XKSS

[lowdrag]

I heard from a friend who went there and he told me that the fin and head rest are off plus there are the other pieces around the car waiting to be offered up. As soon as I have photos I'll post them.

[lowdrag]

So here are the first pictures of the conversion taking place. firstly, let me tell you that the car will be - as close is as is possible - a recreation of the Steve McQueen car (I want her to remain BRG) and incredibly the bumper set I have acquired are a spare set from that actual car. You will see the windscreen surround in alloy (yet to be chromed of course) and this was copied from the Cuban cars when restored 20 years back and has sat on a shelf ever since. Similarly the tunnel was copied from those two cars. Here you are then:-

John drilling out the rivets to take the fin off:-



Taking the fin off:-



It's off!



Offering up the new screen:-



Welding in alloy to replace the spotlight:-



More anon.

[LordBretSinclair]

Great Tony, thank you. Its amazing how different the car looks just with the fin removed and screen temporarily in place. Keep'em coming

[Chunkychucky]

LordBretSinclair said:

Great Tony, thank you. Its amazing how different the car looks just with the fin removed and screen temporarily in place. Keep'em coming

x2, amazing the difference already, keep the updates coming please

[Le Mans Visitor]

Great stuff, Glad to see it taking shape.

[lowdrag]

Going forward, the doors and the B frame are being modified and the bumpers, having been offered up, proved that the rear of the D-type wasn't the correct shape at all. Since this was the 44th Lynx D made this is unfathomable, but hey-ho, we have to modify. It turns out that at the time of manufacture they didn't know what door hinges were originally used but they turn out to be early XK120 (typical Jaguar - use unwanted parts) but those on the car are actually from - wait for it - a Mini! Now they have been changed to the real thing. Here are a few of the latest pics:-

With spotlight:-



And now it has vanished:-



The bumper offered up to the rear of the car showing the discrepancy in the shape:-



And the boot lid now reprofiled, how the bumper bar fits now:-



I'd like to mention that the rear of the car has been reprofiled by Ollie, a youngster who served his apprenticeship under John Smith (who is left doing the fiddly bits like the B pillar etc.) and who also was responsible for parts of my C-type. I have every confidence in this lad, and see a great future for him.

So, Xmas is coming earlier than I thought, and the car is coming along well. My warmest wishes to you all for the Xmas and New Year, and service will recommence next year.

Tony

Edited by lowdrag on Friday 23 December 18:05

[v8250]

Tony, thank you for good update. Sort of not too surprised ref' Mini hinges a have seen this before. Off to Alpes this w/e for some good Christmas Tartiflette. Look forward to progress in 2012

[LordBretSinclair]

Thanks for the update Tony, keep the photos coming, joyeux Noel

[marksbike]

very interested in this, I like the XKSS and had the pleasure of driving a couple. keep up the good work.

[Mini1275]

Thanks for the update, I love seeing projects like this progressing over time.

I look forward to more updates after Christmas.

[Hooli]

Looking good so far.

[a8hex]

Errr
You seem rather to have shrunk his car :-)

very neat

[jith]

Bozwell said:

put this together a few years ago. made the case, hand made all the little hand tools, books, bench mug etc. don't have a TV you see

and cheers Tony. Christmas food and wine much appreciated.

Bozwell, I take my hat off to you. That is simply splendid!

You don't work for CSI Vegas do you? (sorry, if you don't have a telly you won't get the joke, but others will!)

Regards,

J

[a8hex]

Photos don't really do them due credit.

[lowdrag]

What a shame - I have searched for the company and they no longer exist - or at least their web site doesn't anyway so I guess it's the same thing. I have a 1:18 scale hand made Cunning D-type from a company called Le Mans Models in Dorset which I bought in 1993 and it is also a work of art and, sadly, they don't exist any more either. But Boz, your diorama there is truly spmething special. I hope you'll bring it in to work so I can photograph it when I pick up the XKSS.

[lowdrag]

While doing some research in my archives, I came across this photo of the first prototype XKSS. You'll note there were no indicators at this point, but for the rest it seems about the finished product..

[crankshaft]

lowdrag said:

...the car will be - as close is as is possible - a recreation of the Steve McQueen car...

So will the wheels be chromed (or polished) like the McQueen car?

Excellent project by the way.

[lowdrag]

Damn - knew I'd be caught out! No the "bling" effect will be omitted, otherwise I might have got caught up in the effect and added a nodding dog, furry dice, alcantara or shapile dasboard, and of course the obligatory 2000 watt stereo. No spare wheel of course - just the boom box.

[angry jock]

Hello Tony,
All looks great and am following this with great interest as the McQueen XK-SS is one of my favourite cars.
One question though if I may. You have said about the wheels, but will you be having a glove-box lid fabricated such as the one that is on that car that Von Dutch did for McQueen.

Good luck with the build!

[lowdrag]

Goddamn! One learns every day, and I had no idea that he had had a lid fitted. A must-have option I now feel, and will conceal the furry dice from thieving hands.