Читать книгу I'm Building a Car - Andrew Davies - Страница 3

Wisdom suggest always begin with the end in mind, just like a trip have a destination planned out so you know where you are going. Building a car requires much the same planning however decisions along the way can dramatically change the path of construction effecting not only the build process but the appearance and the ultimate value of the project.

From the on set I am building this car for me, not for anyone else, I do not intend to sell it, at least whilst I can drive it, so I don’t need to apologise to anyone for what is my interpretation of an Aston Martin DBR2. Nor for that matter should anyone else, even the replicas with modern Japanese engines have their place.

Heres some thoughts, it is possible to create an exact replica, materials, construction methods, you could use period parts, donor parts from a like vehicle, even some original DBR2 parts if one were so inclined, but at the end of the day the distinction between what is a (the) real car and a replica is huge and certainly open to discussion, I’m not about to enter that argument here.

From the on set my project car has different front suspension and in my case a GRP one piece body so lets not fool ones self it is as I defined earlier a “period interpretation” of an Aston Martin DBR2.

Let me define that, by period I mean I will try to emulate as much of the 50/60’s character as I possibly can, that means I won’t use a modern engine, nor will I use modern digital instrumentation. I will try and build the car like Aston Martin would indeed a common saying I developed during the process was;

“We’re racing tomorrow, quick grab that bit form the back of the shed, make it fit”

Indeed I feel that by the very nature of the 2 DBR’s being so different in many ways sums up how the factory may have approached the build of the two cars, they were made up on the run, from what ever was lying about. So then is my interpretation of the build, built it from period parts, don’t overly detail and make it work.

I collected hundreds of photos of the original cars, including the DBR1 it’s educational to note the changes, on these cars, in fact it didn’t matter 30 years ago, but today the originality is king.

I decided to reference the DBR2/1, I feel the ARA body is very close to this original, indeed I once heard it was used as a pattern?

E.g. note the rear wheel arches on DBR2/1 and DBR2/2 the latter is more squared off, currently that is, also the nose and the shape of the opening.

It’s tough however when you want to make the process look good, my Aston Martin S3 V8 is a concourse winner, so on many occasions I had to stop my self from polishing, chroming, over detailing the build. I was not worried that rivets many be odd, nor that sheet metal many be scratched or look old, I don’t want it to look like a new car.

Indeed my whole concept of the build is to make the car look period, look like a 50/60 car in good condition, with period aged parts, scratches in places you would expect them.

During the body on process I was frustrated that I couldn’t get the alignment to my satisfaction, that was until I relaxed the tolerances, 1/8 of an inch is what I settled on, near enough, I reckon the Aston Martin of old would be luck to be that so that’s my definition.

Other areas I gave way to were electrics, so whilst the lighting and controls are period the wring and looms are modern, hey the car could have been re wired? Get my drift.

I know purists will recognize my car as a “copy” not correct, fair enough, but if someone slightly familiar with Astons of old looks at my car and has even a slightest doubt; is it? it’s old! I am happy, that’s my goal!