Sport Replica Project (WIP)

[dave2beetle]

As some of you might remember, tail end of 2009 i started looking for an old sport that a mate owned a while back.

Tried tracking it down to its last known owner - thread on here created quite a bit of interest - but to no avail. Turns out it was totalled years ago.

So, for my mates's 40th me & a few mates hatched a plan to buy him a donor car and for him to recreate it.

Last February/March, i picked up this little beauty on ebay for a bargain price. Nice original early mk1 :)

http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp269/dave2beetle/novasportdonor1.jpg

http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp269/dave2beetle/novasportdonor2.jpg

http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp269/dave2beetle/novasportdonor3.jpg

http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp269/dave2beetle/novasportdonor4.jpg

http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp269/dave2beetle/novasportdonor5.jpg

The tricky part was getting it back to Glasgow from Henley on Thames...1 litre, 4 speed box and no music made for a rather long drive but well worth it i think.

Was a complete surprise to other Dave when we handed it over a year ago. Idea being it would give him a year to get it back ready.

Dave is ideally placed to do the work as he owns/runs a car bodyshop in East Kilbride; www.quicksmartbodyrepair.co.uk/ (http://www.quicksmartbodyrepair.co.uk/)

Last time i was up he had the engine out and was painting the bay in preparation for the new lump going in. Think he might run it this summer in brown guise before stripping and painting the remainder of the shell next winter before applying the graphics etc.

Dave is a member on here (davie300zx) so will get him to post up the latest progress as and when it happens.

Latest news is that he's got front seats, negotiations under way over a rear and six dials clocks should be in the post to us anytime now.

Think he might try brown vinyl paint on the door cards as they are unbutchered and in pretty good nick.

Cheers for now,

Dave

[Pistol Pete]

I'm sure one or two will make a few jokes about you using a brown mk1 to do a sport rep...

Looks like a good base to start form. Will be good to see progress on this.

[sport]

Painting any of the trims brown, Vauxhalls bazil brown is a good match to the original colour.

[Connor]

Am i sencing a little deja vu here :p
No but in all seriousness, looks to be a cracking base, will be watching this one mate

[Liam]

Good base, nice and original.

P.S. liking the plate. LFC! :d

[John]

Am i sencing a little deja vu here :p
No but in all seriousness, looks to be a cracking base, will be watching this one mate

lol this one clearly states replica in the title though lol.

Can't wait to see more pics. :)

[mk1nova_rich]

Loving all these early Mk1s coming out of the woodwork :d Sport replica is a cool way to go, good luck with it

[Edd]

I have some Sport doorcards that i will sell but they have speaker holes in them

Plans sound good

Brown base model lol

[16v Nova Kev]

welcome along pal sounds good so far.im in glasgow to and also do body work.

[grooge]

looks like an ideal base for a sport rep. look forward to watching it progress

out of interest does your mate dave do work for eaglesham garage?

i'm only 2 mins down the road in busby, if you need a hand give us a shout.

[mk1nova_rich]

looks like an ideal base for a sport rep

Brown base models seem to be be the ideal base for Sport replicas :p lol

[davie300zx]

nice to see the other dave is keeping a keen interest. the donor car is "brown" ye, but completely solid . dave forgot to mention genuine 28000 miles . i put it in for an mot last year and passed straight away . car still has original ok stamps underneath and all brake pipes, exhaust, axle ............. are like out the factory. what a find .will try and stick some wip photos up over the weekend . and it will be white , not the first jobby brown nova sport !

[davie300zx]

Ye Grooge I Do

[dave2beetle]

nice to see the other dave is keeping a keen interest. the donor car is "brown" ye, but completely solid . dave forgot to mention genuine 28000 miles . i put it in for an mot last year and passed straight away . car still has original ok stamps underneath and all brake pipes, exhaust, axle ............. are like out the factory. what a find .will try and stick some wip photos up over the weekend . and it will be white , not the first jobby brown nova sport !

