Happiness is a box called...

[tryphon]

As I'm getting very close to completion of my 4 year project of transforming my Stradale to a Gr.4 car I set my hands today on a set of NOS Gr.4 gearbox internals.
I have been chassing one for 3 years now and all I could come by was overpriced used or new ones. I then set forth to have one set manufactured from scratch but the complexity of the task held me back.
The set in the picture below is absolutely unused and fine engineering is written all over it. The short shaft is hollow and weights 1.3Kg less than the Stradale one. Rotational moment is reduced by hole drilling in the larger gears.
This is the latest version, fine spline, super small AND working synchros as fitted to the 1979 factory cars.

My car was rebuilt from scratch (stripped down chassis) by one of the best specialists around and will be completed in late August, for sure this time. It will be one of the most beautiful Gr.4 on earth, authentic down to the last screw including dashboard, dual plate clutch, lightweight flywheel, Lockheed brakes, Gr.4 electrics, ...
I'll leave the paint scheme out of this post to keep some surprise element present.
Only a few months away from my child dream now.

[guy mayers]

Impressive Tryphon! Are you and your baby going to be in Turin in September if the car is finished in August?
Guy

[tryphon]

The schedule is very tight but if I can make it I will.

[rutthenut]

Sounds like it will indeed be a stunning recreation; hope the rest of the work gets done in time and to your exacting requirements.

What do you plan to do with the car once complete?
(besides letting us lot drool over it)

J.R.

[tryphon]

What do you plan to do with the car once complete?
(besides letting us lot drool over it)
J.R.

Good question. Remember my compatriot's Odysseus trip? The pleasure's in the trip, not in the getting there.
I have dreamt of putting my hands on this car since I was 10. When I'll have it I don't really know how I will react. Maybe some kind of baby blues lurk around the corner...
Anyway I have given this some thought and here's what I know already:
1- I do not want to take part in regularity events
2- There are no road (or other) races in Switzerland not the ones I would be interested in anyway
3- The Stratos is far from being a track car for various reasons, additionally track are very hard on the mechanical parts. There's no real pleasure in tracking a car and holding back
4- I would like to take part in historic events that GO but my main concerns are time ( I don't have that much at hand) and cost (these people are crazy Historic Le Mans inscription fees are in the range of 5000€ and Montecarlo is not far behind. The Targa is even more expensive I think.)
5- It will be hard to get the car on Swiss license plates again as the equivalent of the MOT over here is very stict. Not sure they will allow me to use the car on the street although I plan on presenting it with the Stradale exhaust and air filter (for the test)

So what's left? The odd cool track day with the Alpines, the Sandro Munari fun day (rally revival they call it), exhibitions and stuff like that.
If anyone has another suggestion that:
- Will not destroy the car
- Will not cost me a fortune
feel free to suggest.

Cheers.

P.S. I decided to go for magnesium wheels because the weight difference is huge as compared to Gerry's wheels. So there might be a set for sale soon if someone is interested, absolutely new, never used (I have 2 sets).

[PANOS]

I suggest you relocate back to Cyprus (you do speak the lingo...) like I did, where you can have the STRATO'S registered and running on the road any way you like it!!! Empty country roads to run arround all day and all night at any speed (I did not say that, it is a missprint...!!!) and the police too bussy getting excited about the STRATO'S to bother with any illegallyties...!!! The people will love you everywhere you go and everybody will want to be your friend... I will not even mention the girls...!!! I am married... still... but if I wasn't...I will mention them!!!
There are Historic Hill Climbs and other such events where you and the STRATO'S will be the "KING"... I hope you are not an introvert...
I could go on and on and on, but you get the drift... Dave Watson and Andy know what I mean...

CIAO PANOS

[tryphon]

To "relocate" Panos assumes that I once was located there. Not the case.
Anyways if you need a girltrap any F-car will be just great and less "irreplacable".
Ta leme,
Tryfonas.

[pimms]

authentic down to the last screw including dashboard, .

Hello Tryphon,

I have a few questions, hope you can help?

* just bought a Beta HPE Volumex wiper motor which looks pretty authentic to the Strato's ( see attached image ), can you confirm?

* What size should the wiper arm be and what size the wiper blade?

* what is the diameter of the Group 4 rev. counter?

Thank u, best regards and good luck with finishing your car.
Pim

[tryphon]

Your wiper motor is the correct one.

Can't answer your other questions, sorry, the car is now 500Km away and I visit it as often as I can. On my next visit I'll try to answer them.

If this can help here's a picture of the dash being prepared:

[pimms]

Thanks Tryphon,

Looks almost brand new, youre dash, super job, good luck.

Ragards, Pim