Messages

91

428 Frua Forum / AC Frua Restoration Part 2

« on: March 11, 2011, 07:39:39 »

It's great that you have a Hot Rod shop working on the body as they really are good at making specialist panel sections. Great to see that your car retains the original Sill jacking points as most cars have had them covered over. They may or may not still be strong enough to use but they look great. They originally had chromed or alloy plugs fitted in them, hopefully you have these still or probably the Rod Shop can make some up for you.

92

428 Frua Forum / Rear Wing for sale on ebay

« on: March 10, 2011, 18:25:46 »

Hi Shep ( Andy ), of course I knew of you and Uniclip in the 1990's but by then no longer had any Frua's. It would never be feasible to specialise solely in such a rare car as the 428 as so few were / are in circulation, and being spread all over the world, there would never be consistent maintenance work, plus of course people have their own 'preferred' mechanics and body shops. I was a member of the AC owners club for a long period in the 1980's and early 1990's and we had the 4 Fruas ( mentioned in the register updates ) over a period of time. VKM 661H ( CF48 ) was still automatic when we owned it. At various times we also had an Autokraft Mk 4, a Bristol engined Greyhound and 3 or 4  ME 3000's. I have to say the spares department of the owners club was quite amusing in the 1980's as they rarely had any idea what the club owned, how much the parts cost or even where they were stored! No doubt the onset of computers has improved this situation. I was aware there were possibly some other rear panels still around but one wonders if they are still where they are meant to be ! I'd like another 428 but no budget for that these days with the higher values hence that's why I thought I'd find a good home for my rear wing. If someone in America wanted a whole rear end it would have to be shipped in a container which would be ridiculously expensive.

93

428 Frua Forum / Gentleman's Express Club AC 428 Register - Updates

« on: March 10, 2011, 18:05:03 »

Further to my other Frua which I could not remember the details for, I have now located the information and the 3rd Fastback was chassis number CF48, registered at that time as VKM 661H. This was probably around 1990. In fact CF 42 and CF 65 were owned by me personally, CF14 and CF 48 were owned by the family business the Epping Motor Company. These days we tend to stick to more mundane and affordable classics like MG's and Triumphs ! I think I have located 1 or 2 photos which I will attempt to scan and e-mail to you,
   Brett

94

428 Frua Forum / Rear Wing for sale on ebay

« on: March 09, 2011, 23:52:05 »

At the time I bought my rear wing ( actually I bought a pair but the righthand one was used ) I was told they were the last pair available. If I remember correctly there was also a complete fastback rear ( both wings joined by rear tail panel ) and a complete convertible rear end but obviously these were difficult to transport or store and we are talking 25 years ago. Obviously it's possible the factory had recently sold some other wings or produced another small batch afterwards( or possibly Autokraft did ) so it would be useful for 428 owners to know what the Shepherds now have available or indeed if they will sell any of the panels they may have. I'm working on a sensible shipping option to America for Jeff for my rear wing.

95

428 Frua Forum / AC 428 original mirrors

« on: March 06, 2011, 22:58:36 »

Hello Paul,
   Very briefly as my memory is not brilliant without carrying out further investigation, I was a member of the ACOC in the 1980's but drifted away from AC's with the onset of marriages and mortgages and the increase in value of exotic classic cars !
   The first fastback I owned was in the early 1980's and was CF42  PNT 553G. I bought it non-running and half restored and tinkered about in my spare time for a couple of years rebuilding the brakes and suspension and getting the engine running and the cooling system re-installed. The front end had all new panelling but the sills were the original slightly curved ones with the built-in jacking points which inevitably get replaced with the wrong profile sills during restorations and the jacking points removed or covered. The interior was immaculate original and the car was indeed a 4-speed manual. The rear wheel arches needed rebuilding and I had to sell the car as I run out of money. The original colour was Silver with Black leather but the gentleman that bought it had the car finished and painted an orangey red ( he brought it to show to me ) ! The car disappeared from sight in the 1980's and I've never heard or seen of it again.
   The second fastback I had was circa 1986 and was CF65  TNP 866L. I bought the car from the first ( or maybe 2nd ) owner and the car at this time was a wedgewood blue with wire-wheels. It was me that loaned the car to Thoroughbred and Classic Cars Magazine in 1986 and indeed it is me driving it in the pictures. I had some suspension work done and replaced the tyres but othewise she was in nice useable condition. I sold the car a year later to finance buying a Miura and I notice that she is now painted Metallic Burgundy. The 3rd fastback I cannot remember the chassis number so will try to find out but she was a later model like CF65 with the rocker switch dashboard and was a mid Metallic Blue. As I cannot remember the chassis number or registration I do not know if the car has been colour changed.
   Interestingly we also owned in the 1980's in our family business the Epping Motor Company convertible CF14 which we bought from Adrian McAlpine of the well known giant McAlpine PLC family. This is of course the car that we actually sold to Jim Feldman in the USA which he still owns. That is the one car I really wished we had kept as it was extremely useable. I will look sometime soon to see if I have any old photographs.
   Best regards,
   Brett