Dave mate, think you're missing the point.

Guy on here (Dec?) restored a sport a while back. Thing was absolutely mint and was sold on to a vx dealership in Ireland, i believe.

Passed it off as the real deal but omitted to state that it was a re-shell using a base model brown nova, allegedly. Top dollar changed hands for this thing too.

Think thats what the guys are eluding to.

Cheers,

Dave :)

[grooge]

sound, just my mate there had asked me if i knew of your work but thought it was just the 2 bodyshops in college milton. in a strange coincidence one of the others is also restoring a nova!

what spec engine you putting in??

[dave2beetle]

what spec engine you putting in??

Ahem, dave's next post could be controversial... lol

[davie300zx]

your ruining it now . the 1 we all love !!!!!!

[novacabrio]

Nice base to start with, is your Dad helping? lol And can you delete any brown pics when you've finished? Just need to make sure you do the job properly lol!!

looking forward to the updates!

[davie300zx]

Nice base to start with, is your Dad helping? lol And can you delete any brown pics when you've finished? Just need to make sure you do the job properly lol!!

looking forward to the updates!


ye ye lol , i was drivin a nova sport when they were fresh , and you were fillin your nappy :d :thumb:

[Ben]

just to cut a long story short and hopefully end the brown donor talk, a very concorse nova sport was allegedly ringed with a brown base shell and then sold off as original for much gain and has angered many members on here.

But guys he is not that person and is not doing this so altough i do agree it is funny, dont ruin this thread eh?

Good luck and get plenty of pics up.

[davie300zx]

cheers ben , could do with help on locating a full set of decals . any idea guys !!

[Ben]

here you go dave... (http://www.dmb.uk.com/view.asp?id=625)

[davie300zx]

cant get any link from that bud !

[leggattr]

I emailed dmb graphics last night to check the sport sticker kit price and it's £145 for the lot.

[Royston]

You will need to spec early or late doors for the kit depending on what you have fitted, as the door handle cutouts move!;)

[sport]

www.dmb.uk.com (http://www.dmb.uk.com)

These chaps will be able to supply them and as said before you will need to check the handle posistion for early or later type doors.

[davie300zx]

excellent guys. its the original 84 doors their mint !!

[sport]

When ordering the graphics just state there for early doors job done :thumb:

[dave2beetle]

Other Dave,

15 months on, do you have an update for the guys n girls on here??

Pics would be good.

Cheers mate,

Dave

[Calamity Josh]

too nice to sport rep, i'd just tidy it up as is and would be amazing

[davie300zx]

Mm , could take photos of your sport replica you just bought dave and pretend that mines done. Lol. Will be rolin jobby brown with red top at crail 10 th june 2012 . Been to busy but will still get done. Photos shortly guys.

[dave2beetle]

Crail 10th June...believe it when i see it mate!

Yup, will get pics of my rep up shortly. 2 semi quick novas kicking about Glasgow again should be fun.

[grooge]

seen a couple novas out and about ek/southside recently! not seen the rep or brown one though!

[dave2beetle]

Been a while since there was an update on this.

Suffice to say that someone has been very busy and that base car is no longer brown...

Expect a full update from other Dave shortly.

Cheers,

Dave

[NOV4_SPORT]

Oooh sounds good mate

[sport]

Be intresting to see whats been happening.

[davie300zx]

Ok guys i will get on it and start on updating on the progress of build this week.
photos will be here to show whats been done so far and i'll tell you what ive done to it.

Will try and get started tomorrow night.
TTFN.

