De Tomaso 103 Restoration Report Part 4

www.QV500.com - De Tomaso 103 Restoration Part 4

With around 90% of the work now done, there's a real possibility that our unique De Tomaso Formula 2 car might be finished by the end of the year. The electrics and plumbing are in, the monocoque and rear framework have been painted, the engine and gearbox are in, the suspension has been hung on the car, the exhaust system has been fabricated, painted and installed, and the magnesium wheels have been cleaned off, chromated and painted. For now we've put an old set of tyres on for the setting up the suspension. A rear wing mounting has been created from scratch as has the nose.

Many hours have gone into the creation of the nosecone using old photographs as a guide…it's worrying that a part of the car which has cost so much should be at the front in the most vulnerable position of all. The nose section and rear wing still have to be painted in the gorgeous deep red – we have tried to match as closely as possible the colour scheme used by De Tomaso for the 1970 Formula 1 car. Other things still to be done include the creation of the front wing plates, refurbishing the water radiator, refurbishing the wing mirrors, sourcing new gear ratios, tidying of the gearchange linkage, two new sets of tyres and some period detailing such as sponsor decals.