96

428 Frua Forum / AC 428 original mirrors

« on: March 05, 2011, 21:15:03 »

I'm fairly sure most of the cars never had side mirrors fitted from the factory ( I had 3 fastbacks in the 1980's and I don't remember any of them having door mirrors! ). The Factory or AC dealers would no doubt have fitted them if requested by customers. I suspect the chrome ( or you can choose satin steel finish ) Tex mirrors fitted to chrome bumper model MGs throughout the 1960's and 1970's will fit nicely on the 428 doors and are available in left and right hand side. They are cheap and readily available and a nice rectangular shape but not too large. Alternatively Triumph Stag and Jaguar V12 E-Type mirrors are also easily available and look great also in left and right hand side.
   Regretably I cannot remember what the interior rear view mirror looked like but possibly it was different between the convertibles and fastbacks ( better check with Jeff on his interior mirror ) and knowing AC they changed the design over the years depending on what was available !

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428 Frua Forum / AC Frua Restoration Part 2

« on: March 04, 2011, 18:39:25 »

If we could find a way to ship my new left hand wing ( fastback )to Jeff you would have been able to compare the wheel arch lip on that !

98

428 Frua Forum / 428 vs Aston DBS in Classic Cars

« on: March 04, 2011, 18:33:05 »

That's no surprise ! The Aston may have had more room but didn't compare in general handling with the 428. And engine repairs to the Aston are eye-watering in comparison !

99

428 Frua Forum / Rear Wing for sale on ebay

« on: March 03, 2011, 07:18:02 »

Hi Jeff I assumed you'd be posting here anyway as obviously I'd read lots of your and Emmanuel's original posts on this forum. I have to say that your car looks correct and untouched in your photos and video so probably would not need restoring but I always worry more about an unfortunate accident rather than rust developing. For sure we'll find a sensible shipping method ! Brett

100

428 Frua Forum / Rear Wing for sale on ebay

« on: March 01, 2011, 18:32:15 »

That was my 428 Frua rear wing on E-Bay. It's left-hand side and brand new, I bought it at least 25 years ago for a Frua I was restoring but then didn't need to use the wing. I took it off E-Bay for an American gentleman with a 428 but have to get a carriage costing before we know if it's viable to send it to him. If not and he doesn't want the panel then I'm happy to sell it here as I'm unlikely to buy another Frua. []

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3000ME Forum / Set of alloys and tyres for a 3000ME on E-Bay

« on: October 24, 2011, 23:08:34 »

There's a set of four 3000ME compatible alloy wheels and tyres listed on E-Bay for anybody that wants a spare set of wheels or fancies an alternative to the Wolfrace wheels.  http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280760816107&category=9888&_trksid=p5197.c0.m619
   
   Item number is 280760816107  as links don't always work on the forum

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3000ME Forum / Stud pattern for AC 3000ME

« on: October 24, 2011, 20:41:20 »

Can any technofile tell me what the wheel stud measurements ( PCD ) are for the 3000ME i.e something like 5 x 110 ? In other words what other car has the same stud measurements, or what hubs did AC use if they didn't use their own design / size ? Thanks

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428 Frua Forum / AC 428 Driver handbook on E-Bay

« on: March 21, 2011, 08:02:12 »

There is now an AC 428 Driver's Handbook on E-Bay for anyone that needs a spare or likes to collect AC memorabilia.[]