Lotus Europa Community
Lotus Europa Forums => Garage => Topic started by: Europa73 on Thursday,May 11, 2017, 05:11:11 PM
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small update on my restoration.
Having the original center console with the car was great – so I thought.
On taking the interior out I was obvious that the original was bent where it should be straight and undulating everywhere else. Age and heat gets to us all eventually.
I tried clamping, heat gun but it was far too gone.
I reached out to Banks and ordered a fiberglass replacement – they did warn me that the surface was not finished and would need to be covered – which I though was great for the price.
Unfortunately as you can see from the pics this was a sturdy replacement – but – once again very few straight faces or edges.
But – it was fiberglass and not flimsy plastic and as such could be worked on.
After 2 days of work it was off to the upholsterer. At the same time I reached out to a fantastic local CNC shop who made the boot ring to my specifications. He turned the ring out the same day!
After a little time on the polishing wheel measuring 4 times before drilling – I am happy to report one more thing off the check list in the restoration.
Cheers,
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That really looks great!
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That's very neat, both the trimming and the ally ring at the base of the gaiter. So well executed that it could easily be the original manufacture by Lotus, although Chapman would never have spent so much money on a trim ring.... :)
Great result.
Brian
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That turned out very nice!
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Thanks for the comments.
Cheers!
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although Chapman would never have spent so much money on a trim ring.... :)
unless it was surplus stock from a major manufacturer, available in quantity of around 5,000 units, at knock down cost.
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Very tidy! Such an improvement over the original flimsy, and decidedly cheap looking piece.
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Excellent job! Well done