timbobalobox Posted March 30, 2022 Report Share Posted March 30, 2022 Hi all In my introductory post at the beginning of the year I mentioned I planned to convert a 987 Boxster into a 356 homage with a kit from Iconic Autobody - I've now placed a deposit! It should be ready in 3-6 weeks... Time to clear some space in the garage If folk are interested I'll keep this as a bit of a build log as I go - feel free to flame 🔥 my controversial choice 🤣 The kit comes in several pieces - front and rear clams (inc bonnets), door skins, windscreen and speedster humps (which store in the frunk when the hood is up). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timbobalobox Posted March 30, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2022 Another image from the side that shows the humps a bit better. I'll have the domed hubs on the split rims I think. As I'm keeping the black interior I need inspiration what colour paintwork to go with... any ideas welcome! One question - I seem to be restricted to very low image sizes via the upload function, should I be using another hosting function? Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patt Posted March 30, 2022 Report Share Posted March 30, 2022 yes. host on flickr or any other site and link the images into your post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T911UK Posted March 30, 2022 Report Share Posted March 30, 2022 Great project! Looking forward to seeing this, good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Codfanglers Posted March 30, 2022 Report Share Posted March 30, 2022 Looks fantastic and would like to think the car retains most of its structural rigidity once the panels have been chopped off and replaced with GRP? Have you driven one any distance? Having owned a GRP car (TVR350i - space frame chassis, GRP body), as a driving machine to throw about or to have an accident in, I wouldn't consider anything not made of metal. You will get more admiring looks in one of those compared to a Boxster, but don't underestimate what it will cost to build and finish to a professional standard, and what you could have bought for that money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul P Posted March 30, 2022 Report Share Posted March 30, 2022 No flame from me. Good luck and would like to see the build as it progresses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Topbox Posted March 30, 2022 Report Share Posted March 30, 2022 I would certainly like to see the build. With a black interior you can have any colour exterior I would say. A good trick will be to give the black interior nice colour accents that reflect the exterior. Seat belts, a gear knob, instrument dial faces, a little colour on the dash perhaps. 😁 Have fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MickH Posted March 30, 2022 Report Share Posted March 30, 2022 Love this. Cant wait to see the progress Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timbobalobox Posted March 30, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2022 33 minutes ago, Patt said: yes. host on flickr or any other site and link the images into your post. Thank you - have created a profile and will use this in future 👍 24 minutes ago, Codfanglers said: Looks fantastic and would like to think the car retains most of its structural rigidity once the panels have been chopped off and replaced with GRP? Have you driven one any distance? Having owned a GRP car (TVR350i - space frame chassis, GRP body), as a driving machine to throw about or to have an accident in, I wouldn't consider anything not made of metal. You will get more admiring looks in one of those compared to a Boxster, but don't underestimate what it will cost to build and finish to a professional standard, and what you could have bought for that money. I know what you mean - I've had TVRs in the past (a couple of Chimaeras and a Cerbera) and despite assurances that GRP is actually quite strong, I certainly wouldn't want to have too much of a shunt in one! Last week I had a good chat with the owner of Iconic about this - I didn't want to compromise safety in anyway. All of the main body panels are removed (except for the cills) and retain the airbags and main crash structure. There are bespoke brackets supplied that are mounted on the key body structure to support the GRP clams. I've found the below online of a guy in the States who was stripping a boxster for a similar project; There's no denying the GRP panels weigh more than the metal ones being removed, so I expect the performance to be affected slightly - having gone out for a test drive in the 2.7 it certainly still danced around the corners! Mine is the S too so I'm hoping the effects are mitigated a bit The price has certainly been a key consideration and looking at a comparison to what else is out there I love the look of the 356 but didn't really want to go down the Beetle-based Chesil route and these completed are now £40k+ from the factory or £26k ish for a used/abused one. If I can come in between those I'll be happy! (including the price of the Boxster). It's going to be a fun project/hobby with no real time frame 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timbobalobox Posted March 30, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2022 Thank you all for the nice comments - it's appreciated! I'm quite looking forward to the challenge. I'd love it to be done for the Gaydon meet, but this a bit too ambitious unfortunately 🤣 maybe 2023...! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timbobalobox Posted March 30, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2022 27 minutes ago, Topbox said: I would certainly like to see the build. With a black interior you can have any colour exterior I would say. A good trick will be to give the black interior nice colour accents that reflect the exterior. Seat belts, a gear knob, instrument dial faces, a little colour on the dash perhaps. 😁 Have fun. Good shout with the interior accents - I'm rubbish with colour schemes! I really want to get it right as it'll make all the difference. I even have a pinterest folder for it 🤣 Ideas so far... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Menoporsche Posted March 30, 2022 Report Share Posted March 30, 2022 Enjoy. My first car was a kit, not built by me - a Dutton Phaeton, based on a Mk1/2 Escort. It, and my crazy engineering neighbour friend, taught me a lot about car mechanics. Now superseded as everything needs a laptop... then Dad was bored at home and looked though my old kit car mags, and decided to turn his rotting Mk4 Cortina into a Cobra replica (Pilgrim Sumo). What I learned - people who build their first kit car usually know a lot about mechanics and stuff all about electrics. The latter can then be a dogs dinner requiring constant fault finding. What he learned - yes the company can produce a fantastic build manual, but don't believe it. When he pointed out to the company that their build manual had (for example) recommended installing the propshaft, and then a couple of pages later installing the brake lines along the prop tunnel, a job which would be a lot easier without the propshaft in the way, the guy said "Oh, we don't use that manual, that was done by Marketing"... Good luck with it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timbobalobox