custom parts

well as i have many qualifications and much experience under my belt i have started designing replica components from other cars

this can include upgrades to switch gear, cosmetic components or accurate replicas of no longer available parts. I design the component in solidworks, do the neccesary drawings then get them lathed up.

The latest item is a full set of interior components based on the zonda c12.
these include the full pedal set, gearknob and handbrake. also all the wood finishing. i intend to fit these in my lotus to replace the tired flat plate pedals that were originally there and the horrible rubber handbrake and tired gearknob. i intend to have the starter fitted into the interior of the gearknob as per the zonda and the puck pedals fitted to the pedal arms by means of a custom mount.

just thought i would share this with you as i thought you might be interested.
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I think a lot of the switch gear etc for the older Ferraris is no longer available. There are a few threads knocking around in the model specific sections where people threaten to produce small runs of parts. Could be a nice sideline...

 

getting things made isnt a problem ist the design and drawings that take time, and just machining one or two items is not worth it as an investment.

im a fan of interior craftamnship, i love the italian leatherwork and the baseball stitching they use on the seams, i also love the quilted stitched panels and seats in the c12zonda, the tvr interiors are lovely also.

i dont care what a car looks like but it has to have an interior that suits it and reflects the cars quality.

i intend to machine the toggle switches that are in the c12 also to replace my aged switches in the lotus, the plan is to modernise as much of the furniture as i can without destroying the cars charecter.

i also intend t remove the black composite louvres on the rear and replace them with toughened glass sections and a custom made center support. the engine cover will also be upgraded to toughened heat resistant glass with a vent cutout. this way the whole engine will be visable through the back.

 

please please keep this running, I love anything like this, proper bespoke stuff. Wouldnt it be incredibly expensive to have one off parts turned/machined, or do you know "a man that can"??

Re: TVR, some of their interiors are stunning, they got a little too way out with some of the later cars, but I must admit I thought the light grey leather interior in my Cerbera was simply stunning to look at, and very very user friendly too, a masterpiece of good design IMO, perhaps a tiny bit cramped for a fat git like me, but good all the same. I sometimes think I would still have that car if it had never broke down, even through all the pain of breakdowns, I still have fond memories of the car....

 

I found a great place to get switches for my 308 GT4 - try www.ansor.it
i dont speak a word of italian, but I used MS word to translate a letter from GB to IT and it worked... and best of all they sent me the switches at NO charge!
May be something to do with the name of the girl who responded to me "Alessandra Ferrari"..

Ciao,
Devo comprare„ l'interruttore elettrico della finestra 1 “971”. Sapete da dove posso ottenere uno? Vivo in Inghilterra.
(in English - I need to buy 1 “971” electric window switch. Do you know where I can get one from? I live in England.)
Riguardi gentili

 

well the total cost for the one of shaft, wood lock ring and the top fix ring section with postage and vat from a company only came to £89 so i am more than happy with that, the mahogany section i will turn down then inlay some mother of pearl circles around it then give it several coats of polyurethane varnish then buff it to high lustre.

 

well i know how patiently you guys have been waiting for an update on this, so finbally i can show you where i am on this project. the geaerknob is made of 4 independent parts, the main shaft with an M7 X 1.0 internal thread to fix to the gearshaft.

the primary fixing ring which is internally threaded to fit to the top of the shaft, around which are also m3 threaded fixing holes. then on top is the main top plate which has 6 through holes all recessed and chamfered. these holes need a slight de.bur on the sides as can be seen but nothing some 1200 wet and dry wont cure in 5 mins

i will need to finish rub the aluminium to a satin finish, and its just turning the wood section and inlaying the 6 mother of pearl discs now, thank god i have got my workshop to finish it in, then after the wood has been turned and the inlays done it will then get 8 coats of high gloss poly varnish which will be sanded inbetween coats and then de-nibbed.

until then heres the gearknob in its metal stage.













as you can see its spot on to the original version :



all thats needed is the wood section now, after this one i intent to make one with a start switch placed internally to a relay for starting the car.

the pedals are next as are the F1 style axis adjustable pedal arms, these you will have to wait and see