Building a better Black Beauty #7: The Body Takes Shape

[Jack Olsen]

A quick update, since I went in to drop some parts off for the car today. Many of you have seen the progress over Kevin's camera, but here are some clearer shots of how the bodywork is coming.

Kevin plans to have it primered by the end of the week.

Here's the hood that ran 1:35's this weekend at Willow Springs. You can begin to see the 'shoulders' of the new flares and how they'll look.



(Click for a larger view of any of the pictures.)

Kevin is a perfectionist. Now that the rear quarter panels are bonded, he went into the fiberglass to remove the aluminum rivets that were used to position them. The holes get filled with more fiberglass:



And speaking of shoulders:



Today I also put the final order in for the first set of 9.5x11x17 2-piece Fuchs. There's a lot of flare to fill, there:

[Adam]

Cool. What a cash-guzzler! I'm sure it will be worth every penny, Jack.

I wish I could do stuff like this. Maybe with my next 911...

[tmctguer]

i think you should scrap this project, and buy a humongous SUV instead.

[Moses]

Absolutely BEAUTIFUL!

[JeremyD]

Looks good Jack - that's alot of work!

[Paul Thomas]

Who is doing the wheels and what size did you start with? 16x6 like before?

Paul

[cary]

Looks great. Having some fun.

[JCR]

Lookin' Great -

But what the heck is THAT?



Looks like a Testarossa crossed with a Chevy SSR!

[RSupdate]

whoa nellie.......

It's really starting to take shape. Looks scary fast just as it is. I know for sure that on the next rguppe run if I find myself somehow in front of you, I'll keep a look out for you in my mirror...........I'll be movin' on over "autobahn style" as soon as I see you screamin' up from behind, you won't need to flash yer lights with me!!!!

Rock-on Jack!

[KevinP73]

Originally posted by JCR
Lookin' Great -

But what the heck is THAT?

Thats a 914 getting a complete fiberglass body kit. If your interested I'll post some pics on the 914 Board later.
Thanks,
Kevin P.

[Thomas Owen]

Very nice Jack. Thanks again for continuing to share the project with us.
Regards,

[rcilurso]

Jack,
Talk about getting back on the horse! Car is beautiful. Wonderful example of turning a crappy deal into something great.

[AES]

Jack, do you have a website where all of your chassis mods can be viewed?

I have just finished the dirty backbreaking, scraping, disassembling phase of a dedicated lightweight track car project. The bare chassis is being sent out for final bead blasting today. The next phase will start soon. I would love to get as many ideas about "How they do it in Ca." as I can before I start.

target weight is 2135# with a 2.7 RS spec engine. I am hoping to come in at ~2000# and add lead to the cabin floor.

[RickM]

Jack: Great project....I'm getting tempted to start something up myself. This looks like so much fun.

Kevin: Is that the Aero 914 from Better Bodies?

[rcwaldo]

AES, do you have pics of your project? I have been following this thread because I am thinking of doing a lighweight car myself. Downside is I will have to sell the 993.

I really enjoy looking at all the pics people post on the BBS.

Chris

[KevinP73]

Originally posted by RickM

Kevin: Is that the Aero 914 from Better Bodies?

It's a kit from American International Racing (A.I.R.)

[EWPurdy]

Next time you rob a bank, let some of the rest of us in on the plan so's we can have cool projects too!! Nice ride.

[Jack Olsen]

Next time you rob a bank, let some of the rest of us in on the plan so's we can have cool projects too!!

BB1 was paid for with proceeds from a script I wrote about robbing the Federal Reserve Bank in New York.

I had already done a draft of the script when I met with officials at the bank for some additional research. One of the first things I explained to them was that I didn't feel it was morally responsible for a movie to show people the specifics of how to commit a crime -- so the script would contain several instances of deliberate misinformation about how the bank operated. Oddly, they didn't see it that way at all. The guy I talked to was still furious that one of the 'Die Hard' movies had portrayed such an unrealistic version of robbing their bank. They wanted more accuracy in the my depiction, odd as it might sound.

But enough about robbing banks. Have I mentioned that I'm missing having a 911 like crazy?

[smestas]

Wow Jack!

The car is realy looking good. I get all fired up every time I see a new "Building a better Black Beauty" post.

I think that after shes done you might be starting a new movement. WBWDP - Wide Body World Domination Plot. I'm going to get a jump start on everyone sign me up.

PS - Anyone know where I can get a cheap 3.6 motor and some fender flairs?

Have I mentioned that I'm missing having a 911 like crazy?

Jack,
I remember the feeling all too well. Very disconcerting. The new car will be here before you know it.