Daimler 2½ litre V-8 “Cresta”
prototype DN250 history of the project part 5 the last lap, putting the car
together – March to August 2011 |
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23
March 2011 Now veneered – see next box. The glove pocket hinges and fastener are
Rolls Royce. Instruments by Speedy Cables
as advertised in the classic car press.
Air intakes from the BMW Mini: outer two fresh air and inner two
heater and, if and when fitted, air conditioning. Period radio with modern innards by Vintage
Radio of Manchester (or someone like that, whose website is almost impossible
to find). |
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6
April 2011 The dashboard and door capping
veneered in walnut with cross banding, which is a higher standard than I
expected, were made by Mr AJ Hickman of Lichfield. You could not want better quality
work. |
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22
July 2011 Almost done. There is a risk that the car will suddenly
change from a safely far away project to a road going reality. Soon it will be next time for its DVLA
examination, Mot and licensing. |
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22
July 2011 This and the following pictures
were sent to me with the question: Where do you want the number plate? Probably with its top about half way down
the bumper bars in an attempt not to wholly conceal the bottom of the radiator
shell. |
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July 2011 Don’t the door (but actually
scuttle mounted) mirrors look enormous. hardly period but practical. There were
just about the smallest all-way remotely adjustable ones that I could find. But on further thoughts, what
about the nose job at the end my page with the pictures of the
prototype? Or the Stutz Bearcat? The radiator shell is projecting way beyond
the bumpers. The Daimler people too
much have see this: look at the width
of the apron bridging the body to bumper gap on the photo of the prototype as
seen from above. |
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27
July 2011 The same applied to the Century
New DHC. The photo, of Dotty, shows a
similar wide skirt and how the bottom of the radiator shell is kept in view
although behind the bumper bar. |
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July 2011 Stage 1 of remodelling the nose
job was to experiment with threaded extensions to the bumper bracket to find
the right gap. |
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July 2011 And this view shows that it is
now spot on. In passing the instruments by
Speedy Cables have failed to live up to their image in their 23rd
of March 2011 photo. When the engine
was first started and the electrics tested, none of the instruments in the
four-part dial worked at all and the rev counter was erratic: oil pressure nil, voltage nil etc. An auto-electrician was called in and could
find no wiring fault, so, alas, the defective instruments have been returned
to Speedy. |
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3
August 2011 Stage 2. This is even more spot on. New metal welded in on either side and a
new tray/lower apron, like Dotty’s with a flange onto which to bolt the
number plate. I’ve ordered a badge bar
to go above which will balance the front elevation. Why don’t Italian car designers know that
cars must have front number plates and design somewhere for them to go? |
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23
August 2011 Here we are, Black Hole and
Rattletrap, at the DVLA Shrewsbury for an inspection. I had my first drive in it, to back it off
the trailer, because the DVLA’s H&S rules do not allow its staff to examine
vehicles on a trailer – even to read the number plate and the chassis plate,
which you can see under an open bonnet when you stand on the ground at the
side of the trailer. I also drove it
forward back onto the trailer, but the same H&S rules would not allow
anyone to watch me, so I had to guess that my wheels were on and not about to
fall off the ramp. |
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August 2011 While we are at it, a peep of the
interior. |
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2007 Here is a reminder of the
original style. |
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to return to the project contents list to return to my home page |
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