The Modifications

• I've made the rear wings and running boards part of the body and smoothed the joins, created a new floor with integral rear seat, tubs, trunk, etc. from GRP.

• The body has been 'glassed to a roll cage I built, so the doors hinge and latch onto metal, not GRP or, heaven forbid, wood (my pet hate).

• The front end is a two-piece flip front that has been modified extensively - the wheel base is 4" longer, the front of the wings brought forward 12", the headlights 8", new grille shape, etc. I'm using Mercedes E Class quad headlights (those oval ones).

• The rear end has been cut, "wedged" and re-contoured to match the shape of a set of Mitsubishi rear lamps.

• There's now a roof built from scratch from copper pipe, wire mesh, GRP, foam and filler!

The help!

All the 'glass work was done by me and my mate Glen Campbell (yes, really) - I was in charge of making the buck in the rough shape I want and temporary 'glassing, he makes the molds and any permanent 'glassing. He's a professional boat builder, and does an excellent job. Shame he's now 3000 miles away since I moved here!

Paul Barrow (the car artist featured in Rod n Custom, Custom Car, Street Rodder etc.) also helped out a lot when he came and stayed for the summer of '98. He did a lot of sanding and final shaping - the bit that takes the most time!

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