SpeedRacer

Welcome to the forum Chatz. Its hard to tell from just one picture but that looks like a McBurnie 250 GTO kit. It is a McBurnie or a later kit (Blue Ray, Stable Autoworks, Reaction Research, etc.) based on the McBurine molds. And, if it was really built 25 years ago then it is a McBurine. If you could post some additional pictures I might be able to help with the identification. BTW the most accurate 250 GTO kits were actually made from real Ferrari molds sold to the Colonel in England so his racing team could make new aluminum body panels after accidents. They were usually installed on a real Ferrari chassis such as a 330 GTC. The most acurate Datsun based Ferrari 250 GTO kit I have seen was made by Puckett and they are quite rare. Also, while it makes for a good story, Ferrari was never able to have any of the molds destroyed. The Ferrari lawyers were however, able to stop companies from building and selling the kits but that was it. Tom McBurine actually fought them in court but lost so he stopped making the kit and sold the molds Jim Simpson at Blue Ray Engineering and the molds have been through many hands since. The first Ferrari 250 kit on a Datsun was designed by Eagle Manufacturing and sold buy Joe Alphabet as an Alpha 1 GTO. I bought my Alpha 1 GTO from Joe back in 1986. http://forums.hybridz.org/garage/vehicle/82-ferrari-250-gto/ John Washington from Reaction Research stills sells the kit (both coupe and spyder versions) and is a great guy. You can find him here http://www.reactionresearch.com/automotivedetails.htm It is a great car and gets lots of attention so I hope you fix it up and enjoy the ride!

There is nothing wrong with a T-5 and the WC (World Class) version is a really good smooth shifting transmission with good gear ratios. I have been putting 400 HP through my for over 10 years and had zero problems. Torque is the big problem but I think the WC is rated at ~300 Lb-Ft so if you don't turn that 400 into a monster it should be OK. Also, I have always thought the 1984 and later Corvette bell housing was a better option than the Camaro version for a couple of reasons. First, it installs the transmission straight up instead of the 15 degree tilt that the Camaro used. Second is the fact that it uses a much, much more elegant clutch solution that is very easy to install in the Z car. I used a 7/8” bore Wilwood (Tilton) master cylinder through a braided stainless steel line connected to the stock Corvette slave cylinder. You will however, have to heat up and bend or get a different shifter to correct removing the 15 degree layover.

Here is another pretty good looking Ferrari GTO replica listed on eBay. http://www.ebay.com/itm/111617495043?_trksid=p2060778.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Wow, talk about lifting all boats - how about a "By It Now" of $140,000!!!!!! http://www.ebay.com/itm/400873630999?_trksid=p2060778.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT If they get anywhere north of $50,000 I might just have to sell. Update: Wow it got up to $74,011.00 but didn't meet the reserve.

Since my car doesn't look like a Z car I didn't think my dash should either.

I used a 1984 thru 1996 (C4) and later Corvette bell housing because I think it has a much better hydraulic slave cylinder setup than the Camaro offers. The clutch is operated by a 7/8” bore Wilwood (Tilton) master cylinder through a braided stainless steel line to the stock Corvette slave cylinder. Works great and feels like the factory designed it as the clutch takeup is very progessive and smooth. BTW, I hope you used the Jags That Run (JTR) conversion for your SBC install. If you don't have the manual I would recommend you get one.

TomoHawk - I believe the hinges are from a 1963 to 1967 Corvette. I assume you are talking about these two photos. I have a Alpha 1 GTO so my hood hinge setup is custom and different from the one on a Blue Ray. I think the Blue Ray setup uses the same hinges but mounted to the radiator support. Merry Christmas to you too!

Momo - here is another GTO listed on eBay. It has been listed a few times, probably because of the price but at least it has a V8. http://www.ebay.com/itm/281516729679?_trksid=p2060778.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Mono - I know nothing about it but an Alpha 1 GTO just turned up on eBay. http://www.ebay.com/itm/301441649272?_trksid=p2060778.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

You may not want to hear this but I used a 1984 and later Corvette bell housing with my T5 trans because I think it has a much better hydraulic slave cylinder setup than the Camaro offers. The clutch is operated by a 7/8” bore Wilwood (Tilton) master cylinder through a braided stainless steel line to the stock Corvette slave cylinder. Works great, provides reasonable clutch pedal pedal pressure but is easy and smooth to operate.

Wow!!! What a gorgeous color and boy does it look smoooooth!!!! Yeah, it takes many, many hours of sanding, guide coating, sanding, guide coating, sanding, etc. to get the panels to look like metal but it is really worth it in the end. Please keep us updated as I can not wait to see the finished product.

Thanks for the info Kclank. I'll have to check out the local high school and see what they offer.

Thanks for the info Kclank. Darn, I thought maybe you had a local fabricator for the trim rings. Yup, one of the neat things about cars is you get to do your own thing and express yourself. Like I said, I am not a big fan of the rear hatch, but to each their own. If you love your car when its done then that is great! Take care. Speed

Hey Kclank, Pretty engine and the car is looking good but sorry, I am not a big fan of the rear hatch. Where did you get your headlamp trim rings? Speed

I would (and did) go with electric. Easy to hook up by just adding to a connection on the "+" side that is hot when the ignition is in the "on' or "run" position and most will require a ground "-" connection as well. Grounding to the carb stud or bolt will usually work.

