Regarding the issue of parts: I own a Peerless GT, and the Peerless Owners club has a section called "What's it off?". This section of their website identifies parts - who made the part, what other manufacturers used the part and where to look to find it now.
Could we PLEASE have a section in the ACOC dedicated to parts and suppliers? It seems a no-brainer to me. It would be much better than combing through old topics trying to re-discove information buried in old threads. Not just for the FRUA and Thames Ditton forum, but for all AC's.
I hear there has been some success in getting a replacement windscreen. Great! Do they have to be specially made, or does someone have the pattern? What about the rubber, and the rest of the glass?
Emmanuel and I have discussed reproducing the bonnet spring mechanism as found on my car. They are a really nice touch, and we're guessing that Frua dropped this detail sometime after CFX29 (my car) was built. Mike McCluskey said he could make them, though it would not be a practical matter unless he did a run of 10 or more. Even then, it would not be inexpensive.
I cannot imagine that Mr. Frua made these springs expressly for the 428. Most likely they were sourced from some other Italian manufacturer - but who? I furthermore doubt that the windscreen was expressly made for the Frua - so where did it come from? Monteverde seems the same. (also by Mr. Frua). It looks much like a Maserati Spider(?) windscreen.
Does anyone know who made the windscreens? Andy Shepherd seems to know. Andy - care to share?
So - Do enough people want a new pair of bonnet springs to warrant making them?
Or - Does anyone know what other cars may have used the same springs, and who manufactured them?
So few of these cars were ever made, it's unlikely a business could prosper as a supplier of parts. So let's share the information please. The better the cars are, the more valuable they become. And improving them (doing the work AC was unable to do originally) by making them more drivable, the more enjoyable it will be to own one.