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arrocuda
United Kingdom
501 Posts |
 Posted - 12 Feb 2015 : 09:55:12
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Be interested to see the pic when you find it. The thing to bear in mind regarding monococque pickup conversions is that over here, DVLA rules will not allow for the re-registration of a saloon or coupe that has been converted to a 'commercial' vehicle. So you can't even take it for a BIVA test. Hence the reason as to why you see an awful lot of them 'floating' around the bay with descriptions that say things like.... 'just needs tidying up for MOT', when what they really mean is they couldn't find a licensed MOT man to say that the vehicle, (as registered), has no structural infringements of the MOT examination specifications.
Only way you can legally register it is to mount it on a chassis and then inform the DVLA and they will reclassify it as an xxxxxx 'special', where xxxxxx is the original vehicle that was registered on the same chassis. Only reason we are afforded this 'loophole' is because it harks back to the days when all vehicles were chassis built and coach builders such as Park Royal made 'one offs' for extremely wealthy people.
I suspect that the one in the pic I found is maybe Eastern European as it is LHD and Western European countries fitness to run rules are generally far more stricter than ours when it comes to modified vehicles. There recently was a proposal to put forward an EU directive stating that modifications outside the OEM specifications would be 'outlawed', but so far the DOT's response has been favourable to modders in that they believe that such a system would be unworkable and have no plans to change the rules here. Upsetting a few 'redneck modders' is one thing but if Lord Chumley can't drive his unique Rolls Royce Balmoral shooting brake to the Henley Regatta anymore there will be hell to pay! 
Having already exempted pre1960 cars from MOT altogether it strikes me that they think that for a relatively small proportion of vehicles on the road, way under 1%, going to such lengths would be a waste of departmental resources especially when they are trying to cut governmental admin' costs.
Tim
Building the 'Mark II' fastback Rapier ('Arrocuda'). |
Edited by - arrocuda on 12 Feb 2015 10:09:51 |
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bigt80
United Kingdom
1052 Posts |
Posted - 11 Feb 2015 : 21:47:46
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Well you know it has been done before!
Just found some documents which I passed to our Archivist, but can't find a pic just now. I will post one up when I do. Unfortunately despite best efforts to save it, it was scrapped some 8 - 10 years ago. Reg Guy our ex President was the one that did the conversion with help from a mate. Nice one it made too  .
Cheers. G. |
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arrocuda
United Kingdom
501 Posts |
Posted - 10 Feb 2015 : 10:18:33
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Hey Glen....... are you thinking what I'm thinking?
Building the 'Mark II' fastback Rapier ('Arrocuda'). |
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arrocuda
United Kingdom
501 Posts |
Posted - 07 Feb 2015 : 21:28:36
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[quote]Originally posted by bigt80
Look forward to your thoughts on a way forward if you'd like to share them on here . Cheers! G.
You're making it look like I've got some kind of plan Glen. I was just looking at it a few weeks back and thought that I really need to do something with it (the Rapier), and it occurred to me a couple of weeks back that a 4 x 4 would be a handy thing to have. Don't want a 'jeep' though, so this could be a solution.
If I were going to use the Rapier I'd probably cut the front off and keep the wings as spares for the project car cos they are getting hard to find. Then I'd use everything right down to the wiring loom from the kia. That way it would keep it pretty simple. Probably even swap the dash and the heater/vent system cos the screen vents are so tiny on the Rapier. Swapping the dash out solves all the instrumentation incompatibility problems.
Not sure the body would look right with a hotrod open front, so I'd probably put some fins on the back to keep it in character. One thing about that car is that the seals were working perfectly, so it shouldn't be too difficult to make it water tight.
I've still got a fair amount to do on the project car, so is no point making any hasty decisions. Might as well just leave it on here for now, but if there are no takers for it, I might just give it a shot. Might just try a 'photo-chop' first to get a feel for how it would look. Be a shame to waste a good shell on something I didn't care for in the end.
Tim.
Building the 'Mark II' fastback Rapier ('Arrocuda'). |
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bigt80
United Kingdom
1052 Posts |
Posted - 07 Feb 2015 : 16:50:57
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Hi again arrocuda,
No worries on the postings, just tidying up :-). I sort of know what you mean about the bit below, but I have to say for an old system, I find the air-blending Rapier heater much more controllable than the Audi's Water valve one and it warms up quicker too; esp compared to my 5 cylinder ones. Agree back window is reluctant to shed water - both inside and out, but if car is watertight then I don't find it too much of a problem. Have been using the Rapier this winter from time to time
Look forward to your thoughts on a way forward if you'd like to share them on here . Cheers! G.
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Originally posted by arrocuda
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TBH a Rapier would be a poor choice for this as the heater and venting system are next to useless and they are prone to condensation when left parked up.
Got me thinking now!
Building the 'Mark II' fastback Rapier ('Arrocuda').
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arrocuda
United Kingdom
501 Posts |
Posted - 06 Feb 2015 : 09:26:05
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Hi Glen..... Sorry about the postings. I first posted it in 'Parts Wanted'... realised (the next day), it should have been "Parts For Sale' so cut 'n pasted it. Then thought perhaps I've completely goofed and should have put it in 'Cars For Sale'.... so pasted it there too. .... Losing the plot completely here.
Yep I considered buying a Quattro coupe, but if I had one I'd be reluctant to take it out in bad conditions as there's an awful lot of clueless drivers around here, so even if I'm careful, there's a fair chance of it getting damaged. GT coupes are for nothing by comparison so they are 'expendable' to a far greater degree.
TBH a Rapier would be a poor choice for this as the heater and venting system are next to useless and they are prone to condensation when left parked up. Probably make more sense to buy a more modern car and cut the front off to fit it to the chassis, that way wheelbase isn't a problem. Then you could have all the creature comforts in a package you could hoon around in without worrying if it got damaged. Maybe a PT cruiser could be the answer cos then you could just put mud splashers on the front wheels, maybe some steel channel for a fender and to mount some lights on, so as to make it legal.
Got me thinking now!
Building the 'Mark II' fastback Rapier ('Arrocuda'). |
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bigt80
United Kingdom
1052 Posts |
Posted - 05 Feb 2015 : 11:43:20
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That sounds like a good starting point for someone. I've got a couple of projects on the go, but I hope the shells will have survived well enough; although stored outside.
I hope you get some enquiries.
Being a bit of an Audi B2 fan also, I know what you mean about the FWD's in the snow & ice. Just sold my 90 Quattro, but down south the weather has been OK, so 80 GTE's are fine to get about in
Cheers. G. |
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arrocuda
United Kingdom
501 Posts |
Posted - 05 Feb 2015 : 07:53:30
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Hi all.....
Decided to offer a complete Rapier shell for anyone who may be looking to fix up a 'basket case' but can't find the time. Is generally sound with good front wings, floors ok. Needs a little welding around the front scuttle. Only dodgy panel is the rear valance but can be fabricated fairly easily. Is too good to break and I know someone's gonna come on here asking us if we know of one for sale if I do.
Getting on with the project car this year so could use the space. Probably enough spares here to build another car and some, so can throw in extras if required. Still got some Holbay bits if anyone's looking out for them.
Give me a knock on here if anyone's interested. Was thinking of mounting it on to a Kia Sportage chassis if nobody's interested and having it as a 4 x 4 'winter car' as this Audi GT coupe isn't as good as I thought it might be in snowy conditions. Feel it could be a bit of a waste of a good Rapier shell though.
Tim.
Building the 'Mark II' fastback Rapier ('Arrocuda'). |
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F/b Rapier shell for sale
