Yes, this car is still around! In the last update, over a year ago, I made the trek over to Classic Auto Fabrications to have a custom short shifter made and fitted, which you can read about in detail here. Not long after, Lachy contacted me to let me know that he could now offer a CNC machined shifter to replace the cut-and-welded version he made for me. Well, my birthday was coming up, so who was I to say no?
Chevy Lumina APV / Pontiac G6 GTP
Thanks to Jordan for submitting this build, and for emailing me a nice little intro to the project. So nice, in fact, that I’m just going to post it here…
“Built for the Grassroots Motorsports $2016 Challenge and a great example of scope creep. Originally, the build was going to transplant a newer version of the van’s engine into its tired and rusty chassis. Instead, the van body was placed onto the late-model, wrecked car. Â I have to say, the low-slung look of the raked-body van looks amazing.”
I wholeheartedly agree! Click here for more chassis-swap builds.
What I’m Watching: Raising Junior
One thing I like more than watching car content on YouTube, is watching Build Threads readers output their own car content on YouTube! Geoffrey contacted me recently to share his newly started channel with me. He’s about to undertake a huge restoration of an Alfa Romeo GT Junior 1300. It’s a big job, but he’s got almost all the required panels to bring it back to life. I’m looking forward to watching not only the progression of the car, but Geoffrey’s channel and the production skills he’ll no doubt amass along the way.
Click here for more Alfa builds. Click here for more “What I’m Watching” posts.
The Engineered 1UZ V8 Datsun 620
If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram, you would have seen me post about Mike at least a few times. Mike is the owner of the 1UZ Supra (along with the world’s most insane welding cart) that I featured back in 2013, a car that belongs to what I call the best build thread of all time. After working at The Roadster Shop for a few years, Mike was keen to start a bigger and better project from the ground up with his highly developed skill set. While this build has been gaining traction on Instagram for a while now, it’s only in the past few days that Mike has made a build thread on a forum, so I wanted to get you guys on board as soon as possible. Get yourself acquainted with this build, because I guarantee you’re going to see it all over the internet!
Click here for more high-quality build threads.
Mini Clubman Estate / Mazda MX5
Mini Estates must be destined for greatness, I’ve featured two previously (here and here) and they’re all just a little bit nuts. This one is no different, with rusted out shell as a starting point, and a not-so rusted MX5 brought into the mix, the two were combined in yet another fantastic Miata-based chassis-swap.
Thanks to Renaud for submitting. Click here for more Mini builds. Click here for more chassis swaps.
A Fabricator’s Project – Audi A4
Let me start out by saying this build is not yet complete, but the quality levels are through the roof, and as usual you can expect updates to be posted when it’s further along. For now, though, I’ll think you’ll be as gobsmacked as I was when I first saw the 3D scanning, CAD work, 3D printed parts, and fabrication already taking place. Rest assured, when it’s complete, this will be one VERY sorted A4. If only all fabricators had project cars, what a world that would be…
Click here for more Audi builds. Click here for more fabrication-based builds.
Elvis’ BMW 507
Yep, that’s right, a BMW owned by the King himself! After starring in an exhibition, the lucky roadster finds itself at the hands of the team at BMW Classic, where it receives a full factory-fresh restoration documented with stunning photography. This has some similarities to the Official Porsche Restoration that I featured way back in 2012 (posts 1, 2 and 3), where a factory-official restoration wing gives new life to a classic from their marquee.
Thanks to Tony for submitting. Click here for more BMW builds.
What I’m Watching: Salt City Euros
The latest channel to be added to my list of subscriptions is Salt City Euros. These young dudes by the name of Nico and Max have a penchant for E30 BMWs and some serious skills in the filming and editing departments. I’m looking forward to following the progress on their projects, especially the wagon!
Salt City Euros YouTube Channel | Facebook | Instagram
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uH7_TgtpY3c
BJORNAGN – Volvo P1800 / Mazda MX5
If there’s one type of build that gets the most attention on Build-Threads.com, it’s gotta be the chassis swap. Taking the shell of one car and pairing it with the floorpan and running gear from another really gets peoples imaginations going, gives us all the feeling that anything our minds conjure up is possible.
This one combines a 1973 Volvo P1800 with the underpinnings of a 1996 Mazda Miata/MX5. Not wanting to stop there, the owner has replaced the standard Mazda 4cyl with a 302ci Ford V8 (and over 7″ of stretched wheelbase!). There’s a bit of everything in this one, and it’s one of the most detailed chassis swaps to date.
Zakspeed MkII Escort AWD
I’ve featured a few Escorts over the years, along with one other Zakspeed inspired MKII, but none of them were converted to AWD! The car uses a Ford Sierra front and rear clip welded onto the Escort’s center section to allow the AWD drivetrain to bolt up. The thread takes a retrospective view of the car’s different combinations over the years before getting to the oily bits of it’s latest rebuild in the famous Zakspeed livery. Sadly the thread has died off a couple of years ago and ends in a negative light, here’s hoping it somehow starts up again in the future.
Click here for more Ford builds.