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Paul, The photo is in the old photo gallery under Arts MG. However I do not see that screen name in either the old or the new membership list. Another member identified the car and gave some info abuot the owner within the past few days but I cannot find it now.
First let me say that everything I’m saying is ”Just My Opinion and strickly a mattter of personal taste.” I do much prefer the BCW to most of the others and understand your desire to make the change. However ,at $5000,you are getting close to having too much invested up front with it still needing a top ,curtains and carpet. If the rest of the car is OK,you would not be way out of line.
The auto stick is a big concern to me. while not impossible to change to a four speed,it is not the most simple thing to do either. Again ,personally, I could never be happy with one.This may be going to the extreme,but if the two cars are based on the same year ,or close to the same year VWs,you may able to take what you want from the Fiber Fab car and replace it with what you don’t want from the BCW and then sell the car.Another big factor is how much of this you can do yourself or want to do to end up with the car you desire. It’s a lot of work or a lot of fun depending on how you look at it.My London Roadster has the mounts on top of the tub. My BCW has them inside the tub.While the inside type are more like the original MG, the bows rub the sides of the seat back and the trim where the carpet meets the top of the tub when lowering the top. The top mounted variety are more stable,but it’s largely a matter of personal preference and which type mounting brackets came with the kit.
This car is in the ”old forum ”photo gallery under the screen name Arts MGTD. I could not find him on the member list. Good looking TDr.
Dan, If you go to the internet and search for Rick Drake Chevette Forum., his email address is there .You may need to join the Chevette forum to communicate with him but I saw a post dated May 6 where he responded to a question so I know he is still active.Best wishes on your repair.
Kent, Here is more advice from a guy with a different grille from your’s.I think your grille is one of those designed to not use a chrome grille shell. I’m not sure just how the chrome shell will fit over what you have . If I were you I’d be careful to not damage what you have untill you know how things are going to fit. Paul’s suggestion to tape and paint may be your best option.
I think it’s a replica of a Frasier Nash. Looks like Ford wire wheels from the 1930s and Model A Ford taillights.
The doors are hinged at the front also.How about the stainless ,or is it aluminum pan between the front fenders beneath the grille?
It’s strickly up to each builder,but TDs always have solid color seats.I used a router to make a rounded edge on the top of my dash which is made of 1/2 ”plywood.I used chrome fender welt between the dash and the cowel.
Kent, Could you put a spacer [shim] between the hinge and the flange on the side panel? A sixteenth of an inch might give all the room you need.If this works it would not require any new holes ,just maybe longer screws.Raising the hood may also give the room you need to fit the grille but may effect the fit at the cowel.
Acording to the vin #, it’s a London Roadster. Looks to be a custom chassis model. I don’t understand it being titled as a 1985 VW. I thought all LRs were factory built and titled as London Roadsters.My LR has the exposed piano hinge also. This car appears to have been repainted ,the hood and front pan screws got painted with the rest of the car.Iagree, that’s a high asking price.
My information is that all Allisons were built and sold as completed cars. Perhaps this one was built to fill someones specific request. As to why ,we may never know.
I was under the impression that all Allison front engined cars were based on a Nissian. I’ve never heard of a diesel version till now. It’s a really nice car but that’s a nice, I mean high , starting point too.
Roy, Looking good. Those wheels really add to the overall english style. Well worth all the time and effort you spent getting them on it.
Greg,I may be wrong ,but this is the first time I have heard of any connection between London Roadster and British Coach Works. I own both a LR and a BCW and there are significant differences between the two cars.London Roadsters used Daytona MiGi bodies on either VW pans or their own custom chassis. BCW built their own bodies to fit both the VW pan or the Chevette based version which sat on a chassis designed to use the Chevette engine and suspension. It is my understanding that BCW went out of business after the death of the older gentleman who started the business. There is additional info here on the forum but I could not find it using the search button.
My BCW Chevette based has an indention in the hump in the gas pedal area. That gives about an inch or so more width to this space. Also keep in mind that the pedals do not fit directly against the firewall.The available space increases as you move away. How much room do you have between the hump and the transmission? Any extra space would allow you to make the indention I referred to above. It will still be tight at best.
Congratulations on your TDr purchase. Just my personal opinion. but the one of a kind tubular frame could have been an on going problem in the future.At least the VW pan design has stood the test of time and if something does go wrong,parts are available. These cars don’t have to be perfect to be loads of fun.
John , I got my LR from a used car dealer in Eden NC. He got it from a friend who bought it for his wife at the Charlotte Auto Fair . I do not know where it was sold originally.
I remember seeing a London Roadster for sale a while back that was originally sold by a Buick Dealer I think. It was red with a red interior. Fun cars where ever they came from!!!
Paul, Sorry you had to deal with this sort of thing. Just goes to show how one bad apple hurts the whole bushel. Thanks for the time you put in to keep this site what it is.This seems so out of character for the members of this forum.
Allen, The local OREILLY Auto Parts was able to order replacement VW arms with adjustable blade atachments to get the angle correct. The arms also could be adjusted for length as well. They also have 9” blades which are short enough for my London Roadster but about a half inch too long for the BCW which has a lower windshield height. I am still able to use the 9” blades by adjusting the blade to arm angle . If my memory is correct ,two arms and two blades were under $40.00. They are a silver gray color, not chrome or stainless.
Kent, Welcome to the forum. London Roadster is the only manufacturor that used the coil over suspension to the best of my knowledge. They were sold as completed cars. Some LRs used the VW pan and suspension while some were built on a custom chassis with coilover suspension front and rear. I think all of them used Daytona MiGi body kits regardless of the chassis and suspension.Both types are owned by members here on rhe forum.
WOW That one went fast!! You had to deal with one of the more difficult items in the BCW. Looks like they would have made that area more accessable. Hope you told the new owner about TDReplica .com.
Gary, Welcome to the forum.
As Bill said ,the front engine kits come with the frame designed for what ever engine /drive train is being used. To help you decide ,here is a brief summary of the different front engine cars.My personal favorite British Coach Works—-Chevette engine/suspension/drivetrain only.Classic Motor Carriage/Fiber Fab—-Chevette based and also Ford [Pinto–Mustang 11]based.Classic Roadster Duchess—Chevette suspension but may use either Chevette or Ford engine.The Ford based cars generally are the more performance oriented [faster] while the Chevette based are comparable to the original MG in power.There also some others,Allison–Nissian based and Daytona MiGi but they are VERRY rare.The VW based cars are great as well and can be made to perform quite well and are very dependable and easy to work on.