Posted March 30, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2022 5 minutes ago, Menoporsche said: Enjoy. My first car was a kit, not built by me - a Dutton Phaeton, based on a Mk1/2 Escort. It, and my crazy engineering neighbour friend, taught me a lot about car mechanics. Now superseded as everything needs a laptop... then Dad was bored at home and looked though my old kit car mags, and decided to turn his rotting Mk4 Cortina into a Cobra replica (Pilgrim Sumo). What I learned - people who build their first kit car usually know a lot about mechanics and stuff all about electrics. The latter can then be a dogs dinner requiring constant fault finding. What he learned - yes the company can produce a fantastic build manual, but don't believe it. When he pointed out to the company that their build manual had (for example) recommended installing the propshaft, and then a couple of pages later installing the brake lines along the prop tunnel, a job which would be a lot easier without the propshaft in the way, the guy said "Oh, we don't use that manual, that was done by Marketing"... Good luck with it Appreciate the advice, thank you. As this a rebody more than anything, the extent of mechanics/electrics should be confined to replacing the lights/spoiler mechanism as a lot is bonded in situ - that's what I'm hoping anyway! The factory built ones are stunning in the flesh - really hoping my efforts don't turn it into into a mess 🤣🤣 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boyo Posted March 30, 2022 Report Share Posted March 30, 2022 Good luck with the build and I am really looking forward to following your progress 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul P Posted March 30, 2022 Report Share Posted March 30, 2022 Don’t know where you are located but might be worth having a look at the members map and see if someone with a Durametric of piwis is nearby. you may need to tell the car to stop moaning about spoiler that isn’t there or roof that’s “different” guessing but I would imagine there are some parts that may be easier to code out rather than fake Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 30, 2022 Report Share Posted March 30, 2022 ....like everyone else... really looking forward to being updated on this build... always admired these speedsters... interesting car review of these on youtube somewhere. Love the rims...!!! How about Audi Volcano Red..? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timbobalobox Posted March 30, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2022 19 minutes ago, Paul P said: Don’t know where you are located but might be worth having a look at the members map and see if someone with a Durametric of piwis is nearby. you may need to tell the car to stop moaning about spoiler that isn’t there or roof that’s “different” guessing but I would imagine there are some parts that may be easier to code out rather than fake I'm not far from Banbury, so fairly central - but that's helpful know about the software, thank you. The spolier and roof remain fully functional and pretty much untouched - the tonneau cover is original and the spoiler has a replacement 'top' that blends in with the new body. Beneath the vents on the rear are the high level brake lights Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
½cwt Posted March 30, 2022 Report Share Posted March 30, 2022 Looks like a great project. As you are in Banbury why not drop into Gaydon on 24th April to meet a load of Boxster owners (about 50) and maybe bring some info on the project? I'm sure there will be a lot of interest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daboy3000 Posted March 30, 2022 Report Share Posted March 30, 2022 Great project, I look forward to the updates. I am not a fan of the size of the wheels in your picture, i think they need more rubber. This colour would work well with a black interior 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timbobalobox Posted March 30, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2022 20 minutes ago, ½cwt said: Looks like a great project. As you are in Banbury why not drop into Gaydon on 24th April to meet a load of Boxster owners (about 50) and maybe bring some info on the project? I'm sure there will be a lot of interest. Just replied - I'll be there 👍 Can't see me having started the build by that point, so will be in the 987 rather than the Volvo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timbobalobox Posted March 30, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2022 11 minutes ago, Daboy3000 said: Great project, I look forward to the updates. I am not a fan of the size of the wheels in your picture, i think they need more rubber. This colour would work well with a black interior That colour looks great, especially with the chrome trim. Agree on the wheels - they are quite low profile and the roads around here aren't the best! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terryg Posted March 30, 2022 Report Share Posted March 30, 2022 Forums need projects like this to keep them interesting, there will probably be some disagreement but that’s healthy. To kick this off, I think you should stick with the wheels with thinner rubber, it’s an homage to the original, not a replica IMO. Good luck, look forward to reading about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timbobalobox Posted March 30, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2022 46 minutes ago, skoosh1970 said: ....like everyone else... really looking forward to being updated on this build... always admired these speedsters... interesting car review of these on youtube somewhere. Love the rims...!!! How about Audi Volcano Red..? That certainly looks the part 😎 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul P Posted March 30, 2022 Report Share Posted March 30, 2022 1 hour ago, timbobalobox said: I'm not far from Banbury, so fairly central - but that's helpful know about the software, thank you. The spolier and roof remain fully functional and pretty much untouched - the tonneau cover is original and the spoiler has a replacement 'top' that blends in with the new body. Beneath the vents on the rear are the high level brake lights Cool - thats smart with everything "as was" - sounds well thought out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Topbox Posted March 30, 2022 Report Share Posted March 30, 2022 (edited) 3 hours ago, timbobalobox said: Good shout with the interior accents - I'm rubbish with colour schemes! I really want to get it right as it'll make all the difference. I even have a pinterest folder for it 🤣 Thanks. I think the pinterest folder is a good idea. Lots of 356 images on Instagram too for inspiration. Ask friends and family too. Who is the snappy dresser? I'm not a fan of black on sports cars inside or out I should confess. However that's just me. The great thing with black inside it really does give unrestricted choice for your exterior. I would certainly look at the colours for the period of 356 production. I'm loving the blue from @Daboy3000 white wall tyres could enhance the retro look. Were any 356s produced with two tone paint schemes I wonder? Edited March 30, 2022 by Topbox Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.