Color is soon to appear on the new body

[R. Button]

Some know that I took out a deer with my Mark I a little while ago. I put the pit stripes on the drivers fender to cover up the cracked body. Wife kept after me to just get a new body till I finally got one ordered.
Finally a new Mark III body was ordered
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Then the process of getting it painted began. I was unable to do the work due to a medical issue - that has since been resolved! Happened to meet the paint and body instructor at the nearby BOCS school program. (Boards of Cooperative Educational Services of New York State - if you want to finish high school but also learn a skill - like auto mechanic's, electrical, plumbing, and numerous other skills).

I arranged to get the body parts over to the school for the students to have something different to work on. They got to work on the fiberglass body PLUS the trunk and doors, which are all carbon fiber!

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then the pandemic hit...

once classes resumed the students got right back to work

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after multi coats of primer long periods of sanding in-between
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Color coming soon

(to be continued)

[Papa]

That's exciting, Ralph. It'll be like a new car again! This one should get you to the 1,000,000 mile mark.

Dave

[GoDadGo]

..........Such A Cool Story, Heck An Amazing Saga!

This Has Got To Be Fun For The Students But Do These Kids Know The Significance Of Your Car?

[Jeff Kleiner]

Good to hear that they’re able to work on it again Ralph! Have they had the chassis to do all of the fitting?

Jeff

[R. Button]

And ya ... Instructor had them sit and watch a small part of the video... then they wouldn't leave till they got to see the whole video! :)
Also I have been sending over FFR shirts and other swag stuff for them - keeping them interested in FFR cars.

Jeff: I have the chassis drivable and tested all the fit early - doors, trunk, and hood to the body. This way they could just focus on the body and paint work.
I did gamble on the driver side roll bar holes, I have them measured and marked. I also have my old body still sitting in the yard ready to re-measure on if needed. Also have the newer RodTop soft top so a lot less drilling for it. Rear view mirrors are installed on the wind wings, and the rear view camera is also installed. I have the newer hidden trunk hinges ready - still thinking about to use them or not.
BUT I expect to have to deal with something along the way.

[AC Bill]

So Ralph, are the students going to paint it for you as well?
If so, how are you going to deal with the side pipe openings, and windscreen post holes beforehand, without the chassis to fit them first? I know with my MK3 body, even the FFR factory cut outs, all needed additional manipulation. Be pretty awkward to do after paint.:)

[Sdonnel]

That's a pretty talented group of high schools students. I have a feeling you're going to be giving a lot of rides when the car is back together. You got them hooked with the FFR swag. Now they will want to see what it's all about. Very cool journey.

Scott

[R. Button]

Bill: Yes the students are going to be putting the paint to it. The cutouts for the side exhaust are already in place. For the windscreen as I'll be changing from the FFR soft top to the Rod Top, getting the angle right will take some time - I was prepared for that. Having a spare body to try stuff on and make measurements as needed will help. I was more concerned with the door fit, and the trunk lid fit. We'll see how well it goes.

With my original body - the first day I pulled it out of the carriage house - barn - to try it out on the road I caught the rear fender "flair" on the barn door. It snapped enough to crack the clear coat so that at every gas stop from 1998 till 2019 I would look at the cracks to remind me it's just a car so never worried about door dings or stone chips on the body!

[R. Button]

covid created another setback - with hopes now that after Christmas break they will get the class back and painting to start