Classic car body onto a modern floor/chassis

[eleanor]

Hi

There was a classic car restorer based in wales which fitted a early 70s datsun body unto a modern car platform, (think it may have been a mx5 with the body cut off) can't find his detail anywhere. I have a 70 triumph herald in a bad state and toying with the idea of fitting the top half onto a modern floor. Mainly for reliability and for mods such as PS etc as car is for my father who suffers from arthritis. Can anyone recommend a garage who can undertake this kind of project/who has done similar projects in the past and who's rates are reasonable.

Regards

Razi

[kram]

don't want to put a downer on your plan but if your going to have this done by a garage / company then the cost will soon outweigh the fun , ive done many car builds from chassis up to body swaps and there so time consuming its unreal , best advice id give you is if you have a friend or group of petrol heads and one or more can weld / fabricate then do it that way so you can do alot of the donkey work and lend others a hand in return ......just my thoughts , unless you have a bottomless cash supply ....LOL.

[chairchild]

also.... it would cost the earth to be LEGALLY on the road...



modified monocoque and all that jazz. Basically a cut'n shut

[trevorbrady]

considered an electric power steering conversion instead? There are kits out there, do some googling

[popuptoaster]

if you want old looks and modern mechanicals and have the cash to pay for that sort of work have a look at some modern kit cars.

[79cord]

Yep legally with such radical changes it often becomes a new car with all the additional requirements that entails.
I remember the thread of Nissan Skyline floorpan under Datsun 120y/Sunny body. A few on here have also been heading the way of MX-5 engine/box in Herald

[eleanor]

Thanks guys, going by the advice, I think its best to just restore the herald and make upgrades such as PS. Just have to now find someone with reasonable rates to restore the body. Rear deck in bad state and with no available panels in production, so I will have you find someone who can make the pieces required. Will post some pictures today.

[ettorebugatti]

A TVR donor might be an idea, still a lot of work. Although its backbone chassis should avoid IVA.

Triumph Herald Speed Six has a nice sound to it.

[kevbarlas]

Yeah, if you can find a donor with a separate chassis with the same wheelbase, such as a Reliant Scimitar and then don't alter the chassis it will be classed as a re-body and not need tested.

[fredtransit]

Aug 16, 2013 19:22:45 GMT eleanor said:

Hi

There was a classic car restorer based in wales which fitted a early 70s datsun body unto a modern car platform, (think it may have been a mx5 with the body cut off) can't find his detail anywhere. I have a 70 triumph herald in a bad state and toying with the idea of fitting the top half onto a modern floor. Mainly for reliability and for mods such as PS etc as car is for my father who suffers from arthritis. Can anyone recommend a garage who can undertake this kind of project/who has done similar projects in the past and who's rates are reasonable.

Regards

Razi

I think this garage is a serial offender I heard of a cut down Mk6 transit with a Mk1 body.

[HoTWire]

Aug 17, 2013 13:06:14 GMT ettorebugatti said:

A TVR donor might be an idea, still a lot of work. Although its backbone chassis should avoid IVA.

Triumph Herald Speed Six has a nice sound to it.

Oh this is relevant to my interest! ... What TVR Chassis is that?

[stealthstylz]

The problem with TVR chassis is you can't cut the outriggers and they're mega wide, so unless you want a widened body or a stock car replica you're still stuck with IVA.

[surprisingskoda]

So how does the Golf bodied Beetle we all saw at the weekend make itself legal?

[HoTWire]

Aug 19, 2013 9:16:57 GMT surprisingskoda said:

So how does the Golf bodied Beetle we all saw at the weekend make itself legal?

Beetle floorpan = chassis = rebody = no IVA

[ben711200]

Aug 19, 2013 9:21:17 GMT HoTWire said:

Aug 19, 2013 9:16:57 GMT surprisingskoda said:

So how does the Golf bodied Beetle we all saw at the weekend make itself legal?

Beetle floorpan = chassis = rebody = no IVA

Yeah, because a Beetle is separate chassis, the body itself carries zero points in terms of identity. Presumably would be enough original running gear that it got to keep its Beetle identity, hence being on a (IIRC) '71 J reg numberplate. You'd still have to declare the body swap and probably need a brief inspection to confirm identity though.

[stealthstylz]

You'd also have to alter the make and model name, so if you do a DVLA check on it and it's still listed as a Beetle it's not registered legally

[composimmonite]

What about using a backbone chassis and running gear from a Lotus Elite, Excel or Éclat ? If you look they can be found for quite reasonable amounts.

Paul H

[BenzBoy]

Aug 17, 2013 12:50:16 GMT eleanor said:

Thanks guys, going by the advice, I think its best to just restore the herald and make upgrades such as PS. Just have to now find someone with reasonable rates to restore the body. Rear deck in bad state and with no available panels in production, so I will have you find someone who can make the pieces required. Will post some pictures today.

If you're going to pay a garage a (large) wedge of money to restore it, surely it'd be more cost effective to just buy a decent one to begin with? Heralds aren't that expensive and you'd get one in good shape for far less than you'd pay for someone to restore yours. I'm assuming that other areas like footwells, sills, bulkhead, door bottoms will also need work, if the boot floor is rotten.
If all it needs is a few patches, then that's a different story. If that particular Herald has sentimental value, then that's a different story again!

[HoTWire]

Aug 19, 2013 13:18:56 GMT stealthstylz said:

You'd also have to alter the make and model name, so if you do a DVLA check on it and it's still listed as a Beetle it's not registered legally

Indeed and they told me what the acronym that is now its make and model means, sadly it wont get through the swear filter

[randywanger_]

Aug 19, 2013 8:58:29 GMT HoTWire said:

Oh this is relevant to my interest! ... What TVR Chassis is that?

TVR Griffith chassis, Think TopGear used one to make their electric 'car' from.