[davie300zx]

spent most of the night tryin to put photos on photo bucket..omg that does ur nut in
eventually got some on and now need to try and get them on here .

anyway im the other dave with the wip nova . some of u may remember the original thread
to find my nova sport C 491 MGB WHICH ENDED UP TOTALLED .anyway my mates bought me this jobby brown 83
for my 40th !! yip 40th.. never to old for a nova ...

once i got it i wasnt really sure what to do with it . 27000 mls appeared to be minted when washed so put it straight in for an mot for
a laugh to see how bad it was ....passed no advisorys and still had original ok stap on sump and rear axle !! brake pipes looked like out factory to.
after that it did a run to crail for vx day 2011 and then got parked up, still not sure what to do wit it ....sport rep was on mymind but parts not easy to come by
then remembered how good the sr looked in brown in the 80s when i was a lad . very rare and thought ye brown sr it is..so off i went to strip it .

[davie300zx]

then i managed to get hold of a red top for it and thought brown pov sleeper . so in it went ..crail vx day 2012 would be good for a target .
got it running well june 2012 and never went to crail. never really did anything with it .in among this the other dave bought a sport lookylikey
but had a grey interior so wanted all my brown parts as i wasnt doin a sport rep anymore so stripped all the interior out mine inc dash to goin daves sport.
once all this was out i decided bugger it strip back to nearly bare shell for a new brown coat . end of august it was all stripped bare ..the shell is remarkable
only rust was on n/s wing top which i cut a sec out and welded a new piece in . shell is all original so wanted to keep it that way..for some reason ive lost a lo.ad of photos of it stripped but have some ...once it was all stripped and parts on daves car i decide ...sport rep ..aaagh !! would just have to do it but with a slightly different look .my own way ..

[davie300zx]

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a506/davie300zx/bth_davessonyerricson130_zpsd91a83f2.jpgprep under way

[davie300zx]

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a506/davie300zx/bth_davessonyerricson131_zps5f4e3b65.jpg

[davie300zx]

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a506/davie300zx/bth_davessonyerricson136_zps22bc29ec.jpghttp://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a506/davie300zx/bth_davessonyerricson138_zps30e628f1.jpghttp://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a506/davie300zx/bth_davessonyerricson139_zpse15eb823.jpgthis was as bad as it gets !!

[brainsnova]

Could you not of just replaced the wing

[davie300zx]

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a506/davie300zx/bth_davessonyerricson156_zpse43c61f9.jpga couple of wee repairs but everything solid

[davie300zx]

Could you not of just replaced the wing

every panel is original so just left it that way

[davie300zx]

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a506/davie300zx/bth_davessonyerricson167_zps9401c268.jpgprimered some areas that needed it as wasnt sure how long i would take to get it all done

[davie300zx]

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a506/davie300zx/bth_davessonyerricson254_zps01eff04a.jpgthen it was white .. or at least this was the undercoat before it got properly done .

[davie300zx]

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a506/davie300zx/bth_davessonyerricson258_zpsd30f58be.jpg

[davie300zx]

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a506/davie300zx/bth_davessonyerricson257_zpsb1620169.jpg

[novacabrio]

Where are you based?

[davie300zx]

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a506/davie300zx/bth_davessamsung015_zpsa235719f.jpgback in workshop and time to prep again for polar white basecoat.
this was done and then the full car got a drop coat of pearl white .. nothin major still looks polar but you can see the pearl whn up close .

[davie300zx]

the other dave offered to pay for a full set of decals for me as i painted the bottom half of his camper far to cheap.
he was really surprised when i said i wasnt putting decals on it .... i was painting them on in pearl colours !
i think he thought i was bonkers .

[davie300zx]

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a506/davie300zx/bth_davessonyerricson146_zps349e9fff.jpgthe camper

[davie300zx]

said i would be needin his nova up to the garage to copy them .http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a506/davie300zx/bth_davessamsung147_zps741bf2c0.jpgso up it came .

[davie300zx]

mine in booth painted polar , drop coat of pearl now time to mask the stripes off http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a506/davie300zx/bth_davessamsung209_zpsef620e87.jpg

[davie300zx]

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a506/davie300zx/bth_davessamsung211_zpsf3a44004.jpgfirst i did silver and made the decal deeper down the side to be bolder then dropped a pearl blue over this . then all had to be masked for the red and yellow to be done .. all indivdually or the off spraywould be everywhere

[davie300zx]

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a506/davie300zx/bth_davessamsung210_zps16ed08f1.jpgnext pearl red and pearl yellow .

