Frodo- 72 Nova daily driver project

[TheBandit]

Attachment 142394

Years later, I'm still drawn to your fender and quarter modifications - so well done! Can you describe the process on the front fenders? It looks like you cut along the top of the fender and added a curved strip there to create the top view width/profile. Did you then take the original sides of the fenders and stretch/bulge them on an English wheel, before finally fabricating new fender openings/arches/flares?

[Badhand]

Thanks for the compliment. And yes, it's been years!!!

To be honest, I can't take credit for the fabrication, but my talented builder, Mark followed my sketches, used his nous and worked with the wheel/tyre size and drop we were planning. Once the fenders were cut to accommodate the wheel, we cut strips of cardboard, curved them til they looked just right, trimmed and shaved them and stuck them to the car with masking tape til they looked right. This gave him a template to cut from sheet steel. This was then bent by hand around an old oil drum that was in the corner of the workshop, and tack-welded into place for final fit and positioning.

No CAD, no English Wheel (even though we're English!) just flat steel and a nice radius. Same with the back.

[TheBandit]

Thank you for the reply! I am having a hard time wrapping my mind around what you described vs the photos, so I tried color coding things using one of your photos. It looks to me like the top of the fender was widened (as shown in green) and perhaps the original fender (shown in blue) was re-grafted onto it, then new fender arches (pink) were welded on. Did I break it down correctly? Which part of the fender was new sheet metal bent around an oil drum in the shop?

[Badhand]

Ah. Some confusion here... There must be Forum gremlins at work. That's not my car!!!

I did wonder why your comment appeared on that thread.

This is my car. The description will now make sense, but will obviously be of absolutely no help at all. Sorry :(

[medbali76]

Years later, I'm still drawn to your fender and quarter modifications - so well done! Can you describe the process on the front fenders? It looks like you cut along the top of the fender and added a curved strip there to create the top view width/profile. Did you then take the original sides of the fenders and stretch/bulge them on an English wheel, before finally fabricating new fender openings/arches/flares?

These body mods were done by a professional bodyshop. They had a lot of work on the car. Funny but most of the mods are not even visible unless I park next to an original Nova. I wanted more stockish appearance but I could not find here in Hungary any company who could do the bumper rechroming so that is why they were painted black . I have pics of the building process.
If you PM me your email address I can send those pics

[TheBandit]

Thank you for the offer - PM sent! I would love to see more of the build process! I found a few photos on the Facebook page for Simon Coachworks and Oldtimer Restoration, but they didn't show much of the front fenders. I could tell what was reused from the original fender vs. made from scratch.

[medbali76]

Hello Guys

I decided to sell the Nova.
Unfortunately these mods that were done to this car are strictly prohibited here in Europe so basically she is a garage queen.
I enden up driving in the shade trying to avoid the attention of the police patrols.
I have a 70 GTO convertible that needs a frame off resto and plan to build it to the factory specs ( to be able to drive it here in europe. It is a shame...damn rules)
There are a few places on the Nova that needs a little touch but nothing serious.
Interior still smells like a new car with leather interior.
Located in Hungary but I can send it back to Usa.
Asking price 95K (negotiable)
I would considering partially trade for a nice 70-74 Dodge Dart (around 30K) + cash.

[ryeguy2006a]

That's a shame that the laws prevent you from driving it. What about it has been modified to the point that they aren't allowing you to drive it? I'm just curious. It's a stunning car and would be worth importing back to the US for someone. Very well done.

[capri v8 driver]

I don't know the laws in Hungary. In the Netherlands you will not pass the tech inspections to make the car road legal either with those mods **. The car needs to reasonable in stock form. So it means the original suspension, brakes and engine.

However, if you have the car inspected and made road legal you can do those mods and can drive it as there is no tech inspection any more with 40+ old cars.

** its possible to have the car tested with these mods but it will cost a lot of money and the car needs to pass the rules for new cars and will be registered as a new car.

