these days Hella no longer offer this style of light. I bought this one on our equivalent of EBay and it came off a wrecked Mustang convertible.

The shield sticker is for The Terlingua Racing Team and was featured on many racing Shelby cars, mostly Mustangs - https://terlinguaracingteam.com/terlingua-racing-team-history/

[Hotyacht]

Congrats, mate. Great looking and sounding build.

Is it tough to get a constructed car registered in NZ?

Thanks Mark. It isnt particularly tough, but there is a fairly rigorous process to go through. Compliance is controlled by the NZ Hot Rod community on behalf of the Government authorities and they have written a very comprehensive build manual and set of rules for modifying and scratch building cars - this covers the fundamental design of primary components, testing welds, configuration of seating, lights, seatbelts, brakes suspension, steering. If you refer to this manual during your build along with regular inspections by a compliance officer it is reasonably straight forward and far better than having a government department involved. The rules are pretty strict but take into account the style of the car and what was used on the originals as standard equipment - sometimes it was a pain but it made my car safer and a better car in the end. It cost about NZ$3,500 (US$2,100) to become legal.

[RJD]

Beautiful! I can only imagine the amount of work to make it a right hand driver. Wishing you many happy miles.

[GoDadGo]

You Totally Nailed It!

Rolling Art Our Friend From Down Under, Rolling Art Indeed!

[GTBradley]

That is positively the most beautiful blue! Love it! If I do another build I’m going to steal that color.:)

[Papa]

Wow! She's spot on, mate. Very period looking and sounds liked a p'd off wolverine.

[ydousurf]

Radical, Hotyacht! I dig everything about your build and so much more. And one can never go wrong in any shade of blue. Nicely done! Any plans for #?

Dj

[Straversi]

I usually view/read/comment of the Forum via my cell phone. Fortunately, when I watched your video, I happened to be wearing my headphones. Wow, that car sounds great!
Put on some headphones with good base and give yourself a listen. Awesome.
-Steve

[Hotyacht]

Beautiful! I can only imagine the amount of work to make it a right hand driver. Wishing you many happy miles.

Well FFR actually sell a right hand drive version now and as a result of seeing my car in build there are now another four Roadsters being built here in NZ. Doing the change wasn't too bad as we have to alter the steering set up for NZ anyway as you are not allowed welded components in the steering shaft and you also must eliminate all bump steer so requires a geometry change - the only real negative is that the driver's footwell on my car is pretty tight and pedals offset compared to your lefthand drive cars (or the new RHD versions) but I used to own an Alfa Romeo, and I have driven a number of Lamborghini and my Roadster is no worse than them.

[Hotyacht]

You Totally Nailed It!

Rolling Art Our Friend From Down Under, Rolling Art Indeed!

Thanks Steve. I appreciate your comment. I guess like all of you I know which bits that I didn't get quite right and so it is sometimes difficult to step back and just take in the overall achievement. I know that you have had difficulties with your build (choosing that weird engine was just self-inflicted pain) but in the end you have produced a great car and clearly had fun along the way.