Every cloud...... British Vita

[GRAHAMC]

Might be worth talking to Tony Fletcher at Premier Fuel Systems, I believe Tony may have worked at Marston back in the day

[Pete]

Trevor if your car is done for next Summer I've been offered the chance to get yours, the Buick and the Minisprint a special spot in the paddock at Shelsley at next year's Classic meeting in July, with runs up the hill.

[trevorhp]

Trevor if your car is done for next Summer I've been offered the chance to get yours, the Buick and the Minisprint a special spot in the paddock at Shelsley at next year's Classic meeting in July, with runs up the hill.

Amazing opportunity
Thank you Pete
I will do my best

[trevorhp]

Making good progress on the renovation but have a few questions now so any help and advice appreciated:

1. There are a couple of racing related dents in the sides ....Do we leave them or repair ?

2. What is the best joint sealer for the small gap between the front wings and the front panel ? (some original has dried and cracked)

3. I do not have the original Gp5 wheel arch extensions just some GRP replacements that came with the car.... What material were the originals and where can I buy some from?

4.The sills appear to have the same underseal covering as the wheel arches but it is much smoother..Could this be a later addition?

Thanks Trevor

[mk1]

Thanks for the update Trevor.

for what its worth, my comments are as follow;

1. There are a couple of racing related dents in the sides ....Do we leave them or repair ?

Personally I'd repair damage, even if it was race related, that is unless it was "famous" crash damage.

2. What is the best joint sealer for the small gap between the front wings and the front panel ? (some original has dried and cracked)

I have used regular seam sealer, polyester filler & tiger seal, all have worked OK, but I am sure a body specialist would be able to recommend the ultimate product.

3. I do not have the original Gp5 wheel arch extensions just some GRP replacements that came with the car.... What material were the originals and where can I buy some from?

The originals look to me like the ST type Gp5 arches. If this is the case, they were supplied to Comps via my good mate Barry Hawkins who had a great little "guvy" job supplying Comps with many GRP products. Sadly the moulds for the originals have long gone, but there are a number of people that do a decent copy, some of which are claimed to use moulds taken from originals. As far as I can see the Minispares ones are not to bad. http://www.minispares.com/product/Class ... o%20search


4.The sills appear to have the same underseal covering as the wheel arches but it is much smoother..Could this be a later addition?

I don't know. On unmolested cars that I have seen the sill is usually just painted.

[trevorhp]

Thanks for the update Trevor.

for what its worth, my comments are as follow;

1. There are a couple of racing related dents in the sides ....Do we leave them or repair ?

Personally I'd repair damage, even if it was race related, that is unless it was "famous" crash damage.

2. What is the best joint sealer for the small gap between the front wings and the front panel ? (some original has dried and cracked)

I have used regular seam sealer, polyester filler & tiger seal, all have worked OK, but I am sure a body specialist would be able to recommend the ultimate product.

3. I do not have the original Gp5 wheel arch extensions just some GRP replacements that came with the car.... What material were the originals and where can I buy some from?

The originals look to me like the ST type Gp5 arches. If this is the case, they were supplied to Comps via my good mate Barry Hawkins who had a great little "guvy" job supplying Comps with many GRP products. Sadly the moulds for the originals have long gone, but there are a number of people that do a decent copy, some of which are claimed to use moulds taken from originals. As far as I can see the Minispares ones are not to bad. http://www.minispares.com/product/Class ... o%20search


4.The sills appear to have the same underseal covering as the wheel arches but it is much smoother..Could this be a later addition?

I don't know. On unmolested cars that I have seen the sill is usually just painted.

Thank's Mark that is very valuable information.......what would we do without this forum

[Vegard]

#3 i bough proper replica ones from Austin Costin if I remember correctly.

[trevorhp]

#3 i bough proper replica ones from Austin Costin if I remember correctly.

Thank you Vegard

[Pete]

Yep Paul should know about the correct shape arches. Though I'd be inclined to keep as much of the original car and use original parts where poss I'd probably draw the line at the dents!

[trevorhp]

Yep Paul should know about the correct shape arches. Though I'd be inclined to keep as much of the original car and use original parts where poss I'd probably draw the line at the dents!

Thanks Pete
Dents being addressed today, only small... but exactly at Cooper car company mini door hinge heights

[mk1coopers]

So nice to see a great car with a traceable history coming back to life

[billycooper]

So nice to see a great car with a traceable history coming back to life

Yeah, keep the pics coming too !

[trevorhp]

So nice to see a great car with a traceable history coming back to life

Thanks for the encouragement it really helps

[trevorhp]

So nice to see a great car with a traceable history coming back to life

Yeah, keep the pics coming too !

I will post some more over the weekend

[trevorhp]

A few more pictures of KDK320F parts as removed for the first time in almost 50 years.
Reinforced rear subframe and many more holes than intended by BMC

IMG_2563.JPG

IMG_2564.JPG

IMG_2565.JPG

IMG_2566.JPG

IMG_2567.JPG

[trevorhp]

More and less metal ???

IMG_2568.JPG

IMG_2569.JPG

IMG_2570.JPG

IMG_2572.JPG

IMG_2573.JPG

[mk1]

Fascinating stuff Trevor. I have always loved these Vita cars & await your next update with anticipation.

[trevorhp]

Fascinating stuff Trevor. I have always loved these Vita cars & await your next update with anticipation.

Thanks Mark
I will try to keep you updated.
The reinforcing plates were brazed in place as was the strengthening of the rear subframe mountings on the shells.

The four holes in the rear of the underside of the subframe would have been for the ARB
I don't have an original 'works' one (square cross shaft and round tubular ends) as this had been sold on when the car was put on the road in 1970 'ish.
Does anyone have one for sale? or is there a copy being made by anyone, I seem to recall Paul Stanworth told me he had made some previously.

[mk1]

Paul certainly did do one at one time, it is also something I had thought about copying. I have found a reliable source for the spring steel square section rod that was always the trickiest bit to find.

[trevorhp]

Paul certainly did do one at one time, it is also something I had thought about copying. I have found a reliable source for the spring steel square section rod that was always the trickiest bit to find.

I think it would be a winner with many period racers
I need two ...if that's any incentive