[medbali76]

Well... probably I was the stupid because I was well aware about these damn regulations.
But you know guys how that works...if a man wants something no any preventative advice from wife can stop it. Maybe some of us consider the threat " I will divorce if you build that crap" but I was not warned because my wife had no clue about cost of this car that time. LOL
So... to make the story short these regulations are getting more serious and seriously implemented not the same as before.
In some EU countries at least the government gives a chance to go through the process and registrate it as it was mentioned above by Capri V8 Driver.
In Hungary there are some mods that can be legalized but this is far beyond that point.
Probably I will send it back to USA I have no other choice.

[medbali76]

Actually the only way to use it legally to convert it back to the factory specs with subframe, small brakes and leafs at the back and 15" wheels or at least factory / classic looking wheels.
As I remember the subframe would go back simply bolt on as it was before the rear might have some mods for the frame that needs fabrication.
Engine and transmission also not a problem. Engine can be converted to look like a carbed engine.

[capri v8 driver]

You need to find out what the rules in Hungary are to get a registration.

With these old cars At least in the Netherlands, the car needs to be stock(isch) for 70%. A different engine as long as it has the same cilinder count and HP output or a modern transmission is not a big deal as long if we can prove where the engine is bought and witch donor car it came from. Its the suspension and brake construction mods that are not allowed. Its a bit the same with the lights on the car. You not allowed to change the design but you do need E4 lights.

In Hungary there are some mods that can be legalized but this is far beyond that point

30 Years ago i tried to get a Capri mk1 with a v8 road legal. Naïeve and not knowing the rules it turned into a 4 year and costly fight with the authorities. In the end after a tip from the inspector i bought a same capri v8 witch was registered in the UK with the V8 (the UK had registration rules that were simpler) and imported it. The Dutch authorities had no choice then to approve it. With this UK Capri approved i now could have mine Capri with the V8 approved as they where build the same. Now i had 5 years of time and a lot of money into it. If i know the rules before i started the outcome would be different.

[medbali76]

You need to find out what the rules in Hungary are to get a registration.

With these old cars At least in the Netherlands, the car needs to be stock(isch) for 70%. A different engine as long as it has the same cilinder count and HP output or a modern transmission is not a big deal as long if we can prove where the engine is bought and witch donor car it came from. Its the suspension and brake construction mods that are not allowed. Its a bit the same with the lights on the car. You not allowed to change the design but you do need E4 lights.



30 Years ago i tried to get a Capri mk1 with a v8 road legal. Naïeve and not knowing the rules it turned into a 4 year and costly fight with the authorities. In the end after a tip from the inspector i bought a same capri v8 witch was registered in the UK with the V8 (the UK had registration rules that were simpler) and imported it. The Dutch authorities had no choice then to approve it. With this UK Capri approved i now could have mine Capri with the V8 approved as they where build the same. Now i had 5 years of time and a lot of money into it. If i know the rules before i started the outcome would be different.

More or less we have the same rules here in Hungary.
My Nova was registered legally in Hungary and these mods were done after the registration.
Actually I can even "arrange" the inspection to be done without a problem but it is risky to drive it.
I should remove at least those big wheels and brake system to look stockish.
If it looks "normal" ( means no big wheels and tires ) it would be more "safe" to drive.

BTW one of my friend has a 72 V8 Capri.
He brought from Poland not so long ago.
Gold with black interior.
It is not an original Perana but it is registered as a V8 Capri.

[capri v8 driver]

My Nova was registered legally in Hungary and these mods were done after the registration.

Do you have a yearly mandatory car inspection for these old cars in Hungary? If not drive it. In the Netherlands the yearly mandatory car inspection for cars older then 40 years is canceled 5 years ago. So after the registration we can do pretty much what we want to do to the car as there is no yearly mandatory car inspection.

Even before the cancelation of the yearly mandatory car inspection most local inspectors (or police) did not have no clue/don't care what's stock or not as long if its not to radical. Most old cars have parts that are not original. My daily car is a Ford 20M with the running gear and internals of a Jaguar S type. I have bin driving it this way since 2018 and never had a problem with a inspection.

