Paul Banham Conversions
Discussion
Having just read the article on the Banham Bat (Not 100% sure if I like it or not!).... I do keep seeing pictures however, of the "New Speedster".... and I do like the look of it (even though it is Metro based!)
Anyone seen one "in the flesh", and any comments?!
It just seems a pretty decnt set of wheels for the claimed price!
Anyone seen one "in the flesh", and any comments?!
It just seems a pretty decnt set of wheels for the claimed price!
Ah Meeja my son, my son.
There is a reason Banham kits are so 'reasonable' and that is that you will be required to put in a lot more work than if you bought, say, a GTM.
As the owner of an X99 I can vouch for the somewhat dubious quality of the panels/mouldings. My own doors had to be cut in half and rebuilt before they would fit and I was told by the builder of an RS200 that when he complained to Paul Banham he was told "It's a rally car, what do you expect? The panels never fit".
Caveat Emptor
There is a reason Banham kits are so 'reasonable' and that is that you will be required to put in a lot more work than if you bought, say, a GTM.
As the owner of an X99 I can vouch for the somewhat dubious quality of the panels/mouldings. My own doors had to be cut in half and rebuilt before they would fit and I was told by the builder of an RS200 that when he complained to Paul Banham he was told "It's a rally car, what do you expect? The panels never fit".
Caveat Emptor
Have been looking at the Banham cars myself, as my budget seems to be dwindling.
Have been sent the info on the Speedster and the Spyder.
All seem to be built the same way, requiring the body to be stripped off the donor, all floorpan etc cleaning up then a frame welded on for the body panels.
The biggest downside I see is that you really need to to know how to weld. Non of this tacking on or just a bit needs doing here & there. You could be welding in new bits of floorpan if your old one needs it.
I did find a website where someone had built a spyder, I'll post it later when I get home. You may find it useful.
BTW I hated the 'Bat' at first. Missus likes it. No she really likes it. This has had me looking more closely, and I find myself saying things like. 'from the side it has sporty lines' and admiring the rear lights etc.
I've got some pictures of the new Marlin 5Exi though. These bring the reality back. Now that's one hell of a car. Anyone got £7500 so I can build one. I've worked it all out and reckon that'll be the total cost!
Have been sent the info on the Speedster and the Spyder.
All seem to be built the same way, requiring the body to be stripped off the donor, all floorpan etc cleaning up then a frame welded on for the body panels.
The biggest downside I see is that you really need to to know how to weld. Non of this tacking on or just a bit needs doing here & there. You could be welding in new bits of floorpan if your old one needs it.
I did find a website where someone had built a spyder, I'll post it later when I get home. You may find it useful.
BTW I hated the 'Bat' at first. Missus likes it. No she really likes it. This has had me looking more closely, and I find myself saying things like. 'from the side it has sporty lines' and admiring the rear lights etc.
I've got some pictures of the new Marlin 5Exi though. These bring the reality back. Now that's one hell of a car. Anyone got £7500 so I can build one. I've worked it all out and reckon that'll be the total cost!
What do you need? A toy or something to use day to day?
There's no doubt that a well built hard-top will suit all weather (mine does) but can you a) finish it, and b) live with it afterward?
The Bat is a bit too freaky for me and the whole concept of tacking new bits onto an old chassis means that underneath it will always be an old Metro unless you really go to town and renovate everything before putting it together.
I learned a lot from this one and I bought it partly built. Had I done it from scratch I think the difficulties I mentioned would have seen mine among the 'unfinished' ads.
Lesson learned. Next time I'll go for something using mainly new or reconditioned components. Either that or again buy someone elses build (new components again) and finish or adapt it to what I want.
Certainly not a Banham though.
There's no doubt that a well built hard-top will suit all weather (mine does) but can you a) finish it, and b) live with it afterward?
The Bat is a bit too freaky for me and the whole concept of tacking new bits onto an old chassis means that underneath it will always be an old Metro unless you really go to town and renovate everything before putting it together.
I learned a lot from this one and I bought it partly built. Had I done it from scratch I think the difficulties I mentioned would have seen mine among the 'unfinished' ads.
