MICK’S WORKSHOP
PLAN YOUR PROJECTS, JAG WOES A TAUNUS AND A SLICK TORANA
Greetings, ta x dodgers. We’ve just inherited another project car recent ly and it will be a big job. We love t hese gigs, as t hey’re a lways a bit of a challenge and t here’s a lot of satisfaction in seeing a completed project rolling out of t he shop with a happy owner at the wheel.
However, sometimes I wonder how many of them were t he result of some late-night optimism, perhaps the odd drink, and an online auction site. Because ever y now and then we come across someone who has a fantastic idea, but has clearly got into much deeper waters than they ever planned.
So here are a couple of tips for t hat next project. First, maybe avoid late night decisions when we’re tired and emotional. And, pop into your loca l workshop and chew over the plan with them.
I get people ringing me the whole time with assorted plans and I’m happy to of fer a bit of adv ice. Sometimes I’ll see traps or combinations t hat won’t work out and steer them in another direction. And you never know, maybe that person will become a customer.
Sometimes, it is decisions on t he run t hat can send a project down a new path. For example, is that engine/transmission combo going to work and will it cost too much to engineer t he car to make it f it? Or is t here an easier and more cost-ef fective a lternative?
Or, if you’re going to restore one set of trim and make it look new again, does that mean there are ot her areas t hat will need to be done as well? Flash side strips look great and now you’ll need to get t he bumpers re-chromed.
Nutting a ll t his out is part of t he f un. On a big project, t here will a lways be a few unexpected t wists and turns, which is what makes it interesting. Nevertheless I a lways tr y to plan at least a few steps a head to minimise the ugly surprises.
Speaking of t wists and turns, we recent ly surprised Tom, the owner of the Monaro coupe build we’ve been working on for a while, with this sump. His project was inspired by his brot her, who has since passed away, so we came up with a tribute in paint and gold leaf and covered in clear. Something a litt le different…