BTW one of my friend has a 72 V8 Capri.
He brought from Poland not so long ago.
Gold with black interior.
It is not an original Perana but it is registered as a V8 Capri.

The rules in the Netherlands for a engine swap are now much easier then when i started with my V8 conversion for the Capri and once its registered with the V8 importing it to a other EU country is easy as by EU law the new country needs to accept a EU registered car even with these modifications.

[medbali76]

Do you have a yearly mandatory car inspection for these old cars in Hungary? If not drive it. In the Netherlands the yearly mandatory car inspection for cars older then 40 years is canceled 5 years ago. So after the registration we can do pretty much what we want to do to the car as there is no yearly mandatory car inspection.

Even before the cancelation of the yearly mandatory car inspection most local inspectors (or police) did not have no clue/don't care what's stock or not as long if its not to radical. Most old cars have parts that are not original. My daily car is a Ford 20M with the running gear and internals of a Jaguar S type. I have bin driving it this way since 2018 and never had a problem with a inspection.



The rules in the Netherlands for a engine swap are now much easier then when i started with my V8 conversion for the Capri and once its registered with the V8 importing it to a other EU country is easy as by EU law the new country needs to accept a EU registered car even with these modifications.

Yes, every 2 years I have to take it for inspection.
This car has normal license plate and does not matter how old is it every 2 years it have to go.
There is a special Classic Car license plate but to pass that inspection the car must be 100% original and restored to the same specs as it rolled out from factory.
It seems like you guys there have much less headache for cars

[capri v8 driver]

This car has normal license plate and does not matter how old is it every 2 years it have to go.
There is a special Classic Car license plate but to pass that inspection the car must be 100% original and restored to the same specs as it rolled out from factory.

Belgium has similar rules for the old cars and even in the Netherlands the rules start to change a bit making it more difficult. Its done to prevent more classic cars on the road (and to get more road tax).

[medbali76]

Belgium has similar rules for the old cars and even in the Netherlands the rules start to change a bit making it more difficult. Its done to prevent more classic cars on the road (and to get more road tax).

Well...
It is what it is not much we can do about that governmental push.
Maybe one day I will start the process for TÜV to make it 100% road legal.
I put a lot effort into this car, not just money but a lot of time that I enjoyed a lot.
I should rekindle that fire I had during that period and complete the exterior of this car as I wanted.
Unfortunately the car was finished during the Covid period and everything was very painful to arrange so I lost the interest to complete.

[Vimes]

Well...
It is what it is not much we can do about that governmental push.

Actually you could - you could get the current people in power out and replace them with people who are a little more freedom-minded. In every revolution, there is one man with a vision. And sometimes, that man drives a Nova.

[capri v8 driver]

Well...

I put a lot effort into this car, not just money but a lot of time that I enjoyed a lot.
I should rekindle that fire I had during that period and complete the exterior of this car as I wanted.
Unfortunately the car was finished during the Covid period and everything was very painful to arrange so I lost the interest to complete.

Don't feel bad. I have my Capri v8 for 30+ years now. The last 8 years its off the road and in storage. A house fire in 2017 witch forced me to build a new house for my parents that took 2 years to complete, covid, family issues and work took most of my time and intrest away for the Capri V8 and my Ford 20M. And now i have new challenges like searching for the right and affordable house witch is not easy in todays housing market. I'm not planning to sell the Capri or the 20M but it will take more time before a can do something with it.

[medbali76]

Actually you could - you could get the current people in power out and replace them with people who are a little more freedom-minded. In every revolution, there is one man with a vision. And sometimes, that man drives a Nova.

There are people (leaders of automobile associations) trying to achieve some concessions but no progress.
We collected many signatures by many members of different car associations just to be able to put this topic on the table to discuss... no progress.
It is easier to ban something than to make rules and take responsibility for them.
This topic is hot and nobody will take responsibility.
The life gets more and more complicated and confined.
Governments dont give any freedom back that is already taken in the past and which can cause them headache later it does not matter we talk about left or right wing freedom or opression minded.