Elephant Goes Back Home!

[wedgeman]

Well after an absence of over 4 years, the White Elephant's shell was returned to Bristol Avenue this week for Surface & Design to prep and part spray her, so we can hopefully have her mounted back on the rolling chassis before Christmas...





Flat out on the old girl now - hopefully she will be out for next summer.

More info and the full restoration archive and schedule on the White Elephant Website

...just off to get another case of beer and a new gas bottle for the space heater!

[grahamw48]

Well done guys.

Already looks better than the new OBESE Nissan 370Z.

[L33]

Well done - I can't wait to see her finished and hopefully at wedgefest next year?

[chedder]

If the weather forecast is to be believed.....then we need a bigger heater Howard!


Tony

[Waynester]

Good to hear that the 'Elephant' is back on track.
I'm sure it's taking alot of effort - as well as money!

Looking forward to finally seeing next summer. Let's hope we get one

[wedgeman]

Many thanks, not sure about the new test pilot though!

[jmorgan]

Superb stuff.

[Waynester]

I remember seeing the chassis at RT some time back, looks fantastic, almost a shame to cover it with the body!
The wheels are also looking superb now re-furbed!

[rev-erend]

Chassis is looking good - hope the see the body looking good too.

What colour ?

Pearl white ?

[Chimtastic]

Just had a look at the website, pearl white it is going to be!

Great stuff guys, cant wait to see it again

[wedgeman]

rev-erend said:

Chassis is looking good - hope the see the body looking good too.

What colour ?

Pearl white ?

Hi Alan,

Surface & Design are currently matching the original Pearlescent white paint and D&C trim are searching for PW's original olive green leather and biscuit carpet. Meanwhile Tony & I are grinding, welding and powdercoating anything we can get our hands on!

After chatting with Steve Heath and TVR Car Parts yesterday we have discovered that the handbrake cabling and mechanism isn't standard, like most of the car, so will be ringing Speedy Cables today for some more custom bits.

With some luck we could have the engine in and the body back on the chassis before Christmas. Am putting all the updates on the website as they happen.

Cheers - Howard

[jagdpanther]

Top work!

Respect goes to you and the guys Howard, I've been waiting to see Nelly on the road for years

The car TVR should've made

[adam quantrill]

The chassis looks interesting - got any more pics?

The central tunnel looks a lot slimmer, especially at the top.

[stainless_steve]

Glad to see your back on track Howard


Now where did i put that fuel tank









only joking,runs off down cellar to find it

[Waynester]

How do you go about valuation for insurance purposes, as she is a one off?
Obviously she is a bit special, as well as being for all intents & purposes..brand new.

What are the long term plans for Nelly Howard? Do you plan on keeping her for as long as possible?

Is the plan still for Peter Wheeler to drive her?

Sorry for all the questions...

I'm looking forward to hearing her as well as finding out how she performs, as i'm sure you are.

Keep up the good work, plenty of us wedgeheads following your progress.

[jagdpanther]

stainless_steve said:

Glad to see your back on track Howard


Now where did i put that fuel tank









only joking,runs off down cellar to find it

Don't worry Howard, Steve's been brewing some moonshine in the tank to give Nelly that little extra kick





If he doesn't drink it first

[wedgeman]

Waynester said:

How do you go about valuation for insurance purposes, as she is a one off?
Obviously she is a bit special, as well as being for all intents & purposes..brand new.

What are the long term plans for Nelly Howard? Do you plan on keeping her for as long as possible?

Is the plan still for Peter Wheeler to drive her?

Sorry for all the questions...

I'm looking forward to hearing her as well as finding out how she performs, as i'm sure you are.

Keep up the good work, plenty of us wedgeheads following your progress.

The valuation is an interesting one. At the moment she's on a laid-up policy with Footman James on an agreed valuation. Once she's finished then we will go through a similar process but the figure will be greater, but what will it be worth? Highly modified SEAC chassis, one-off bodyshell by John Ravenscroft, built for PW, lots of history, nut & bolt re-build, one of only 20 prototype Walkinshaw Bathurst race engines and probably the only one outside of Australia and possibly the only one left, your guess is as good as mine?

Would be superb if PW would be kind enough to take her for a spin when she's finished. I shall ask him once she's all done. If he has time it would be great.

The plan is to keep the old girl, it was never the plan to sell her, so she will be driven, showed and hillclimbed. Can't wait!

Howard