[davie300zx]

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a506/davie300zx/bth_davessamsung212_zpsbd7787a6.jpgthen with all masking removed the full car was laquered so as theres no edges to decals .. all smooth under the clear coat.

[davie300zx]

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a506/davie300zx/bth_davessamsung214_zps0113df2c.jpgso all colours are now pearl .

[brainsnova]

Looks good with paint :thumb:

[paulyb]

Top work, can't wait to see how it turns out :) other Dave's look-a-like needs the right quarter window surround to finish it off ;)

[brainsnova]

Everyone's got a mate called Dave lol

[davie300zx]

next was time to start on the rebuild . ...all bumpers , trim , lights handles etc are original but i refurbed almost everything . cleaned or painted.

problem was interior ...so to make it different again i bought a full leather 4 seater reccaro monaro vxr interior !!!
this was a challenge , different runners , seats sat far to high . the rears were touchin the roof and didnt look right at all but i liked them .
so i stripped the seats , chopped the frames off the fronts and cut the bases off the nova seats .still the fronts were high so i cut the nova frames up ust to get the legs off and the rock n roll bar at front. welded them onto monaro sat frame and worked a treat .
the rears were stripped of the frames and foams , took a few measurements and chopped them down , reduced the height of the foams on the bases and took 14 cm off the heiht of the back supports . put them back together and in they went .
along with black carpets , head cloth dash and door panels the inside is nearly finished . still have passenger seat to finish off .

[davie300zx]

Everyone's got a mate called Dave lol

ye but do they all get a round in !!

[brainsnova]

ye but do they all get a round in !!

My mate Dave does lol

[davie300zx]

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a506/davie300zx/th_davessamsung274_zps7dd844e8.jpgso in they go .. i know not everyone will like them but time for some comfort in ur 40s

[davie300zx]

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a506/davie300zx/bth_davessamsung411_zps53520212.jpgbuild underway

[davie300zx]

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a506/davie300zx/bth_davessamsung413_zps5e7b4626.jpgbumpers refurbed and back on

[davie300zx]

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a506/davie300zx/bth_davessamsung423_zps1d6cfe38.jpgrear gettin there

[davie300zx]

glass all inhttp://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a506/davie300zx/th_davessamsung425_zpsa38f3140.jpg

[davie300zx]

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a506/davie300zx/bth_davessamsung446_zpsb0001f12.jpghttp://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a506/davie300zx/bth_davessamsung447_zpsd9ed4d11.jpghttp://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a506/davie300zx/bth_davessamsung444_zps29f290ae.jpgnearly there but still a load of wee bits to do . cant find photo of drivers seat in but will take another tomorrow.

[davie300zx]

will update more tomorrow




drivers door barrel required or pass as only need a few bits off it as was tanned at some point .
also front tow eye cover for daves if any out there .

[davie300zx]

Where are you based?

East kilbride

[Vlietje]

This looks good!

[dave2beetle]

AMAZED you finally got pics on here bud. Looks like you've been up half the night.

Car looks every bit as good in the flesh.

[Balley]

Love the pearl

[davie300zx]

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a506/davie300zx/bth_davessamsung2002_zps5e628820.jpg?t=1357834986d rivers seat photo / passengers might get finished at weekend

[davie300zx]

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a506/davie300zx/bth_davessamsung2009_zps886499e0.jpg?t=1357859283

[davie300zx]

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a506/davie300zx/bth_davessamsung2014_zps821f5e1d.jpg?t=1357863885
when i was doin the decals i masked round each panel to make them look like indivdual decals rather than painted edge to edge . a bit extra work
but looks much neater .

