John Bonnett

At the moment the bonnet is in two halves split longitudinally. The Alfa is a couple of inches wider than the GT6 so the two halves will be brought together with an overlap and then trimmed and welded. I'm not sure yet whether a bulge will be needed. Here are two or three pictures of the bonnet on the Alfa TZ and I think that that bonnet will look absolutely stunning on a GT6. Mine will have a Triumph grille not an Alfa one I hasten to add! https://www.flickr.com/photos/67580543@N08/

I've not mentioned the bonnet but I absolutely love the Alfa TZ bonnet which dimensionally is so close to that of the standard GT6 and that's what I intend to fit. I offered it up this afternoon and I think it will work out very nicely .https://www.flickr.com/photos/67580543@N08/14932814841/in/set-72157632756946169

Some terrific workmanship there Mike and the great thing about metal shaping inn the States is that there is a huge choice of tools and suppliers at amazing prices. They probably don't know how lucky they are. I'm completely self-taught and learnt all I know from half a dozen instructional videos made by a US craftsman. I've just popped the tailgate on and it's encouraging that it fits and latches quite nicely. This picture gives a flavour of the shape of the rear end. https://www.flickr.com/photos/67580543@N08/14748331038/in/set-72157632756946169

Yes please keep me posted Mike. I'd certainly like to see some pictures. Trial fitted a couple of panels yesterday. https://www.flickr.com/photos/67580543@N08/14746529110/

If anyone is interested most of the build pictures to date are here in my Flickr album https://www.flickr.com/photos/67580543@N08/sets/72157632756946169/

Thank you Kevin. I'll look at the other ways you've suggested.

The first set of pictures I posted were 98kb each. I didn't notice what the limit was then as I always reduce to "Small" before uploading but just now I've seen that the limit is 20kb which is too small to be of any use in showing detail. Have the rules changed this afternoon? John

A good question Marc but I really don't know how much if any weight I shall save once the car is built up with a roll cage. The doors are amazingly heavy; not the doors really it's the glass and the mechanism that makes them so heavy. I am seriously considering fitting Lexan windows. The rear lights I got from Stafford Vehicle Components. http://www.s-v-c.co.uk/category/mix-match-lights/ Progress today has been slower than i expected because of an unforeseen problem with the damper top mount fouling the inner wing despite the cut out that I had allowed for it. It took some time with a power file to enlarge it sufficiently but we got there in the end. The body is now bolted down and amazingly the doors still fit reasonably well. I'm going to skin the doors in aluminium in due course just for completeness rather than any significant weight that will be saved in the process. Pic attached. Was going to be picS but even though I've tried going ever smaller with the images the message still comes through file too large. Sorry.

Pleasing to see the forum back albeit in a form that we are not used to. No doubt the mods will redirect this thread if deemed inappropriate under this heading. Just to recap, I am building a GT6 body with the steel panels replaced by aluminium. The shell has been built using three separate main components; a rear tub, floor section and scuttle all purchased from my local Spitfire breakers. These have been welded together to form a skeleton shell. Using traditional methods of English Wheel and oxyacetylene welding I have formed the majority of the panels in aluminium with the exception of the right hand rear wing which will be left for now. I've taken a few liberties in the shape of the rear end and the rear wings partly to make things easier for me and partly because I'm aiming for more curves and the elimination of external seams. Currently, the shell has been seam sealed and painted on the inside and the underside sprayed with Stonechip. A rolling chassis has been temporarily built up and yesterday, the body placed in position. The attached pictures should give a flavour of what I'm trying to achieve. More to follow as we progress. John