Update Tuesday 21st May 2008

We returned today from the VOSA site in Birmingham with our 'Minister's Approval Certificate' having successfully passed the outstanding parts of our SVA test!!

It has taken a few weeks to get back in for a test after it wasn't possible to complete the test in April but all the outstanding matters have now been tested and much to our delight the tester was very happy with his short drive around and quickly developed what we all know as 'the Gentry smile'
He made comment that how nice it was to have a car that looked so good and also drove so well.
Apparently all to often a car is presented to him that looks good, but when it comes to the driving experience it all falls flat. Not in our case.
He thought it handled very well, was responsive and he liked the driving position.
So it's all steam ahead as the orders start coming in.

Geoff

2nd post of the day!

Above are two pictures of the 'alternative' Gentry as modelled by Gentry Register members Andrew and Sue's daughter Catherine. The magnificent top for our launch cake was made from pictures of an incomplete car! The attention to detail is just like the 'real' one and given the fact that when it was made some of the detail was not available the finished car can only be described as outstanding.

Thank you to Catherine. This car will be with us for ever as a momento of the launch day and all the hard work that led up to it.

New Midlands secretary Jurek took this photo of the car on the stand. It was one of the few occasions throughout the weekend when you could see the car!

Geoff

Update Sunday 11th May 2008

Well to have got this far you have probably come via the website and so you will have seen that I've changed things around a little and also provided the pictures of the demonstrator directly onto the website.

I have also had to change the post comments section of the blog, so please continue to leave messages. They are then emailed to me before appearing on the Blog. I then get to decide whether they are published or not. I haven't done this to keep any criticism off the Blog as we will always take on board constructive comments. Unfortunately some of the spammers and advertisers had found that they could put links onto the page via their comments and so before you knew what was happening you were whisked off to some other site/advert just by trying to read a comment apparently placed on the Blog by some Gentry fan!

We have been taking a well earned rest since the show last Sunday/Monday. It has given us a chance to catch up on all those little jobs that have been put to one side for a few months.
On Monday we start again as we re-organise the workshop back to a production area for fabricating chassis' and bodies.

Still searching around various manufacturers and suppliers for various bits and pieces so we can continue to develop the car in one or two small areas like door locks etc.

Many thanks to all those who came to the show and spoke to us about the build and the Blog. From your comments it has all been worth while.

See you later,
Geoff

Saturday 26th April

After our great news at the beginning of the week the car has returned to the trim shop for the final trimming and the hood and sidescreens to be made.
All the small detail is now being fitted ready for the launch on the 4th May at Stoneleigh and barring any great disasters we will be there on time with the car looking how I had always hoped she would look.

I always knew the car could be made to look right and still obtain the SVA approval but it was just the time scale of making sure that we were ready for the show that was always going to be the issue.
We have achieved it because so many people have stepped up to the mark when it was necessary and have delivered on time. To those people I say a huge 'Thank You' without your help we could not have managed it.
Although previously mentioned on the Blog, the biggest Thank You has to go to Cliff Wakelin.
Cliff has been there from the very start and even when his knee surgery forced him to rest he was still very keen to hear how things were going and got back into the swing of things well before his consultant would have liked. His knowledge, guidance, skill and friendship have been overwhelming. Without his help I would still be sitting on the garage floor scratching my head and wondering which way to go. I believe the Register is very lucky to have Cliff as its Chair and we are very lucky to have Cliff and Gill as friends.

Geoff

Excellent SVA News for the Gentry

We took our 'nearly' complete Demonstrator across to Garretts Green testing station today so that the SVA Inspector could check on our hard work so far and get the okay on certain 'period' fittings like the 'Desmo' type external mirror, bonnet escutcheons, dash layout etc and came away very pleased with ourselves.

The car was considered to be of the highest quality, well engineered, built to a very high standard and presented in excellent condition. As the car is still incomplete it was not possible to complete a full SVA test but the news from the tester that once complete a successful SVA approval was 'just around the corner' was exactly the words we were waiting to hear.
With the Stoneleigh kit car show being only a few weeks away we just needed confirmation from the 'official' quarters that we were still able to produce a car that looked the part and would pass the test.
I am now happy that all our hard work has been rewarded accordingly and so once we hit the show on the 4th May the car will once again be available on the market in self build form!!!!!!!!

What more can you say? Except a very big thank you to everyone who has helped get us this far. The list of contributors grows each day and all I can say to them all is 'Without you, your help and support, we would not have made this progress. I am deeply grateful to everyone who has helped and look forward to your continued support throughout the coming months and years as we see the 'Gentry' back out there on sale.

Right now I'm not sure whether to look for the nearest pub to celebrate or just head off to bed to sleep for a few days!!

Geoff

Photo Update

For those of you who visit the site more than once a week just in case, here is your bonus photo!

Paul and Pete, from C.A.T Development Ltd, looking mighty pleased at their work so far and why shouldn't they.

We agree that their work so far has been spectacular and really sets the car off to its best advantage.

Well done boys, we think the interior looks a million dollars and can't wait to see if finished completely.

Geoff

Friday 18th April

We have just completed a most manic week pushing as hard as we can to finish the car on time.

Last Sunday, the 13th, the engine was started for the first time. At exactly 5pm, much to the joy of everyone in the workshop at the time, the engine was cranked over, the oil pushed all around the engine. Out went the oil and brake warning lights and the engine sprang into life. Now for anyone who hasn't spent many hours building a car I suppose they wouldn't get excited about such a small matter, but it does seem to bring the whole project together and give an immense amount of satisfaction.

With that achieved we switched her off and all had a small drink to celebrate!

First thing on Monday morning we headed off to Jigsaw for the wheel alignment check, then returned to finish off more small jobs before dropping the car off at the trim shop.
The car has been backwards and forwards through the remainder of the week and has now settled until last thing tomorrow with the trimmers.

Once we collect her tomorrow it really is heads down and finish all the little jobs that will make her a very special car, ready for the launch at the Stoneleigh kit car show on the 4th May!!!

See you next week when I hope we will be either finished or so very close to finishing.

Geoff