[davie300zx]

just realised i have also lost all engine bay photos . will need to redo them and upload .
hopin to have the car completed before end feb .
still need to buy suspension ,still on pov spec 1.0 original factory ones !!!! steering wheel and a few other wee bits .
will keep updating .

[Royston]

Really impressed with the progress and the paintwork, hopefully might get to see the finished article at some point.

Great project;)

[G-nova]

Top work with the paint job mate. Personally though I would if fit decals and then lacquered over them

[16v Nova Kev]

I seen some of the pics on his phone and it looked really smart. I will need to come over for a visit

[Royston]

Top work with the paint job mate. Personally though I would if fit decals and then lacquered over them

I wouldn't do it that way, I think lacquring over decals would be counter productive, Might Atom has his Sport Stripes painted on which I also like.

[davie300zx]

cheers for the feed back guys .....would take some amount of laquer to lose the edge of the decals .
paintin them was just to make it a bit different as with interior as obviously not a sport rep now .
be good to see you sometime kev .

[G-nova]

Yeah painted on its better all round thinking of it now as any air trapped under them will expand in booth under bake also they have a taller edge on them compared to paint but it looks a bit dark on photos

[davie300zx]

Yeah painted on its better all round thinking of it now as any air trapped under them will expand in booth under bake also they have a taller edge on them compared to paint but it looks a bit dark on photos

Ye it is a bit darker and deeper down to bottom door
Swedge but thats just to give it a bolder look . Was never
Goin for perfect copy .. Just my own thing !

[davie300zx]

Really impressed with the progress and the paintwork, hopefully might get to see the finished article at some point.

Great project;)

Need to get a nova meet at some point this year !

[G-nova]

Yeah I get u not trying to put downer on anything mate real top job you have done their how many coats of clear did it take just gripper n a ripper of more?

[davie300zx]

Yeah I get u not trying to put downer on anything mate real top job you have done their how many coats of clear did it take just gripper n a ripper of more?

Took 3 full coats mate . 2 might have done it
But chucked on another to be sure .

[davie300zx]

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a506/davie300zx/bth_20130107_152021_zps9fd87ec5.jpg

Forgot about this little number .
Thanks 16v nova kev

[novalovingned]

Looks very nice mate, well done :)

[Alex J]

looks very nice, but the interior dosnt suit it imo, get some sr seats if you cant find some sport ones

[marc69]

Looks great, very jealous.

[Royston]

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a506/davie300zx/bth_20130107_152021_zps9fd87ec5.jpg

Forgot about this little number .
Thanks 16v nova kev

I like your exhaust location:d

Yes need to get a few cars together, PNG National, Billing maybe;)

[davie300zx]

I like your exhaust location:d

Yes need to get a few cars together, PNG National, Billing maybe;)

Lets u taste it as u drive it !!!

[davie300zx]

looks very nice, but the interior dosnt suit it imo, get some sr seats if you cant find some sport ones

Ye but old guys require comfort !!

[davie300zx]

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a506/davie300zx/bth_davessamsungnova019_zps74ae6af2.jpg?t=13580187 09http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a506/davie300zx/bth_davessamsungnova018_zps95ae8307.jpg?t=13580186 95http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a506/davie300zx/bth_davessamsungnova017_zps97a270d9.jpg?t=13580186 85http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a506/davie300zx/bth_davessamsungnova015_zpsc1d4a3db.jpg?t=13580186 69http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a506/davie300zx/bth_davessamsungnova015_zpsc1d4a3db.jpg?t=13580186 69http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a506/davie300zx/bth_davessamsungnova014_zpsc53add97.jpg?t=13580186 59nice day to day so took some photos outside

[paulyb]

Looks fantastic, great level of work gone into that! Would love to see that this year at some point :)

[sport]

Looks great, need to sort out a meeting to see this and the other Dave Sport rep.

[davie300zx]

thanks guys . both sorned . plannin o. 1st april
for 6 months so defo get a meet up . look forward to it .


novas live on !!

[dave2beetle]

Any update mate?

7 weeks and counting.... :)