And so it begins...........

02/05/10  (8 hours)

After a few phone calls and emails I decided to purchase the Mark VI body shell talked about on the front page to this Mark VI rebuild blog. I connected the car trailer to my trusty steed and ventured the long journey from London to Shrewsbury. When I got to Brian Parodi’s I was delighted to see this 50 year old body shell in such good condition, far less work needed on it than my Rochdale Olympic shell! Deal done I loaded the body shell on the trailer and shipped it back the 200 miles to my house. The pictures below are of it laid out in my garden so I could get the feel for it, wondering what chassis I could put this on!

29/05/10

Having spoken to the new owner of the original Paramount chassis of my Mark VI body shell he informed me he bought the chassis to put a 4cs Maserati shell on but now has other plans, he has offered me first refusal on it. Should I/Could I get this chassis and shell back together!

11/06/10 (5 hours)

Today I went to see the chassis to consider whether or not I should spend the kid’s education fund on reuniting this piece of history together! Who was I kidding, as soon as I saw it I made an offer to buy it, I’m a sentimental old fool!

07/07/10 (5 hours)

I left at 3pm today to drive the 20 mile journey across London to pick up the chassis, 2 hours later I arrived at Bob’s to load it onto the trailer. Originally this chassis was sold by Brian Parodi with a spare engine, but a few owners later it seems to have disappeared! Oh well, at least the original Paramount hub caps and instruments have survived intact with the car, deal done I started my journey back but took a longer 40 mile route back on the M25, only took 1 hour before I got home and tucked up the chassis in my neighbour’s garage! The picture below is of the Chassis stored outside Bob’s classic car restoration business.

21/07/10 (6 Hours)

As I can’t keep the chassis in my neighbour’s garage for much longer I have managed to find a short term space in a friends barn/workshop in the Midlands. I loaded the chassis onto the trailer this afternoon and took it the 120 mile journey to the storage. I hope to be able to have it back with me by the end of September to do little bits to whilst I’m also doing the Rochdale Olympic project!

Hours so far 24 (and I have not even got my hands dirty!)