So Many Choices… Specifications

(Whilst preparing for the readiness of my gel coat coloured body shell I have made a couple more decisions and confirmed the body colours (not the leather yet) as the clock is ticking. The body is due in early November 2017, and I have stuck with the original idea.

THE COLOUR CHOICE 

Body: RAL 9010 Pure White

Stripes: RAL 5010 Gentian Blue

The picture at the top is pretty much as I want the car but the side pipes will be stainless and I may not fit any overriders.

When I asked my daughter she suggested that Yellow was a good colour (she thought it may as well look like a bee) and even though she is right about yellow, I have a bit of a thing about white cars. Counter-intuitively gloss-white doesn’t show dirt as quickly as gloss-black which shows every finger-print (matt black, which has become fashionable for some is only for people who really want to spend their lives paranoid about dirt and hands). I don’t have cars to polish them all the time.

EXHAUSTS

I was going to have the wide-spaced underslung exhausts. After telling friend that I was about to build a Cobra they all said one thing, “Great! that iconic look with those side-pipes”. I then spent some time thinking about the practicalities of me getting in the car over hot pipes and realised, this build is NOT about practical matters. This is about fun and Cobras do look ‘right’ with side pipes. If there are any problems with noise (really Nigel?) then I can always wear ear plugs which I believe may be a good idea if I drive it down through France or any other long tour. As I understand it the main problem is wind noise.

I am not going to let the ‘originality’ thing dictate my choices but those side pipes do look good!

The detail of the Gardner Douglas 4 into 1 and the step-up to the muffler section is very clean.

The removal of the body, if ever needed, does involve dropping the exhaust and the connectors to the headers, not a big issue.

 

BONNET AND BOOT HINGES

Another matter related to the body work stage is the way in which the boot and bonnet are hinged. There is an option for GD to provide their CNC machined hinges, again they look very smart so that is what I am going to use.

IN THE STYLE OF STEVEN HUGHES SPECIFICATION:

Model: Gardner Douglas GDEuro (Classic)

Body Shell:

• Gelcoat (RAL 9010 Pure White)
• Stripes (RAL 5010 Gentian Blue)
• No Overrriders
• Bolted air scoop
• Aston type fuel filler
• P700 headlights (3 segment glass)
• Two roll-bars (may require a them little taller than standard due to my back length)

Chassis: Euro Classic (So deep Dish Wheels)

Clutch:TBD

Interior: 

• Flat bottomed dashboard
• Dials: Smiths Cobra
• Switches: (TBD)
• Warning Lights: (TBD)
• Heater: Old fashioned black Bakelite pull knob type
• Power & USB outlets: (TBD)
• Footwell lights (possibly, if so, automatic)
• Trim Colours:
  • Dashboard – Burgundy Leather
  • Floor Mats – Burgundy (rubber backed)
  • Door Cards – Burgundy Leather
  • Seats – Burgundy (heated)
  • Tunnel – Burgundy Carpet Sides, Burgundy Leather Top
  • Behind the seats – Burgundy Carpet
  • GD ‘Floaty’ head restraints – Burgundy
• Safety Belts: Willans 5 Point – Red
• Starter Button: Plain
• Steering column stalks: Metal stalks as provided by GD

Cooling:

• Radiator: Aluminium 3 Row radiator
• Fan: Clova Twin Fan Kit (+ 500 bhp) This may no longer be made so TBD
• Hoses: Silicone (Colour Blue with end finishers)
• Oil Cooler Kit with Thermostat (Summer, extended runs in Southwest France?)

Differential: BTR Hydratrack speed sensitive limited slip differential (3.07:1)

Engine: LS3 HO rated at 525bhp with custom ground cam and uprated valve springs

Gearbox: Tremec Magnum 6 Speed

• Gear Ratios:
  1. 2.66 or 2.97
  2. 1.78 or 2.1
  3. 1.30 or 1.46
  4. 1.00
  5. 0.80 or 0.74
  6. 0.63 or 0.50

Header / Expansion Tank: ??? type from GD

Steering Wheel: Moto-Lita 350 mm classic 6 bolt, 9 rivet, 3 spoke, dark stain

Tyres: 245 x 40 x 18″ front, 275 x 40 x 18″ rear. Michelin Pilot Sport/Super Sport.

Wheels: 8.5 x 18” front, 10 x 18” rear. Halibrand GTD5 Classic build (all chrome) with cover plate for 5 stud fitment and spinners