In reference to the "A Different Brand of Z" thread I am sorry to continue this discussion of a locked thread but I feel that I must defend John Washington. I have dealt with John off and on for over fourteen years and have never had a problem. He has always and, I mean always, provided excellent products AND service. A case in point. Back when I was building my Ferrari GTO replica my wife bought me a Alpha 1 GTO type dash from John for my birthday. Well, like most of these projects, mine took many years to build. By the time I got around to installing the dash I found out it didn't fit. So I called John and explained the problem. He apologized that he should have quizzed my wife further, but I have an early car and the dash fits the later 260Z's, etc. After having the dash sitting in my garage for 3 1/2 years John tells me to ship it back for A FULL REFUND! A lot of people contact me about building a Ferrari 250 GTO replica so I have referred many of them to John over the years and nobody has ever come back with a complaint so I will continue to provide John with my highest recommendation.

I used the Precision kit and found it to be very complete. Some of the little door pieces were not in the kit but it included all the major weatherstrip for the whole car. I think you can find it for arround $250. http://precisionrestorationparts.com/catalog.html According to their web site the kit contains: Windshield Weatherstrip Seal - WCR 241 Cowl Panel Weatherstrip Seal - 66321 E4100 Front Door Opening Weatherstrip Seal, Right Hand - 76801 N4600 Front Door Opening Weatherstrip Seal, Left Hand - 76802 N4600 Outer Quarter Window Weatherstrip Seal Right or Left Hand - 76834 E4101 x 2 Inner Quarter Window Weatherstrip Seal Right or Left Hand - 76836 E8200 x 2 Hatch Outer Upper Weatherstrip Seal - 76910 N3000 Hatch Outer Side Weatherstrip Seal Right or Left Hand x 2 - 76911 N3000 Hatch Inner Weatherstrip Seal - 76912 N4500 Upper Door Weatherstrip Seal Right Hand - 80810 N4520 Upper Door Weatherstrip Seal Left Hand - 80811 N4520 Door To Fender Seal, Right Hand - 80931 N4501 Door To Fender Seal, Left Hand - 80932 N4501 Lower Door Weatherstrip Seal Right or Left Hand - 80935 E4101 Rear Window Weatherstrip Seal - 90305 E4100 Their old kit had problems with the door weatherstrip being to thick so you had to slam the door but I think that is now corrected.

Hey John, Really, really good to hear from you and, yup - it is me all right. Glad to see that you are still in and growing the business. I am also very glad that you have the tooling for the Alpha One GTO kit as I was afraid the kit was going to disappear. With that in mind you might want to check out the FAQs/Body Kits & Paint section here under the 250 GTO Owners thread as there was a guy looking to buy a kit and we suggested he contact you. http://forums.hybridz.org/topic/50042-250-gto-owners-thread/ The car has been running good so I have just been taking it to a few shows and cruise nights. Peter from Australia (Boy from OZ) was here last year and drove it. BTW, if you ever run across an incomplete 250 California Spyder kit please let me know. Take care and stay in touch.

The car looks fantastic Peter! The transformation when you painted it is amazing and it is great to see so much progress.

BTW the company that sells the kit in Australia is Classic Revival http://www.classicrevival.com.au/250gto.html I would also keep your eye on eBay as both incomplete and complete kits show up once in awhile.

Ahhhh... that would be a picture of my car in my posting above and not Chelle's. I have contacted McBurnie in the past but found him to be more interested in bigger things. Anyway, it appears that his Thunder Ranch became Custom Coachwerks and is now Rock West Racing. I know nothing of Custom Coachwerks except the pictures they had of GTO kits that seemed to be either a model or other cars (including mine) taken off the web. I tried to contact them but the never got back to me. The molds have gone through many hands and ended up at OM Sportscars in the UK but they seem to have gone under. You can find a good list of the kit's history on John's Replica History web site. http://www.reactionresearch.com/gtorr/ReplicaHistory.html I think John Washington can supply a coupe version and a non-tilt front end but you will have to check with him. The kit is a lot of work but worth it in the end so good luck.

That is a pretty old, but good article, on Chelle's car. Unfortunately I think she sold it quite some time ago. Anyway, you can still buy the kit from John Washington over at Reaction Research. John is a great guy so I would give him a call.

When I lived in Rochester Hills, MI I had Guardian Auto Glass in Clawson install mine. http://guardianautoglass.com/ They had a very low price (I supplied the rubber weatherstrip) and they did the installation in my garage.

Think I did this before but my memory is gone. 1972 240Z based 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO replica.

FYI - Here is a list of all the 33 250 Ferrari GTO's as well as pictures and their history. http://www.barchetta.cc/All.Ferraris/by-serial-number/ferrari-by-serial-number/model-index-60-64/model-summary/250-gto-index/index.html