| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| arrocuda |
Posted - 14 Dec 2010 : 09:04:31
Interesting Rapier thread happening on the RR forum at the moment.... here's the link! http://retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=93820
I thought someone had stolen Martins car (UMU) for a moment till I noticed the H120 stripe but same colour, similar wheels and lowered stance.... very confoosing!!
Building the 'Mark II' fastback Rapier ('Arrocuda'). |
| 15 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Holbay120 |
Posted - 18 Dec 2010 : 08:30:34
Hi Martin, if your having trouble with dials (unfortunately you don't say which) I found this chap very good indeed
http://www.jdo10.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/
Best Regards
David McKenna |
| UMU |
Posted - 17 Dec 2010 : 18:48:04
Thanks guys, looks like a furure project to me. As most of my dials dont work i might have to take the instrument panel out soon, so will have a look when i do
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| turbinecol |
Posted - 17 Dec 2010 : 12:40:22
They used vacuum metallizing on plastic, but the impression I get from pics and brochures is that the dials' chrome edging was just a silver paint. |
| arrocuda |
Posted - 17 Dec 2010 : 09:31:01
I've used the chrome paint myself on other cars and have also found that it doesn't have the shine of the original. Anyone know how in the 60's they managed to achieve something that doesn't appear to be possible in the 21st century? As far as I'm aware electro-plating plastic is not in accordance with the laws of physics.
Building the 'Mark II' fastback Rapier ('Arrocuda'). |
| JPSH120 |
Posted - 17 Dec 2010 : 08:35:58
I remember that post but see in the photo you do have one in the centre console. I have intermittent wiper controls fitted in the spare dash socket.
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| Holbay120 |
Posted - 17 Dec 2010 : 08:28:53
Hi Martin & Jason, if you click on this it will explain all
http://www.sunbeamrapier.co.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=133
I use a little duraglit on the dials Martin but you have to be careful as the chrome will easily come of the plasic
Best Regards
David McKenna |
| UMU |
Posted - 17 Dec 2010 : 06:56:37
Hey guys - im enjoying the thread today, thanks.
And thanks to David, im pleased weve managed to sort that one out - i think though lesson learnt; with using text only in our forum meanings can easily get muddled - sorry for that.
But yeah back to the dash on the red one - how would you get the chrome so good around the dials? I painted mine with a chrome paint which looks fine, but having the chrome shiny is awesome. i guess thats how it would have looked originally.
Cheers guys
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| arrocuda |
Posted - 16 Dec 2010 : 22:59:14
What I'm doing isn't really relevant to the discussion we were having as I hope will become apparent when I post the next round of pics. What I'm doing is trying to anticipate what Chrysler might have done with it if they had been in a position to develop the model in a similar way to that which Ford and GM did with the Capri and the Manta. This is why it's so important to me that when finished, the car looks as though it was intended to look the way it does and has the 'factory' look.
The litmus test will be in the response I get from non Rapier enthusiasts that give it a close looking at, as they will not be as familiar as the Rootes fans and may not have seen one for a long time. They say the secret to a good custom job is that to the non expert eye the car looks as though it was originally designed to be that way. You can't build a custom using aftermarket panels and accessories.
Building the 'Mark II' fastback Rapier ('Arrocuda'). |
| JPSH120 |
Posted - 16 Dec 2010 : 22:34:28
quote:
Originally posted by Holbay120
I did fit a cigarette lighter to the dash for the sat nav
Have you not got a cig lighter in the centre console then Dave??
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| Holbay120 |
Posted - 16 Dec 2010 : 21:36:36
Precisely Tim, I have added a few mod’s to Jessica but they are only ones which you would have found in the 70’s ie an electric ariel ( so some little comedian doesn’t snap it off), Bullet type door mirrors because you need them today ( we didn’t have 6 lane bypasses then) a 70’s sharp radio cassette and I did fit a cigarette lighter to the dash for the sat nav but the point is to retain the cars character or patina, never the less I still like your ‘what if’ idea that’s a whole different concept to a custom car, there is often a comparison to the Barracuda but Roy Axe always flatly denied this
Regards
David McKenna |
| arrocuda |
Posted - 16 Dec 2010 : 20:48:02
I agree David and my GF has a similar opinion of me (70's throwback, as she refers to me) as your SWMBO has of you. It's not about old skool and new skool.... it's about keeping the mods within the character of the car. A simple concept maybe.... but some find it very hard to grasp.
Building the 'Mark II' fastback Rapier ('Arrocuda'). |
| Holbay120 |
Posted - 16 Dec 2010 : 20:30:58
Hi Martin, Ah! Yes Well, ahem.perhaps I owe you an apology I thought you were taking the mickey out of the shiny dashboard which I must admit puzzled me because from photo’s I’ve seen yours is the same. I wouldn’t put too much credence on RR comments anyway, people forget the fastback was designed in the middle sixties and was way ahead of it’s time then – of course there is room for improvement such as the wheels on the standard rapier were a bit dated – but I personally don’t like this 3 foot wide wheels and bonnet scoops etc as I think they spoil the car and whilst the H120 above yours doesn’t suit the fancy wheels ( Rostyle’s are fine in my opinion) your car (UMU) does as they are an improvement, but overall I think Roy Axe got it right and the car should be left as it is. However she who must be obeyed reckons I’m a boring old git who’s stuck in the 70’s so maybe it’s kinder just to take me outside and shoot me!
Best Regards
David McKenna |
| Fastback Thomas |
Posted - 16 Dec 2010 : 14:11:05
I like it slightly modified but still looking relatively original.
But slightly lowered is lovely!
Yes Martin, talking about yours!
I like a car that looks normal but can really knock you off your socks! |
| arrocuda |
Posted - 16 Dec 2010 : 11:12:04
The RR forum is a broad church and attracts a fairly wide spectrum of enthusiasts. Old skool and new skool opinion competes head to head all over the board, so I wouldn't take the comments too seriously Martin. Some folks don't believe a car is lowered enough until the sills are touching the tarmac. There are a few people who follow the classic car approach and keep their cars original but the vast majority are modders of either the modern performance car or the traditional hotrod/custom variety. Myself being part of the latter group I guess.
Building the 'Mark II' fastback Rapier ('Arrocuda'). |
| UMU |
Posted - 16 Dec 2010 : 07:13:49
Hi David
Im a little confused.
I was only making a point that on the link there was a comment under a pic of my car saying 'Getting there, but not quite' Which, i wanted to joke about.
As for the Red fastback, i have only commented positivly so far
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