An Update!!!!!!!

Have I ever told you that when at school my teachers all used to say 'Geoff has the ability but only uses it when he wants to!'


It's not that I'm lazy, far from it, it is just a matter of available time and having to prioritise.





Any way enough babble about why I haven't given you any updates.


Things are very very busy at the moment. We are nearing the end of a complete build, working on a kit and now taking orders that will be started on in January 2010!





We are having a mad time with spares being posted off all over the world. France in particular are enjoying the exchange rates and making the most of the current financial climate.





'Digby' our old car that we completed the London to Brighton in during 2007 and the Silverstone Classic during 2008 is now enjoying life with its new owner 'Elwyn' in Sweden.


I have attached a photo of a British car meet in Hjo last weekend where Elwyn and good lady wife, Christina spent the entire day explaining what it was, where it had come from and how to get one!

For those of you that just check out the website and Blog and don't receive the Gentry Journal (From the Gentry Register) we have tried to identify a slightly larger premises to work from and have drawn a blank. We are planning to make a few small changes were we are and the 'extra' space I will gain in the workshop will make a significant difference to how we set up the table jigs for chassis and bodies and so our lives should become a little easier!!!

Anyway, I have sorted the calender on my outlook and placed some reminders on it so that from now one we may get some more regular updates.

Geoff

Update for May?

What can I say?
One update during April and already we are into May. For those of you who visit on a regular basis and have missed any updates I can only apologise. The computer did crash and put me out of action for a while and I have been exceptionally busy but that is still no excuse as to where the updates have been.

I am building a complete car and kit and so far the progress on both has been good. The two have nicely intertwined and when I have been waiting for parts on one I have been able to work on the other.

Just to add an extra element into the picture we are also looking to move!!!
Having clearly run out of room the time has come to look for more suitable accomodation and hopefully build a purpose built workspace.
Finding somewhere is proving to be a nightmare without the issue of selling in this economic climate.

Anyway, I will be abck on a more regular basis to provide you with an update of builds, moves and anything else that is happening.

Geoff

Update Saturday 14th March

Hi Folks

Sorry for the delay, not much to report at the moment. I had surgery on my throat a few weeks ago, then some small issues arose. Taken back into hospital for them to be sorted and now recuperating. Not being able to eat or drink for a few weeks is an excellent diet so I'm now a few pounds lighter!!!

Work recommences in earnest on Monday morning in order to make up for lost ground.

More details in a fortnight when there is something to say!

Geoff

Update Sat 21st February

Hi All

I have just had to endure a week of waiting, trying to fill my time with all the various little jobs that go with a complete build, whilst waiting for some new panels to arrive.
I have altered the bulkhead design to add more strength to the top, slightly more length to help those who are taller and hopefully an inch or two in the width to help with foot room around the pedals
At the same time we have sent the louvred side panels to the fibreglass guru to see if we can have them molded so that in future they could also be a fibreglass panel instead of aluminium.
The trouble is all these things take time and when you need the completed article to continue with the build it can delay things, anyway a slight delay now is always better if it helps to improve the buildability and quality of the car in the long run!
The current build is going to be red when finished and as soon as we have settled on the exact colour and had the engine bay painted I will post a photo or two. Finding a red that looks right for the car is not as easy as it sounds. To those of you that I have emailed about your cars colour, Thank You, it always helps to use a known colour rather than randomly picking a colour that may or may not be suitable.
Anyway, must get back to the tiling in the kitchen! I've already pushed my luck as far as I dare with the kitchen (that still isn't quite finished) and so have to make a special effort over the weekend to keep everyone happy.

see you in a fortnight

Geoff

Update Wednesday 11th February 2009

Okay, my mistake. I have been so busy that I forgot to come and look at the blog to see when the update was due. I have resolved the issue now by putting the dates into my outlook calendar so in future there should be not more missed updates as the calendar will remind me.

The current build is going very well. The windscreens are being made in China! it is the only place that will make them at a reasonable cost and waive the 'set up' costs.
We are making some slight alterations during this build so that all the little bits that we feel could be improved upon are sorted. Nothing great or probably noticeable but I feel that they will improve the car further.
The current build will be having a 1500 spitfire engine and Ford type 9 gearbox so it will be very interesting to compare the difference in gearbox performance once it is built. I feel that not having to 'extend' the gearbox remote will be a big advantage. The Ford type 9 places the gear lever exactly where you would want it without the need for any alterations whatsoever.

We are looking at seat designs as the new 'IVA' which replaces the SVA test in April requires headrests to be fitted. We have developed a good design which should make a good strong comfortable seat, be easier for the trimmer to trim and comply with the new regulations.

Still picking up a few pieces here and there for the 'police' replica but the build is not being progressed as work is just too busy.

Next update Friday 20th February and thereafter every 2 weeks!!

Geoff

Saturday 17th January 2009

Hi Folks
Sorry for the recent lapse in regular updates but due to work and health things seemed to have slipped slightly.
Anyway the health is now sorted and the work is as busy as usual so it should be normal service being resumed.
After recovering from the traditional winter bug over Christmas and New Year and dealing with the 'extra' long shutdown of businesses over the Christmas period we are now back in full swing.
I am currently building a customers car and so work has commenced on his chassis (nearly finished) and very soon we will commence the build of the body tub and then turn it into a car.
That means of course that my 'Police Replica' is pushed to one side whilst we build for a customer.
Many thanks to those of you who have spotted various parts I may require for my car and emailed me with the details. I do try to keep an eye out for them but always manage to miss some of them!
Anyway, as soon as I have cleared it with the customer I will publish some photos of the build as we go and you will be able to follow the progress in the normal way.
Have a good 2009, keep building/restoring your Gentry's and if you know where there are any for sale then let me know as we have received several inquiries in recent weeks for completed 'older' cars.
Geoff

Late Update

To all those of you who return to the Blog for regular updates then I can only apologise for my lack of update last Friday. I have been trying to keep the wife happy.....by finishing her long awaited kitchen. I felt that as she had been very patient it was only fair that I made the extra effort and pushed on with it before Christmas. We have made quite some progress but have to now return to the workshop to finish off some orders before Christmas and then prepare for a full build from the first week of January 2009.

Our order books are looking good considering the issues that many are facing. The build we are about to commence is for a customer and hopefully as it develops we will provide the normal fortnightly updates with some photos thrown in for good measure.
The intention with this one is for a Triumph 1500 engine with Ford type 9 gearbox. Interior will have 2 separate seats, in cream leather, dash like the demonstrator and a few other 'extras' as we go along.
This of course means that the replica police TF will have to sit and wait for any significant developments, but as and when we get the usual hold ups I'm sure we'll be able to wheel it into the workshop for some work.

If I forget to provide an update before Christmas then all have a good one and I'll be back in the new year.
Geoff