Build Project MO55 begins,,,,,

[Y100]

avinalarf said:

Wow....well done to get it signed......how did you manage that.
A great project,you must be very excited,well done.

Kind words, thanks Steven. I spoke to Sir Stirlings secretary Amanda, she organised his signature. I wrote to Tony Brooks, he called me, saying he was happy to sign. They both also kindly signed some cracking b/w photos of the #7 car taken at the Goodwood 1958 TT, two of Sir Stirling at Woodcote and two of Tony Brooks, one at St Mary's and one at Woodcote.

Yep, for me it is a great project, replicas are not everyones cup'o'tea I know. Andrew Soar is always willing to provide advice and consider any mods I specifically request. Still a long way to go but the chase is on and what a chase it is.

[avinalarf]

Nice to hear that two such iconic figures of motor racing history are so gracious.
As for "replicas",well I have seen a couple of these cars at shows and they are stunning.
Anyway I would describe your project as an "homage" rather than a replica.
As an original, even if available ,would cost a large fortune and your homage costing a small fortune I don't see the problem

Edited by avinalarf on Thursday 27th August 10:07

[Y100]

MO55IE doing her bit for A S Motorsport, here at the Goodwood Revival over last weekend. Andrew himself created the wire body sculpture, it is exact in its shape, having being laid on the original body buck he uses for moulding panels,,,clever stuff.

Edited by Y100 on Monday 14th September 17:17

[Ed50]

Lovely to see it coming along so nicely Bob,you must be getting even more excited now the finishing line is in sight.

Andrews created quite a piece of art their with his attention to detail with that wonderful wire depiction,very good I'm duly impressed.

Looking forward to seeing the finished M0551E though……..

[BravoV8V]

Great wireframe. Have you thought about asking Andrew about hanging it somewhere as a magnificent piece of artwork?

A la the DBR1 'Airfix' sculpture:

[BravoV8V]

Great wireframe. Have you thought about asking Andrew about hanging it somewhere as a magnificent piece of artwork?

A la the DBR1 'Airfix' sculpture:

[Y100]

Ed50 said:

Lovely to see it coming along so nicely Bob,you must be getting even more excited now the finishing line is in sight.

Andrews created quite a piece of art their with his attention to detail with that wonderful wire depiction,very good I'm duly impressed.

Looking forward to seeing the finished M0551E though……..

All is not quite what it seems in the pics Ed. Rather like a stage prop, MO55IE has been dressed to look more complete than she actually is. The finish line is still far from in sight. Not that I am complaining, not a bit of it, the chase is on and I'm loving it. Managed to get up close and personal with an original DBR1 over the weekend, the adrenalin rush when I was given the okay to take photos I can only liken to that unforgetable moment when the girl that for weeks you've been dreaming of dating, finally succumbs,

Johnny, I've seriously suggested to Andrew that with just a little more work, he should consider the Turner prize for Visual Art. It is a superb piece of sculpture already,,,actually it is for sale,,,and I know how you love an original!

[RichB]

Y100 said:

Adam, it is already agreed that Sir Stirling will drive MO55IE, the only issue to be decided is the place and time,,,it was he that suggested Goodwood. As Johnny suggested and I think we agree, although my 'replica' car may never take part in a Revival race, (prior to Lord March's recent comment I pretty much presumed it would not) I do not discount the possibility that a moment will be found, sometime in the future where MO55IE and perhaps some of her ASM LE Mans stable mates will drive together the hallowed circuit at Goodwood,,,,now wouldn't that be luuuurvely.

I am one of the people who is not really into replicas, I toyed with the idea of a Suffolk SS100 before buying my Aston but decided I would rather have a real Aston than a fake SS. It is however all a matter what one likes personally and I always take a look at these cars at the Revival even if I wouldn't want one. I did like the wire frame though, that would look good hanging on my garage wall as a curiosity piece.

