[beachcomber]

In response to an earlier posting by Myles -D-W - YES, the original Steve Arnztcar had many "inexactitudes" - that subsequently appeared on replicas that "had been taken from a real car" [ of COURSE they had ].

I put the original imported kits onto an alignment jig to take photos / obtain datums ready for "splashing" [ I'll own up, even if nobody else will ] - the chassis' [ ha. ha, joke ] we put one straight in the skip and sold the other on - quickly ]. Those with long emmories will no doubt recall the "Standard" replica at the time feature Jag IRS and MGB front - only the MGB rack survived the various incarnations [ to this day? ].

I still have those original notes - ALL wheel arches were different proportions and different w/base left to right. The scuttle was 1.5" further back on the UK drivers' side, and the N/S [ uk ] headlamp plinth pointed at the ground some 3' in front of the car and the wing [fender ] on that side was 2" lower - in fact, it looked like the whole car was "lozenged" in the plan view, and then twisted in the verticle view. A likely result of the "original" being warped or if taken "from a real car" - it had been in one hell of an accident! That car WAS eventually used as a buck [ courtesy of Vic Rollings ] - moulded, and then the body chassis sold on to a guy in Birmingham [ 1978 ]. The other, as stated previously ended up in Harlow - or thereabouts - as did my original "Mongoose" Track T moulds. Hmmm. Check out the adverts of 1980/81 to see what was on offer and by whom?

I also know EVERY inch of the Sheldonhurst cars - and of course all of their subsequent splashes, AND where all of the moulds ended up. Ahhh. Historical FACT - you can't knock it.

Gerry's car was ALWAYS well respected amongst the trade [ even if a bit grudgingly by some ], and was ALWAYS acknowledged as being a very well executed car by a fine engineer - something else somewhat lacking in some "replicas".
Beachcomber