Lesson learned. Next time I'll go for something using mainly new or reconditioned components. Either that or again buy someone elses build (new components again) and finish or adapt it to what I want.
Certainly not a Banham though.
Thanks for the feedback guys! Apologies for not responding sooner, but work got in the way of surfing!
My curiosity about Banham has been sparked because of the apparant cheap cost, and (as with Ex-Biker) the management has just read the article in this month's WK, and she likes the Bat. I mean really likes it (to quote Ex-Biker!)
I will take some convincing, as I want my project to be more of a replica than a kit (if that makes sense?)
For the record, my original plan was to build a Cobra replica (isn't it always?!).... but she wasn't ever going to be convinced.
After a few months of leaving magazines open at "appropriate" pages, and little comments now and again (plus a visit to Stoneleigh and Donington) She (yes, She - not me) has decided that I am going to build something of the Speedster ilk. My own personal choice - after having a close look at them - is the Chesil Speedster. I have discounted the Pilgrim speedster, because I - just don't like it - and the pictures of the Banham interested me.... especially at the claimed costs!
Sorry for rambling.....
Back to work then.....
My curiosity about Banham has been sparked because of the apparant cheap cost, and (as with Ex-Biker) the management has just read the article in this month's WK, and she likes the Bat. I mean really likes it (to quote Ex-Biker!)
I will take some convincing, as I want my project to be more of a replica than a kit (if that makes sense?)
For the record, my original plan was to build a Cobra replica (isn't it always?!).... but she wasn't ever going to be convinced.
After a few months of leaving magazines open at "appropriate" pages, and little comments now and again (plus a visit to Stoneleigh and Donington) She (yes, She - not me) has decided that I am going to build something of the Speedster ilk. My own personal choice - after having a close look at them - is the Chesil Speedster. I have discounted the Pilgrim speedster, because I - just don't like it - and the pictures of the Banham interested me.... especially at the claimed costs!
Sorry for rambling.....
Back to work then.....
Meeja, my wife liked the new 4 seater speedster I didn't. Want to do a seven really. Got into conversation with john butler of vindicator he took me round the track thoroughly enjoyed it talked figures then the management butts in saying ints got to be a 4 seater, got 2 ankle biters, john then says "we could do a 2+2 Sprint" hmmmmmm
Sorry don't know anything about banhams apart from what I have read I just thank my lucky stars the wife didn't like the bat
>> Edited by spartan_andy on Monday 29th September 15:18
Sorry don't know anything about banhams apart from what I have read I just thank my lucky stars the wife didn't like the bat
>> Edited by spartan_andy on Monday 29th September 15:18
spartan_andy said:
my wife liked the new 4 seater speedster I didn't.
Just out of curiosity, what didn't you like about it?
Onr thing I thought was that the finishings were not that hot.... like the door trim rolling over the top of the doors, but not over the top of the body behind the doors.... should have been one or the other all the way along.
Meeja,
Tried to see the the "new" Speedster when I was down in Banhams nieghbourhood at Christmas - but they were short staffed.
From what I hear there is a little more welding needed to build most Banhams than the literature suggests. I've also read on countless occassions about Banhams poor GRP quality - seeing the Spyder in the flesh confirmed this to me. However, I saw the original Frogeye Sprite demo car and it was one of the best finished cars I've ever seen - looked like a repro because the panel fit was way beyond that of the original! Paradoxically, this kit has had some of the worst press concerning GRP quality.
Tried to see the the "new" Speedster when I was down in Banhams nieghbourhood at Christmas - but they were short staffed.
From what I hear there is a little more welding needed to build most Banhams than the literature suggests. I've also read on countless occassions about Banhams poor GRP quality - seeing the Spyder in the flesh confirmed this to me. However, I saw the original Frogeye Sprite demo car and it was one of the best finished cars I've ever seen - looked like a repro because the panel fit was way beyond that of the original! Paradoxically, this kit has had some of the worst press concerning GRP quality.
well i built my banham 200 when its on the road no one seams to care thay just look in amazment that thay have seen a rs200 on the road the panels are crap two months of rubbing down 4 kg of filler but hey it only cost me 6000 that is a cheap rs 200 it makes me smile it could worse i could be driving a vectra
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