[Y100]

RichB said:

I am one of the people who is not really into replicas, I toyed with the idea of a Suffolk SS100 before buying my Aston but decided I would rather have a real Aston than a fake SS. It is however all a matter what one likes personally and I always take a look at these cars at the Revival even if I wouldn't want one. I did like the wire frame though, that would look good hanging on my garage wall as a curiosity piece.

Richard, I think for me its more about what choice there is available to me, rather than what I prefer (like).

The wire sculpture Andrew has created I know was admired by many observers. It deserves to be put on permanent display, I hope that happens.

[Y100]

Y100 said:

This is a long shot but maybe someone can help; In my efforts to try to achieve the best external features match possible to the DBR1 #7 driven by Stirling in the 1958 RAC TT at Goodwood, I am in need of 4 of these bonnet latches,,,,I'm struggling to find any. I have someone that would make them for me but we need to borrow an original for a pattern. I've tried Chris Woodgate but he can't help at the moment.

Any ideas welcome.

To those PH members that kindly offered their help and advice, I have some good news on the bonnet latches; After a visit to the Goodwood revival and obtaining close up pictures and dimensions (with the permission of the Aston Engineering pit mechanics) of original latches on Wolfgang Friedrichs DBR1 900 BH, I have now been able to have printed an exact replica:



Difficult and at times frustrating but then thats what makes it so much fun. Hoping to have the first latches from the moulders mid Jan.

[Ed50]

Excellent news Bob,

See everything is possible,can't wait to see the finished car.

I bet your twitching as it can't be too long to wait now.

Have a great New Year…….

[RichB]

Would AS Motorsport be displaying this at Burghley by any chance?

[Y100]

Ed50 said:

Excellent news Bob,

See everything is possible,can't wait to see the finished car.

I bet your twitching as it can't be too long to wait now.

Have a great New Year…….

Twitching verging on convulsive at times Ed. The hope is she will be ready for July 3rd but still a lot of p/type work on MO551E to be done, so we'll see. I am increasingly aware that there is an associated advantage of the build project not being 'rushed', it provides more time to consider design detail and where appropriate, to obtain original parts.

Richard, as above maybe my car won't make Burghley but another similar car from ASM will be on show.

Best wishes to you both for 2016, lots of Aston Martin events etc to look forward to.

[RichB]

Look forward to meeting you all at Burghley.

[Y100]

Small but nevertheless significant developments here; The Electronic Multiport Injection System here being fettled:



and here together are the MkI repro prototype bonnet latch (larger) and the replacement accurate reproduction MkII version,,,,just need to polish her up.

[Y100]

Its been a long winter on the MO551E build project but the Spring is bringing forth the hoped for exciting build development. See attached aluminium body panels crafted to recreate to perfection the absolutely gorgeous lines of the original 1959 World Sports car championship & Le Mans winning Aston Martin DBR1.





They say things worthwhile have to be achieved,,,damn right,,,under constant review by both Andrew Soar and his very able engineers Mark and Terry, getting these ASM R1 Le Mans cars just right takes a great deal of concentrated effort and dedication, attention to detail paramount. So being a customer does require a degree of patience and good humour! In my case on both sides,,,

I'll be going over to Andrews (Bressingham, Norfolk) later next month on the 24th April for two reasons, one to see the build progress on my beloved MO551E but also to enjoy the great atmosphere at the annual A.S. Motorsport Open Day where many enthusiasts will be gathered to enjoy a close up appreciation of the very high standard of workmanship that goes into the creation of these cars.

Importantly I must add, as a real bonus, whilst you are enjoying yourself at Andrews, the event is held to raise funds for East Anglian Children's Hospice, so your generosity at the event bbq etc will be money very well spent indeed.

[Y100]

MO551E gets her bespoke stainless exhaust,,,,can't wait to hear the sound.

[Y100]

MO551E body build has now commenced in earnest.

[silverspeed]

Y100 said:

MO551E body build has now commenced in earnest.

She's going to be fantastic . Very jealous !

[Y100]

Taking shape:







She'll be on Andrews stand at the Goodwood Revival, looking a little more complete.